Abstract: A method and apparatus for mitigating multipath signal distortion using a multi-element antenna array is provided. The multi-element antenna array is used to discriminate between the desired signal and its multipath components based on spatial angle of arrival. A reference signal, provided by the positioning system receiver, is used to compute element weightings that are utilized to null out the multipath components before they reach the receiver.

Abstract: A phase locked filter can utilize a divider to provide a source signal. The phase locked filter utilizes a phase comparator circuit to tune a voltage-tuned band pass filter. The voltage-tuned band pass filter as a phase response, wherein the phase difference between the input and the output of the band pass filter is zero when the source signal is provided at the center frequency. The phase comparator circuit adjusts the center frequency of the band pass filter to phase lock the source signal from the divider. In this way, the divider can be utilized to provide a clean source signal without a large amount of noise. The phase comparator circuit preferably includes a phase detector or a phase comparator and an integrator. The voltage-tuned band pass filter preferably includes a varactor.

Abstract: Disclosed are a flat panel display and a backlight which provides both night vision and day mode backlighting of the flat panel display. The backlight of the flat panel display includes a circuit card and day mode light emitting diodes (LEDs) positioned coplanar with each other on the circuit card. Night vision (NVIS) LEDs are positioned on the circuit card coplanar with the day mode LEDs. An optical wave-guide is positioned in front of the day mode LEDs and the NVIS LEDs and is adapted to distribute light from the day mode LEDs and from the NVIS LEDs forward away from the LEDs and the circuit card.

Abstract: A positioning system incorporating a time offset into the pseudo random noise codes. Incorporating the time offset, a transmitter from a pseudo satellite sends pseudo random noise codes to a receiver which recognizes the pseudo random noise codes with the offset. The offset is typically done as one or more hours. Knowing the offset value, the receiver then acquires the signal, and uses it to determine position, distance, etc. The use of an offset allows conventional receivers to ignore the time offset signal by selecting a time offset value which is greater than the searching time allowed in the conventional receiver. Equipment capable of recognizing the time offset signal is capable of thereby ignoring and/or distinguishing incoming signals from other sources.

Abstract: A system and method for mounting a slightly longer than ¼ wavelength whip antenna to a ground plane with an integrated electrical impedance match which uses a brass disk, threaded to the bottom portion of the whip and which is isolated for ground plane by a Delrin® acetal resin spacer, to provide a shunt capacitance.

Abstract: An optical analog-to-digital converter (ADC) comprises an analog input, an electromagnetic wave generator operatively connected to the analog input, an intensity discriminating material to refract an output electromagnetic wave, and an electromagnetic wave detector. The electromagnetic wave generator must be able to produce an output wave of sufficient intensity to induce a change in the refractive index of the intensity discriminating material. The electromagnetic wave generator must also be able to produce an output wave of varying intensity, the intensity being dependent on the analog input. An intensity discriminating material is one that has a different index of refraction for electromagnetic waves of different intensities. The method of converting an analog signal to a digital signal includes the steps of providing an analog input and generating an electromagnetic wave therefrom with the wave generator.

Abstract: A system and method for processing information on an aircraft in an economically efficient manner, in which a non-FAA certified removable laptop PC is intermittently coupled to and integrated with FAA certified avionics equipment on-board the aircraft, and the laptop is used to perform tasks which are not mandated by the FAA.

Abstract: A signal generator includes an oscillator, a phase locked loop and a fractional divider. The oscillator is configured to provide an output signal. The phase locked loop is configured to receive the output signal and to provide a tuning signal to the oscillator. The phase locked loop has a phase detector configured to receive the output signal, to compare the output signal to a reference signal, and to provide the tuning signal to the oscillator based on the comparison. The fractional divider is outside of the phase locked loop and is configured to generate the reference signal.

Abstract: A squelch circuit for a radio receiver that detects the presence of speech by utilizing a filter bank for filtering an intermediate frequency or baseband signal from the radio receiver into band-pass signals, detecting the magnitude of the band-pass signals, and separating the signal magnitudes into a speech and noise detector. The speech detector determines if speech is present by determining if syllabic variations are present in the speech detector signals and selects a voice band average signal with a maximum difference in syllabic variations, and generates a speech detector decision when speech is present. The noise detector makes a noise detector decision when speech is present by obtaining a minimum noise detector signal and comparing the minimum noise detector signal to a threshold scaled voice band average signal associated with the maximum difference in syllabic variations.

