Abstract: An autonomous navigational system for an airborne vehicle is disclosed which automatically updates its position and heading coordinates at each of a plurality of checkpoints along a preselected flight path. Prestored in a memory of the navigational system is a plurality of reference map images respectively associated with the plurality of checkpoints. Each reference map image is comprised of a plurality of terrain features associated with the terrain about an associated checkpoint. In operation, an acquisition unit senses an image of local terrain at each checkpoint. The relative sizes of reference and sensed map images vary with the mission requirements. A terrain feature extractor detects a plurality of terrain features contained in the sensed map image.

Abstract: Articles made from Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 ceramic alloy powders are protected during heating by loosely packing them in Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 before heating. Compacts made from Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 ceramic alloys are protected from both oxidation and from volatilization by the encompassing powder even though the furnace atmosphere is air.

Abstract: A receiving system is described which has the capability of substantially cancelling broadband noise, such as impulse noise, atmospheric noise, electrical line noise and receiver front end noise, from a selected radio frequency passband. In a first embodiment, a desired radio frequency passband is selected and converted to a broadband intermediate frequency (IF) signal, which is applied in parallel to the inputs of first and second frequency channels. When broadband noise is present in the broadband IF signal, the first frequency channel develops a desired audio signal in the presence of an undesired first broadband noise signal, while the second frequency channel develops an undesired second broadband noise signal which is correlated with the first broadband noise signal. An adaptive transversal filter is responsive to the second broadband noise signal and to an output signal for adaptively developing an estimate of the first broadband noise.

Abstract: Fingerprint powder and method for developing latent fingerprints therewith, such powder comprised of a powder carrier, especially a mixture of silica and talc, containing a coloring agent, preferably a fluorescent dye. The fingerprint powder can be applied by blowing the powder over a surface containing latent fingerprints, or by brushing or pouring the powder on such surface, or by immersion thereof in such powder, thus developing and revealing a bright, sharp fingerprint, which can be photographed or lifted by applying tape or a strippable coating over the print.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for capless annealing compound semiconductors such as ion-implanted GaAs semiconductors. The surface of the semiconductor to be protected during annealing is placed in loose physical contact with an inert material such as powdered graphite. The assembly is placed in a controlled atmosphere and heated to the annealing temperature where it is maintained until annealed. The semiconductor is cooled and then removed from the controlled atmosphere and inert material. In one embodiment, a volatile one of the elements in the compound is introduced into the inert material.

Abstract: A monolithic solid state power controller generally comprises a power supply, zero voltage crossing detector, operator interface circuitry, current sensing and trip timing logic (having zero current detection capability), drive circuitry, and a power switch. The current sensing and trip timing logic functions are implemented in a monolithic device which provides flexible mode of operation of the switch, operator command validation, status and mode indication, drive enablement in synchronization with zero voltage crossing of the source voltage, and tripout operation in synchronization with zero current crossing in the load current. Both fast trip (in response to catastrophic overcurrent) and timed trip (in response to overcurrent conditions occurring over a period of time) capabilities are provided.

Abstract: A printed circuit board, preferably, including a feed-through capacitor having outer and inner conductors separated by a dielectric through which the outer and inner conductors capacitively couple. An electrical energy carrying printed circuit line which is to be filtered is connected to the capacitor outer conductor. The inner conductor is connected to a local ground potential.

Abstract: An improved input circuit is provided for an array of photo detectors. For each photo detector in the array, the circuit utilizes a first FET with a source for coupling to an output of a photo detector, a gate coupled to a first gate voltage, and a drain for coupling to an output circuit. The first gate voltage is provided by a feedback circuit which utilizes matched properties of adjacent FETs. In one embodiment, FETs are used in an open loop feedback circuit to reduce the input impedance seen by the photodiode at the source of the first FET. A similar objective is accomplished in another embodiment utilizing FETs in a closed loop feedback circuit. Further embodiments utilize FETs arranged as a differential amplifier with active loads to provide a low input impedance and a virtual ground at the source of the first FET.

Abstract: A method of producing NF.sub.4 PF.sub.6 by a displacement reaction between NF.sub.4 BF.sub.4 and PF.sub.5.

