Abstract: A method of providing weather radar images to a user includes obtaining radar image data corresponding to a weather radar image to be displayed. The radar image data is image processed to identify a feature of the weather radar image which is potentially indicative of a hazardous weather condition. The weather radar image is displayed to the user along with a notification of the existence of the feature which is potentially indicative of the hazardous weather condition. Notification can take the form of textual information regarding the feature, including feature type and proximity information. Notification can also take the form of visually highlighting the feature, for example by forming a visual border around the feature. Other forms of notification can also be used.

Abstract: A system and method for providing variable motion-resisting loads for a side stick controller on an aircraft where the primary resistive load is provided by a mechanical spring mechanism which is augmented or supplemented by an electric servo motor and electric servo motor linkage system.

Abstract: A method of and computer readable medium for obtaining sub least significant bit phase accuracy in a digitally controlled oscillator by choosing a phase angle, &thgr;; solving the base equation Ap+Bq=1 for A, wherein values of p and q are relatively prime components of a least significant bit; and computing a command value, k, from the command equation k=A*nint(q&thgr;)mod(q).

Abstract: A light system is disclosed that may be used as a dual-mode LCD backlight. The light system includes a fluorescent lamp and a secondary light source that is attached to or formed upon an outer surface of the fluorescent lamp. The fluorescent lamp diffuses the light of the secondary light source.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip and method of manufacturing the same which includes the use of a wafer cap having depressions therein for aligning with micro-electro-mechanical systems included in said integrated circuit when said cap is placed over a wafer containing numerous integrated circuits, the wafer is then cut, after the wafer cap is bound to the wafer. The wafer cap may also include a piezo-resistive element thereon for measuring pressure around the hermetically sealed MEMS.

Abstract: An information display method and system on board a passenger aircraft for automatically choreographing material to be presented throughout a journey of the aircraft. The method includes reading and parsing a string file of event triggers retrieved from a configuration file and sequentially determining if one of the triggers is to be activated by comparing it with navigational data of the aircraft. If the subject trigger is to be activated the system takes the action dictated by this trigger. All of the preceding steps are repeated throughout the journey of the aircraft. The system includes a configuration file for storing a plurality of the event triggers and screen formats for displaying flight information. The configuration file also stores a plurality of display modes, each mode representing a specific sequence of preselected display screen formats, with each display mode corresponding to an event trigger.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mitigating multipath interference in a spread spectrum ranging/positioning system receiver is disclosed. Improved peak tracking in the presence of multipath interference is accomplished with an improved discrimiriant. The discriminant may be developed from a curvilinear function based on a minimal number of correlators. Also disclosed is an open loop measurement compensation innovation that compensates for a multipath-induced shift of the correlation function peak. The positioning system receiver may have either one or both of the mitigation features.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for providing a control system that controls at least one of a plurality of display units. In one embodiment, the control system includes a remote control circuit capable of activating a remote signal for moving the display unit between one of a first, a second and a third positions and another one of the first, the second and the third positions. The control system further includes a local display unit movement control circuit coupled to the display unit, and a transmitter coupled to the local display unit movement control circuit. The transmitter is configured to transmit a light beam capable of being reflected from a reflective surface near the transmitter to make a reflected light beam, and a receiver coupled to the local display unit movement control circuit.

Abstract: A method and system for managing communication resources between nodes in a network, and more particularly to a dynamic distributed multi-channel time division multiple access (TDMA) slot assignment method is presented. The method and apparatus include a set of higher level heuristics that enable the wireless channel access scheme to address predetermined characteristics of the wireless channel access system. These predetermined heuristics include using bootstrap slots, adaptive broadcast cycles, channelized neighborhoods, standby slots, speculation slots, neighbor segregation, hard circuits, and soft circuits.

Abstract: A data communication apparatus comprising includes multiple white light emitting diodes or other sources of light which generate environmental lighting for a user of the data communication apparatus. The data communication apparatus also includes a data transmitting device positioned adjacent the white light emitting diodes, the data transmitting device configured to wirelessly transmit data signals to electronic devices used by the user. The data communication apparatus can also include a data receiving device for receiving wirelessly transmitted data signals from the electronic devices used by the user. The data communication device can be used, for example, in an aircraft cabin lighting system.

