Abstract: A modulated bunched electron beam incident on the inner conductor 16 of a coaxial structure launches TEM waves that are distributed to multiple radial waveguides 22 around the outer conductor 14 of the coaxial structure. A tuning piston 32 may be moved axially within the outer conductor for matching the impedance of the coaxial structure to the waveguide array.

Abstract: A missile launching system (18) for launching a missile (20) includes an automatically telescoping launch tube (22, 24) and a rest raining system (40, 42). The telescoping launch tube (22, 24) lengthens the period of guided travel of the missile (20) during launch, to improve its accuracy. The launch tube system has an outer case (24), and an inner launch tube (22) internally dimensioned to receive the missile (20) therein and externally dimensioned to slide within the outer case (24) from a rearward position to a forward position. The restraining system (40, 42) holds the missile (20) and inner launch tube (22) at the proper locations before and during firing, and includes a releasable holdback (40) for the inner launch tube (22) at the rearward position and a releasable holdback for the missile (20) at a preselected position within the inner launch tube (22).

Abstract: The target seeker system includes two radio frequency antennas consisting of two sets of radio frequency selective annular slot patch excited radiator receiver elements, one set for K-band energy, the other for X-band energy, sharing a common ground plane. The radio frequency antennas have a single multi-band image plate consisting of resonant dichroic surfaces which will selectively reflect X- and K-band energy. An image plate is formed with conductive patterns on each side of a low dielectric material. The reflective pattern acts as a quarter wavelength thick plate at the operating frequency. The top of the image plate which has X-band reflectors is spaced at one-half of the desired X-band wavelength above the ground plane and the K-band reflector on the bottom of the image plate is spaced at one-half of the desired K-band wavelength.

Abstract: A wide field imaging system having high precision and resolution is disclosed herein. The wide field of regard imaging system 10 of the present invention is operative to provide a composite digital representation of a scene within a field of regard. The system 10 of the present invention includes a sensor arrangement 12 for generating first and second digital representations of first and second framed regions within the field of regard. A scene correlator 18 processes the first and second digital representations to generate offset parameters indicative of the relative locations of the first and second framed regions within the field of regard. The offset parameters are used to combine the first and second digital representations within a frame store memory 20 to synthesize the composite digital representation of the scene.

Abstract: An antenna employs the back radiation of a crossed-dipole to illuminate a parabolic cylindrical reflector. The crossed dipole is supported by a feed network mast which simplifies the feed network and eliminates the need for other supporting structure and its electrical blockage. To form an antenna system having omni-directional radiation coverage, four of these antennas are located at the four quadrants, each covering one quadrant in the azimuth direction. The RF signal is fed through a single pole four throw switch to the selected antenna to be radiated to the desired direction.

Abstract: A conical scan radar system (10) provides return pulses (30) to an A/D converter (38) from which a shaped pulse train is received and stored in a FIFO memory (40). The stored pulse train is then passed through first and second finite impulse response filters (42,44) for achieving sampling rate reduction prior to rendering via a programmable signal processor (64) of target detection identification and tracking.

Abstract: A ceramic circuit card (10) for a missile utilizing a "rivet" design and a method for making the same wherein thick-film copper I/O pads (15) are fabricated on a first dielectric layer (13) and on the upper surface of conducting material (20) in vias (14) formed in the dielectric layer (13). A first conductor layer (11) is printed directly on an alumina ceramic layer (12). The dielectric layer (13) is then printed on the first conductor layer (11) and on the alumina ceramic layer (12). During operation, each I/O pad (15) has attached to it a flex harness (21) for connecting the card (10) to a printed wiring board (22) on which the card (10) is mounted. The ceramic circuit card (10) is further comprised of additional dielectric and conductor layers in an alternating stacked arrangement. The top conductor layer is used to connect the circuit card to other electrical components.

Abstract: A missile includes an optical fiber canister with the optical fiber wound as an annular fiber pack having an initial payout region extending from the inner annular surface. A reinforcing leader overlies the initial payout region of the optical fiber to form a leader composite structure. The leader composite structure is wound into a flat outwardly spiraling coil lying perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the annular fiber pack, with the outer turn of the spiral leading away from the optical fiber pack. The coil is encased in a mass of potting compound. At the initiation of optical fiber payout, the turns of the coil progressively tear free of the mass of potting compound to achieve a gradual loading of the optical fiber and opening of a path for the axial payout of the portion of the optical fiber not protected by the reinforcing leader.

Abstract: A system for detecting an object in a scene. The invention (10) includes memory (12) for storing a first frame of image data represented by a plurality of input signals I.sub.o. A spatial filter (16) is included for spatially filtering a second frame of image data represented by a plurality of input signals I.sub.o to provide first spatial filter output signals of the form .eta..sub.s I.sub.o. These signals are subtracted from the first frame of image data to provide difference signals of the form .eta..sub.D I.sub.o, where .eta..sub.D represents a measure of object registration. A second spatial filter (18) is included for spatially filtering the difference signals to provide spatially filtered difference signals of the form .eta..sub.s .eta..sub.D I.sub.o. Finally, the signals are processed (30) to extract the measure of object registration .eta..sub.D.

Abstract: A multiple field of view sensor lens assembly suitable for inclusion in an infrared imaging system. The lens assembly includes a rotatable telescope 10 for providing first and second fields of view for the sensor, the first field of view being along a first axis thereof L and the second field of view being along a separate second axis T. A servo mechanism 30 is included for rotating the telescope 10 from a first orientation at which the first axis is aligned with the optical axis to a second orientation at which the second axis is aligned with the optical axis. In a preferred embodiment the inventive lens assembly is disposed to provide fields of view in opposing directions along the first axis L, and a third field along the second axis T.

