Abstract: A protective fabric of high penetration resistance is formed from a plurality of layered, densely woven base fabrics, each formed by tightly weaving multifilament yarns to obtain a warp yarn “density” or “cover” in excess of 100% at the center of the fill yarn, and a fill yarn density or cover preferably also in excess of 75%. The yarns themselves preferably comprise a high modulus, high breaking strength yarn of materials such as Kevlar, Spectra, or Vectran. The resultant layered fabric offers especially high penetration resistance to weapons such as ice picks and the like. Additional resistance to penetration by sharp knives is provided by interruptedly coating the base fabric with an epoxy in such a manner as to inhibit penetration while providing drapability and breathability.

Abstract: Techniques for interconnecting high-density, structures that include temperature sensitive materials such as piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer arrays, optical detector arrays, MEMS and the like to other structures (e.g., integrated circuits or mechanical assemblies) are disclosed.

Abstract: A container system for packing live lobsters and other crustaceans has two sidewall components, and optional intermediate wall components, with mating faces formed with uniformly spaced vertical pockets. There may be a separable bottom component as well. The components may be separately molded for interchangeable fit, or cut out from a common core molding as a matched set. Together the y form an open top box, with pockets aligned to form open top cells for holding lobsters, tail first. A top is used to contain the live lobsters under a cooling gel pack or layer of ice. The closed box may be further enclosed in a sleeve and liner for additional security and protection against leakage. The box can be opened one component at a time, exposing only one layer of lobsters at a time, permitting easy inspection and removal of each lobster.

Abstract: An ergonomic mouse accessory that allows the user to easily manipulate the control buttons of the mouse with a variety of hand positions and varying movements, thereby reducing or eliminating repetitive strain injuries and increasing accessibility to those unable to operate a standard mouse. In one embodiment a sleeve is positioned over the front of the mouse and a click stick is secured to the sleeve so that the lower end of the stick contacts the mouse button while the majority of the stick protrudes above the sleeve. Striking the stick produces a lever and fulcrum action, wherein the connection of the stick at the point of contact with the sleeve acts as a pivot point and causes the lower end of the stick to depress the mouse button. A spring means can be used to return the stick to the fully vertical position.

Abstract: A high precision torque motor, including a partial rotation drive suitable for use in a galvanometer scanner, where the rotor is supported within the stator and housing assembly on all ceramic ball bearings, including inner and outer races and bearing balls. The ceramic ball bearing assemblies and all structural support elements have substantially equal coefficients of expansion through the use of matched expansion, nickel-iron alloy for the rotor shaft, stator, housing and other structural components which contact, locate, and support the inner and outer bearing races. The non-conductive bearings permit exclusion of any grounding conductor strap as between the rotor shaft and the housing.

Abstract: A real-time, three dimensional, acoustical camera and a real-time, range-gated, intensified, electro-optical camera have substantially overlapping fields of view for co-registered imaging of underwater objects at close ranges. The system is typically mounted in an unmanned underwater vehicle but may be used in other fixed or mobile configurations. The coupled fields of view are steerable in an arc around at least one axis over a large field of regard with a servo-controlled rotating mirror system, while the vehicle or the target is moving or hovering. An automated target recognition system uses the multi-modality images to provide enhanced target recognition and/or autonomous operation in unmanned missions.

Abstract: A device and method to implement the device, to automatically adjust a single valve or a plurality of valves including turning the valve(s) on and off. The device includes a motor drive assembly, a mounting method, and a control method. Each component is discrete. The three components can be combined easily. The motor drive and control components can be mounted and connected to a valve that is currently connected to pipes. Thus one application of this invention is to provide a method to convert a manual valve to an automatic valve. The control method can operate as a means to turn the valve on and off using a manually operated switch or can be automatically controlled in response to an external stimulus. The invention has many applications including protecting real property from loss due to water damage, and against vandalism in cases where valves can be controlled by unauthorized people.

Abstract: A real-time multi-user detection (MUD) receiver processing simultaneous digitally modulated interferers and transmissions in the same frequency optimizing performance for heavily loaded and overloaded multiple access systems by implementing an iterative TurboMUD receiver using tree-pruning, including confidence ordering, power-ordering, and a voting procedure. On the first iteration, user indices are ordered according to received powers. On subsequent iterations, the voting system provides soft decisions or confidence values utilized as soft inputs to single-user decoders. Voting is computationally attractive and allows the bank of decoders to operate on soft values, improving performance and reducing the number of turboMUD iterations. The bank of soft output error correction decoders produces an improved set of soft decisions or confidence values corresponding to the channel bits transmitted by each interfering user.

Abstract: A method and system for underwater detection of fully or partially buried objects such as sea mines and underwater cables, consisting of a mobile underwater platform configured with a real-time, three dimensional acoustical camera with a downward directed field of view used as an imaging interferometer, coordinated with a high-intensity, low frequency acoustical transmitter directed as to disturb the loose particulate or elastic matter comprising the seafloor within the field of view of the camera. The images recorded by the camera display the relative motion of the seafloor material before and after an acoustical pulse, in contrast to the lesser or no motion of submerged solid objects. Distinguishing man-made from natural objects is aided by recognizing geometric shapes apparent within the varying image density, not common in nature.

