Abstract: The invention is a bimetallic actuator for heat-transfer applications where the source of energy is provided by a temperature difference between two eservoirs or the temperature change of the ambient. The actuator requires no external source of power for actuation. The actuator can be made with a separate heating resistor and connected to an external power source for operation in the active mode. The actuator could be a flap, a gate, a valve, or a cooling tunnel used to regulate flow anytime there is temperature difference between two environments or a change in the ambient temperature.

Abstract: A system is described that uses chopped laser illumination, chopped and fered wide baseline stereo imaging, specular reflectors along the path to navigated, comparison of the two stereo images collected to determine and subtract from the images the magnitude of the backscatter field, inverse point spread filtering based on the fusion of the specular reflector pattern, and stereoscopic display for the pilot to allow navigation through fog and other aerosols. In particular, aircraft pilots will be able to land their aircraft in fog and other aerosols.

Abstract: A disk-shaped projectile can be launched in a variety of orientations incing face-on and edge-on orientations. The launcher includes two spinning disks for receiving the projectile between them and imparting a force to the projectile. The angle between the axes of the disks can be set to zero or a non-zero value. The angle and the spin rates of the disks control the linear velocity and the spin rate of the projectile.

Abstract: An improved, liquid, explosive composition comprising nitromethane, a nitethane sensitizer and an energetic compound. The energetic compound is selected from the group consisting of 4,5-dihyro-3-nitroisoxazole, 1,3-dinitropropane, trans1,2-dinitrocyclopropane and 1,1-dinitroethane.

Abstract: Quantum key distribution (QKD) employs non-orthogonal quantum states to distribute a random bit sequence between two users for use as a provably secure key for encryption and authentication. The key generation procedure involves the transmission, interception, and reception of two nonorthogonal photon polarization states. At the receiving end, a positive-operator-valued measure (POVM) is employed in the measurement process. The invention is a receiver that is an all-optical realization of the POVM and includes a Wollaston prism, a mirror, two beam splitters, a polarization rotator, and three photodetectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating high density monolithic metal and oy billets. The process requires preheating precursor materials of metal or alloy billets by means of a combustion synthesis called Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis (SHS). The reaction takes place in an insulated reaction vessel where the precursors, in a powder form, are heated to high temperatures. The precursors are then compacted to high density by means of pressure waves generated by detonation of an explosive. The method is capable of producing high purity tungsten and tungsten-based alloys of greater than 90% theoretical density.

Abstract: A module and a method of making the module is disclosed. The module is fod from a semiconductor and a silicon carbide chip for high temperature applications. The module is designed to be compatible with current silicon IC processes.

Abstract: The instant invention is for a microfabricated sensor system that can measure temperature, principle strain level, and its relative strain orientation simultaneously. It is a multifunctional, small size, low mass, and space saving gauge.

Abstract: A harness for wearing by a person allows the weight of a stretcher with a casualty to be carried on the shoulders, hips, or hands of the person. The harness has two padded shoulder straps which are vertically adjustable. The shoulder straps are connected by a horizontal piece of fabric which is horizontally adjustable, bringing the shoulder straps closer together or farther apart. The shoulder straps are attached to a padded hip belt. The hip belt is horizontally adjustable and has four fabric loops, two on each side. The loops are used for the stretcher arms. The two arms of a stretcher are placed in the loops, one arm in two loops. The weight of the stretcher is thus carried on the loops and the harness allows the weight of the stretcher to be transferred to the shoulders, hips, or hands.

Abstract: A test specimen holder for positioning a test specimen while protecting the hands and fingers of the user. In accordance with the present invention, a test specimen holder is provided having a main body with a handle portion located to the side of the main body. An adjustable fixed block and a spring-biased slidable blocking are provided in the main body. A pair of legs are disposed on opposite sides of the slidable and fixed blocks. A free space is provided between the two legs into which the test specimen fits and is engaged by the slidable and fixed blocks. The slidable and fixed blocks are provided with a variety of engagement surfaces, such as flat surfaces for planar specimens and notched surfaces having V-shaped grooves for cylindrical specimens. In operation, a test specimen is placed between the slidable and fixed blocks and held in place by the spring-biased slidable block holding the specimen against the fixed block.

