Abstract: A cold station thermal switch at the end of a cold finger in cooperation h the detector on an inner dewar wherein the thermal switch opens at the cool down cryogenic temperature to prevent vibrations from the cooler system from being transmitted to the detector. The thermal switch has an outer bellows fitted around the end of the last stage of the cooler which extends close to but not in contact with the detector and an inner bellows having a metallic bumper on the end thereof in contact with the detector until cool down to the operating cryogenic temperature at which time contraction of the inner bellows disconnects the metallic bumper from the detector.

Abstract: An adjustment signal is derived for each element in a detector array which depends on the median of the differences of image brightness between that particular detector and all its neighboring detectors. The adjustment signal is derived by integrated circuit techniques on the detector itself. The negative feedback of these adjustment signals to the uncorrected detector outputs will delete the salt-and-pepper noise of the staring array.

Abstract: In certain light detection and ranging (LIDAR) systems it is necessary to move the normal aerosol backscattering signal of the atmosphere so that a weak atmospheric turbulence signal of interest, which is present on the backscattering, may be observed. In this disclosure, only one LIDAR pulse is used wherein the return signal is fed equally into four separate delay lines. The four different delayed signals are subtracted to cancel the background and are amplified to give an output signal for which the background is largely removed while retaining the signal of interest. The signal of interest is then amplified and displayed and/or analyzed.

Abstract: The tail of a carbon-dioxide (CO.sub.2) transverse electrode discharge at mospheric pressure (TEA) laser pulse optical signal is pulse code modulated by a Pockels Cell. A modulation depth of 100% is obtained to prevent high false alarm rates under dynamic transmission conditions. The device external to the laser cavity will extend the capabilities of the CO.sub.2 TEA laser by using a tail for information transfer while preserving the gain switch spike for rangefinding. A high repetition rate is achieved using a power supply that electrically charges and discharges the Pockels Cell which, in turn, activates the polarization switch.

Abstract: Swash plate driving means for cryogenic coolers wherein multiple compress and regenerators are driven. The swash plate driving means may drive one or more compressors off one or both sides of each swash plate, and one or more regenerators may simultaneously be driven by separate swash plates. The swash plates are formed to provide flat topped and bottomed repetitive pressure waves.

Abstract: A short pulse CO.sub.2 transverse electrode discharge at atmospheric pressure (TEA) laser device for ranging and target identification which uses an electro-optics Pockels Cell modulator to chop the transmitted laser beam into a train of 0.5 to 2 nanosecond pulses and a broadband receiver for observing the time broadened reflected signals that results from integration of the finite depths of the targets. Because a target has a unique three dimensional profile, the target signature may be identified by comparison with known signatures previously generated by computer simulation or field measurements. The present shortened pulse laser transmitter and a plurality of receiver field-of-view options meet the temporal and signal-to-noise requirements for pattern recognition. The device can be used to provide high accuracy target ranging along with target identification.

Abstract: A monolithic laser optical cavity structure and method of forming by use of planar photolithographic and crystal regrowth techniques. An original growth multilayer double heterostructure laser structure is grown by LPE on a N+-GaAs substrate. V-grooves are then etched in the epitaxial layers down through the optical cavity by photolithographic techniques. GaAlAs is grown in the V-grooves by crystal regrowth techniques up to the original surface of the laser wafer thus isolating the lasers from each other. The lasers are then separated to form laser arrays.

Abstract: A high efficiency gas laser which utilizes transverse electrical excitation f a laser gas medium confined in a circular cylindrical volume. Limitation of the excitation energy to only the optical mode volume of the laser eliminates the inefficiency associated with conventional TEA laser technology in which a much larger gas volume is excited for a given optical mode volume. The present invention is comprised of a new design making possible the higher efficiencies through use of dielectric coupling between concave electrodes.

Abstract: A technique for optical non-uniformity correction of a focal plane imaging ystem wherein incoming objective scene light rays impinging on each detector in a focal plane array is corrected on a pixel-by-pixel basis by optical correction means from a separate optical source. The optical correction means is comprised of a multiplicative correction means and an additive correction means. The multiplicative correction means is comprised of a responsivity mask positioned on or near the focal plane that provides a multiplicative factor of unity or less to each detector to cause more uniform sensitivity of the detectors. The additive correction means is comprised of the separate optical source that is positioned in a separate optical train and is comprised of an additive optical correction mask aligned with a light source and focusing screen means and image relay that relay the additive optical correction sensitizing illumination onto the focal plane array or the pixel-by-pixel basis.

Abstract: A means for training troops to readily identify and successfully engage ey vehicles at night by providing a system simulating the lighting signature patterns of running lights of said enemy vehicles. The simulated running lights may be mounted on a simulated enemy vehicle in the appropriate lighting signature patterns. The simulated enemy vehicle may be a friendly tank or other vehicles, such as jeeps, armored personnel carriers, 3/4-ton vehicles, etc. The simulated running lights may be attached to the friendly vehicle by field expedient tape, wire, screws, etc. and have input power passing through operator dimmer controlled organic dimmer/map light assemblies to adjust the brightness of the running lights in accordance with the brightness of the map light inside the simulated enemy vehicle.