Abstract: Improved NF.sub.4.sup.+ compositions for solid propellant NF.sub.3 -F.sub.2 gas generators are described which produce NF.sub.3 and F.sub.2 free of gaseous Lewis acids and do not require clinker forming additives for their complexing. The novel self-clinkering compositions (NF.sub.4).sub.2 SnF.sub.6, NF.sub.4 SnF.sub.5, (NF.sub.4).sub.2 TiF.sub.6, NF.sub.4 Ti.sub.2 F.sub.9, NF.sub.4 Ti.sub.3 F.sub.13, and NF.sub.4 Ti.sub.6 F.sub.25 and processes for their production are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the concentration of a component of a gas stream. The gas stream to be monitored is heated to a desired temperature and passed through an insulated gas passageway of a conduit member. The heated gas passes sequentially through a perforate metal shield and a body of a particulate catalyst. The temperature of the heated gas entering and leaving the conduit member is monitored and any increase in temperature is correlatable with the component concentration in the gas stream. The method and apparatus are particularly suitable for monitoring the concentration of hydrogen or oxygen in a gas stream.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing an inflatable cover or structure having radar-energy absorbing characteristics. Thus, a structure may be either formed of, or covered by, this material -- which may be compacted during certain stages of its life, and inflated at other times in order to provide the desired radar-energy absorption.

Abstract: Disclosure is made of an apparatus for reacting carbonaceous material with heated hydrogen to form hydrocarbon gases and liquids suitable for conversion to fuels wherein the reaction involves injection of carbonaceous material such as pulverized coal entrained in a minimum amount of gas and mixing the entrained coal at near ambient temperature with a separate source of heated hydrogen. The hydrogen is heated in a coil having an increasing inside diameter. The heated hydrogen and entrained coal are injected through a rocket engine type injector device. The coal particles are reacted with hydrogen in a reaction chamber downstream of the injector. The products of reaction are rapidly quenched as they exit the reaction chamber and are subsequently collected.

Abstract: A method of testing fibrous elements for their ability to effectively coalesce and separate water from an impure petroleum compound selected from the group consisting of crude oil and distillate fractions thereof. The method comprises introducing a reproducible emulsion consisting essentially of water and a substantially pure organic solvent into contact with a fibrous, coalescer element contained in a test zone. Separate streams of coalesced water and organic solvent are withdrawn from the zone. The predominant stream is passed between a source of light and a light-measuring means. The intensity of the light received by the light-measuring means is indicative of, and used as, the criterion for determining the acceptability of the coalescer element.

Abstract: Axial impellers for waterjet pumps, for example, require for each horsepower level a different stator vane housing in order to avoid stator vane cavitation damage. The invention allows the use of one stator housing for a wide horsepower range at constant speed by holding the ratio of impeller discharge flow coefficient over head coefficient constant.

Abstract: A solid propellant gas generator system employing borane compounds of the formula (CH.sub.3).sub.x H.sub.4-x NB.sub.3 H.sub.8 as the primary hydrogen source and a metallic complexing agent to trap the carbon molecules as solid metallic carbides.

Abstract: Electronically excited nitrogen fluoride is formed by reacting fluorine atoms with azide radicals according to the reaction:F+N.sub.3 .fwdarw.NF*+N.sub.2.in a preferred embodiment, the azide radical is provided by using HN.sub.3, and the atomic F is formed by discharging microwaves through either F.sub.2 or CF.sub.4, or by thermally decomposing F.sub.2.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of copper or lead from a sulfide ore concentrate containing the same. The ore concentrate, a carbonaceous material, an alkali metal carbonate and gaseous oxygen are introduced into a reaction zone to form a reaction mixture. The amount of carbonaceous material introduced is sufficient to reduce all of the copper or lead constituent of the sulfide ore to its elemental state in a single stage. A sufficient excess of carbonaceous material is provided to react with the oxygen and generate heat in situ to maintain the reaction zone at a temperature of from about 600.degree. to 1350.degree. C. thereby causing reduction of the metal sulfide to substantially pure copper or lead for recovery. The sulfur constituents of the ore react with the alkali metal carbonate to form sulfides. The other metal constituents of the ore are retained in the molten reaction mixture.

Abstract: A multiple frequency laser technique for enhancing the detection of discrete targets amid a clutter background while also increasing the range performance or power limits of the laser type radar. Each of a plurality of laser oscillators cooperates by heterodyned phase-lock means to provide a mutually exclusive one of a plurality of mutually coherent frequencies, whereby the transmitted continuous wave energy comprises a coherent pulse train.

Abstract: An apparatus is described which is responsive to a sequence of received data-compacted pixels representative of a coarse two-dimensional image of a remote scene for reconstituting picture point intensity signals representative of the smoothly shading in of the coarse image.