Abstract: A generalized Hough transform is used to acquire and track vehicular targets for missile guidance. This is accomplished by recognizing that most vehicles have silhouettes that may be described as a “rounded rectangle”. The position and shape of such rounded rectangles is described in terms of 5 parameters (xc, yc, a, b, ?) where xc, yc are the center coordinates, a,b are the major and minor axis and ? is the orientation. The computation of a five dimensional Hough transform on an image including such a target will produce the five parameters that provide the “best fit” rounded rectangle to the target. These parameters are then passed to a missile tracker. This capability can be used to improve track gate handoff from the automatic target recognizer (ATR) to the missile tracker, changing aspect ratios of maneuvering targets, limited lock-on after launch (LOAL), aimpoint designation and fire control system to missile seeker handover.

Abstract: The disclosed system and method for improving aerodynamic stability of aeronautic vehicles generally includes an ejectable grid fin adapted for releasable engagement with aeronautic vehicles. The grid fin is generally configured to optimize the flight performance characteristics of the aeronautic vehicle taken in engaged combination with the grid fin as compared with the flight performance of the aeronautic vehicle taken alone. Disclosed features and specifications may be controlled, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to improve the aerodynamic stability and/or control of a variety of deployed aeronautic vehicles. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally provide ejectable grid fins that may be used in conjunction with missiles mounted on an eject rail of an aircraft.

Abstract: A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) including memory cells distributed in rows and in columns, each memory cell comprising a MOS transistor with a floating body, the memory comprising circuitry for writing a datum into a determined (i.e. selected) memory cell belonging to a determined (i.e. selected) row and to a determined (i.e. selected) column, wherein the write circuitry comprises circuitry capable of bringing the drains of the memory cells of the determined column to a voltage V1; circuitry capable of bringing the sources of the memory cells of the determined row to a voltage V2; and circuitry capable of bringing the drains of the memory cells of the columns other than the determined column and the sources of the memory cells of the rows other than the determined row to a voltage V3, voltages V1, V2, and V3 being such that |V1?V2|>|V3?V2| and (V1?V2)×(V3?V2)>0.

Abstract: The Smith Purcell effect, in which a beam of electrons passes close to a conducting grating and induces electromagnetic radiation from the grating surface, can be used as a source of THz radiation. A grating composed of negative index metamaterial (NIM) enhances the output of the Smith Purcell source. Of particular interest is the use of a NIM grating in a Smith-Purcell source to provide a tunable coherent CW source of terahertz (THz) radiation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for data analysis according to various aspects of the present invention is configured to automatically select one or more outlier identification algorithms for identifying statistical outliers in test data for components.

Abstract: A device for providing power to suppress transient load demands and a system including the device are disclosed. The device includes a sense circuit to detect when a transient event occurs and one or more transistors configured to supply or sink current to the load. The system may include a second power regulator configured to respond to fast transient power demands. In this case, a first power regulator supplies power to the load and responds to slow transient events, while the second regulator responds only to fast transient events.

Abstract: A pulsed radar system uses phase noise compensation to reduce phase noise due to drift of the reference oscillator to enable detection of micro movements and particularly human motion such as walking, breathing or heartbeat. The noise level due to A/D sampling must be sufficiently low for the phase noise compensation to be effective. As this is currently beyond state-of-the-art for high bandwidth A/D converters used in traditional receiver design, the receiver is suitably reconfigured to use analog range gates and narrowband A/D sampling having sufficiently low noise level. As technology continues to improve, the phase compensation techniques may be directly applicable to the high bandwidth A/D samples in traditional receiver designs.

Abstract: A dual loop (PLL/DLL) data synchronization system and method for plesiochronous systems is provided. In particular, a system and method for dual loop data synchronization using a granular FIFO fill level indicator is provided. A dual loop data serializer includes a phase lock loop (PLL) and a delayed lock loop (DLL) configured with a phase shifter in the feedback path of the PLL. The dual loop serializer locks to the input of the DLL, which represents a fill level of a FIFO. A granular FIFO fill level indicator of the DLL provides input to the phase shifter to adjust the frequency of the PLL accordingly. Thus, the frequency of the data input rate can be controlled and a constant fill level of the FIFO can be maintained. A dual loop retimer includes a dual loop serializer (PLL/DLL) and a clock recovery DLL. The retimer resets the jitter budget to meet transmission requirements for an infinite number of repeater stages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for data analysis according to various aspects of the present invention is configured to automatically identify a characteristic of a component fabrication process guided by characteristics of the test data for the components. A method and apparatus according to various aspects of the present invention may operate in conjunction with a test system having a tester, such as automatic test equipment (ATE) for testing semiconductors.

Abstract: A recursive binary splitting and recombination procedure coupled with a specially tailored genetic algorithm provides a solution to the general binary minimization problem with much lower run times than other methods. A minor modification to the procedure solves a variant of the binary minimization problem using an alternate operator logic that is crucial to solving certain combinatorial geometry problems.

