Abstract: A method for implementing a time division multiple access protocol for digital communications between a radio transceiver and a repeater or another radio transceiver has the steps of dividing a radio communication into a plurality of frames having a predetermined length of time; dividing each frame into: a plurality of downlink slots, each downlink slot containing a transmission from the repeater to the transceiver; and a plurality of uplink slots, each uplink slot containing a transmission from the transceiver to the repeater.

Abstract: A fracture-resistant, thermally stable intake or exhaust valve for an internal combustion (IC) engine. The valve has a stem portion and a head portion, both of which are formed of fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite (FRCMC) material. This FRCMC material generally includes a polymer-derived ceramic resin in its ceramic state, fibers, and filler materials. Employing FRCMC material to form the valve is advantageous as FRCMC material is highly temperature resistant and temperature stable, thereby allowing for increased engine operating temperatures. FRCMC material is also ductile, thus making the valve fracture resistant. The FRCMC material is also flaw-insensitive in that any flaw within the structure of the valve will not result in cracking and failure. In addition, FRCMC valves are considerably lighter than the existing metal valves. This provides an opportunity to reduce the weight of the overall valve train, thereby increasing engine performance.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an apparatus that increases the conversion efficiency of optical parametric oscillators and also reduces overall system size and susceptibility to vibration. The first embodiment of the present invention incorporates a PPLN OPO architecture which includes mirrored coatings on the entry surface area and exit surface area of a monolithic nonlinear optical medium. The coatings act as mirrors, however, the mirrors are actually affixed to the PPLN element. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the PPLN element is a dual grated element. The second embodiment of the present invention uses a single grated PPLN element.

Abstract: A directional finding system for providing a corrected compass bearing based upon true north rather than magnetic north for a selected location. The true bearing is calculated by determining a present position with a GPS receiver or other location finding device, then selecting the deviation between true north and magnetic north for the present position from a store of magnetic deviation data, and finally correcting the magnetic bearing by the deviation to find a true bearing. The store of magnetic deviation data comprises the deviation between true north and magnetic north for any location. Additionally, the true bearing can be further corrected by a time-based magnetic deviation based upon the monotonic movement of the magnetic north pole. The true bearing is presented on a display along with the magnetic bearing and the present position.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an aerodynamic control surface apparatus for use with a wing assembly having a wing trailing edge. The control surface apparatus has an inboard section defined by a cordwise inboard side, a first trailing edge side, and a first tapering edge side disposed between the inboard and the fist trailing edge sides. The inboard section has an axis of rotation generally about the cordwise inboard side. The control surface apparatus further has an outboard section defined by a cordwise outboard side, a second trailing edge side, and a second tapering edge side disposed between the outboard and the second trailing edge sides. The outboard section has an axis of rotation generally about the cordwise outboard side. The control surface apparatus further has at least one adjustable spanwise member rotatably attached to the first and second tapering edge sides of the inboard and outboard sections.

Abstract: A method for forming a two-dimensional map of a three-dimensional object has the steps of mapping the three-dimensional object to an ellipsoid and then mapping the ellipsoid to a two-dimensional surface. Mapping of the three-dimensional object to the ellipsoid is accomplished by forming a plurality of generally parallel, generally planar slices of the three-dimensional objects which correspond to similar slices of the ellipsoid and projecting each point on the surface of a slice of the three-dimensional object to a corresponding point of the ellipsoid. Mapping the ellipsoid to two-dimensional surface may be done according to various different contemporary methodologies.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a balanced high volume, low pressure paint spray gun. The spray gun is provided with a spray gun body connectable to a paint source and an air source. The spray gun is provided with a head insert engaged with the spray gun body. The head insert has a paint atomization chamber formed therein, a paint passage formed therethrough extending into the paint atomization chamber for receiving paint from the paint source, an atomization air passage and a shaping air passage for receiving air flow from the air source therethrough, and a balancing air passage formed therein extending into the paint atomization chamber. The spray gun further has a shaping air chamber defined by the spray gun body.

Abstract: A three input comparator facilitates the comparison of a signal to the greater of two different reference voltages in a manner which mitigates propagation delay. A first differential pair of transistors facilitates comparison of the two reference voltages to one another, while second and third differential pairs of transistors facilitate comparison of the signal to the higher of the two reference voltages.

Abstract: A method of fiber preparation for discontinuous fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite and a coated discontinuous fiber prepared by this method. The method includes immersing a fiber spool in a resin and drip drying the fiber spool until any excess resin is removed. Next, the damp fiber is cut or chopped and heated to the green-state cure temperature of the resin. After the resin has cured, the product is a coated discontinuous fiber whereby the inner fiber filament bundle is held together by a cured resin shell and the individual filaments are held together by the resin.

Abstract: In a multi-mode dual channlel data link there is provided a method for automatically controlling or allocating a predetermined amount of power to each of the dual channels. Two diverse product signal are transmitted from a master station down link to a plurality of ground stations. The ground stations receive the diverse product signals and individually determine the integrity of each product signal and transmit the product integrity information and a station identifier back to the master station. The master station processes the integrity information and reallocates a predetermined percentage of total power to be transmitted from each of the dual channels to achieve a predetermined product integrity at one or more of the plurality of ground stations.

