Abstract: A laminated packaging film useful for skin-packaging electrostatic-sensitive items and protecting the items from electrostatic damage during packaging and while the items are vacuumed, contained, and removed from packages. The film includes a pair of sheets of highly resistive, heat-sealable plastic between which is sandwiched a sheet of conductive, heat-sealable plastic. The film resists the buildup of static charges while the item is being packaged and forms a protective Faraday cage while the item is contained in the package.

Abstract: A control system for rolling airframes utilizing variable pitch control surfaces includes a variable inertia device within the control system connected to the servo control motors that control the control surfaces, with the variable inertia device selectively controllable to optimize the inertia of the control system for optimizing the power requirements of the control system. The variable inertia means includes a rotatable mass with means for moving the effective position of the mass radially inwardly and outwardly from the rotary shaft of the control system for selectively varying the inertia of the control system.

Abstract: A cooled infrared detector post includes a detector post formed of a stack of wafer disks with a detector substrate wafer forming one end of the post and a cooling chamber adjacent to the detector substrate with coolant supply and return passages formed in the series of wafers with a supply passage contained to a supply port with a supply passage forming a plurality of serpentine passages at various planes within the post and a return passage including a plurality of precooling chambers with the wafer stacked in a predetermined arrangement and fused together to form a monolithic post structure.

Abstract: The leads for an infrared detector unit are arranged to pass through bores in a cooled detector housing with intimate contact with the cooled detector housing for precooling the leads extending from the detector elements to the respective preamp leads.

Abstract: A highly accurate rapid gimbal assembly method utilizes two fixtures for establishing the critical gimbal assembly parameters of yield and axis of intersection and an adhesive for bonding each mating surface of the gimbal assembly for holding the components of the gimbal assembly in their adjusted positions. The fixtures include an inner/outer gimbal fixture for holding the inner and outer gimbals in relative position for bonding and a gimbal/post fixture for holding the gimbal assembly in alignment on the support post for bonding. These fixtures and assembly method eliminate the need for use of shims between the mating surfaces for establishing alignment of the critical parameters.

Abstract: A dielectric heat sensor system for monitoring and measuring the effects of electromagnetic radiation on the performance or physical integrity of an electrical or electronic component includes a dielectric receiver in the form of a rectilinear array of fiber optic ends positioned to receive infrared heat waves from a bridgewire of an electro-explosive device and transmitting the infrared heat waves by way of a waveguide of electro optic fibers to an infrared detecting unit which is effective to activate an indicator.

Abstract: A zero insertion force electrical connector for multiple electrical connections includes a circuit board having a pair of contact strips on opposite faces thereof with opposed clamp members disposed adjacent the contact strips for biasing connector pins into engagement with the strips and a second connector member having a plurality of lined pins disposed for positioning on each side of the board adjacent the connector strips for contacting the connector strips upon biasing by the clamp members into engagement therewith.

Abstract: A multi-spectral detection system and method for detecting radiation from a single target within frequency bands that are in diverse portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Abstract: An improved airframe body decoupling system for a body gimballed sensor on an interceptor aircraft or guided missile. Body rate gyro information is employed for internal decoupling so as to eliminate decoupling match sensitivity to receiver errors. The true measure of sensor position from the gimballed antenna potentiometer is differentiated and then externally decoupled to produce the desired line-of-sight rate for use by the guidance/control section of the proportional navigation guidance system.

Abstract: A system for testing digital circuit units at the design speed of the circuit. A first memory stores a minimized set of optimum generated predetermined test patterns for application to a unit under test. A second memory stores expected signature patterns corresponding to signature patterns that are derived from the unit under test in response to the predetermined test patterns when the unit under test is functioning properly. A signature analyzer derives signature patterns from a unit under test in response to the application of the test patterns to the unit. A comparator compares the derived signature patterns with the expected signature patterns and provides an indication of the results of the comparison.

Abstract: A method for augmenting a noise-adaptive predictive proportional navigation terminal guidance scheme. In a third order configuration with noise adaptive varying gain parameters calculated as a function of time-to-go, this system implements an optimal control law to augment proportional navigation with a target acceleration feed forward term and a navigation ratio which is a function of time-to-go and the control effort weighting factor. This third order system may also implement another optimal control law to even greater advantage, taking into account not only target acceleration but also missile acceleration in a feedback loop which, together with the navigation ratio, are both functions of time-to-go and autopilot dynamics, whereby first order autopilot time lag is accounted for. This system is particularly useful for high and medium altitude targets and results in significant miss distance improvement for terminal guidance against small maneuvering targets.

