Abstract: An RF amplifier arrangement for providing output signals having a controlled frequency distribution and wherein the amplitude and phase of the input signals to an RF amplifier are controlled as a function of the amplitude and phase, respectively, of the output signals from the RF amplifier and also the amplitude of the input signals are adjusted so as to cause the power of the output signal to vary in accordance with a predetermined sequence, whereby such amplitude control of the input signals results in a modified frequency distribution in the energy of the output signals.

Abstract: A method of producing coherent radiation signals which have reduced coherent noise content. The method involves modulation of the position of an apodizer or aperture disposed in the optical path of the radiation provided by the coherent radiation source. The modulation causes diffraction patterns created by the apodizer or aperture to be unstable, hence reducing the noise content of the transmitted radiation. In particular, a method of producing holographic exposures containing reduced coherent noise content is disclosed. The positions of apertures or apodizers utilized in producing the holographic exposure are modulated during the exposure process. The modulation is on the order of wavelengths of the illuminating radiation used to produce the exposure. The position modulation creates a slight fogging of the exposure due to the noise, but the desired hologram is recorded with little or no decrease in efficiency.

Abstract: A source of microwave-frequency electromagnetic energy of a specific desired frequency is generated by a device that utilizes a filter network to absorb energy of unwanted frequencies and couples energy of the desired frequency into a tunable ridge waveguide. The filter network is designed into the DC bias conductor to increase oscillator efficiency.

Abstract: Apparatus which is utilized with a liquid crystal display for applying alternating current driving signals thereto, derived from applied direct current analog signals. The apparatus includes circuitry which samples and stores the applied analog signal. The apparatus also includes circuitry which level shifts the sampled signals so as to have voltage levels which are symmetrically disposed above and below a reference level associated with the liquid crystal display during alternating field times. The symmetrically disposed signals constitute applied alternating current signals to the display, with respect to the reference level.

Abstract: A synthetic array processor wherein radar data, received from an area to be mapped during a plurality of subarray flight path segments, is electronically focused in parallel processing channels to form a series of approximately rectangularly shaped low azimuth resolution maps; and signals associated with corresponding portions of each low resolution map are further processed by means of digital filtering techniques to provide, in a format readily adapted for display, a high azimuth resolution map.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a microwave signal is used to modulate a laser diode and the resultant modulated light output energy from the laser diode is applied through an optical fiber waveguide to the active solid state component in a microwave oscillator circuit such that the output signal from the microwave oscillator is phase locked to the modulation carried by the light energy. The invention allows optical injection phase locking to be achieved not only at the fundamental frequency of the modulating signal, but also at various harmonics thereof; and "on-off" switching of the microwave oscillator can be controlled simultaneously with phase locking.

Abstract: A CCD background subtractor having a first charge storage arrangement for detecting, during periodic sampling intervals, the peak value of an applied input signal, and a second charge storage arrangement into which charge representative of said peak value is periodically transferred and held. A third charge storage arrangement also receives the applied input signal and is controlled as a function of the charge held in the second charge storage arrangement such that the output signal from the third charge storage arrangement is representative of the difference between the applied input signal and the peak value thereof sampled during a prior sampling interval.

Abstract: A universal register which consists of a plurality of identical emitter coupled logic (ECL) bit slices and auxiliary ECL gates adapted for fabrication on a single large scale integration (LSI) chip. Each bit slice is comprised of a master-slave flip-flop (a master latch circuit and a slave latch circuit) and an output control network which is driven by the flip-flop. Each of the latch circuits and the output control network comprises a single stage (unit propagation delay), two decision level cascode ECL circuit. The output control network selectively supplies either the Q or the Q output signal from the flip-flop or a logic zero signal to the network's output terminal (designated P).

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell for use in a display and a method for manufacturing such display is disclosed. Each cell of such display includes a membrane which is manufactured by conventional semiconductor processing technology. Such membrane has semiconductor structural support members between which liquid crystal fluid is retained. Such membrane and residual liquid crystal fluid in the cell have substantially the same thermal coefficient of expansion as a silicon integrated circuit chip attached to the rib members. The membrane prevents warpage and deterioration of each liquid crystal cell, maintains uniformity of spacing between structural members of the cell, and enables a high quality cell to be fabricated with accompanying improved cell fabrication yield.

Abstract: An automatic gain control system has a multiplying circuit for multiplying levels of input and feedback signals. Such control system is provided with a closed loop homomorphic network connected between the output terminal of the control system and the feedback terminal of the multiplying circuit. Such homomorphic network maintains a compressed output signal level at the system's output terminal, inhibits oscillation and latching up of the main system in which this AGC system is a component, and provides low distortion and noise levels of signals processed by this AGC system.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for processing bipolar coherent sidelooking radar data to achieve continuous real time synthetic array mapping in the form of focused line-by-line imagery. Received radar data is correlated such that a number of subarrays are vectorially combined with appropriate quadratic phase corrections to continuously form the total synthetic array. Each subarray is accumulated in a recirculating (feedback) channel which applies a linear phase correction and amplitude weighting, which in turn reduces the arithmetic operations required to form the array. The subarrays are updated by continuously subtracting out the oldest data and adding new data to yield continuous line-by-line imagery. Alternate accumulator and feedback channels are employed in an interleaved fashion to minimize the buildup of "round-off" errors which result from digital multiplications. The invention is adaptable to all-range-focusing and operation at various pointing angles.