Abstract: A DC to DC converter (50, 60, 70) that includes a switching circuit (10) responsive to a DC input, a magnetic amplifier controller (20) responsive to the switching circuit for providing an AC output, and an AC current to DC voltage rectifying circuit (30) responsive to the output of the magnetic amplifier controller for providing a DC output voltage. The magnetic amplifier controller includes a variable inductance (L1) that cooperates with the switching circuit to form a resonant DC to AC inverter (110) that provides to the magnetic amplifier controller a current whose amplitude is controlled by the variable inductance. The magnetic amplifier controller provides an approximately sinusoidal output current which is a function of the current input thereto, and the DC voltage output of the AC current to DC voltage rectifier is a proportional to the input current provided by the magnetic amplifier controller.

Abstract: An improved local vertical reference determination technique for use with projectile guidance systems. The vertical reference determination apparatus uses a passive retroreflector mounted on the projectile to direct a portion of the incident electromagnetic radiation produced by a launching device transceiver as a return signal back to the launching device transceiver. A preferred embodiment of the invention employs a retroreflector having an axis canted with respect to the central axis of the projectile, such that the return signal is a function of the instantaneous angle of rotation of the projectile. The return signal therefore has a minimum magnitude at a first instantaneous angle of rotation and a maximum magnitude at a second instantaneous angle of rotation.

Abstract: A camera (40) is mounted on a gimbal (44) inside a missile (30) and views forwardly through a transparent, generally conical front dome or ogive (70). An optically refractive corrector (72) is mounted in front of the camera lens (42) for integral movement therewith. The corrector (72) has a least one conical surface segment (74a,74b) which is dimensioned to reverse optical conical deformation created by the dome (70). The conical deformation includes little or no refractive power in a plane defined by the axis (38) of the dome (70) and the look axis (46) of the camera (40) and gimbal (44), and progressively varying one-dimensional refraction perpendicular to this plane. Variables including the apex angles (.alpha.1,.alpha.2) of cones (76,78) which define the surfaces (74a,74b), the angle (.alpha.3) between the axes (76b,78b) of the cones (76,78), the distances (D1,D2) between the apices (76 a,78a) of the cones (76,78) and the center (74c) of the corrector (72), the tilt angle (.alpha.

Abstract: A wideband convertor for mode conversion between a TEM coaxial mode in coaxial line and the TM.sub.01 circular waveguide mode in circular waveguide. The convertor takes advantage of the somewhat similar electric field configurations of the two modes. To physically match the coaxial line to the waveguide, a tapered section is employed to provide a gradual diameter transition.

Abstract: A missile includes a missile body having a nose, a tail, and a center of gravity therebetween. A plurality of blades are arranged symmetrically around the missile body at a location between the nose and the center of gravity. The blades are deployable from a stowed position folded flat against the body of the missile to a deployed position extending outwardly from the body of the missile, and are mounted so as to be biased toward the deployed position. A retaining wire extends circumferentially around the body of the missile and captures the blades thereunder. The retaining wire may be controllably severed by a pyrotechnic device to release the blades to extend to the deployed position. The extended blades cause the missile to tumble from a first stable orientation to a second stable orientation, permitting it to be quickly pointed in the opposite direction without expenditure of fuel.

Abstract: A rotary breech mechanism (10) is provided for loading large caliber guns. The mechanism comprises a rotary transfer member (12) which is cylindrical and mounted in the gun barrel (16) near the breech end (18). A hole (14) through the rotary transfer member (12) is aligned either with an ammunition magazine tube (48) for loading or with the gun barrel (16) for firing of a projectile (20). Once the projectile (20) has been fired, the rotary transfer member (12) is rotated to accept the next projectile, no matter what position the gun is in. The azimuthal orientation of the barrel (16) does not affect the operation of the loading mechanism.

Abstract: A sensor window compliant mounting assembly (42), such as used in a missile (20) to protect a sensor (40), has a truncated hemispherical sensor dome window (52) and a dome mount housing (60). The dome mount housing (60) includes a hollow tube (62) with an opening (64), an internal circumferential thread (66) adjacent to the opening (64), and an integral bezel retainer ring (68) extending circumferentially around the opening (64). The bezel retainer ring (68) engages and retains the exterior surface (56) of the dome base (54). A spanner nut (72) is threadably engaged to the internal circumferential thread (66) of the dome mount housing (60), and a partially compressed fiber metal washer (74) reacts between the spanner nut (72) and the lower surface (58) of the dome base (54) to bias the sensor dome window (52) toward the bezel retainer ring (68).

Abstract: An airborne cryogenic cooling system in which a first cryogenic material located within an on-board container is cooled to the solid state prior to launch a remotely located second cryogen conduited to the container. Immediately prior to becoming airborne connection is broken to the second cryogen and on-board cooling is achieved by venting the container to space environment causing sublimation of the solid first cryogenic, or, alternatively, the container may be left sealed and cooling results from triple-point transition of the solid cryogen.

Abstract: In-line application of liquid adhesive to an optical fiber (10) while it is being wound onto a drum (14) is accomplished by a tube (58) interconnected with a pressurized adhesive source of supply (70). An end (60) of the tube provides adhesive in a beadlike strip which wets the drum or underlying winding layer just under the fiber lower surface before it is laid down onto the drum.

Abstract: A bi-directional erbium doped fiber (EDF) optical fiber amplifier (50) employing two separate EDF amplifier channels (52, 62) for two counter-propagating signals allows the optimization of each individual signal channel for efficient bi-directional optical signal repeater performance. The pump sources (53, 63) for each EDF channel (52, 62) can be switched on and off independently, to serve as an in-line signal switch, without affecting another signal channel.