Abstract: A luminaire for back lighting a flat panel display in accordance with the present invention includes a fluorescent lamp having multiple lamp sections and a stack of optical components. A light guide is positioned between the fluorescent lamp and the stack of optical components. The light guide includes a first section extending across a width of the luminaire which separates the multiple lamp sections from the stack of optical components and which is adapted to substantially uniformly distribute light from the multiple lamp sections toward the stack of optical components. The light guide also includes multiple leg sections each adapted to protrude from the first section of the light guide to positions between adjacent lamp sections or to positions between one of the lamp sections and a side wall. The multiple leg sections of the light guide redirect light from the lamp sections into the first section of the light guide.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of transferring satellite ephemeris data for a first GNSS satellite from a pseudolite to a GNSS receiver. Also disclosed are pseudolites and GNSS receivers implementing the same. A first satellite global positioning signal transmitted by the first GNSS satellite is received at the pseudolite. The pseudolite transmits a pseudolite global positioning signal containing the satellite ephemeris data for the first GNSS satellite. The GNSS receiver receives the pseudolite global positioning signal and retrieves from the pseudolite signal the satellite ephemeris data.

Abstract: An audio system that may include a flight-worthy electronics package that connects into the airborne electronics of a passenger aircraft, and to that aircraft's passenger system. The audio system may provide passengers with a variety of audio information. The audio information may include a variety of information tailored to phases of the flight plan of the aircraft. Thus, during takeoff, the system may describe the flight plan of the aircraft, whereas during descent, the system may alternately describe the distance to destination and time to destination. Other information that may be described, as desired, may include ground speed, outside air temperature, altitude, time or distance to a point of interest, and points of interest of the area that the aircraft is flying over at any particular moment. The audio system may cause these sequences of descriptions to recite automatically as determined by the preprogramming of the system. Passengers may also be provided with audio destination information.

Abstract: A system for attitude determination of a platform in global positioning systems (GPS) is disclosed herein. The system includes at least two receivers and an attitude determination circuit. The receivers each include an antenna. The antenna is capable of receiving GPS signals. Each receiver also produces a representation of the received GPS signal by estimating how fast the distance from a GPS satellite to the antenna is changing by determining a rate of change of a locally generated code sequence as it changes to approximate the GPS signal transmitted by the GPS satellite. The attitude determination circuit calculates platform attitude from the rate of change determined by the receivers.

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: An optical component mounting apparatus for use in an aircraft for maintaining alignment of the optical components during use of the aircraft, the apparatus including an “L” shaped frame and a plurality of “L” shaped mounts, for holding the optical components, in adjustable positions by use of bolts extending through slots, oriented in three orthogonal directions, in the frame and the mounts.

Abstract: An avionics LRU having multiple circuit cards therein which are arranged in readily accessible slots and have insertion/extraction apparatuses coupled thereto which use a rack and pinion arrangement to provide a relatively high insertion force over an increased displacement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for modulating an intermediate frequency of a radio frequency transmitter with a digital sample stream. The method includes the steps of interpolating the digital sample stream by an over sampling factor and modulating the interpolated digital sample stream to a single bit sample stream, while spreading and shaping quantization noise created by the modulation outside a bandwidth of the intermediate frequency. The method further includes the steps of converting the single bit sample stream to an analog signal and bandpass filtering the analog signal around the intermediate frequency.

Abstract: An improved computer architecture and system advantageously combine the beneficial characteristics of a high level object oriented programming language with an optimized processor for efficient application to real time embedded computing problems. Additionally, an improved method for resolving symbolic references in code generated by compiling source code written in an object oriented programming language to the corresponding logical memory addresses stores look-up information with the object itself after the first encounter of a given symbolic reference, whereby the logical memory address information is available for subsequent encounters of the symbolic reference, and whereby no modification of the program instructions containing the symbolic reference is necessary. In a preferred embodiment, the Java™ programming language is used.