Abstract: An electromagnetic stimulation device which is comprised of a plurality of overlapping coils which are able to be independently energized in a predetermined sequence such that each coil will generate its own independent electromagnetic field and significantly increase the adjacent field. The coils are co-planar and are disposed in an ergonomic body wrap, which is properly marked to permit an unskilled patient to locate the body wrap, on a particular part of the body, of the patient so that the stimulation coils will maximize the electromagnetic stimulation on the selected nerves, muscles, and/or body tissues near the treated area. The device can be used to treat medical conditions including: muscular atrophy, neuropathic bladder and bowel, musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, as well as possible future applications in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis and weight reduction.

Abstract: An optical data transmission link with improved fiber utilization. VCSEL and detector elements are configured on an optical matrix array with allocated surface area footprints at standard industry pitch dimensions, the elements of alternate rows and columns being offset from centerline of their footprints in opposite directions so as to create a pattern of sets of two or four adjacent optical elements operating at a common or differential wavelengths. A connector provides offset alignment of the fiber bundle to the matrix array so as to align a single fiber of standard industry diameter equal to the pitch of the array, with the center of each multi-element set so the fiber core diameter spans all elements of the set. The required modification to standard commercial mask design and chip fabrication is within the scope of present fiber optic technology.

Abstract: A high rate optical correlator is implemented on a substrate in which all of the optical devices are referenced to the flat surface of the substrate for optical alignment purposes by mounting the devices thereon. With the substrate surface as a reference point, alignment of the optical pieces is achieved to within a wavelength to eliminate the possibility of a “no correlation” result due to optical misalignment of the optical pieces. Additionally for the active elements, namely the laser, detector and spatial light modulators, interconnection of these devices and to drive sources is accomplished via direct coupling through the substrate so that the devices can communicate with each other through the silicon, thus to eliminate wire bonding and reduce pin count for the approximate 100,000 optical interconnects for a 256/256 array. Moreover, an epoxy frame which is milled at its top surface is used to mount an optical element over an active element for the alignment thereof.

Abstract: A protective fabric includes a plurality of warp yarns interwoven with a plurality of fill yarns. The denier of each of the warp and fill yarns is less than 500. The yarns are made from at least one of liquid crystal polyesters, para-aramids, and high density polyethylenes.

Abstract: Meanderline loaded antennas having a wide bandwidth available for simultaneous or instantaneous use are disclosed. In one embodiment, the azimuthal angle of arrival associated with the antenna is provided by phase difference between signals at the RHCP and Vpol ports or by phase difference between signals at the LHCP and Vpol ports. In another embodiment, a quad meanderline loaded antenna is adapted to simultaneously provide four independent beams. Any beam direction can be synthesized by combining the independent beams.

Abstract: The present invention is a hollow article with an integral impact absorbing rib and the method of manufacturing the same. The apparatus is a hollow article made of thermoplastic resin and integrally formed by blow molding, comprising a first wall and a second wall confronting across a spacing. There is an integral rib between the first wall and the second wall, wherein the integral rib comprises a flat rib between the walls and one or more hollow ribs adjacent to each of two side ends of the flat rib. The impact absorbing rib is disposed at intervals and in an impact action direction. The rib is uniform in shape, dimensions and wall width, and free from reduction of wall width of the inner rib, yet possessing proper structural support and mechanical strength, and excellent in impact absorbing performance.

Abstract: A heated airflow dryer system for drying granular, crushed, and in particular, sliced fruit and other crops and materials where granules are of at least about one quarter inch diameter or slices are about one quarter inch or more thickness. An integral or removable materials holding container has multiple removable airflow plates configured with airflow channels extending through the container interior connecting an inlet high pressure plenum to a lower pressure outlet plenum of a primary heated airflow circuit. The airflow plates are parallel and uniformly spaced to form vertical or horizontal bays of sufficient width to hold the granules or slices. The primary airflow is directed through the container. An air dryer removes excess moisture in the primary airflow or a secondary airflow circuit, which may incorporate a heat exchanger, exhausts moist air and provides make up air to the primary airflow.

Abstract: An automatic spotting weight bench used to support a weight bar and create an escape opening after a failed bench press lift. In one of the embodiments, a foot release mechanism and mechanical knuckle work in conjunction to drop the head end of the weight bench so that the weights are resting on a pair of support bars. In one embodiment, there is a means of controlling the drop of the weight bench so that it is lowered gently.

Abstract: A process for extending the operating temperature limit of a polypropylene film capacitor to greater than 105° C., by use of a post assembly curing process of placing the capacitor in a 10 Torr or less pressure environment, preferably less than 1 Torr, and slowing heating it at a rate of less than an average rate of 5° C./hour to a peak temperature of about 10 to 20 degrees higher than the intended operating temperature, the peak temperature being not more than preferably 180° C.

Abstract: An electro-optical transceiver system with controlled lateral light leakage and a method of making such a system includes a plurality of emitter devices and detector devices including at least one of each, arranged in a planar array for transmitting and receiving, respectively, energy in a predetermined wavelength and a blocking medium disposed interstitially of the devices and being absorbing at the predetermined wavelength for blocking energy at the predetermined wavelength laterally leaking from an emitter device to one or more detector devices.

Abstract: A system for protecting test equipment intended to perform in-circuit or other low level testing and may connect to a charged capacitor. In one embodimnet, a transformer with three windings is used to couple the ESR meter to the capacitor being tested in a manner that protects the ESR meter. In operation, the ESR meter is connected to the primary winding and the capacitor to be measured is connected to one of the secondary windings. The other secondary winding is connected to the first secondary winding through two diodes that are not conducting during the measurement but do conduct if the capacitor being measured has an electrical charge. The transformer secondary windings are connected to each other so the capacitor discharging currents create flux in the transformer core that are of the same magnitude and opposite polarity, thereby canceling their effect on the primary winding.