Abstract: A data pattern recognizer or correlator provides an optimized synchronization signal. The data pattern correlator utilizes two or more samples per bit of the signal which is expected to be received. The system provides high accuracy correlation without significant hardware and software overhead. The two or more samples are adjacent samples. The correlator can be used in any communication system, including a modem, a radio, a transceiver, a satellite, or other system where data patterns are detected.

Abstract: A transient pulse generator, for generating high energy RF pulses for lightning testing electronic equipment, generates control pulses. An insulated gate bipolar junction transistor (IGBT) is coupled to the conducts in response to the control pulses. A first capacitor is coupled to an electrode of the IGBT and to a first voltage potential. A transformer has its primary coupled between the first capacitor and a second electrode of the IGBT such that when the IGBT is not conducting the first capacitor is charged to a difference between the first and second voltage potentials. When the IGBT is switched into conduction mode the first capacitor discharges across the primary of the transformer, resulting in generation of a pulse across the secondary of the transformer. A second capacitor is coupled between a third voltage potential and an injection core which provides magnetic coupling to the equipment to be tested. The second capacitor charges to substantially the third voltage potential between control pulses.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for directing the flow of current supplied for a collection of light emitting diodes to provide for rapid flashing of the light emitting diodes and a wide dimming range. A fixed amount of current may be available to the collection of light emitting diodes where the flow of the current may be controlled by an alternating periodic signal such that current passes through the light emitting diodes for predefined and discrete periods. During periods of time that current is not flowing through light emitting diodes, the current may be directed to flow in another area of the circuit. The duty cycle of the signal may be adjusted in order to vary the dimming capability of the backlight.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for deriving a position solution in a global positioning system mobile station. The method includes the steps of forming a position solution by the mobile station during a first time period based upon a first set of signal measurements made by the mobile station of signals from a set of global positioning system satellites and a corresponding first set of satellite signal measurements made by a ground-based reference station at a known location remote from the mobile station and forming a second position solution by the mobile station during a second time period based upon a second set of satellite signal measurements made by the mobile station of the set of satellites during the second time period and the corresponding first set of measurements from the reference station.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system includes seat controller cards (SCCs), each being programmed with a browser and operating as a microserver for managing Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) document requests issued by the browser. When the browser requests HTTP documents that are stored in a local memory of the SCC, the microserver retrieves the HTTP document from the local memory and provides it to the browser without accessing a system file server for the vehicle entertainment system. As a result, the processing load of the system file server is decreased and the response rate to a HTTP document request is increased.

Abstract: An apparatus for correcting a reverted image is disclosed. The apparatus includes first, second, and third axially aligned lenses. The first and third lenses each have a first focal length in a first plane and a second focal length in a second plane that is orthogonal to the first plane. The second lens is disposed between and coaxially aligned with the first and third lenses. The second lens has a third focal length in the first plane and a fourth focal length in the second plane. The reverted image passes through the first, second, and third lenses and is reversed along one of the first and second planes to thereby correct the reverted image.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamic electronic surveillance comprising an imaging system having an angular measurement device, such as a seeker, in combination with a GPS receiver and a microprocessor which are used to compute a latitude and longitude of a remotely sensed position after it has been surveyed from a plurality of known measuring positions.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting, processing, and displaying ground mapping radar information which uses multiple scans, at differing automated antenna tilt angles, to generate a single displayed image. This can be used to increase the scanned area of a ground display so as to allow a complete sampling of the ground ahead of the aircraft.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing turbulence detection, display and alerting with avionics weather radars which includes automatically making multiple scans, measuring a wind velocity gradient at varying elevations, and comparing the measured gradient to known predetermined wind velocity gradients over known elevation variations, wherein the predetermined gradients have known vertical shear components, and using a vertical shear component information in making determinations regarding the existence of turbulence.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display optical component stack-up is created with reduced defects typically caused by adhesive materials used to attach optical components to the liquid crystal display, and with improved bond line control. First and second optical components are placed in a fixture having a plurality of pins extending from a bottom platen. A layer of silicone gel is placed between the first and second optical components. The plurality of pins orient the first and second optical components to achieve a desired alignment. A plurality of standoffs extending from the bottom platen and a top platen maintain a distance between the optical components and the platens to eliminate capillary action by the silicone gel adhesive, thereby aiding in bondline control.

Abstract: A satellite communication system for aircraft having other than top-mounted satellite communication antennas, wherein the system includes an ability to optimize the operation of the system depending on the existence of other than top-mounted antennas and/or the angular distance between a normal line of such antennas and a line drawn from the antenna to a satellite.