Abstract: Binary alloys of uranium and vanadium having high hardness and strength prepared by selectively adjusting both the composition of the alloy and the solutionization temperature between the gamma-eutectoid and the eutectic points.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser is formed by eutectically bonding a laser cavity, defined by an active layer disposed between first and second, stacked mirror assemblies, to a host substrate which has a predetermined anisotropic coefficient of thermal expansion. During the forming process, a uniaxial strain is induced within the laser cavity. With this arrangement, large arrays of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers can be formed with predetermined polarization states that are based on the selected anisotropic host substrate.

Abstract: A balun structure is formed by stripline or square coaxial transmission ls and stacked dielectric substrates. The invention provides a technique for building a balun that maintaines low insertion loss and good balance for DC-to-GHz applications. The impedance ratio of the balanced transmission line to the unbalanced transmission line is N.sup.2 :1, where N is the number of microstrip transmission lines in the balun. This will prevent the signal loss that occurs when ferrite cores are placed around the transmission lines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for selectively producing a coherent or ispersed jet pattern upon detonation of a shaped charge ammunition round. Multiple detonators are provided which may be arranged in a symmetrical or non-symmetrical pattern around or on the axis of the charge. Selection of a coherent or dispersed jet pattern may be provided by controlling the number and timing of detonators used. A coherent jet may be produced, for example, by actuating only one detonator along the centerline of the round. Dispersed jets in selected patterns may be achieved by actuating multiple detonators in different patterns.

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: This invention relates to an acousto-optic time-integrating correlator for rocessing broadband Doppler-shifted signals. The present invention uses a conical lens telescope to compensate, in one dimension, for the differences in the absolute values of Doppler shift occurring in broadband signals. A laser light beam is expanded to a sheet beam using a conventional beam expander. The sheet beam is split and redirected using a modified Koster's prism. The two sheet beams are them directed toward a SAW device. The SAW device contains two tilted transducers. The inputs to the SAW device are counterpropagating A Doppler-shifted sheet beam and an undiffracted sheet beam are processed by respective conical lens telescopes. The outputs of the conical lens telescopes are combined with associated unprocessed sheet beams and combined by respective modified Koster's prisms and imaged onto respective two-dimensional photodetectors. The output of one photodetector is subtracted from the other to reduce offsets.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes two birefringent media, one of which is exposed o pressure to undergo pressure-variable birefringence. Polarized light passes through the birefringent media to be modulated in accordance with the pressure and is then made incident on a photodetector to detect the modulation. The use of two birefringent media provides temperature compensation.

Abstract: An optical alignment device having a sensor housing with obstructing geomy which restricts the amount of sunlight that enters the sensor and impinges upon a photoelectric cell within the sensor body. The restriction of light properly maintains a constant area of illumination of the photoelectric cell over a wide range of incident angles about the insensitive axis. Variations in incident angle about the sensitive axis produces a significant change in illumination area for small changes in the incident angle. Thus, the device produces a significant change in output with respect to alignment with its sensitive axis and an invariant output with respect to alignment to its insensitive axis.

Abstract: A stationary microwave system for irradiating microwave frequency energy 200-40 GHz) at target vehicles disrupts the operation of the target vehicle's electronic engine control systems, rendering it incapable of fleeing law enforcement agents (LEAs). The system includes a microwave generation source; a triggering system to control pulsewidth, periodic frequency, duration, and time on; an interlock system for safety; and a delivery system for directing the microwave energy and irradiating the target vehicle. The parameters of the microwave energy are optimized by the system such that the radiated microwave energy has the characteristics required to disrupt the target vehicle.

Abstract: The invention reduces the amount of force and acceleration transmitted to the vehicle occupant in a vehicle subject to the shock of a land mine explosion. In the invention, a set of crushable composite tubes are placed between the vehicle floor and the seat of the vehicle. As the floor moves due to the blast loading, the crushable tubes deform, absorbing the energy of the blast and reducing the acceleration transmitted to the seated occupant.