Abstract: An associative processor for searching data stored in memory to identify messages or other data containing operator selected keywords containing alpha-numeric or other characters is disclosed. The identified messages or other data are then transferred from the memory to an output device for review. The processor comprises a plurality of commercially available integrated circuit random access memories (RAMs) for performing processing functions. The binary words read out of the RAMs are applied via a register to the higher order addressing inputs of the same RAMs without any processing. Messages being searched for keywords are applied to the lower order addressing inputs of the same RAMs. A binary word applied to the higher order addressing inputs of the RAM memory selects a block of memory bits with each bit being associated with a different character.

Abstract: A spread spectrum detector utilizes compressive receiver techniques and squaring of the incoming signal to detect the presence of a spread spectrum signal and to obtain its center frequency, with the squaring cancelling the pseudo-random code. Once having determined the center frequency, the gated output of the compressive receiver's dispersive delay line may be directly demodulated without resort to code correlation, by applying the output of the dispersive delay line to a narrowband filter set to the detected center frequency. Narrowband interfering signals are rejected by a continuous comb filter, hard limiters for the filter outputs and a summing device. The same narrowband signal rejection can be accomplished by hard limiting the output of the compressive receiver delay line and then returning to the time domain with an additional dispersive delay line having a dispersive characteristic inverse to that of the compressive receiver delay line.

Abstract: A resistive heater comprising an emitter, including a hot zone center section and lower temperature end sections, disposed within a protective tube with the emitter and protective tube being mounted within end caps with a spring mechanism provided to allow for the difference in expansion and contraction of the emitter and protective tube during heating and cooling.

Abstract: A wide field of view-narrow band detection system including a radiation responsive member and optical filter is provided by employing optimal angle cones to simultaneously control field of view, throughput and angles impinging on the optical filter.

Abstract: A Loran-C receiver cycle detector is disclosed which processes Loran-C signal pulses on a cycle-by-cycle basis of the carrier frequency and generates an output for a specific carrier cycle. Due to received noise, sampling techniques are used to create a histogram which is analyzed to provide feedback used to accurately locate a tracking point on each Loran-C pulse.

Abstract: A processor is provided for an inertial measurement unit which computes its angular velocity and translational acceleration in terms of dynamic variables chosen because they uniquely define the motion of the inertial measurement unit in terms of linear combinations of the outputs of the transducers used in the inertial measurement unit. In one embodiment, the processor includes a demodulator for obtaining d.c., in-phase and quadrature sets of signals from the outputs of the transducers, a combining circuit for deriving some of the dynamic variables from the in-phase and quadrature sets of signals, and a microprocessor for transforming the dynamic variables into angular velocity and translational acceleration vectors. The processor is used with a small rugged, precise inertial measurement unit in which vector components are measured by the use of accelerometers fixed in a spinning rotor, at least one of which is off-set from the rotor axis and has a sensitive axis parallel to that of the rotor.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system particularly suitable for controlling the acceleration and velocity of a load such as the plunger of die casting equipment is described. The load is controlled by a hydraulic ram which in turn is controlled by a main valve of the kind in which the rate of flow of fluid to the load is directly proportional to the rate of flow of pilot fluid thereto. Pilot fluid flows through an auxiliary valve and a restrictor. The restrictor is adjusted to determine the maximum rate of flow and the rate at which the auxiliary valve opens is adjusted to determine the rate of change of flow.

Abstract: An efficient split cycle solar energy conversion system utilizes sensible heat storage to isolate a solar receiver loop from a Brayton cycle engine loop. In this system a sensible heat storage unit is first charged by the solar receiver, is then switched to the inlet to the Brayton cycle turbine where it is discharged, and finally may be utilized as a high temperature, high effectiveness recuperator to recapture waste heat from the Brayton cycle turbine. With high effectiveness sensible heat storage recuperation, the Brayton cycle engine runs at extremely high efficiency. Moreover, since these storage devices can be run efficiently at low gas velocity, and since recuperated Brayton cycle engines become very efficient at extremely low pressure ratios, an overall thermal/electric conversion efficiency in excess of 60% can be obtained.

Abstract: An aquaculture habitat is described for the rearing of post larval crustacia in which a cellular honeycomb structure, preferably of opposed cones, provides compartments for the animals and serves as the domicile core. Individual animals are inserted into the core compartments and the core is sealed with a screen or a mesh on either side of the core. The screen or mesh is of a size such that water and food may pass through but which restrains the animals. Cores with screens in place are vertically oriented and horizontally stacked on a false bottom within a tank of water. The tank is provided with food distribution means adjacent the false bottom, and air lift circulation means beneath the food distribution means which, due to the upward rise of the expanding air bubbles, moves the food and freshly filtered and aerated water to the vicinity of the habitats.

