Abstract: A washing machine having improved resistance toward frictional walking. The washer comprises a cabinet, a tub assembly disposed in the cabinet for processing a wash load and a suspension including a truss-like pedestal for supporting the tub assembly and for permitting the tub assembly to pivot. The supporting feet of the washer are rotatably coupled to the suspension. Preferably, the number of members comprising the suspension is greater than or equal to three times the number of joints comprising the suspension minus eight. With this arrangement, a statically determinant suspension is provided. The substantially continuous contact between the supporting feet and the floor (i.e. the feet automatically conform to the floor surface) increases the frictional resistance, thereby decreasing the probability of frictional walking.

Abstract: A cryogenic signal coupling apparatus includes a laser which launches optical power into an integrated optical waveguide (IOW) within a cryogenic region via an imaging lens. This optical power is then equally split by a passive optical splitter, and fed to one or more 1.times.2 IOW devices. Within the cryogenic region, a plurality of infrared sensing photodiodes provide electrical signal outputs in response to optical stimuli, which signal outputs are amplified and selected by a multiplexing arrangement for application as the modulating signal to one of the 1.times.2 IOW's. Control electronics also within the cryogenic region supply timing and control information to the other electronics therein. The IOW's modulate their input optical power in accordance with their respective modulating electrical input signals, and provide differential optical outputs which are directed across the thermal barrier to individual differential optical receivers.

Abstract: An AWTSS is shown to be made up of an improved synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for generating radar maps with various degrees of resolution required for navigation of an aircraft and detection of ground targets in the presence of electronic countermeasures and clutter. The SAR consists, in effect, of four frequency-agile radars sharing quadrants of a single array antenna mounted within a radome on a "four axis" gimbal with a sidelobe cancelling subarray mounted at the phase center of each quadrant. Motion sensors are also mounted on the single array antenna to provide signals for compensating for vibration and stored compensating signals are used to compensate for radomeinduced errors. In addition, a signal processor is shown which is selectively operable to generate radar maps of any one of a number of desired degrees of resolution, such processor being adapted to operate in the presence of clutter or jamming signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for fault detection and coupled between a power supply line and a circuit to be powered. When a fault develops in the circuit that causes voltage in the power supply lines to decrease, the power being provided is interrupted from the circuit. Once the fault is removed, power is automatically returned to the circuit.

Abstract: An improved local oscillator arrangement for a monopulse receiver in a semiactive missile guidance system is shown. The monopulse receiver includes an improved reference local oscillator wherein a first local oscillator signal and a pair of reference signals required to demodulate the output of the intermediate frequency section of such receiver are derived simultaneously from the output of a single voltage controlled crystal oscillator. The frequencies of the first local oscillator and the pair of reference signals are related to the frequency of the radar modified by any Doppler shift frequency experienced during an intercept.

Abstract: A bar code wand reader adapted to read a bar code disposed on a narrow surface such as an edge of a printed wiring board is shown to include a bar code wand reader adapter (32) affixed to an end of a bar code wand reader (34). The adapter includes a fore surface having a slot (30) provided therein. The slot is adapted to hold the bar code wand reader at a constant distance and position from the edge of the narrow surface having the bar code disposed thereon. With such an arrangement, the bar code reader is held at a proper disposition as the bar code wand reader is passed over the bar code disposed on the narrow surface. The latter provides a proper reading with a single passing and prevents the necessity of numerous attempts at reading the bar code.

Abstract: A composite split cylinder transducer comprises an electromechanical driver and a cylindrical shell having a longitudinal gap. The shell further has a portion, disposed opposite the gap, comprised of a high strength material having increased stiffness. Transducers of this configuration are capable of being employed at greater ocean depths where high hydrostatic pressure conditions exist with little effect on acoustic performance.

Abstract: A microwave power combiner includes a first plate having disposed in a first surface thereof a first plurality of grooves and a second plate having disposed in a first surface of said second plate a second plurality of grooves, with said second plate being mated to said first plate and with said first plurality of grooves in the first plate disposed in alignment with the second plurality of grooves in the second plate to provide a plurality of waveguide regions. The waveguide regions are further disposed to provide a plurality of hybrid Ts preferably matched hybrid Ts or magic Ts which are selectively interconnected to form an integrated combiner structure. A first surface of the plate is used to mount a plurality of IMPATT diode modules whereas the second opposite surface of the composite plate is used to mount a heat sink thereby providing a thermal path between the diode modules through the composite plates to the heat sink.

Abstract: A distributed circuit includes a plurality of pairs of cascode coupled first and second transistors with each transistor having base, emitter, and collector electrodes. The first transistor of each pair is disposed to have a first one of emitter and collector electrodes coupled to a reference potential and the second one of said transistors of each pair is disposed to have the base electrode coupled to a reference potential with the second one the collector and emitter electrodes of the first transistor of each pair being coupled to the emitter electrode of the corresponding second transistor of each pair. The network further includes an input propagation network disposed to successively couple the base electrode of each one of the first transistors of each pair of transistors to an input terminal and an output propagation network disposed to couple the collector electrodes of each one of the second transistors of each one of the pair of transistors to an output terminal of the circuit.

Abstract: An AWTSS is shown to be made up of an improved synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for generating radar maps with various degrees of resolution required for navigation of an aircraft and detection of ground targets in the presence of electronic countermeasures and clutter. The SAR consists, in effect, of four frequency-agile radars sharing quadrants of a single array antenna mounted within a radome on a "four axis" gimbal with a sidelobe cancelling subarray mounted at the phase center of each quadrant. Motion sensors are also mounted on the single array antenna to provide signals for compensating for vibration and stored compensating signals are used to compensate for radome-induced errors. In addition, a signal processor is shown which is selectively operable to generate radar maps of any one of a number of desired degrees of resolution, such processor being adapted to operate in the presence of clutter or jamming signals.

