Abstract: A broadband 180 degree hybrid having lumped or semi-lumped elements is comprised of a network of low and high pass filters. A 180 degree phase differential is obtained by splitting an input signal from a first input. A first portion of the split signal is passed through a low pass filter and a second portion is passed through a high pass filter. The phase differential is maintained at 180 degrees. A zero (0) degree phase differential is obtained by splitting an input signal from a second input and passing both portions through a pair of low pass filters or through a pair of high pass filters.

Abstract: A miniature microstrip dipole antenna is constructed on a high permitivity dielectric substrate for compactibility with microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) technology. The antenna comprises two dipole arms coupled to opposite faces of the substrate. The dipole arms are coupled to a microstrip transmission line through a tapered balun. The tapered balun comprises two conductors on opposite faces of the substrate which are coupled to corresponding dipole arms. The conductors are separated laterally (with respect to the width of the face of the substrate) a calculated distance, and are gradually tapered. This allows the balun to efficiently transform unbalanced signals at the microstrip transmission line to balanced signals at the plurality of dipole arms. Alternatively, the balun allows balanced signals at the dipole arms to be efficiently transformed to unbalanced signals at the microstrip transmission line.

Abstract: A safing and arming device for a munition fuze operates without the use of stored energy. The safing and arming device is controlled by a solenoid rotating a rotor and shutter in a ratchet fashion. As the shutter is rotated, a detonating device is brought into position over an explosive lead charge. The design of the rotor and shutter ensures that the detonator is not aligned with the lead charge until after several safety steps have been completed, after which the shutter quickly arms the fuze. Energy is generated for fuze arming during the completion of the safety steps. The design of the safing and arming device minimizes power requirements for safing and arming the fuze.

Abstract: A method of recognizing a selected object during a fly-over including periodically making range measurements to the ground at a predetermined angle, noting range rate of change from adjacent range measurements, determining the presence of an object, its height and width from the range rate changes and comparing the measured figures to stored figures to recognize a selected object.

Abstract: A spectral filter for use in optical systems receiving field-of-view (FOV) optical beams at differing angles refracts all FOV beams onto a single plane focal surface. The spectral filter comprises a combination of lens having varied thicknesses incorporated into a single filter unit. Each thickness, or step, of the spectral filter corresponds to a different one of the received FOV beams.

Abstract: A method for rapid acquisition of multiple GPS signals builds upon fast Fourier transformation of input GPS signals to simultaneously track multiple satellites and derive psuedorange measurements that are suitable for navigation solution. The method utilizes 2M samples of the reference signal with N samples of the signal set from the satellites (one millisecond of actual data) to directly compute the fractional psuedorange values for four (4) or more satellites. The FFT process is incorporated with a process to determine an integer psuedorange. The integer psuedorange is then combined with a fractional psuedorange to define the GPS navigation solution.

Abstract: A passive 180 degree MMIC (monolithic microwave integrated circuit) hybrid is developed which yields broad band widths, decreases the circuit surface area to increase production yield, and is compatible with GaAs (gallium arsenide) media used in MMIC circuits. The passive 180 degree MMIC hybrid comprises a in-phase combiner coupled to a delay transmission line through a plurality of adjusting capacitors. The coupling points of the in-phase combiner and the delay transmission line are further coupled to respective 180 degree hybrid outputs. A 0/180 input is coupled in common to the delay transmission line. The 90 degree hybrid comprises a plurality of transmission lines coupled to a 0/0 input of the 180 degree hybrid.

Abstract: Oscillator which maintains a high Q constant frequency over changes in temperature utilizes two parallel transmission lines having an active element embedded within one of the lines. A dielectric resonator oriented one-half wave length from the embedded transmission line generates a high impedance near the embedded transmission line at resonant frequency. The resonating energy is transferred to the second parallel transmission having a low impedance. An impedance inverter matches the low impedance to the output bias and transfers the high peak powers from the low impedance in the second transmission line. The active element is bias controlled.

Abstract: An accumulated statistics CFAR method and device operates using integrated data to maximize the probability of target detection for a given false alarm rate. The CFAR hardware varies its detection criteria as a function of the statistics of the range gate in question. The detection threshold is based on other range gates seen in the past which contain the same terrain type.

Abstract: A projectile having a piercing front end with a solid lubricant molded on the front surface for reducing friction during penetration. The lubricant is molded in a shape to receive an antenna and other electronics. The front end also has an axial hole formed therein to enhance self destruction from the sudden release of compressional strain energy accumulated during penetration through a hard target.

Abstract: Stabilizing a signal generating source by coupling a small amount of the output power through a bandpass filter tuned to the desired frequency and injecting the power back into the source. In another embodiment the filtered power may be increased by injection locking a smaller oscillator and using the output to stabilize the source, or the filtered power may be amplified in a reflection amplifier and injected into the source for stabilization.