Abstract: A high speed, two dimensional phase gradient map of atmosphere-induced phase gradients measures the distortion of an optical beam transmitted through the atmosphere. This is accomplished by detecting phase gradients of an interference pattern produced by optically heterodyning a returned glint from a remote target with a portion of the transmitted beam. The phase gradients are utilized to assign conjugate corrective phase distortion values to COAT actuators to alter the phase structure of the waves at the transmitter aperture. In one embodiment, two interference patterns are formed with one pattern phase shifted by 90.degree. with respect to the other. The phase gradients and their direction are detected as a function of position across the transmitter aperture by the use of two optical scanners driven in synchronism to scan the respective interference patterns.

Abstract: A banner in the form of an elongated sheet of flexible material is attached to an air dropped sonobuoy for stabilization of the sonobuoy during descent as well as for descent speed control, entry angle control, and wave action damping once the sonobuoy is floating at the surface of the ocean. The banner is roller furled and stored on top of the sonobuoy. When the sonobuoy is dropped, the banner unrolls and streams out behind the sonobuoy during descent. It is a feature of this drogue apparatus that it is deployed by the time that the sonobuoy has descended a distance corresponding approximately to the length of the banner. The banner is not released when the sonobuoy hits the water in order to enable it to stream out over the surface of the water to provide wave damping action.

Abstract: A directional hydrophone comprises a plurality of coil elements each disposed in an air gap in a common magnetic circuit. In a first embodiment of the invention two coil elements each have a single degree of freedom of motion which is orthogonal to the other. The force due to an acoustic wave impingent upon the hydrophone is resolved into two orthogonal components by the two coils which give rise to two distinct electrical output signals proportional to the sine and cosine respectively of the angle at which the acoustic wave arrives. In another embodiment of the invention each coil element has two degrees of freedom of motion and the movement of each of the coil elements is resolved into two orthogonal components by the effective length of the coil which varies in a known manner with the angle of coil motion with respect to the polarity of the magnetic circuit.

Abstract: 1. In a method for communicating information between a submerged vessel and a buoy, the improvement comprising the steps ofA. allowing said buoy to assume substantially the same horizontal velocity as the water in which it is floating,B. feeding out a communication cable interconnecting said buoy with said vessel at substantially the rate at which the distance between said vessel and said buoy increases,C. destroying said buoy upon command, andD. releasing the fed-out cable from said vessel.

Abstract: An aquaculture rearing system for improving space utilization and yield is disclosed in which clustered, vertical rearing tanks are provided with individual stacked habitats in the form of baskets attached to a strongback member which houses a removable feeding rod, in which the baskets are quickly detachable through the use of interlocking detents and in which nestable baskets are utilized for different sized animals. Progressive space increments to match growth are provided by two different size baskets and removable dividers. Overflow water is skimmed by a skimmer which surrounds the entire top of each tank to prevent bacteriologic contamination of the water within the tank. The staggered modular mounting produces a tripod-like stability even though each tank has a single leg, and provides visibility and density. An overhead materials handling system is used in which the animals are protected by a fog to prevent gill malfunction.

Abstract: A display employing a horizontal and vertical grid of parallel infrared light beams in front of a cathode ray tube (CRT) face wherein a finger or other object may be placed against the face of the CRT to mark a spot thereon and the spot so marked will be detected by the interrupted beams. Infrared sources and detectors are located around the periphery of the CRT face and operate in different planes to more closely follow the curvature of the CRT face and thereby minimize parallax errors.

Abstract: A slot antenna capable of relatively broad bandwidth operation is disclosed that may be used for wide angle scanning in phased arrays. By shorting the feed element to the slot radiator at multiple points, the relatively broad bandwidth operation is achieved.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided to permit the control of circuitry within a video game generator including an audio playback device employing an audio tape or phonograph disc having recorded thereon digital data which is decoded and interfaced with the video game generator.

Abstract: In one embodiment, cooling of a laser passive Q-switch is provided by affixing the Q-switch to the rear mirror of the laser which, thus, acts as a heat sink for the Q-switch.

Abstract: Inertial measurements, including the measurement of angular velocity as well as angular and translational acceleration, are made by spinning one or more translational acceleration transducers disposed at predetermined positions and orientations and combining their output signals. The principles of the invention are also applied to generate components of translational acceleration for the purpose of calibrating translational acceleration transducers.

Abstract: Discrimination of long range targets from short range targets is provided by generating a vertical dipole beam and a narrow uni-directional horizontal beam which may be steered. Targets in the dipole beam are short range targets whose acoustic signals arrive at angles to the horizontal plane, whereas long range targets are those in the horizontal beam, since acoustic signals from long range targets come in on the horizontal plane.