Abstract: A lithium ion secondary electrochemical cell includes an anode comprising both a material capable of reversibly incorporating an alkali metal, and a copper current collector, a cathode capable of reversibly incorporating an alkali metal, and an electrolyte which includes a solution of an alkali metal salt dissolved in a polar organic solvent. A method of preventing the electrochemical dissolution of the copper current collector in the lithium ion battery electrolyte includes charging the lithium ion cell immediately after its assembly. By immediately charging the freshly assembled lithium ion cell, lithium will be intercalated into carbon. The copper current collector, therefore, will be at the lithium-carbon potential and thus will be cathodically protected, and will not electrochemically dissolve in the lithium ion battery electrolyte.

Abstract: A small, portable, low cost, battery operated, radio-controlled decoy simulates the sound of small arms fire. The units may be deployed remotely in the field to distract and confuse defending forces when attacked by advancing or infiltrating forces.

Abstract: The microwave properties of numerous perovskite antimonates like A2MeSbO6 where A=Ba or Sr, Me=a rare earth, Y, Sc, Ga, or In and A4MeSb3O12 where A=Ba or Sr and M=Li, Na or K were measured at 10 Ghz and 300 K. Using the microwave properties and lattice parameters of these materials, the Clausius-Mossotti relationship and a nonlinear regression fitting program, the polarizability of Sb5+ was investigated and determined to be 1.18±0.49 A3. This low polarizability and the low loss of antimonates in general indicate that Sb5+ is an excellent candidate for use as a constituent in the fabrication of low dielectric constant, low loss, lattice matching perovskite oxide microwave substrates.

Abstract: A method for improving images of surface features of a sample, constructed by a scanning probe microscope, includes constructing images of surface features of a sample with a scanning probe microscope; measuring a displacement of the sample that occurs during the constructing step; and correcting the images using the measured displacement. An apparatus for improving images of surface features of a sample, constructed by a scanning probe microscope, includes a vacuum chamber; a sample holder disposed in the vacuum chamber; at least one spring connected between the vacuum chamber and the sample holder; at least one magnet disposed in the vacuum chamber for damping vibrations of the sample holder; a probe and piezo tube assembly disposed in the vacuum chamber for scanning surface features of a sample; and an interferometer disposed in the vacuum chamber wherein the interferometer measures a distance between the sample and a point fixed with respect to the sample.

Abstract: The stability of HAN, HAN derivatives or hydroxylamine, and compositions comprising these is considerably enhanced by employing a stabilizing effective amount of a stabilizer selected from (a) a pyridine or pyridone salt, or an acid thereof; (b) a diphosphonate or methylenephosphonate salt, or an acid thereof; or (c) a mixture of two or more stabilizers, wherein at least one is selected from (a) and at least one is selected from (b). Stabilized HAN, HAN derivatives, or hydroxylamine or compositions comprising HAN, an HAN derivative or hydroxylamine, along with a process for providing these stabilized compositions is described. A stabilizer mixture having enhanced, synergistic stabilizing properties is described as well.

Abstract: A GaN epilayaer grown on a lattice mismatched saphire substrate is subjected to rapid thermal processing in order the reduce the defect density especially in the proximate the top (device) surface of the GaN epilayer.

Abstract: The invention discloses devices and methods of manufacturing devices for the splitting and amplification of light signals by use of an end-pumped waveguide optical device, based on either (a) self-imaging multiplexing of the signal and pump light, then amplification of the signal, then simultaneous self-imaging splitting of the signal and demultiplexing of the signal and pump, then separation of the signal outputs via nonamplifying S-bends; or (b) self-imaging multiplexing of the signal and pump light, then amplification of the signal, then splitting of both signal and pump, then separation of the outputs via amplifying S-bends, and then finally self-imaging demultiplexing of the signal and pump light in each output.

Abstract: A high-gain, dielectric loaded, slotted waveguide antenna having a photonic bandgap, a high-impedance electromagnetic structure, in contact with the waveguide surface containing longitudinal slots, and a tailored dielectric material structure in contact with the outer surface of the photonic bandgap structure. The tailored dielectric structure at the inner most surface has the same effective dielectric constant of the waveguide material and the photonic bandgap structure. The effective dielectric constant is then incrementally or continuously reduced to have a dielectric constant close to that of the free-space value at the outer surface further distance from the waveguide array. The tailoring of the effective dielectric constant is achieved by layering a given number of slabs of different dielectric constants with sequentially reduced values, or by varying the chemical composition of the material, or by varying the density of the material imbedded with high dielectric constant particles.

Abstract: A radar system has a transceiver and a ferroelectric phased array antenna. The antenna includes a plurality of radiating elements each connected to a ferroelectric phase shifter. The transceiver and the phase shifters are coupled for conveyance of radio frequency signals therebetween. A beam control computer calculates phase shifter control voltages which are applied to a beam correction computer. A temperature sensor is coupled to each phase shifter to provide feedback temperature values to the beam correction computer. A data table in the beam correction computer provides phase shifter correction voltages as a function of control voltage amplitudes and temperature values. The beam correction computer uses the data table in determining temperature corrected phase shifter control voltages which are applied to the associated phase shifters.

Abstract: A lead acid battery life extender for the battery of an internal combustion engine includes a multivibrator circuit electrically connected across the terminals of the battery for delivering high frequency electrical pulses to the battery, thereby removing lead sulfate from the plates of the battery and increasing the life of the battery, and a thermoelectric power source for providing electrical energy to the multivibrator circuit, thermally coupled to heat emitted from the internal combustion engine and electrically connected to the multivibrator circuit.

