Abstract: A battery poisoning agent contained in thermoplastic encapsulating material, positioned adjacent a battery electrode or within the battery separators, which will melt at a predetermined temperature and release the poisoning material, deactivates that portion of a battery that is exceeding the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: Two, adjacent, but circumferentially displaced, photodetectors radially positioned exterior to a rotating body sense the changes in the intensity of light impinging on the detectors emanating from a defined source on the periphery of the rotating body. The sequentially changing outputs of the photodetectors are compared in a comparator circuit which provides a triangular wave shape output signal having either a sharp leading edge or a sharp trailing edge depending upon the sequence of activation of the photodetectors by the rotating light signal. The triangular wave is differentiated providing either positive going spike pulses or negative going spike pulses depending on whether the rotating body was moving clockwise or counterclockwise. The output of the differentiator is displayed on an oscilloscope to visually indicate by the presence of either positive or negative going spike pulses the direction of rotation of the rotating body.

Abstract: A high density, static, virtually nonvolatile, Random Access Memory (RAM) cell is disclosed in which variable threshold n-channel depletion mode Metal-Nitride-Oxide-Semiconductor (MNOS) transistors are the load devices for a pair of active, n-channel, enhancement mode, Insulated Gate Field Effect Transistors (IGFETs) in a flip-flop circuit. N-channel enhancement mode access transistors also IGFETs connect the cell to the bit line and the bit line. Information is written in, and read, in volatile form conventionally. A +25 volt, 10 msec pulse applied to the gates of the depletion mode MNOS load devices transfers the data from the volatile mode to the nonvolatile mode.

Abstract: Any errors arising in a strobed MOS regenerative comparator error amplifier, such as off-set, characteristic changes due to radiation damage, and other circuit changes are corrected by comparing zero inputs for both the unknown and reference signal during a stabilization sample, storing any output signal present when the inputs are zero, in a D flip-flop, integrating the output signal from the D flip-flop and applying the integral back to the error amplifier to oppose the original unwanted error signal so that the output of the regenerative comparator will then be a logical true error signal depending only on the relative magnitude of the unknown and reference signals.

Abstract: A unitary bolt and chamber adapter for field replacement, without tools, of the conventional bolt assembly of rifles of the type M16 and AR-15 provides for the use of conventional .22 caliber long rifle rimfire ammunition in the rifle instead of the larger conventional centerfire ammunition. The bolt functions in semiautomatic fire by conventional blowback action. Through cooperation with an improved .22 caliber rimfire magazine adapter, the breech automatically remains open after firing the last round from the magazine. The bolt guide rails are flexibly attached to the chamber providing for reliable operation in a larger number of rifles. A spring actuated forward locator on the bolt assembly keeps the adapter seated in the rifle chamber, compensating for differences in gun receiver lengths. An undercut bolt face provides the positive extraction of a double extractor system with a single extractor, and a groove-and-land chamber adapter provides reliable operation with good and poor quality ammunition.

Abstract: A unitary bolt and chamber adapter for field replacement, without tools, of the conventional bolt assembly of rifles of the type M16 and AR-15 provides for the use of conventional .22 caliber long rifle rimfire ammunition in the rifle instead of the larger conventional centerfire ammunition. The bolt functions in semiautomatic fire by conventional blowback action. Through cooperation with an improved .22 caliber rimfire magazine adapter, the breech automatically remains open after firing the last round from the magazine. The bolt guide rails are flexibly attached to the chamber providing for reliable operation in a larger number of rifles. A spring actuated forward locator on the bolt assembly keeps the adapter seated in the rifle chamber, compensating for differences in gun receiver lengths. An undercut bolt face provides the positive extraction of a double extractor system with a single extractor, and a groove-and-land chamber adapter provides reliable operation with good and poor quality ammunition.

Abstract: An improved gallium arsenide solar cell is provided by forming a P+ layer on top of a wafer of plural vertical PN junction eutectic gallium arsenide crystal by liquid phase epitaxial growth of P doped GaAs followed by liquid phase epitaxial growth at Al.sub.x AsGa.sub.l-x on the surface of the vertical PN junction substrate. The deposited GaAs layer with P dopant and the Al.sub.x AsGa.sub.l-x layer forms horizontal P-N junctions with the N-type vertical regions. An N+ region is formed on the solar cell backside by ion implantation of an N dopant followed by a pulse electron beam current of the implanted region.

Abstract: A dynamic, virtually nonvolatile random access memory (RAM) storage cell is provided by storing information in a Nonvolatile Charge Injection Device (NOVCID), first in volatile form, then by an electric signal transferring the stored intelligence into a nonvolatile form from which it may late be recovered. Since only on external command is the information transferred into the nonvolatile storage mode, the memory is described as a virtually nonvolatile RAM.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave electromagnetic transducer (SAW EMT) having a meander line with progressively smaller spacing between conductors produces a surface, acoustic, traveling, exploratory, output signal that is greatly dispersed, when excited with a pulse electrical signal; and a corresponding compressed electrical output signal is produced from a received acoustic signal. The transducer may be used either to transmit or receive signals.

Abstract: A dual pivoting vane having a miniature dual bead thermistor anemometer at its upstream extremity and with light beam angular position sensors on the pivot axes provides a sensitive velocity vector sensor for measuring both magnitude and direction of low velocity airflow relative to a three-dimensional reference space of the body carrying the velocity vector sensor.

