Abstract: An endothermic gas generator having separate sources of oxygen and hydrocarbon gas at pressures above the pressure of the endothermic gas to be produced, the sources of oxygen and hydrocarbon gas being interconnected through separate pressure reducing valves and to a gas tight reaction chamber, the reaction chamber containing catalyst bodies and being heated to a temperature sufficient to support a reaction between carbon atoms and oxygen atoms to produce an endothermic gas, the reaction chamber having a outlet port for an endothermic gas resulting from the reaction of the oxygen and the hydrocarbon gases at a pressure approximately that of the mixture of gases entering the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A truss structure for use in a gravity-free environment is disclosed together with methods and apparatus for constructing the same. The structure, characterized by high stiffness and a precise self-determined geometry and having a prism-form with square right cross section, is constructed from a plurality of substantially identical triangular frame elements. The truss structure may be manually constructed from a multi-row chain of interconnected elements or from a four row network of elements. The structure may also be constructed using an automatic method wherein individual frame elements are fed from four stack support and feed units to a holding fixture having a square cross section.

Abstract: A timing system which includes a timer circuit, a source of first clock pulses for advancing the timer circuit, and a circuit for reading out the timer circuit in synchronism advanced therewith and where there is also included a second source of clock pulses asynchronous with respect to the first source of clock pulses, a synchronizing circuit is provided for storing an indication of the receipt of each second clock source pulse. Then the timer is advanced only when a pulse is produced by the first clock source and the indication is present that a signal has been produced by the second clock source.

Abstract: In a satellite power distribution system such as for use in a communications satellite, a first load powering power distribution bus receives power from a first solar panel. A second load powering power distribution bus receives power from a second solar panel. One of the buses is connected to a battery system to provide power to loads during night periods. The loads connected to the other bus are not powered during the night periods.

Abstract: A data transfer system for transferring words of data in either direction between a main memory and N processors includes N registers, each of N words (or multiples of N words) capacity. Each register is connected to its associated processor to transmit data words serially at a given rate therebetween and connected to the memory to transmit N words (or multiples of N words) in parallel therebetween in succession at a rate which allows the uninterrupted serial word transfer at rate X.

Abstract: A device comprising a microstrip including a narrow conductor connected in series between a circuit input terminal and the power amplifier, a film of ferrimagnetic material positioned adjacent the conductor and magnetic biasing means. The biasing means normally biases the ferrimagnetic material to operate at frequencies about a selected center frequency for nonlinearly enhancing RF input signals as a function of input amplitude. The device normally, undesirably provides nonlinear phase shifts to the input signal as a function of input power at frequencies removed from the center frequency. By choice of the amount of the bias, for a particular input signal frequency, the device can be adjusted to produce phase shift which changes as a function of input power to offset the nonlinear phase shift of the RF amplifier.

Abstract: A frequency memory module responsive to an input relatively short duration RF burst signal of center frequency f for producing an output signal at center frequency f for a relatively long duration includes a narrow band filter tuned to pass frequency f which is receptive of the input signal, an amplifier connected to the output of the filter and feedback means connected from the output of the amplifier to the input of the filter. Because of the feedback the frequency memory module sustains oscillations at frequency f long after the input pulse is removed from the filter.

Abstract: A clamp circuit in which, so long as the input voltage ranges between preselected voltages +E and -E, the output voltage tracks the input voltage. When the input voltage goes beyond +E or -E, the output voltage is clamped to +E or -E. When, thereafter, the input voltage is changed in the opposite sense by X volts, where .vertline.X.vertline..ltoreq. 2E below its maximum value the output voltage changes by X volts.The clamping circuit utilizes a differential amplifier and circuits providing two feedback paths between the output and inverting input of the amplifier, one or the other being operable dependent on the value of input signal to provide the clamping action described above.

Abstract: A one port-to-M port passive signal power divider circuit (or combiner circuit) where M>2 and .noteq. 2.sup.N, M and N are integers, includes M - 1 two-way in-phase passive power dividers having a signal delay D through each path in one or more delay devices having delay D. Each output of each two-way power divider is coupled to an input of another power divider, a delay line or an output port, the arrangement being such that the delay through all ports of the power divider are equal. In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention the outputs of a passive power divider are connected to two-way switches using active components. The switches under control of a control circuit are utilized to switch the input signal to the power divider to any one of 2.multidot.M output terminals of the switches.

Abstract: A predistortion circuit for a radio frequency power amplifier which has gain and phase shift characteristics that are non-linear as a function of power level of an RF input signal. The circuit includes a dual gate FET, with a drain coupled to the power amplifier. A modulated RF input signal is applied to an inductive matching network which is coupled to the signal gate of the FET. A modulating envelope detected version of the input signal is applied to a video amplifier which is coupled to the FET control gate. The signal applied to the control gate varies the gain of the FET as a function of input signal to compensate for the non-linear gain characteristic of the power amplifier and in conjunction with the matching network causes a phase change of the signal through the predistortion circuit to compensate for the non-linear phase characteristic of the power amplifier.