Abstract: An exemplary method for releasing a vacuum seal is disclosed as comprising inter alia puncturing a portion of a lid closure with a penetrator device and optionally sealing the puncture with a laminar valve or thin film held in place with PST or other suitable adhesive. Disclosed features and specifications may be variously controlled, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to improve release of a vacuum seal for any application or operating environment. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally provide for quick, easy and safe opening of vacuum packaged containers for food products.

Abstract: The descriptions of higher order complex geometry in CAD systems are fundamentally different from and seemingly incompatible with the surface based combinatorial geometry (SBCG) format for describing the same geometry in the context of general ray-tracing applications such as radiation transport. A computer implemented process translates the high order complex geometry embodied in CAD software to the SBCG format. The translation process is comprised of a set of lower-level algorithms that operate on two data sets which are commonly available from commercial CAD software systems. The first data set is a list of trimmed surfaces which make up a given part. These data are typically available from one of the standard geometry representations such as IGES, STEP, or ACIS, at least one of which is supported by each of the major CAD systems (e.g. ProEngineer). The second data set is nodal data: an appropriately dense grouping of point coordinates, designated as either inside or outside the part.

Abstract: A discrete event simulation (DES) and method of model development provide affordable, accurate, pre-validated, reusable and portable models and simulations that capture the complexity, interdependencies and stochastic nature of the operations and support (O&S) of weapons systems. A model of the O&S problem is created based on a service use profile (SUP) that describes a logical structure of delivery, maintenance, deployment, testing policy, infrastructure and logistics constraints. That model is translated into a DES, preferably using a “toolkit” including common attributes for the weapons and pre-validated common blocks and sub-models that define higher level functionality. The DES calculates a time-based prediction of weapons availability, maintenance activities, and spare parts stock over a life cycle of the weapons system.

Abstract: A control mechanism pins an optical fiber assembly on and off gimbal and between gimbals to route the assembly from an off-gimbal optical source across the gimbal axis/axes to an on-gimbal optical element so that the fiber assembly moves with the rotation of the gimbals. To accommodate a relatively large range of motion, the control mechanism is suitably configured to route the fiber assembly in a “U-shaped” loop with one end pinned off-gimbal in a stationary guide track and the other end pinned on-gimbal point in a rotating guide track so that the loose fiber assembly is constrained in the concentric tracks on and off gimbal. As the gimbal rotates, the loop seats onto one guiding track and peels off of the other guiding track while always maintaining its U shape.

Abstract: A band gap discontinuity is propagated across a Photonic Crystal (PC) to capture thermal energy in a region near the primary emission wavelength of the Planck spectral distribution and transfer that energy to a different spectral region where it is emitted. To extend the range of frequency shifting beyond the width of a single band gap, the intrinsic control parameters (e.g., lattice geometry factors, scattering element geometric factors, and variations in the index of refraction) are spatially varied across the PC to form a band gap gradient. Propagation of the band gap discontinuity, starting in the infrared wavelength region where the thermally generated electromagnetic energy is concentrated and propagating towards the long wavelength region, locally captures the thermal electromagnetic radiation, shifts it downwards in frequency, and pushes the lower-frequency thermal electromagnetic radiation on to the next region. The same principles apply to shift the frequency to shorter wavelengths.

Abstract: A sensor system according to various aspects of the present invention comprises a sensor viewing an area via an optical path and a strut at least partially interposed across the viewing area. The strut is configured to taper along the optical path towards the sensor. In an exemplary embodiment, the strut includes at least two sides forming an angle along their common edge exposed to the sensor along the optical path.

Abstract: An imaging system for presenting an image to a viewer comprises a radiation source configured to generate radiation having different spectral characteristics, and multiple independently operable optical switches configured to selectively transmit, reflect, and/or block radiation from the radiation source to the viewer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for data analysis according to various aspects of the present invention is configured to automatically identify a characteristic of a fabrication process for components based on test data for the components.

Abstract: A skip-free retiming system and method for transmission of digital information in a plesiochronous data communication system is described. The system is capable of supporting an unlimited number of retimers in serial data path between a first and a last node. The retimers are configured to retime, amplify and retransmit a received data stream without altering the received data rate. Thus, the data rate from the first node is received at the same frequency at the last node, regardless of the number of retimers. In general, the retimer performs rate compensation on a retimer local clock, rather than on the data stream, so the attributes of the clean retimer clock can be applied to the data stream without changing the data rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing semiconductors according to various aspects of the present invention comprises a test system comprising composite data analysis element configured to analyze data from more than one dataset. The test system may be configured to provide the data in an output report. The composite data analysis element suitably performs a spatial analysis to identify patterns and irregularities in the composite data set. The composite data analysis element may also operate in conjunction with a various other analysis systems, such as a cluster detection system and an exclusion system, to refine the composite data analysis. The composite may also be merged into other data.