Abstract: GaAs substrates with compositionally graded buffer layers for matching lattice constants with high-Indium semiconductor materials such as quantum well infrared photoconductor devices and thermo photo voltaic devices are disclosed.

Abstract: A sensor mounting system having a suction cup array is disclosed. In one application, the system eases the initial positioning of the calorimeter on the screen to be measured, minimizes the force applied to the screen upon which it is mounted, and minimizes the distortion in the mounted area of the screen surface. In addition, the mounting system can be configured so that the distance from the colorimeter sensor to the screen will not significantly change over time. Such positional stability operates to improve SNR. The mounting system is further adapted for ease of removal from the screen upon which it is mounted. Applications not only include a mount for low to high accuracy calorimeters, but also for other measurement devices that can benefit from advantages of the present invention. Injection molding manufacturing techniques can be employed in fabrication of the system.

Abstract: Formations on the surface of bodies for reducing the drag relative to a medium which the body is located in or close to. The formations comprise a plurality of cavities (1,20,40,60). The surface in which the cavities are formed is closed. The cavity has a disruption edge (5,25,44,66) adjacent to the cavity, with the disruption edge located upstream of the cavity, so as to set the flowing medium most proximal to the surface into turbulence upon passing the disruption edge. The cavity has a maximum depth from the surface of at least approximately 2 mm.

Abstract: The invention in the simplest form is an improved variable speed engine/generator set with an integrated power conditioning system and control method, used to generate high quality AC power with optimum fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. The variable speed generator control scheme allows for load adaptive speed control of engine and generator field. The transformerless power inverter topology and control method provides the necessary output frequency, voltage and/or current waveform regulation, harmonic distortion rejection, and provides for single phase, or unbalanced loading.

Abstract: A semiconductor-based, photo detector device capable of simultaneously detecting two or more selected wavelengths of light on a pixel-registered basis. The device has detector layers of selected semiconductor materials of one micron or less in thickness interspersed with contact layers, each detector layer having a different light absorption to wavelength response curve. All contact layers, including detector bias voltages, have electrical contacts on the backside of the pixel for discrete pixel connection to mating connections on a suitable ROIC substrate. Among its several embodiments, there is a multi-color detector array and a single channel per pixel differential optical signal detector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for cold-rolling metallic rolling stock (4), in which the rolling stock (4) passes through the roll nip (3) between oppositely driven rollers (2) at room temperature in order to undergo a plastic shape change. To avoid the problems caused by the use of liquid coolants and to achieve an improved surface quality of the rolling stock (4), the invention proposes that inert gas, which is at a lower temperature than the rolling-stock temperature in the roll nip, is blown into the region of the roll nip (3). The invention also relates to a cold-rolling stand for carrying out this method.

Abstract: In the laser trimming of passive circuit elements such as resistors, capacitors and inductors, various trimming parameters must be selected. To select a element is compared with a target value for the parameter to determine an offset value between the measured parameter value and the target value. The relevant trim parameters are then selected based on the determined offset values.

Abstract: The present invention features an RF-actuated microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switch for use with switchable RF structures such as antennas. An antenna within each MEMS switch module is coupled to a tuned circuit and a detector. The DC voltage output of the detector is used as the control input to the MEMS switch. This allows arrays of MEMS switch modules to be actuated by remotely generated radio frequency signals thus alleviating the need for running metallic conductors or optical fibers to each MEMS switch. The MEMS switch is particularly suited for use in conjunction with both passive and active antenna elements to allow reconfiguration of antenna or other RF structures. Frequency response characteristics, phasing, and directionality characteristics may be altered easily.

Abstract: A foil for use in hair coloring is made of a substantially rectangular sheet of material. The upper edge of the foil is pinked, forming a zig-zag pattern. The upper surface of the foil contains a hair restraint in proximity to the foil's upper edge, formed of an elongated, rectangular strip of loop material which adheres to the hair. The lower surface of the foil contains a similar elongated rectangular strip of loop material, providing an attachment anchor, which adheres to the scalp of the subject without the stylist having to hold the foil during the entire coloring process. After the foil has been attached to the subject's hair in proximity to a part, hair strands are woven from under the foil, over the upper edge, and held in place by the hair restraint. Coloring is then applied, and the foil folded in half, retaining the hair within the folded foil.

Abstract: A protective covering system having high-flexibility and low areal density characteristics. In one aspect of the invention, the protective system includes a plurality of metallic staples or wire elements secured to multi-layer matrix including woven fibers, the layers being oriented at cross angles to provide a grid-like pattern of protective elements. In one aspect of the invention, protective elements provide a coverage area of less than 90% and as little as 40% of total surface area. In one aspect of the invention, protective elements may be mechanically secured to a matrix by a puncture and crimp process. In another, wire elements may be attached or woven into one or more matrix layers.

Abstract: A structure for a passive microwave device capable of low IMD and high power operation, and adapted for automated assembling and placement is disclosed. The device exhibits a high degree of coplanarity on its mounting surface, as well as a high degree of flatness and alignment between its respective components. The inherent self-aligning qualities of the design are used in conjunction with an assembly fixture that has three or more alignment pins to provide a highly manufacturable and reliable device. Related manufacturing methods and fixturing are also disclosed.

