Abstract: A fiber optic gyro sensor coil with improved temperature stability for use at temperatures between T1 and T2, T1 being less than -30.degree. C. and T2 being greater than 60.degree. C. The coil is wound with an optical fiber having one or more jackets. The one or more jackets are made of materials having glass transition regions outside the temperature range from T1 to T2.

Abstract: The integrated GPS/inertial navigation apparatus utilizes satellite signals received with two spatially-separated antennas to achieve improved heading estimates for a mobile platform. Each satellite signal comprises one or more component signals with each component signal having a different carrier frequency. The integrated GPS/inertial navigation apparatus consists of a receiver and an inertial navigation system. The receiver measures the carrier phase of each of one or more component signals of one or more satellite signals received by each of the two antennas during successive time periods of duration T.sub.p. Phase measured during a T.sub.p time period is called T.sub.p -phase. Only one component signal of one satellite signal received by one antenna is measured during any T.sub.p time period. The receiver utilizes the T.sub.p -phases of each component signal obtained during a T.sub.k time period to estimate the phase of the component signal at the end of the T.sub.

Abstract: The double modulation converter (DMC) is a DC-AC converter for driving an AC-DC converter. It has two input terminals for connection to a DC voltage source, two output terminals for connection to an AC-DC converter, and a plurality of circuit control terminals for receiving a plurality of control waveforms which cause a bipolar stream of width- and amplitude-modulated pulses to appear at the output terminals when a load is connected across the output terminals. The basic elements of the DMC are two switches connected in series across the input terminals. One output line connects an output terminal to the junction of the two switches. The other output line connects the other output terminal to one of the input terminals. During operation, the two switches periodically and alternately open and close, the closure of one switch causing a pulse of one polarity to appear across the output terminals, and the closure of the other switch causing a pulse of opposite polarity to appear across the output terminals.

Abstract: A monolithic Coriolis rate sensor includes a first member and a vibration generator that causes the member to vibrate along a first direction. At least one other member is mechanically coupled to the first member so that orthogonal vibrational modes are coupled to the other member when the members are rotated about a rotation axis. The vibrational mode coupling occurs as a result of the Coriolis effect. A vibration sensor is used to sense the orthogonal vibrational modes, the amplitude of which determines the rate at which the members are rotated. In a preferred embodiment, a central and two transverse end members with substantially equal resonant frequencies are mechanically coupled to form an "I"-shaped structure. The center member is vibrated at its resonant frequency, and orthogonal vibrational modes are coupled to the end members when the structure is rotated about a rotational axis that is orthogonal to both vibration directions.

Abstract: The assured-integrity monitored-extrapolation (AIME) navigation apparatus selectively utilizes measurements provided by ancillary sources at periodic intervals in determining the state of the platform on which the apparatus is mounted. The measurements have attributes which are measures of quality, quality being a measure of the usefulness of the measurement in accurately estimating the state of a platform. The AIME apparatus makes its selection of measurements for state determination on the basis of estimates of the values of these quality attributes. The determination of the quality of a time sequence of measured values of a particular quantity requires an evaluation time for its accomplishment. The AIME apparatus therefore determines the platform's state in two phases.

Abstract: The hair-containing device is a device for managing the wet hair of a user and is comprised of a shaped fabric bag having a closed end and an open end and a front and a back, the bag being worn with the front of the open end in contact with the user's forehead and the back of the open end in contact with the nape of the user's neck, A slit in the front of the bag extending from the open end to a point intermediate between the open end and the closed end allows the opening in the bag to be increased for ease of use. The bag has a shape which results in the bag draping from the back of the user's head down along the user's neck and spine, The hair-containing device includes a fastening device for holding the open end of the shaded fabric bag in intimate contact with the user's head.