Abstract: A technique for removing unwanted portions of a metallization layer in a semiconductor structure, without damage to underlying protective layers of silicon dioxide. The metallization layer is formed with an underlying etch stop layer of titanium-tungsten, the removal of which is effected by a very thin layer of aluminum formed beneath the titanium-tungsten. After removal of unwanted portions of the metallization layer, using a plasma etch to which the titanium-tungsten is resistant, corresponding portions of the titanium tungsten layer are removed using a plasma-etch to which aluminum is resistant. The thin aluminum layer functions as a highly effective etch stop in the removal of titanium-tungsten, but is so thin that there is negligible penetration of aluminum into underlying contact regions.

Abstract: An error detection and correction apparatus and method in a memory system for performing single symbol error correction and at least double symbol error detection of data errors and single symbol error detection and at least double symbol error detection of addressing errors using a modified Reed Solomon code. A first of three parity symbols in a codeword is used to determine the value of a single symbol error, if any, over a memory word comprising data symbols and its corresponding address comprising address symbols. A second parity symbol is used to locate a single symbol error, and a third parity symbol is used to detect at least two errors in the data and address symbols. The three parity symbols are used to generate syndromes which determine if there is an error and what corrective action to take.

Abstract: A ground fault interrupt circuit with an improved current window detector. The current window detector works by first rectifying the input current in a pair of current mirrors connected in back to back fashion in the feedback path of the input amplifier. The rectified current triggers an output when the rectified current exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A passivation technique which significantly reduces degradation in reverse breakdown voltage characteristics usually introduced by passivation of active regions of field effect transistors is described. The technique uses a surface treatment in a plasma to introduce into the surface an electro-negative species to maintain negative surface potential of the surface subsequent to encapsulation by the passivation material.

Abstract: An AWTSS is shown to be made up of an improved synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for generating radar maps with various degrees of resolution required for navigation of an aircraft and detection of ground targets in the presence of electronic countermeasures and clutter. The SAR consists, in effect, of four frequency-agile radars sharing quadrants of a single array antenna mounted within a radome on a "four axis" gimbal with a sidelobe cancelling subarray mounted at the phase center of each quadrant. Motion sensors are also mounted on the single array antenna to provide signals for compensating for vibration and stored compensating signals are used to compensate for radomeinduced errors. In addition, a signal processor is shown which is selectively operable to generate radar maps of any one of a number of desired degrees of resolution, such processor being adapted to operate in the presence of clutter or jamming signals.

Abstract: The method of bending relatively thin wall tubing to form a tubular heat exchanger that has relatively tight bends with controlled wrinkles. For example, 1.75-inch outer diameter stainless steel tube may have a wall thickness of 0.035 inches and be bent using a controlled-wrinkle bend die to a 180.degree. bend having a centerline radius of 2.5 inches. The relatively high tube collapse that results from bending in such manner without the use of a ball mandrel does not detract from performance of the heat exchanger in a relatively low flow rate furnace application.

Abstract: A monopulse antenna system having a four quadrant array of antenna elements and a plurality of summing and differencing amplifiers coupled to the antenna elements for combining signals received by such antenna elements to provide such monopulse antenna with a sum antenna pattern, an azimuthal difference antenna pattern, and an elevation difference antenna pattern. The differencing amplifiers include a feedback network for increasing the common mode rejection ratio of the amplifier. The amplifiers includes a pair of transistors coupled to a voltage source through active loads and a common biasing network. The pair of transistors have electrodes connected to a common junction. A variable current source biasing network comprises a resistor voltage divider for producing an output voltage equal to a portion of a bias voltage produced at the common junction and a third transistor having a pair of electrodes coupled between the common junction and the voltage source.

Abstract: A gyroscopically stabilized optical seeker for use in a cannon-launched projectile is shown to include a gimbal arrangement wherein a two-axis rate gyroscope and associated torque motors are utilized to attain the requisite stabilization however such seeker is oriented with respect to such projectile, the two-axis rate gyroscope being arranged so that the complete optical system, including the detector unit, may be mounted on the inner gimbal.

Abstract: A microwave oscillator is shown to include an oscillator having an output and a control port and a feedback circuit disposed between the output and the control port of the oscillator. The feedback circuit includes a modulated laser, having an input and an output, the input responsive to a portion of a signal from the output of the oscillator and a photo detector having an input and an output, the input of the photo detector responsive to a signal from the output of the modulated laser delayed by a predetermined amount of time. The feedback circuit further includes a detector having a first and a second input and an output, the first input of the detector responsive to a signal from the output of the photo detector, the second input responsive to a portion of the signal from the output of the oscillator shifted in phase to be in phase quadrature with the signal at the first input of the detector and the output of the detector coupled to the control port of the oscillator.

Abstract: A split cylinder compliant tube baffle for absorbing and/or canceling noise signals generated within a submarine or surface ship is described. The split cylinder tube baffle includes an air-filled tube having a longitudinal gap extending the length of the tube. The baffle further comprises a rubber jacket for enclosing the gap and end covers for sealing end portions of the tube. A split tube baffle assembly is generally constructed of tube baffles adjacently aligned to form a panel. The panels can then be stacked for increased attenuation of acoustic signals. The split cylinder baffle offers significant size reduction and improved performance over conventional compliant tube baffle designs.