Abstract: A machine for the automated assembly of wafers such as solar cells into strings, comprising a control system, a cell loader with wafer inspection station, a cell tab loader, a string assembly station, and a platen with adjacent pairs of individual cell, opposing edge grippers having multiple sets of vertically operable pincer action fingers for holding cells in string alignment during soldering. The string assembly station has a cooperating cell support and tab tail support mechanism providing for a tab tail hand off from one to the other with a platen indexing movements of cell pitch distance. The platen moves from the string assembly station through a soldering station consisting of a preheat, soldering, and cooling zones spaced a cell pitch distance apart. A string unloader moves completed strings through a string inspection station placing strings in a good or bad string holding area.

Abstract: A fabric system and manufacturing method for achieving higher fiber crimp in selected fibers to reduce initial fabric modulus (gain higher elongation) in the thread-line direction. The fabric system and method utilizes processing yarns of higher shrinkage than the product reinforcing yarns. The processing yarns are woven together with the reinforcing yarns in various patterns and combinations dependent on the desired fabric characteristics. The fabric is processed thermally or otherwise to impart crimp into the reinforcing yarns by the differential shrinkage of the processing yarns. By adjusting the ratio of reinforcing yarns to processing yarns, a unique set of characteristics in the fabric is created, specifically a lower modulus, higher initial elongation in the thread-line direction of the reinforcing yarn.

Abstract: A Turbo multi-user detector (MUD) processing system in multiple access communications channels that decreases the likelihood of improper decoding of the final values of interest, thereby allowing for a reduction in the number of iterations performed and lowers complexity without negatively impacting performance. The present invention comprises a multi-user detector serially concatenated to two decoder sections in such a manner that data flows iteratively from the MUD and to each detector stage and back to the MUD to correct for errors.

Abstract: Techniques for underwater detection of fully or partially buried objects such as sea mines and underwater cables are disclosed. An acoustical camera produces three dimensional volumetric images of a target area volume of an underwater floor. One or more first images are produced of the target area volume. An acoustical transducer pulse is then directed to the target area volume so as to disturb the loose particulate or elastic matter included in the target area. One or more second images are then produced while the pulse is present in the target area volume. The images can be compared for evidence of buried objects, or to otherwise evaluate objects included in the target area. The camera can be configured with an interferometer mode so as to produce volumetric images at a real-time frame rate.

Abstract: A processing scheme for digital storage media using multi-user detection to separate tracks of data or remove interference from neighboring tracks. In one embodiment, data is written on a plurality of tracks positioned sufficiently close together so that multiple tracks are detected simultaneously by the read access sensor. Upon scanning the surface for data, the read element simultaneously receives the data signals from a plurality of tracks. Joint detection signal processing resolves the interference and data bits from the multiple sensed tracks, enabling closer packing of data with minimal guard space.

Abstract: A deceptive signature broadcast system for an aircraft or other emissions generating asset for generating an emissions pattern for masking the normal emissions signature of the aircraft or asset, and protecting it from emissions tracking intercept vehicles such as Infrared tracking missiles; the system includes at least two beacons mounted in a spaced apart arrangement orthogonal to the desired zone of protection, and bracketing the asset, such as on opposite wingtips of the aircraft for fore and aft protection; the beacon set is modulated from one end to the other with a sweeping pattern of emission intensity, deceptively indicating to the intercepting vehicle a lateral component of motion of the aircraft away from its true relative position within the intercept vehicle's field of view, thereby inducing the intercept vehicle to adopt an erroneous and exaggerated lead angle and course correction that results in a missed intercept trajectory.

Abstract: A transmission line configured as a looped-stub resonator is disclosed, which can be used as a frequency selective element for an oscillator, such as a VCO of a phase locked loop. The transmission line is a fraction of an electrical wavelength, and can be embedded to provide an inner resonant layer of an overall layered structure. The transmission line is formed into a loop or multiple loops and may be terminated with a capacitor, short circuit, or open circuit. In the embedded case, dielectric insulating material can be used to surround the transmission line on top and bottom surfaces as layers. In addition, electrically conducting material layers can be used to surround the dielectric insulating material.

Abstract: An automated valuation system and method for: storing, in a database, a first feature element and an offered price for each of a plurality of specimens; generating, through the use of the first feature element and the offered price, a plurality of valuation coefficients, indicative of the actual value of each of the plurality of specimens; calculating, through the use of the plurality of valuation coefficients, the actual value of each of the plurality of specimens; and comparing, for each of the plurality of specimens, the actual value of the specimen to the offered price of the specimen to determine a cost indicator, wherein the cost indicator is indicative of the amount that the offered price of a specimen differs from the actual value of a specimen.

Abstract: To determine the uniformity of an optical component, a light beam is directed to impinge on a surface of an optical component at each of multiple points. A characteristic of the light beam impinging on the optical component surface at each of the multiple points is modified so as to have multiple different values. Light from the impinging light beam that passes through the optical component at each of the multiple points, with the light beam characteristic at each of the multiple different values, is detected. The non-uniformity of the optical component is determined based on the detected passing light.