Abstract: A backlight for a liquid-crystal display is disclosed. The backlight includes a first LED array that provides light with a first chromaticity and a second LED array that provides light with a second chromaticity. A combining element combines the light from the first LED array and the second LED array and directs the combined light toward the liquid crystal display. A control system is operationally connected to the second LED array. The controller adjusts the brightness of at least one LED in the second LED array to thereby adjust the chromaticity of the combined light.

Abstract: A global landing system (GLS) for retrofitting an aircraft having ILS systems, as well as autopilot or flight control computers. The GLS using horizontal and vertical guidance control points (GCPs) which are co-extensive with glideslope and localizer antenna locations, and correction lever arms representing the separation of such GCPs with on-board GPS antennas. A method of measuring such lever arm with an additional GPS receiver is also included.

Abstract: An optically addressed photo luminescent display having a printed bar code pixel identifier on an internal side for providing feedback of scanning beam to pixel registration.

Abstract: A system and method for suppressing ground clutter in avionics weather radars which includes automatically making multiple scans, closely spaced in time and space, and comparing the returning signals to known ground return signals over known tilt angle variations.

Abstract: A block code for correcting adjacent errors and almost-adjacent errors that occur in semiconductor memory data, with such errors possibly being caused by a neutron single event upset (NSEU). A block code includes a generator matrix that has columns in which an exclusive-or of adjacent or almost-adjacent columns provides a unique value for each of the possible combination of columns of the generator matrix. As such, a computed syndrome can be used to effectively correct for any adjacent errors and almost-adjacent errors, as well as double-adjacent errors, double-adjacent errors, and triple-almost-adjacent errors.

Abstract: A method and system for managing communication resources between nodes in a network, and more particularly to a dynamic distributed multi-channel time division multiple access (TDMA) slot assignment method is presented. The method and apparatus include a set of higher level heuristics that enable the wireless channel access scheme to address predetermined characteristics of the wireless channel access system. These predetermined heuristics include using bootstrap slots, adaptive broadcast cycles, channelized neighborhoods, standby slots, speculation slots, neighbor segregation, hard circuits, and soft circuits.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system distributes an executable program in more than one channel of a modulated RF signal by using a plurality of download lines provided between the system file server and the RF modulator. The multiple download lines permit a passenger seat that missed the time window for downloading an executable program to request and download the executable program even before the first download has completed. The multiple download lines also permit downloads of different executable programs to take place at the same time. The vehicle entertainment system further includes a dedicated download processor and a buffer. The dedicated download processor is provided to reduce the processing load of the file server processor, in particular, to take over the task of generating a continuous stream of data responsive to a download request and supplying them to the RF modulator.

Abstract: An interference-aided navigation system for a rotating vehicle provides rotation angle estimates using interference or jamming signals. An antenna receives interference signals and desired navigation signals. A RF processing function connected to the antenna processes the received interference signals and the desired navigation signals into IF signals. An A/D converter connected to the RF processing function digitizes the interference signals and desired navigation signals and to provide a digitized IF signal. A tracking filter tracks amplitude variations of the interference signals and provides the rotation angle estimate signal of the rotating vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method which synchronizes a slave time with a master time. The master time is derived from a received signal. The master time is compared to the slave time to detect any offset of the slave time relative to the master time. If an offset is detected, the slave time is adjusted to correct the offset. Also disclosed is a method of synchronizing a pseudolite transmitter time with GNSS time. The transmitter time is compared to GNSS time to detect any offset of the transmitter time. The transmitter time is adjusted to correct the offset if an offset is detected. Also disclosed is an improved pseudolite. The pseudolite has a pseudolite transmitter and GNSS receiver. The pseudolite transmitter time is synchronized with GNSS time.

Abstract: A synchronized cockpit liquid crystal display (LCD) lighting system includes a backlight of the LCD, a power source to drive the backlight, a night-vision device having an adjustable gain, and a synchronization signal source. The synchronization signal source controls both the gain of the night-vision device and the power source. The synchronization signal causes the power source to drive the backlight. While the backlight is being driven, the gain of the goggles is decreased. A method of enhancing night-vision in a cockpit having at least one LCD comprises decreasing the gain of a night-vision device when the backlight is being driven by a power source. If there are multiple LCDs, their backlights are all driven at the same time. Decreasing the gain makes the ambient light from the LCDs invisible to the night-vision device.