Abstract: A length of conventional hollow waveguide having an interior rectangular cavity has openings in the broad walls along a common axis. A diode support structure positions a negative resistance diode in the waveguide through one opening. A DC bias conductor structure positions a bias conductor through the other opening and into contact with the diode to provide a DC bias thereto. These two structures are secured together and to the conventional waveguide structure.

Abstract: A phase locked-loop circuit includes a non-linear voltage controlled oscillator ideally producing a desired output frequency as a function of time and a memory producing signals which add to the phase locked-loop phase error feedback signal to correct for the VCO non-linearities. A calibration circuit upon activation is responsive to the phase error feedback signal for altering the contents of the memory such as to reduce or eliminate the phase error.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring motion past the sensor of a non-magnetic conductive part surrounded by a non-magnetic conductive shield. The sensor consists of a bias magnet and pickup coil located outside the shield. Eddy currents are generated in the part as it moves through the magnetic field of the bias magnet. The eddy currents create an electromagnetic field around the part that penetrates the conductive shield causing the generation of secondary eddy currents in the shield. Secondary electromagnetic fields created by the secondary eddy currents induce a voltage in the pickup coil, a parameter of which is indicative of motion of the part.

Abstract: A plurality of FET or other amplifiers are connected between respective outputs of an N output port power divider network and respective inputs of an N input power combining network in a variable power amplifier system. A gate bias is selectively supplied to each of the amplifiers which is either at a first value to cause the amplifier to amplify or at a second value to cause the amplifier to be cut off and therefore to not dissipate any DC power. The number of amplifiers receiving the first potential is determinative of the amount of power amplification of the variable power amplifier.

Abstract: A signal processing system for use with a radar ranging system which transmits a radio frequency beam of finite angle to a sloping target of not greater than some known slope and creates from the return signal a beat frequency signal comprising various frequencies corresponding to the various distances from the ranging system to the target. The processing system includes a first tracking bandpass filter which is caused to seek and lock onto the lowest frequency F.sub.L in the beat frequency signal. Given frequency F.sub.L, the angle of the beam and the maximum slope of the target, a theoretical maximum frequency F.sub.X is computed. A second tracking bandpass filter tracks down from frequency F.sub.X to and locks onto frequency F.sub.H, the frequency component in the beat frequency signal associated with the maximum range to the target. From frequencies F.sub.L and F.sub.H and the beam angle, the average range to and/or slope of the target can be computed.

Abstract: A frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FM-CW) ranging system produces a first signal of frequency corresponding to the measured range of a target which signal is sometimes below a given quality and produces a second signal of frequency corresponding to the measured range of a simulated target of known range. A threshold detector determines when the target signal is above the given quality at which time the period of the first signal is determined from a given cycle thereof while concurrently the period of the second signal is determined from which the range to the target can be computed.

Abstract: A tracking filter system including a phase locked loop and a tracking filter is receptive of an input signal of frequency A and undesired frequency X from a signal source such as a frequency modulated/continuous wave radar range measuring system. The phase locked loop circuit receives the input signal and produces a control signal corresponding to a frequency intermediate frequencies A and X. The tracking filter is set by the control signal to pass frequencies above or below the intermediate frequency and thus to pass frequency A and to reject frequency X.

Abstract: A tri-state logic circuit which, upon failure of its operating potential, produces a high impedance between its output terminals. The tri-state logic circuit includes first and second complementary conductivity type transistors each with a control electrode and with a conduction path. The paths are connected in series to the operating potential. The control electrode of the first transistor is connected to an intermediate point in a series switching circuit the ends of which are connected to the operating potential. The series circuit is responsive to the presence of the operating potential and to binary data and control signal inputs of given values for causing the conduction path of the first transistor to assume a low impedance state. The series circuit also includes on both sides of said intermediate point devices responsive to a loss in the operating potential for causing the first transistor to assume a high impedance state irrespective of the value of the data and control signals.

Abstract: An FM transmitter linearity test equipment includes an amplitude modulation generator signal source producing an amplitude modulated signal of known varying amplitudes changing at a known rate and a demodulator for demodulating the resulting frequency FM signal from the transmitter. The test equipment also includes a commutating filter operating at said known rate and which is receptive of the demodulated signal for producing a signal of varying amplitude which is compared with the signal produced by the signal source to determine the linearity of the FM transmitter.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer of the phase-locked loop type, having an output circuit circuit which produces an output signal at any of a plurality of alternating frequency values depending on the value of a command signal applied to the output circuit. The synthesizer includes a storage apparatus for storing, for each frequency value, an indication of the precise command signal value which causes the frequency to be produced.