Abstract: The garbage-collecting memory module (GCMM) functions much like traditional memory in a computer system, thereby permitting the invention to be utilized with a wide variety of computers. It differs from traditional memory in that it automatically cleanses itself of garbage while functioning as traditional memory without causing excessive delays in the execution of application programs by an associated computer. The GCMM can be designed to interface with a computer system via a traditional memory bus and to communicate with the central processing unit (CPU) of the computer using standard communication protocols. The GCMM is comprised of a memory, a means for communicating with the CPU, and a garbage-collecting control unit. The garbage-collecting control unit gives top priority to satisfying the computer's requests for memory services. The collection of garbage takes place during the intervals between memory service requests.

Abstract: The distance-measuring apparatus utilizes an interferometric technique to measure the distance to a light-reflecting surface. A laser-generated plane wave is split by a beam splitter into first and second plane waves. The first plane wave is directed to the reflecting surface which reflects it back to the beam splitter. The second plane wave is directed to a reference mirror which reflects it back to the beam splitter where it combines with the reflected first plane wave to form a combination plane wave. The combination plane wave is caused to vary periodically in amplitude by modulating the position of the reference mirror. Changes in the distance to the reflecting surface are obtained by electronically processing the changes in the power of the combination plane wave.

Abstract: The hypodermic syringe for implanting objects in the bodies of birds, fish, animals, and humans consists of a barrel, a canula attached to one end of the barrel, and a plunger that can be moved back and forth within the barrel. A user implants an object by placing the object inside the canula, making an incision with the canula, and then pushing on the plunger thereby causing the object to move from the canula through the incision and into the body. The canula is designed to securely hold an implant object in a fixed position within the canula from the moment of insertion into the canula until the moment of implantation. The canula is also provided with a window that permits a user to observe the presence of an object and, in the case of objects that are electronic identification tags, to read the data stored in a tag with electromagnetic readers. The plunger is intended to provide the user with the same "feel" as a conventional fluid-injection-type hypodermic syringe.

Abstract: A container providing selective access to stored objects consists of a plurality of cells for storing objects and a mechanism for causing the cells to open and close in accordance with a control pattern that specifies the cells that are to be opened and the cells that are to be closed. A user, by selecting an appropriate control pattern gains access to those cells in which he has an immediate interest. The user may quickly gain access to other combinations of cells simply by selecting other control patterns.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for determining the errors in the orientation coordinates of an antenna array and the spacings of the antennas in the array using radio waves from one or more sources having known positions and an inertial system, the antenna array comprising at least two antennas. The method comprises the steps of placing the antenna array in one or more specified orientations relative to a reference coordinate system, measuring the phase of each radio wave received by each of the antennas in the antenna array from the one or more radio-wave sources for each orientation of the antenna array, and then determining the errors in the array orientation coordinates using the measured phases. The method also includes determining the errors in the spacings of the antennas in the array and determining the errors in the orientation coordinates of the reference coordinate system, in both cases using the measured phases.

Abstract: The high-resolution scanning apparatus utilizes conventional transport mechanisms in combination with a precision interferometric distance-measuring apparatus to achieve extremely-precise measurements of pixel locations thereby permitting scanning resolutions exceeding 10,000 dpi to be achieved. The high-resolution scanning apparatus is comprised of the conventional elements of a scanner together with one or more precision interferometric distance-measuring devices for the purpose of establishing the precise location of the pixel being measured. With this approach the mechanical limitations of the transport mechanisms that cause the optical system to scan the image-containing medium do not limit the resolution achievable with the scanning apparatus. The invention also provides compensating unit for variations in the object distance to the lens introduced by imperfections in the transport mechanisms.

Abstract: A conventional flat bed greyscale digitizing scanner which operates in conjunction with reflective media is retrofitted with an adapter assembly which permits it additionally to process X-ray film transparencies. Accordingly, the resulting apparatus, in addition to performing digitization of data imprinted on reflective media, is also capable of digitizing X-ray images on X-ray film transparencies. The adapter assembly is constucted to be easily mounted on a conventional flat bed scanner to permit the scanner to process the film transparencies, and to be easily removable from the conventional scanner to permit the scanner to operate in a conventional mode to process reflective media. The scanner may be constructed to perform transparency digitization and to provide an optical density dynamic range greater than the prior art CCD technology used in the more expensive machines will allow.