Abstract: A device for providing a selectively variable proportion of an electrical signal, which can be used instead of a conventional resistive track potentiometer, is disclosed. The device comprises two switching devices, typically CMOS transmission gates, connected in series between two inputs for receiving the electrical signal, an output at the series connection of the switching devices, and a control circuit for cyclically switching the switching devices between high and low conductivity states. The control circuit is so arranged that when one of the switching devices is in its high conductivity state, the other is in its low state and vice versa, and the control circuit is arranged to control selectively the relative durations that the devices remain in their different conductivity states.

Abstract: The invention concerns an internal combustion engine provided with a vacuum sensor for monitoring the level of partial vacuum in the engine's inlet manifold, in order to provide an indication of engine load. during changes in engine load, the level of partial vacuum presented to the vacuum transducer is modified from that obtaining in the inlet manifold in order to improve the accuracy of the output of the transducer during changes of engine load.

Abstract: A tracking system for automatically tracking a designated target in response to video signals provided by a scanning infrared imaging sensor. A gated tracker provides output signals which are proportional to the angular deviation between the target's line of sight and the sensor's optical axis. Tracking gates are manually or automatically adaptable to the target image size so as to provide increased tracking stability and accuracy. Means are further provided for sensing when the target's image is larger than the tracking gates and for automatically expanding the tracking gates to compensate therefor. The gated tracker further comprises normalization means for providing tracker response substantially independent of target image size.

Abstract: A system for the simultaneous storage of a plurality of components of data signals and for the retrieval and the processing thereof. The system includes a signal source coupled to a record unit that is synchronized by a record controller. A plurality of cathode ray tubes and optical imaging means are included in the record unit for storing the plurality of simultaneously occurring input signal components on a photographic film in an interleaved pattern. A single readout device scans the film in a direction transverse to the record pattern to develop read signals which are processed by a readout processor and an analyzer and then displayed on a display unit. The readout unit synchronizes the readout processor, the analyzer and the display unit.

Abstract: A symbol smoothing system for synthetically increasing the effective resolution of an in-raster symbol generator memory by a factor of four. The system stores a special three bit code in selected memory elements representative of the existing and past two memory lines with the code actually being a video brightness distribution and positioning offset code. A code number in a single memory cell defines positional and intensity information for the display elements corresponding to that memory cell and to selected surrounding eight memory cells, all of the memory cells having time or positional correspondence to display element positions. The stored codes in the surrounding memory cells, as well as the instantaneous memory cell being decoded, provide intensity levels which are combined at selected display element positions.

Abstract: Radar systems in which target detection and unambiguously measured range rate are derived from returns from a high pulse repetition frequency (PRF) transmitted waveform; and wherein a lower PRF waveform is adaptively selected as a function of the measured range rate so that the range of even targets, that might otherwise be obscured by clutter, is unambiguously measured. For high PRF track update for a target on which track file data has been established, predicted range is used to adaptively select a high PRF waveform which avoids eclipsing of target returns due to the receiver being non-receptive during the transmission mode.

Abstract: A correlation tracker for generating correlation error tracking signals over an entire video frame. Video information from a scanning receiver is inputted into the correlation tracker in serial form. The correlation tracker first incorporates apparatus to generate a reference map in pixel format. Reference map pixel information for one video frame plus one video line is stored in a memory to allow the calculation of azimuth and elevation optimal weighting values for each pixel in the field of view. Each video pixel of data being received during the current frame is then summed with the corresponding reference map pixel from the prior frame and the result multiplied by the appropriate weighting function. Each resultant product is then combined in an accumulator to form azimuth and elevation correlation error signals which are composite indications of the frame-to-frame correlation over the entire field of view.

Abstract: An imaging detector system for improving the lock-on stability of an optical system and in particular a multi-dither coat system. A quadrant non-coherent detector is disposed beneath a variable stop iris for receiving focused light from a target. The quadrant detector generates a signal in each quadrant sensor region which has a value proportional to the intensity of the light impinging on that sensor region. The signals so generated are processed in a signal processor to generate x-y steering command signals which drive a motor which in turn drives a slewing mirror so that the area of the quadrant detector upon which the greatest light intensity occurs is centered relative to the iris aperture when viewed in the direction of the return optical energy. When the high-intensity region is centered, the aperture of the variable stop iris is decreased to prevent the problem of glint jump.

Abstract: A reticle superimposed upon an observation scene is detected by electronically discriminating the reticle from the rest of the observation scene to thereby define a coordinate system. The reticle is identified in an observation scene by recognizing that all reticle signal return elements fall on a straight line, that each reticle return will have a substantially uniform amplitude or pulse height, and that each reticle will have a predetermined predictable line thickness or pulse width. The discriminating system and method utilized first gates the video to detect returns within only selected portions of the observation scene. The "blackest" level within each video gate is then determined and a reference level close to it is established. All signals below the reference level are then purged. Finally, the pulse width of each resultant signal and its associated location within each sensor sweep is determined and tested for correlation with the resultant signals of a plurality of sequential sensor sweeps.