Abstract: A system for safely disposing of pathogenic waste materials. The waste material is disposed in a chamber and heated by forced hot air to temperatures above approximately 450.degree. F. to destroy harmful bacteria within several minutes. The high temperatures melt plastic waste materials. The harmless waste is cooled providing a solid block in which syringes and other sharp items are generally encased. The temperature within the chamber is continuously sensed and the operation of the apparatus is microprocessor controlled to adjust the process time in accordance with the load size. The microprocessor further stores the sensed temperature to provide verification that the waste has been exposed to sufficient temperatures and for a sufficient time to render such waste harmless.

Abstract: A microwave oven antenna having a three-dimensional motion. A vertical shaft has a microwave antenna coupled to a first end and is attached at a second end to a first driven gear. A cam follower member extends from the first driven gear to engage with a second driven gear having a slanted surface. The first and second driven gears are coupled to first and second drive gears by respective drive belts, such arrangement providing independent rotation to the first and second driven gears. Either the first and second drive gears or the first and second driven gears are of different diameter so that the relative motion of the gears provides the antenna in a different rotational position after consecutive vertical excursions. With this arrangement, the uniformity of heating food products in a microwave oven is improved by increasing the randomness of the mode pattern.

Abstract: A marine autopilot having adaptive gain control. The autopilot operates under a proportional plus derivative (PD) control law during course change operation (i.e. when the difference between a desired course and the actual vessel heading is greater than a predetermined value) and a proportional plus integral plus derivative (PID) control law during course keeping operation (i.e. when the difference between the desired course and the actual heading is less than the predetermined value). A gain value associated with the derivative term of the PID control law is adaptively controlled as a function of the roll frequency of the vessel. More particularly, since the damping provided by the derivative term is ineffectual in maintaining the desired course when the vessel is heading into the seas (i.e. when the roll frequency is greater than a predetermined value), the derivative term is nulled in such conditions.

Abstract: A transducer assembly providing a conversion between the electrical and sonic energy, the transducer assembly being adapted for operating submerged at great depths in ocean waters. The transducer assembly is formed by a front and back plate which are affixed in one embodiment to the ends of a first mechanically distributed impedance member, a second mechanically distributed impedance member located between the front and the back plate and a transducer of electroacoustical material mechanically coupling the first and second members for imparting sonic vibrations to these members. In a preferred embodiment, the transducer is bonded at one end thereof to the back plate and at the other end thereof to the second member. External hydrostatic pressure present at the front and back plates does not compress the electroacoustical material.

Abstract: A memory cell comprising a memory region of amorphous silicon, such memory region having a first state of substantial electrical nonconductivity programmable to a second state of substantial electrical conductivity in response to an electrical programming signal applied thereto. The memory region is disposed over a metal Schottky contact, such as platinum-silicide (PtSi), formed in a support body. A first barrier layer comprising a refractory metal such as titanium-tungsten (TiW) is disposed between the memory region and Schottky contact. A first input terminal comprising a metal strip conductor, such as aluminum, is disposed over the memory region, with a second refractory metal barrier layer being disposed between the memory region and metal strip conductor. A second input terminal is disposed within the support body.

Abstract: A low cost, broadband, broadbeam antenna. The radiating elements of the antenna are two spiral conductors mounted over a cavity. Inside the cavity, strips of RF absorber and a metal shim are located. Resistive damping at the ends of the sprial conductors is provided by discrete resistors. A dielectric lens covers the spiral conductors.

Abstract: A seal for use in a microwave oven having a griddle feature. An aluminum plate having a Calrod heating element coupled thereto provides a griddle and is disposed in an aperture in the stainless steel floor of the microwave oven. The griddle has a lip extending over a peripheral portion of the floor adjacent to the aperture therein. A U-shaped clamp comprising a bracket and a fastener couples the griddle to the peripheral portion of the floor. More particularly, the fastener draws the griddle downwardly to engage the lip down on the peripheral portion of the floor. With this arrangement, a continuous metal-to-metal contact is provided between the lip of the griddle and the microwave oven floor to prevent leakage of microwave energy. Moreover, the griddle can expand and contract free of restriction by the steel floor to prevent buckling. A gasket may be disposed between the lip of the griddle and the peripheral portion of the floor to provide a liquid seal.

Abstract: A transducer for use in surface ship applications includes a prestress element for providing additional compressive force to an electromechanical driver disposed within the transducer. The transducer includes a shell having inner portions, an electromechanical driver having end portions coupled to inner portions of the shell, and a block prestress element disposed between one of the end portions of the driver and the inner portions of the shell. The block prestress element is fabricated from a shape memory alloy which can be deformed within a first temperature range and reverts back to its original shape when exposed to a temperature above the first temperature range. This characteristic provides for the generation of additional stresses which may be desired for providing protection to the electromechanical driver from unwanted tensile forces.

Abstract: A marine autopilot includes a roll compensation feature to improve autopilot performance. An additional parameter is included in a proportional-integral-derivative control algorithm. The additional term corresponds to the roll angle of the vessel. Since, roll precedes deviation of a vessel from a desired course, the rudder moves to compensate for the disturbance prior to deviation from the desired course. In this way, the vessel's course keeping performance is improved and the overall rudder activity is reduced since the vessel remains more closely aligned with the desired course.

Abstract: A connector for RF packages which provides both RF and DC signals to the package. The connector comprises a silicone block with an embedded RF jumper which connects an RF conductor on the package to an RF feed line. The block also has numerous conductive strips passing through it. These conductive strips connect DC feed lines to DC input pads on the package. The connector is compressed by means of a cover, deforming the elastomer block. The block serves to envornmentally seal the RF and DC inputs from the environmental effects.

Abstract: An electrical jack plug includes an insulating sleeve member disposed over the conductor and ground contact portions of a tip contact member. The sleeve member includes a thin conductive outer sleeve member and an insulating plastic inner sleeve member press fit inside the outer sleeve member. The inner sleeve member has a portion, disposed on the interior thereof, adapted to mate with a complimentary portion of a tip contact member. In assembly, the conductor and ground contacting portions of the tip contact member are surrounded by the insulating inner sleeve member to prevent shorting of such connections. The insulating inner sleeve member has an annular portion extending beyond the conductive outer sleeve member. The inner sleeve member may be comprised of colored plastic to provide a readily visible color coding scheme for interconnections provided by the electrical jack plug.

Abstract: A water filter system for use in refrigerators having water dispenser and/or icemaker features. The filter system includes a commercially available filter cartridge which removes common water contaminants. A shut off valve temporarily stops the flow of water to the filter to permit replacement of the cartridge. The filter is disposed within the refrigerator for easy access and may be further disposed in a recess in one of the refrigerator walls or the refrigerator door to avoid reducing the useable food storage volume. The shut off valve may be closed by activating a conveniently located switch, by opening the refrigerator door, by opening a cover over the recess, or alternatively may be normally closed and opened only in response to activation of the icemaker or water dispenser features.

Abstract: A low cost simulator for training electronic warfare operators to recognize signatures of various emitters. The simulator consists of a card which can be plugged into an IBM PC or compatible computer. Through the computer, various characteristics of one, or a plurality of emitters are entered. The simulator, using an existing digital signal processing (DSP) chip generates a replica of a signal received by a radar system receiver from one, or a plurality of emitters.