Abstract: A sole means global navigation apparatus adapted for use on an aircraft includes a GPS receiver to provide GPS measurement data and an inertial sensor system adapted to provide inertial translational and rotational data which during time periods is independent of the GPS position data. A navigation system coupled to both of the GPS receiver(s) and the inertial sensor system determines a navigation solution as a function of both the condition of the GPS satellite data and the uncertainty in the Inertial data. An augmentation system coupled to the navigation solution determining system is used to increase the accuracy and/or integrity of the GPS/inertial sensor, thereby achieving style means navigation requirements.

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 system for communicating between an aircraft and a ground control station. The system includes a communications module disposed onboard the aircraft and capable of electronically communicating with the ground control station. The communications module includes an input interface that permits an operator onboard the aircraft to view messages that are sent and received from the ground control station. The input interface has a plurality of display configurations for the viewing and entry of information. The input interface permits data relevant to a flight of the aircraft to be entered by the operator while viewing at least one of the plurality of display configurations.

Abstract: Satellite navigation systems and receivers of the invention include an antenna which receives satellite signals from multiple satellites. Radio frequency circuitry coupled to the antenna converts the satellite signals into intermediate signals. Multiple signal processors coupled to the radio frequency circuitry implement similar or identical signal processing algorithms on the received satellite signals to provide redundant ranging information (i.e., code and carrier measurements). One or more navigation processors coupled to the signal processors process the ranging information and provide positioning data outputs. The navigation processor implements smoothing filter functions that combine the redundant ranging data in a manner which enhances the positional accuracy. The navigation processor also implements unique fault-detection filter functions on the redundant ranging information.

Abstract: A system and method for guiding an artillery shell in flight which includes a multi-element antenna having a large central access hole therein for receiving an airfoil actuator pin, the antenna array being switched during flight, as a function of the rotation of the shell, so that the upwardly directed portion of the radiation pattern predominates over a terrestrially directed segment of the radiation pattern.

Abstract: An avionics system for retrofitting a GPS system to work with an existing autopilot by using signal switching and conditioning in an electronic flight display to accomplish the switching without the need for logic controlled relays in the GPS to autopilot interconnect wiring.

Abstract: A method of protecting an electronic component from damage, wherein the electronic component includes a semiconductor chip. According to the method, a first protective substance is applied to an outer surface of the semiconductor chip. The first protective substance has a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially similar to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the semiconductor chip. A second substance may then applied to an outer surface of the first protective substance. The first protective substance is applied such that it protects the semiconductor chip from damage during the application of the second substance.

Abstract: Disclosed are a programmable switch array which provides tactical feel indication of activation to a user. The switch array includes a display device adapted to display switch information. A glass plate is positioned in front of the display device. Multiple switching mechanisms are positioned behind the glass plate. One or more pivot members are positioned behind the glass plate and disposed such that upon the user pushing upon a region of the glass plate, the glass plate pivots about the pivot member and actuates a corresponding one of the multiple switching mechanisms. The pivoting of the glass plate provides the user a tactical feel indication of the activation of the switch.

Abstract: A method of estimating the carrier phase difference between two antennas under low signal conditions (typically called state 3) of a global positioning system (GPS) carrier signal transmitted from one of a constellation of satellites in the GPS for use in attitude determination systems is proposed. The method involves the use of multiple antennas tracking the same satellite signal and utilizing a code tracking loop filter to aid in maintaining track of the GPS waveform when the effects of doppler (i.e., the distance from a GPS satellite to the antenna is changing with time) are present.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method of preventing potentially hazardously misleading attitude data. The method includes deriving a value for a leveling parameter from inertial and velocity data, monitoring the leveling parameter for a characteristic indicative of producing potentially hazardously misleading attitude data, and disregarding at least some air data if the characteristic is detected. The computer readable medium contains instructions to cause an attitude heading computer to perform the steps of (1) deriving a leveling parameter from velocity data and inertial data; (2) monitoring the leveling parameter for a characteristic indicative of producing hazardously misleading attitude data; and (3) not accounting for at least some velocity data in leveling algorithms if the characteristic is detected. The invention also includes a second embodiment of a method of preventing potentially hazardously misleading attitude data.