Abstract: For qualification testing in product development, a test assembly contains a surrogate circuit board (7) and surrogate electronic modules (5) supported thereon. The terminals (5a-5j) of the modules are joined to respective bonding pads (2a-2j) on the circuit board to form bonded joints. The modules terminals and the wiring of the associated bonding pads is configured to produce at least one test series circuit (21) associated with each module that includes the bonded joints. A tester (9) supported on the circuit board monitors the test series circuit and produces a persistent indication (10) should a break or interruption occur in a bonded joint or any other portion of the test series circuit. This allows indications of transient breaks that occurred when the test assembly was being subjected to stresses, such as those induced by temperature excursions, mechanical vibration, and/or mechanical shock to be preserved and recorded at a later time.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for improving the speed and accuracy of processing signals from global positioning system (GPS) receivers by ensuring access to GPS carrier signals that have been modulated with an encrypted P-code sequence. In one disclosed embodiment of the invention, GPS L1 and L2 signals are correlated with a locally generated P-code signal, bandpass filtered to enhance signal-to-noise ratio performance, and then cross-correlated to obtain a signal with an L1-L2 frequency component that facilitates the resolution of carrier cycle ambiguity. In another embodiment, received GPS signals are immediately converted to digital form, then digitally correlated with in-phase and quadrature components of a locally generated P-code signal. Signals resulting from the correlation are then integrated over timing intervals corresponding to a previously determined encryption period to provide in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) samples.

Abstract: A technique for smoothing pseudorange code measurements made in a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, with carrier phase measurements, over an extended time interval but without distortion that usually results from a divergence between code-derived pseudorange measurements and carrier-derived measurements. The basic principle of the invention is to remove ionospheric effects and Doppler effects from the pseudorange code measurements prior to filtering over an extended time interval. Removal of ionospheric effects may be effected by applying corrections received from a reference receiver, or may be accomplished using measured or modeled ionospheric data available to the receiver. The invention is applicable to differential GPS position finding using remote receivers having only a single-frequency capability, but is also applicable to stand-alone GPS receivers of any type.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling an irrigation system within prescribed limits of pump capacity and flow capacity through water line branches and defined local zones. Watering schedules may be all simultaneously activated and will make multiple requests for watering time, for posting in a flow management roster. The requests in the roster are processed and satisfied only if overall pump capacity permits and if local flow zone capacities, and the capacities of water lines feeding the flow zones, are not exceeded. Pump capacity is expanded incrementally as more requests are processed, but only in accordance with predefined limits on the conditions that have to be met before moving to an expanded capacity. This flow management technique is best employed with a cycle-and-soak feature to avoid runoff problems at selected sites, and using an evapotranspiration approach to vary the watering times in accordance with changing weather conditions.