Abstract: A direct digital measurement proportional to tip clearance of the blades of a turbomachine is obtained by placing at each position on the casing where clearance is to be measured a pair of optical sensors. Each sensor comprises the ends of fiber-optic bundles communicating with a remotely positioned light emitter and a light detector. The sensors in the casing are spaced a short distance apart in the circumferential direction but both located at the same axial coordinate with respect to the axis of rotation. The two sensors each emit a beam of light at an angle to one another measured in a surface of revolution containing both light beams. The light reflected and scattered by a blade passing each beam is transmitted back through the adjacent or concentric fiber optics to photodiode detectors. A signal generator producing a stable frequency of pulses in the megacycle range provides the digital time base.

Abstract: A reference mark for photo detection is placed on the disc or shaft of a blade carrying rotor of a turbomachine. A first light source and photodetector are aimed at the referencce mark and provide an electrical pulse per revolution. A second light source and photodetector are positioned in the casing of the turbomachine adjacent to the rotor of interest. A first signal from the first photodetector turns on a first and second counter, counting pulses from a high frequency source. A signal from the second photodetector turns off the second counter. The next signal from the first photodetector turns off the first counter. The first counter provides a count of pulses per revolution. The second counter provides a count of pulses representative of arc of movement of the blade tip in interest from the time the reference mark passed the first photodetector until the next blade tip passed the second photodetector.

Abstract: In cavity dumped state lasers the relaxation oscillations caused by cavity dumping are stabilized and damped out by placing a non-linear second-harmonic generation crystal inside the optical cavity of the laser and phase-matching it to produce a doubled frequency component of approximately 0.1% that of the circulating power. The degree of damping depends on the conversion percentage, which may be varied by temperature controlling the frequency doubling crystal. A conventional antireflection coating is placed on the crystal to minimize losses.

Abstract: An improved electrochemical cell having circular anodes, cathodes, and electrolyte reservoirs; semicircular separators and gas flow spaces, is constructed such that approximately one-half of each of the two major faces of each cathode is adjacent to separator material, and the other half of each major face is adjacent to a gas flow space such that the area on each cathode major face adjacent to separator material is opposite (through the cathode) the area of the other major face which is adjacent to a gas flow space. Approximately one-half of each of the two major faces of each anode is also positioned adjacent to separator material and the other half of each major anode face is adjacent to a gas flow space. In the fabricated stack each separator has an adjacent anode face and an adjacent cathode face opposite each other across the separator. Electrolyte reservoirs are positioned adjacent anodes at the top and bottom ends of the stack.

Abstract: An electronic countermeasure system that receives a hostile radar tracking signal, re-transmits a return signal with the tracking scan modulation shifted in phase, and increasing in intensity with decreasing received intensity, until the received signal has decreased to the radar's side lobe intensity (approximately a 25 db decrease), then re-transmits (beacons) the hostile radar pulses, thus forcing the radar to track by its side lobe rather than the main lobe resulting in an angular tracking error.

Abstract: A waveform sampler, for cooperation with a conventional sampling oscilloscope, has, as part of a bridge circuit, two Gallium Arsenide photoconductors mounted on a 50 ohm stripline. One GaAs photoconductor, the sampling photoconductor, is illuminated. The other GaAs photoconductor remains dark and functions as a common mode compensating photoconductor. To sample an unknown electrical waveform traversing the stripline the electrical wave is optically strobed by illuminating the sampling GaAs photoconductor with pulses of light from a laser. To sample an unknown optical waveform the optical wave is focused on the sampling GaAs photoconductor and an electrical strobe signal is sent through the stripline. Outputs from each of the photoconductors are amplified in high input impedance FET amplifiers and after electrical compensation they are passed to a conventional difference amplifier. The difference output is further amplified and fed to a conventional sampling oscilloscope.

Abstract: The hot gases and discharge products are removed from the space between the electrodes of a spark gap switch after the passage of the discharge by a supersonic air flow in the discharge region created by fabricating the ends of the electrodes to form a DeLaval nozzle. The supersonic air flow clears the switch and provides a switch having a very short grace period.

Abstract: A bipolar electrode having, between active materials, a heat sink fabricated from a porous electrical and heat conductive material, such as sintered silver, and impregnating the porous material with a phase-change heat absorbent material having a high heat of fusion, such as beeswax, provides an electrode having a very large thermal capacity for a high discharge current density battery.

Abstract: An improved magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator is provided by increasing the electrical conductivity of the working fluid by raising the temperature of the fluid. This is accomplished by providing an additional source of heat for the combustion products within the combustor. The additional source of heat in the combustor is provided by an electrical arc discharge within the combustor. The arc is energized by feeding back a part of the electrical output power from the MHD generator to the arc electrodes. In a typical nominal 20 megawatt system the thermal efficiency of the system is typically increased from approximately 20% to approximately 24.5% by such enthalpy augmentation.

Abstract: A microwave radio frequency signal is coupled from a coaxial line to a circular waveguide by an in line, slot-fed, open-ended, dipole termination of the coaxial-line, imbedded in a low loss dielectric material in the waveguide to excite the waveguide in a TE.sub.11 mode suitable for exciting a low backlobe dielectric rod radiator.