Abstract: A baseband carrier phase corrector is disclosed which permits rapid demodulation and demodulation of varying RF input signals. The baseband carrier phase corrector receives RF signals, or alternatively, IF signals, and converts the signals to baseband. An RF signal received by the baseband carrier phase corrector is split and multiplied with oscillating signals having a 90 degree phase differential. The resultant signals are baseband in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals. The I and Q signals are filtered through low pass filters. The filtered I and Q signals are multiplied within a first complex multiplier with a generated phase error. The output of the first complex multiplier results in phase adjusted I and Q baseband signals. A symbol decision circuit estimates digital I and Q signals which are the allowed symbols closest in phase to the phase adjusted I and Q baseband signals. A second complex multiplier is coupled to the symbol decision circuit and to the outputs of the low pass filters.

Abstract: An origami printed circuit board comprises a rigid printed circuit board having a flexible conducting back secured to the bottom of the circuit board. The flexible back is constructed of alternating layers of flexible dielectric and conducting layers bonded together, where the conducting layers may include copper. The circuit board is then grooved in a predetermined manner with the grooves extending through the rigid circuit board, but not extending into the flexible conducting back. The entire circuit board/flexible back is then folded along the grooves in origami fashion to form an enclosure, or other designed shape, with the flexible back forming the outer walls of the shape. By coupling the electronic elements of the circuit board to the conducting layers of the flexible back, the flexible conducting back includes electronic circuit printed interconnections on the rigid board. A bottom conducting layer of the flexible back may be uncoupled to the electronic elements of the circuit board.

Abstract: A wideband active quadrature 90 degree hybrid for increased bandwidths with low power losses and the capability to have gain. The 90 degree hybrid can be incorporated in small areas for MMIC (monolithic microwave integrated circuits) circuitry in the low microwave frequencies. The 90 degree hybrid comprises a plurality of 90 degree phase shift means, each preceded by an input amplifier. Each of the 90 degree differential phase shift means comprises a high pass and a low pass filter. The low pass filter outputs are added together and amplified. The high pass filter outputs are also added together and amplified. The resultant amplified signals are output with a phase differential of 90 degrees. The amplifiers supply gain which is lost in the 90 degree phase shifting.

Abstract: A means and method of constructing electronic housing modules in sections and joining the sections together in modular fashion. A coupler for joining the sections of the module housing can be constructed in a variety of ways allowing the module to take on various housing configurations. For instance, the module can be constructed as a rectangular or triangular box using the coupler. The coupler is preferably comprised of a longitudinal member including at least one groove. Each groove comprises an upper and lower extending lip. To construct the housing module, the sections, or housing walls, of the module are inserted into the groove between the upper and lower lips. The lower lip acts as a support for the inserted housing wall. The upper lip includes a flared portion at the extending end of the upper lip. A ledge secured to and protruding from the bottom plane of the upper lip. The ledge is located close to the inner portion of the groove.

Abstract: A M-out-of-N target detections scheme wherein a target detection is extended in range of both sides by an amount equal to the distance the target would travel at its highest expected speed during the N intervals. The M-out-of-N determination is then made with a target declaration being produced upon the amount of N determination being met and that the most recent integration period contains a target detection in the range gate of interest.

Abstract: A 90 degree hybrid is contemplated having three parallel signal paths, one of the signal paths is a central signal path which provides direct impedence to ground. The other two signal paths are capacitively coupled to the central signal path to provide a second impedence. Each signal path incorporates at least one inductor coupled in series along each of the signal paths. The signal paths are capacitively coupled to each other at each end of the inductors. To increase the bandwidth, additional hybrids are coupled in series, with each hybrid forming a section of the broadband hybrid.

Abstract: A distributed amplifier which increases gain by increasing transconductance comprises a plurality of amplifying elements. Each element includes a darlington amplifier connected in cascade with a FET (field effect transistor) amplifier. The darlington amplifier includes an RC (resistance/capacitance) feedback loop from the drain to the gate. Each of the amplifying elements are coupled in parallel between an input transmission line and an output transmission line. The output transmission line operates as a recombining network as the input signals pass through the amplifying elements. To further increase gain and power output, a time delay line is coupled to each end of the output transmission line. The time delay line simulates the terminating elements normally associated with distributed amplifiers, and collects unguided signals from the output transmission line to recombine them with guided signals at the output.

Abstract: A mechanical field effect transistor sensor which has a drain and a source on a semiconductor portion, and a moveable gate which causes conduction between the drain and source when the gate is in proximity or touching the semiconductor portion. The gate in its preferred embodiment comprises a cantilever microbeam which allows movement of the gate up or down with respect to the semiconductor portion when a force is applied to the microbeam. The microbeam can be replaced with a diaphragm or a simply supported beam. The gate is coupled to an external voltage source which supplies a voltage to the gate causing the conduction between drain and source. Another embodiment uses a piezoelectric material for the gate which generates a voltage when it is compressed or expanded due to forces caused by changes in acceleration and magnetic fields.

Abstract: A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits. The oscillator does not use varactors or inductors for oscillation, but uses a voltage variable resistor coupled to a first MESFET supplying a capacitance, and to an amplifying element to create an RC oscillator. The voltage variable resistor is a second MESFET coupled to a variable voltage source. The oscillator takes advantage of the gate capacitance of the first MESFET, as well as the gain available from using an active element within the feedback loop.