Abstract: A fragile, movable apparatus such as a rotatable infrared optical prism assembly is mounted in a projectile housing on a crushable support pad. When the projectile is launched, the fragile, movable apparatus crushes the pad and receives effective support from the pad. After launch, a resilient member positions the fragile, movable apparatus away from the crushed pad and provides the necessary freedom of movement for the fragile, movable apparatus.

Abstract: A method for augmenting a noise-adaptive predictive proportional navigation terminal guidance scheme. In a fourth order configuration with noise adaptive varying gain parameters calculated as a function of time-to-go, this system implements an optimal control law to augment proportional navigation with target and missile information terms and a navigation ratio which is a function of time-to-go. By employing a fourth order system, enhanced use may be made of information already available in the guidance computer and missile control system to decouple target motion information from the missile control signals. Decoupled target motion information facilitates blind-mode operation in the end game, the last few seconds before intercept. Decoupled missile control information enables the airframe to be controlled to predefined orientations for aimed warhead applications.

Abstract: A method for augmenting the value of range uplink information in a predictive proportional navigation terminal guidance scheme. A second order configuration, with noise adaptive varying gain parameters calculated as a function of time-to-go, is particularly useful for high altitude, minimally maneuvering targets. This configuration results in acceptable miss distances, better than conventional proportional navigation, with sensitivity to unmodeled errors being substantially less than that in modern guidance systems. A third order configuration makes enhanced use of range uplink information to provide improved terminal guidance against lower altitude maneuvering targets. The sensitivity of the third order configuration is similar to that of conventional proportional navigation but with better miss distance results.

Abstract: A pivotal pistol grip firing mechanism mountable upon an operator-portable rocket launcher for use in aiming and electrically arming and firing a rocket loaded within the launcher is disclosed. A mounting bracket attached to the exterior of the launcher supports a pistol grip pivotally, between a carrying position and a firing position. The pistol grip houses a percussion activated thermal battery together with a firing pin assembly for activating the battery to supply power to fire the rocket. Energy to activate the thermal battery is not available until a firing pin spring is compressed by positioning the pistol grip in the firing position. A trigger and safety lever assembly in the pistol grip control the release of the firing pin. A manual safety switch in the pistol grip circuitry prevents transmission of the battery output unless closed by the operator prior to firing.

Abstract: A microwave lens is constructed of a homogeneous body of closed cell rigid polyurethane foam with aluminum flakes dispursed throughout and having a configuration defining an axis and opposed lens surfaces. The method of the invention includes selecting a mold having a cavity of the appropriate configuration, preheating the mold, and filling the mold with a mixture of low density polyurethane foam components and fine aluminum flakes evenly dispersed throughout the foam structure allowing the mixture to cool and form a body of the appropriate configuration.

Abstract: A Ka-band orthogonal hybrid fin-line mixer includes a two-piece housing forming an orthogonal hybrid-T junction having a fin-line mounted within the waveguide E-plane at the output of the orthogonal hybrid-T junction with one-half of the fin-line substrate mounted within the top waveguide housing and the other half inserted within the bottom waveguide housing.

Abstract: A missile launch system includes a missile launch support structure mounted on a launch platform and including a pair of spaced apart rails having longitudinal slots formed therein, and a cooperating missile launch container having a cylindrical bore for receiving and supporting a missile for launching includes radially extending ribs spaced and oriented to engage and slide along the slots in the rails for supporting the missile launch container for launching of the missile.

Abstract: An integrated optical fiber testing device includes means for accurately aligning one end of a fiber optic cable with a laser beam generator and the other end with a beam detector. The cable is positioned in a test chamber wherein it is exposed to various mechanical and thermal stresses to determine its ability to withstand these stresses while light is passing through the cable. The testing is completed in one integrated operation.

Abstract: A missile launch cannister end cap removal device utilizing the pressure pulse of a traveling shock wave within the cannister is disclosed. A pressure chamber, the interior of which is separated from the interior of the cannister by a diaphragm having a selected rupture pressure. Gas pressure is generated in the chamber by the firing of an explosive charge at the appropriate time in the missile launch sequence. The diaphragm is ruptured by the pressure developed in the chamber introducing a traveling shock wave into the interior of the missile cannister. The pressure pulse of the shock wave removes the end caps fitted over the open ends of the cannister.