Abstract: The extended dynamic range image digitizing apparatus digitizes image-containing media with dynamic ranges that significantly exceed the dynamic range of the low-cost solid-state light detectors that are customarily used in such equipment. The essence of the invention is the incorporation of controllable light attenuators means in the light path from light source to light detectors thereby permitting the light emerging from an image pixel to be matched to the available dynamic range of the light detector. The pixel light sensed by the detector is controlled in any one of a number of ways. One way is to control the intensity of the light source. A second way which is appropriate for certain types of light detectors is to apply a gating signal to the detector which controls the period of time that the detector is sensitive to incident light. A third way is to interpose an electronic or mechanical shutter mechanism with a controllable open-shutter time in the light path.

Abstract: The navigation receiver with coupled-tracking channels is intended for use in radio navigation systems based on trilateration wherein the times of arrival of radio signals transmitted by a plurality of ground- or space-based terminals are measured by a user terminal and utilized by the user terminal in calculating its position and orientation.

Abstract: A charge collection control circuit generates a time-varying voltage that is used to control the charge collection process in an MOS photodetector for the purpose of obtaining greater dynamic range. Control is exercised either by means of an integration control electrode that controls the flow of charge from a charge-collecting region to a sink or by means of a transfer electrode that controls the flow of charge from the charge-collecting region to a charge-transport region through which the collected charge flows to an output circuit.

Abstract: The thermodynamics-based signal receiver transforms contiguous segments of a received signal into thermodynamics-related quantities using an analog of a statistical-mechanics-related quantities using an analog of a statistical-mechanics expression for a thermodynamic variable and uses these thermodynamics-related quantities as the means to measure changes in the signal as a function of time or origin. The changes that are of interest are those associated with either signal level or signal structure. Signal-processing analogs of statistical mechanics expressions for thermodynamic variables are measures that respond in some fashion to either type of change. By comparing thermodynamics-related transformations of received signals, one can obtain information about the emitters of the received signals and the nature of the medium through which the signals were propagated.

Abstract: The charge collection control circuit generates a time-varying voltage that is used to control the charge collection process in an MOS photodetector for the purpose of obtaining greater dynamic range. Control is exercised either by means of an integration control electrode that controls the flow of charge from a charge-collecting region to a sink or by means of a transfer electrode that controls the flow of charge from the charge-collecting region to a charge-transport region through which the collected charge flows to an output circuit.

Abstract: Multi-memory electronic identification tags are utilized in short-range cooperative electronic identification systems for the identification of a variety of objects. Such systems are comprised of readers and tags wherein a reader in the proximity of a tag may communicate with the tag in accordance with a specified process if the tag belongs to a certain class of tags. Tags are intended to be implanted within living tissue or concealed beneath the surface of inanimate objects. Communication between tag and reader is accomplished by a reader establishing a reversing magnetic field in the vicinity of a tag and the tag varying its absorption of power from the field in accordance with the information to be transmitted. The multi-memory tag utilizes three types of memory for the storage of data to be transmitted to an interrogating reader. The first type of memory is both permanent and unalterable and is used for storing data that is unique to the tag and never needs to be changed.

Abstract: The entropy-based signal receiver uses the entropy of a received signal or a quantity that is closely related to entropy as the means to measure changes in the signal as a function of time or origin. The changes that are of interest are those associated with either signal level or signal structure. Entropy is a measure that responds in some fashion to either type of change. The entropy-based signal receiver transforms time segments of a received signal into entropy-related quantities. By comparing entropy-related quantities of received signals, one can obtain information about the emitters of the received signals and the nature of the medium through which the signals were propagated. The sensitivity of the entropy-based receiver is significantly better than the more conventional energy-based receiver in detecting the changes in a signal that result from reflection or scattering by inhomogeneities in a wave-propagating medium.