Abstract: An ultra-miniature, monolithic, mechanical safety and arming (S&A) device for projected munitions operates in accordance with a double interlock feature. Acceleration of the projected munition moves a delay slider into a final position, causing an arming slider and a safety interlock slider (in a first embodiment) or a command slider (in a second embodiment) to become partially disengaged. In the first embodiment, a command received by the safety interlock slider then moves it out of the way of the arming slider, thereby permitting the arming slider to move into its armed position. In the second embodiment, a command received by the command slider then moves it out of the way of the arming slider, thereby permitting the arming slider, under spring force, to move into its armed position.

Abstract: A fold-out fin has a fin geometry defined by two cross-sectional cuts through the cylindrical projectile body, both cuts being parallel to the boattail surface. This geometry insures that the stowed fin assembly fits within the gun tube. This geometry also exhibits low drag and good aerodynamic behavior. Upon launch, the fins are deployed and then locked in the fully open position with a spring loaded pin.

Abstract: A laser-based photoacoustic sensor performs trace detection and differentiation of atmospheric NO and NO.sub.2 in order to obtain respective concentrations for NO and NO.sub.2 using photoacoustic spectroscopy. The device of the invention employs a single, pulsed laser having two outputs near 454 nm and 227 nm, respectively, to irradiate a sample vapor, the sample vapor being collected by a hand-held wand. A photoacoustic response from both NO and NO.sub.2 is detected using microphone detectors, is converted into electrical signals, and is analyzed using a microcomputer. The results of the analysis--the respective concentrations of NO and NO.sub.2 in the sample vapor--are displayed on a digital oscilloscope. Preferably, the electrical signals are amplified prior to analysis, and a boxcar integrator is used to sample and average the electrical signals during the analysis operation.

Abstract: A Microbolometer constructed of Biological and Non-Biological components, ing proteins with greater sensitivity to imaging, as the infrared radiation detectors.

Abstract: Apparatus including two containers, two liquids or liquid mixtures pressued within the containers, a blending section for dispersing intimately one liquid into the other, and a nozzle providing sufficient flow resistance so that the moieties remain liquid in the blending section, and vaporization of the vaporizable moiety occurs within and/or beyond the nozzle.

Abstract: A light scattering Mueller matrix for an irregular particle placed on a plane interface is derived using the process of the present invention. The relationships discovered in this derivation are unique because they are independent of the particle shape, and only depend on the substrate refractive index (which is known), the wavelength and angle of incidence of the incident light (also known), and the approximate size of the scatterer (unknown). All that is required to estimate the size of the contaminant is to vary the scatterer size parameter until the model calculations of the light scattering Mueller matrix elements match the experimentally measured light scattering Mueller matrix elements. The probe of the present invention may be used as follows. First, the polarization state of the scattered light can be determined by measuring the Mueller matrix or Jones elements. Next, a "best fit" is made between these elements and the model.

Abstract: A method for forming a field emission flat panel display includes deposit a conductive patterned layer on a substrate, depositing an emitter material over the patterned layer, patterning the emitter material to provide a series of mask caps, etching the emitter material to provide arrays of emitter peaks with the mask caps thereon, depositing a dielective layer on the patterned layer and on the mask caps, depositing a conductive gate layer on the dielectric layer, depositing a high-resistivity dielectric layer on the gate layer, depositing a low-resistivity dielectric layer on the high-resistivity dielectric layer, and etching away portions of the dielectric layer, gate layer, high-resistivity dielectric layer and low-resistivity dielectric layer to expose the mask caps, and removing the mask caps to expose the emitter peaks to provide an emitter cathode panel, providing a transparent panel having a conductive coating thereon, and depositing a layer of thin film phosphors on the conductive coating to provide

Abstract: A secondary, lithium-ion electrochemical cell having improved properties and a method for providing a secondary, lithium-ion electrochemical cell having the same. Specifically, the invention relates to a method for reducing and/or preventing the exfoliation of the graphitic carbonaceous electrode of a lithium-ion cell, wherein the exfoliation is caused by the intercalation of electrolyte solvent along with lithium ion into the graphitic carbonaceous electrode. This method is accomplished by adding one or more chelating polyamines to the electrolyte solution of the lithium-ion cell. The novel method and the improved lithium-ion cell are claimed herein.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device comprises a detector, an emitter and a modulator corporated into a single semiconductor chip. The optoelectronic device provides electrical isolation and optical interconnection (via waveguides) of the components of the semiconductor chip. Contacts for providing forward and reverse bias voltages are included in the device. The optoelectronic device is fabricated by growing a strained-layer quantum diode structure to produce a piezoelectric field in a quantum well, electrically isolating portions of the structure, and optically interconnecting portions of the structure. The fabrication is carried out by using an implant process or an etching process, and without having to use either regrowth techniques or packaging together of multiple optical elements.

Abstract: A passive method and system for mitigating image distortion due to optical turbulence in a surveillance system is disclosed. An array of cameras forming a stereo camera array is employed to view a distant object or objects and background to obtain multi-hyperstereo image data, and the latter data are processed in accordance with statistical comparison and integration techniques to mitigate the effects of optical turbulence in near real-time. Further features of the invention involve comparison of multi-hyperstereo images with uncorrelated optical turbulence distortions, the reconstruction of the distant object and background using segmenting and time-integration techniques, and the execution of time-averaging and correlation algorithms.