Abstract: The principle purpose of the present invention is to provide an image processing system which uses the two methods to form visible stimuli which depict visual shape. In particular, the present invention either transforms a first visible configuration to a second visible configuration that depicts (in one of the two possible ways given) the visual shapes induced by the first visible configuration, or it determines the visible configuration necessary to depict the desired visual configuration. Using the present invention, it is possible to transform a full 360 degrees of visible space (i.e., front, back, up, down, right and left directional views) onto a single display surface.

Abstract: A data structure in a computer memory for use in encoding and decoding an N-dimensional subband decomposition of data points includes, after initialization, three lists: a list of insignificant sets of points (LIS); a list of significant points (LSP); and a list of insignificant points (LIP). The LIS is populated with sets, each of the sets being designated by a root node within the N-dimensional subband decomposition and having a corresponding tree structure of points within the N-dimensional subband decomposition, which tree structure of points is organized as descendants and offspring of the root node but not including the root node, the LIP is populated with points from within the highest designated subband of the N-dimensional subband decomposition, while the LSP is initially empty. The data structure permits encoding and decoding of any N-dimensional data set, i.e., any data set where N is a positive integer. Method and software for employing this data structure are also described.

Abstract: A coder for use in encoding and decoding a data set representing an image includes a first device which partitions the data transformation into first and second sets, which adds the first set into a list of insignificant sets (LIS), and which initializes a list of significant pixels (LSP), a second device which tests the first and second sets for significance with respect to a threshold value, which partitions significant members of the first and second sets in accordance with first and second partitioning functions, respectively, and which adds significant pixels to the LSP, a third device which refmes the quantization of the pixels in the LSP. In operation, the threshold value is decrement as the second and third devices are operation in seriatim until the coding endpoint has been reached. An optional fourth device entropy codes a significance map cooperatively generated by the second and third devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to toric-shaped see through lenses used in eyewear. The lenses have a substantially constant thickness and having base curve with a substantially constant radius of curvature of at least 15 mm and preferably in the range of 19-23 mm. The toric lenses may be supported in a frame formed of either rigid or flexible material and attached to a strap assembly adaptable to be worn by the user. Optionally, each of the lenses may be supported by a flanged member and ventilation passages preferably extending through the frame and/or the lenses to allow air to circulate around the lenses.

Abstract: An umbilical and follower assembly for preventing unwanted movements of a frame from being transmitted by an umbilical cord to a microgravity platform as may be utilized on an orbiting space vehicle. The follower assembly includes a plurality of actuators capable of moving an umbilical attachment in directions which are opposite to the unwanted movements of the frame. The attachment engages a portion of the umbilical and thus maintains the umbilical in a predetermined position relative to the platform, preventing the unwanted frame movements from being transmitted past the attachment and to the platform. The umbilical preferably includes a portion having three separate loop portions, with each loop extending in a different orthogonal plane and capable of absorbing rotational motion in that plane by deformation of the loop portion.

Abstract: A phased array Raman laser amplifier includes a beam generator for generating a fundamental laser beam and a Raman seed frequency laser beam, and a fiber optic laser amplifier array for forming a diffraction limited output laser beam at the Raman seed frequency by amplifying the fundamental laser beam to a power level corresponding to the Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) threshold to thereby pump the SRS process and provide Raman gain to the Raman seed frequency laser beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved helicopter rotor system including a contoured flexure strap having a simplified geometrical configuration. The flexure strap serves to join the rotary hub assembly with the rotor blades and is formed of fiberglass. The primary load carrying fibers of the flexure strap preferably extend in the same direction as the spanwise axis of the flexure strap in order to withstand the centrifugal forces acting on the strap. The inboard end portion of the flexure strap includes two separate ends, with one of the ends extending in a vertically upward direction and the other end in a vertically downward direction. This allows the ends of flexure straps positioned on opposite sides of the rotary hub assembly to overlap one another and be retained in place by a single pin and bolt assembly.

Abstract: A variable power laser device includes a lasing medium having first and second end faces disposed parallel to one another, N side faces extending between the first and second end faces and a bevel face located at an intersection between the second end and one of the side faces, a first mirror separate from the first end face for directing a laser beam into the lasing medium so as to permit the laser beam to follow a helical transmission path defined by the N side faces, the transmission path being longer than the length of any of the N side faces, and a second mirror separate from the second end face for receiving an amplified laser beam output by the lasing medium and reflecting the amplified laser beam in a predetermined direction, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 3. The output power of the amplified laser beam is dependent on the number of loops in the transmission path.

Abstract: A stand-alone test device for testing remote terminals intended for use on a command-response data bus which includes a single-purpose electrical waveform generator for generating a coded electrical waveform which is representative of a transmit command sequence which includes an address of a remote terminal under test, an electrical-to-optical converter (e.g., an LED driver and LED) responsive to the coded electrical waveform for producing a first coded optical waveform corresponding to the coded electrical waveform, and an optical transmission line (e.g., an optical fiber) having a first end coupled to the coded optical waveform and a second end coupled to an optical input of the remote terminal under test. The remote terminal under test is responsive to the coded optical waveform for producing an optical output indicative of the operational status of the remote terminal under test. The stand-alone test device further includes an optical-to-electrical converter (e.g.