Abstract: An integrated flight control indicator for providing visual information indicative of aircraft flight parameters has a sky arc and an earth arc which are visually distinguishable from one another. The sky arc and the earth arc cooperate to generally define a circle wherein the relative lengths of the sky arc and the earth arc indicate the pitch of the aircraft. A horizon line extends approximately between the two intersections of the sky arc and the earth arc so as to provide a visual indication of the roll of the aircraft. Other indicia are provided for indicating radar or barometric altitude, vertical speed, heading, ground track, minimum altitude break, etc. Thus, the present invention provides a visual indication suitable for use in instrument panel displays, heads-up display, and helmet-mounted displays.

Abstract: A heated resin supply hose for supplying molten resin in a molding process, such as a RTM process, includes a removable inner core tube or conduit that can be readily removed from reusable supply hose components after each injection cycle to make a molded article. The reusable hose components include a core-receiving conduit for slidably receiving the core conduit and a heating element on the core-receiving conduit as well as additional hose component layers. The used core conduit having residual resin therein is removed from the core-receiving conduit and replaced by a new core conduit that is inserted in the core-receiving conduit in making another molded article.

Abstract: A method of constructing a honeycomb structure generally undetectable by radar. The method includes winding first and second sheets of radar absorbent material onto a central roller. A first printer prints a plurality of parallel adhesive linear deposits on the first sheet of material as it passes across the first printer. A second printer prints a plurality of parallel adhesive linear deposits on the second sheet of material as it passes across the second printer. The first and second linear deposits are offset with respect to each other. The first and second sheet materials overlap one another during winding onto the central roller. Once the first and second sheets are overlapped onto one another, the adhesive deposits secure sheets together to form a non-expanded honeycomb structure. The non-expanded honeycomb structure is removed from the central roller and is expanded to form the expanded honeycomb structure.

Abstract: Elastomeric transition sections (118, 124) are mounted between the upper and lower portions of a wing (100) and a control surface (102) hinged thereto. The elastomeric transition sections include elastomeric material (126) having a plurality of holes (128) formed therethrough. Flexible rods (134, 136) are secured to either the wing or the control surface and extend through the holes (128) in the elastomeric material (126). The elastomeric transition sections provide a smooth aerodynamic transition between the wing and the control surface while permitting the control surface to pivot about the hinge axis (108) to perform the control function.

Abstract: A method of producing a capacitive electroacoustic transducer comprising the initial step forming a substrate having top and bottom surfaces each having a periphery thereof. A first electrode of the transducer is formed upon a portion of the top surface of the substrate. A diaphragm mounting ring of a conductive material is disposed about the periphery of the top surface and separated from the first electrode, and is sized to be thicker than the first electrode by a desired electrode separation distance. The diaphragm mounting ring is characterized by physical dimensions thereof. A compensation ring is aligned with the diaphragm mounting ring upon the bottom surface, and is formed of the same conductive material as the diaphragm mounting ring. The compensation ring is sized to have the same physical dimensions as the diaphragm mounting ring.

Abstract: A novel process for producing novel curable, liquid, hydroxyl-terminated epoxy polyether polymers by the direct polymerization of vinyl epoxy ether monomers in the presence of a strong alkali, to form a hydroxyl-terminated vinyl polyether polymer, followed by the epoxidation of the vinyl groups to form a novel curable, liquid hydroxyl-terminated epoxy polyether polymer which is stable against unintended polymerization in view of the epoxidation of the vinyl groups and is rapidly curable with the addition of conventional multifunctional curing agents.

Abstract: A composite electromagnetic absorber provides increased EMR absorption while being thinner and/or lighter than prior art EMR absorbers. To accomplish this, synthetic dielectric materials are combined with either synthetic magnetic materials or magnetically lossy materials in such a way that the permittivity and permeability of the composite material are substantially matched over the desired range of frequency. The match in the permittivity and permeability allows the majority of the electromagnetic fields to enter the material where the electric and magnetic loss components absorb the electromagnetic energy.

Abstract: A patch antenna having enhanced frequency response has a generally planar element formed of a substantially conductive material, and antenna feed conductor electrically connected to the antenna element, and a generally planar parasitic element formed of a substantially conductive material positioned substantially coaxially with respect to the antenna element and spaced apart therefrom. The distance by which the parasitic element is spaced apart from the antenna element in order to provide such enhanced frequency response of the patch antenna is determined empirically. An optimally configured array of such patch antennas is also disclosed.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an aircraft engine air intake cover for use with an air intake which is characterized by an air velocity profile therewithin. The air intake cover is provided with an air induction plate which disposed across at least a portion of the air intake. The air intake cover is further provided with a multitude of air induction ducts. The induction ducts are disposed about and extend through the air induction plate. Each induction duct has a duct inlet, a duct outlet and a duct body interposed between the duct inlet and the duct outlet. The duct inlets each respectively define an effective inlet diameter. The duct bodies each respectively define a duct body length which is greater than the associated effective duct inlet diameter. The duct outlets each respectively define an effective outlet diameter greater than the effective inlet diameter for increasing the cohesiveness of the air velocity profile within the air intake.

Abstract: A method for using a voice operated switch in a changing high noise environment involves determining a relative energy of the background noise, calculating VOX, voice, and delta thresholds, and comparing the VOX threshold to an amplitude of an incoming data sample. When the amplitude of the incoming data sample is greater than the VOX threshold, then the delta threshold is compared to the short-term average delta. When the amplitude of the short-term average delta is greater than delta threshold, then the voice threshold is compared to the short-term average. When the short term average is greater than the voice threshold, then the incoming data sample is determined to be voice and the voice operated switch is actuated.