Abstract: The bracket provides an improved mounting means for conveniently mounting d dismounting an infrared aiming light to a weapon. The bracket has a three point-mounting portion mounted in the weapon handle and a forward and downward angular offset portion extending to an aiming light end of the mounting bracket upon which an infrared aiming light is mounted. The forward and downward angular offset portion conveniently places a dead man switch that is on the front of the infrared aiming light close to the weapon operator's hand so that the operator may simultaneously operate the aiming light while bracing the weapon handle. After zeroing in the beam of the aiming light with the bore of the weapon, the bracket and/or infrared aiming light may be disassembled and reassembled without loss of zero.

Abstract: The day-night sight mounting bracket has a day sight mounted to the weapon andle and specifically has flip out peep-sight and sighting-post on a pivot plate that is connected to a locking bracket that is wedged in the weapon handle. The pivot plate is pivotable on the locking bracket to provide any necessary elevation of the weapon when using the day sight. The locking bracket itself is mounted in the weapon handle by a three point-mounting arrangement that has front and rear pads in a weapon shoe portion of the locking bracket which fit against a foot portion of the weapon handle to form two of the three points. The locking bracket also has a tapered locking pin that fits snugly into a hole in the upper half of the weapon handle by turning a thumb screw that is threadably connected to the locking pin. The locking pin provides the third point of the three point-mounting.

Abstract: A cryogenic cooler having multistage telescoping in-line regenerator-dispers in which the regenerator-displacer stages are progressively smaller from a pressure wave input end to the output cold end. Each stage from the input toward the output functions to produce a plurality of precooled expansion volumes for progressively lowering the temperatures at the input environment of each subsequent regenerator-displacer stage to maintain a temperature of about 8.degree. Kelvin at the output end of the cooler. Cooling concepts in which the multistage telescoping in-line regenerator-displacer may be used are the integral cycle, the split cycle, and dual fluidly control motion cycle.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) detector device comprised of a solid state, radiation ha and high resolution monolithic IR focal plane array for imaging applications. The monolithic IR focal plane array has a heterostructure injection scheme that prevents charged-coupled device (CCD) "well filling" by using a heterojunction barrier between the absorber, or detector layer, and the transfer layer. Injection of signal charge into a CCD multiplexer is controlled by establishing a punch through condition between the absorber layer and the CCD channel. The detector layer and the CCD multiplexer are on different planes of the focal plane array.

Abstract: A device for responding to visible bright light and attenuating these bright lights over a spectral region wherein image intensifiers and the like are sensitive, including the near-infrared, to reduce glare and halation prior to entering the image intensifier and a method of manufacture of said device. The device is comprised of some electrochromic (EC) material sandwiched between two light transparent conductive means wherein one light transparent conductive means has a photoconductive coating in direct contact with the EC material. With a voltage source applying voltage across said two light transparent conductive means, this device remains transparent at low light levels, but when an incoming bright spot is focused on the device, the photoconductive coating conducts at the focal point and the EC material becomes dark at that point, thus absorbing the bright spot. When the bright spot is removed, the darkened area becomes transparent again.

Abstract: A method of target acquisition and lock-on-launch strike capability of self uided explosive canisters, such as imaging missile systems and imaging artillery projectiles, by launching an imaging sensor platform over the battlefield area and transmitting imagery of the battlefield to an image processing computer system and an image receiving on-board microcomputer. The sensor platform may be an artillery television camera fired over the battlefield and parachute deployed, or an airlift sensor platform aboard a helicopter or the like. The image processing computer system is comprised of an automatic target cueing system and CRT display in which the system displays cued targets on the CRT. The method has an important man-in-the-loop, as a crew-chief, who examines the cued targets on the CRT and eliminates false targets, such as a bush or rock, and annotates selected targets to be struck by the explosive canisters.

Abstract: A collinear aiming light image viewer device in a common housing through ch an observer may view both a target scene and a superimposed collinear aiming light beam within the viewer. The aiming light source is positioned in an offset area of the common housing to project a narrow IR beam off a partially reflective mirror along a portion of the optical axis of the image viewer onto a scene wherein the scene and IR beam images are simultaneously viewed through an image intensifier.

Abstract: A low cost, easily assembled simulated thermal target for use as either a aining device or as a target decoy against an enemy. Various simulated thermal targets may be constructed to appear as enemy tactical vehicles when viewed by thermal images.

Abstract: A double-yoke balanced compressor for a cryogenic cooler that has only lir motion imparted to balanced piston and cylinder masses. A piston yoke is driven in the linear stroke direction by a piston axially offset crankshaft cam and a cylinder yoke is driven linearly by a cylinder axially offset crankshaft cam that is exactly offset 180.degree. from the other cam. A large circular bushing in the compressor housing covers the entire outer cylinder head during linear operation to prevent blow by and to guide the cylinder linearly. The lower portion of the piston and cylinder connecting rods fit into linear guides that are further comprised of low molecular weight gas filled cavities to provide additional air bearing smoothness to the linear motion of the piston and cylinder.

Abstract: The hydro-optical modulator has a purged and hermetically sealed thin liq cell with a working liquid throughout an enclosed sealed container that is in working contact with a pressure modulating system. The thin liquid cell is preferably a thin circular cell having windows on each side thereof where the optical radiation being modulated easily passes through the windows but is transmitted according to the size of bubbles in the working fluid. The size of the bubbles, and therefore the amount of optical radiation transmitted, is controlled by the pressure modulating system whereby smaller bubbles allow transmission while large bubbles scatter and limit transmission of optical radiation in an AC sensitive viewing device.