Abstract: Thermal damage in resin-matrix composite materials is detected using a low field NMR nondestructive testing technique. The technique involves subjecting the resin-matrix composite material to an NMR measurement of the spin-lattice relaxation (T.sub.1) at a low magnetic field strength and/or the spin-lattice relaxation of local field order (T.sub.1D) at any field strength. Thermal damage is evident as an increase in T.sub.1 and T.sub.1D.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3-D) virtual display system for displaying a flicker-free 3-D virtual image to each of N viewers randomly dispersed about a horizontally disposed viewing screen, where N is an integer greater than 1, includes a laser projector for generating N.times.M image pairs responsive to a video signal comprising the N.times.M image pairs, N transmitters associated with respective ones of the N viewers, each of the N transmitters generating a unique coded pulse, a detector for determining the position of each of the N viewers relative to the viewing screen responsive to the respective unique coded pulse and for generating respective position data, a graphics processor for generating the video signal responsive to the position data, and N selectors associated with the N viewers for selecting the M image pairs out of the N.times.M image pairs allocated to each of the N viewers, respectively. The projector includes an electron-beam-pumped semiconductor laser (EBSL) screen, e.g.

Abstract: A battery apparatus which includes a battery housing having a plurality of battery cell receptacles, each of the battery cell receptacles having an inwardly tapered opening. A plurality of battery cells are respectively inserted in the battery cell receptacles, and electrodes of each battery cell are connected via wires or bus bars to electrodes of another battery cell. A collar is secured to and surrounds each of the plurality of battery cells, the collar being located at a central portion of the battery cells. A portion of the collar is inwardly tapered, with the inward taper of the battery cell receptacle matching the inward taper of the collar. Retaining tabs secure each battery cell and its respective collar to the battery housing. An adhesive material is applied to a surface of the central portion of each battery cell, with the adhesive material bonding to an inner surface of the respective collar. An electrically insulating material is also embedded in the adhesive material.

Abstract: An optical switch network which includes a plurality N of cascaded optical switching stages, each mth one of the switching stages including 2.sup.m-1 Mach-Zehnder interferometers, where m=1 through N. The input port of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer of a first one of the optical switching stages receives an optical input signal, and the 2.sup.N-1 Mach-Zehnder interferometers of the Nth one of the optical switching stages provide a total of 2.sup.N output ports. Each of the Mach-Zehnder interferometers is preferably an unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer, and the optical input signal preferably has a wavelength which is a selected one of 2.sup.N selectable wavelengths. The plurality N of cascaded optical switching stages provide 2.sup.N possible optical paths, whereby the optical input signal is automatically routed along a selected one of the 2.sup.N possible optical paths in dependence upon its selected wavelength.

Abstract: Color night vision goggles (NVG), e.g., binocular-style or monocular-style NVG, which include at least one channel. Each channel includes an objective lens for receiving input radiant energy from a low-luminance scene within the field-of-view of the NVG, an input tunable electro-optical filter positioned in front of the objective lens, an image intensifier device for amplifying input radiant energy transmitted by the input electro-optical filter and the objective lens, and for generating output radiant energy which constitutes an amplified image of the low-luminance scene, an eyepiece lens, an output tunable electro-optical filter disposed between the image intensifier device and the eyepiece lens, and a control circuit for generating a control signal having a prescribed frequency. The input and output electro-optical filters sequentially and synchronously transmit successive ones of a plurality of different spectral bands (e.g.

Abstract: A method for preventing laser jamming of night vision goggles having a gated image intensifier device and a display for displaying an intensified image of a scene. The method includes the steps of detecting laser pulses from a jamming laser source and producing respective electrical pulses in response thereto, and gating off the gated image intensifier device in synchronism with the electrical pulses in order to thereby prevent the laser pulses from affecting the intensified image of the scene displayed by the display.

Abstract: A direct diode laser system includes N laser head assemblies (LHAs) generating N output beams, N optical fibers receiving respective N output beams and generating N received output beams, and a torch head recollimating and focusing the N received output beams onto a single spot. Preferably, each of the laser head assemblies of the direct diode laser system includes M modules generating M laser beams, wherein each of the M laser beams has a corresponding single wavelength of light, M-1 dichroic filters, wherein each of the M-1 dichroic filter transmits a corresponding one of the M laser beams and reflects all other wavelengths, and a fiber coupling device collecting the M laser beams to produce a respective one of the N output beams. In an exemplary case, the M-1 dichroic filters function as band pass filters. A method of generating a high fluence, high power laser beam is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of manufacturing pads of a display panel. Al or Al alloy is deposited and patterned on a glass substrate for forming a plurality of gate electrodes and lines. Then a plurality of pads are formed with Ta or Ti, which is capable of forming an anodic oxide thereof; each pad extending over an edge of each of the respective gate lines to provide an electrical coupling therebetween. Thereafter, the entire surface of the pads, gate electrodes and lines is subjected to an anodic oxidation under a high anodization voltage. Anodic oxide layers on the pads are then etched away together with a silicon nitride layer during a subsequent pad opening processing step. Consequently, in accordance with the invention, a photoresist masking process for the selective anodic oxidation of Al gate lines and electrodes is eliminated.