Abstract: A method of producing an optical reticle and the reticle produced thereby. thin layer of aluminum is deposited on the face of a sapphire substrate and a reticle pattern is chemically etched therein. The system is then exposed to air at an elevated temperature for approximately one hour to oxidize the remaining aluminum layer. A film of titanium is next placed over the rough aluminum oxide as by sputtering, for example, and the excess titanium is etched away by the same pattern to produce the finished reticle.

Abstract: An automatic threshold circuit to establish a threshold that is a specified umber of db above the input's rms frequency weighted noise value wherein the input is compared with the feedback threshold value, the result of which is coupled to a limiter for providing an output of +1, or -1 volt, depending on the input's relationship to the reference. The output of the limiter is combined with a preselected value and integrated. The integrated output is coupled through a clamping circuit that limits its output to positive values, which values are the feedback voltage coupled to the comparator.

Abstract: Aluminum particles are coated with a composition containing 84 .+-. 3 wei percent desensitizing wax, 2 .+-. 0.5 weight percent lecithin and 14 .+-. 1 weight percent nitrocellulose prior to being mixed with other ingredients of an explosive composition in a bomb manufacturing process in order to eliminate the possibility of dust explosions occurring during the bomb manufacturing process.

Abstract: A tunable laser wherein the tuning element is intracavity and comprises a larizing prism for linearly polarizing the beam, and an electronically tunable filter backed by a retroreflective surface.

Abstract: Compositions of matter comprising a mixture of a jet fuel and an aluminum di-acid soap of a saturated carboxylic acid having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms are disclosed. The compositions of matter are useful as fuels for jet aircraft.

Abstract: A guided missile fuze comprising a safety-arming mechanism. Upon intentio launch of the missile the explosive train of the fuze is mechanically and electrically aligned, provided prescribed launch and flight events occur and a specific time has elapsed. The first step in the arming cycle of the present invention is the transmittal of intent to launch logic to the fuze by the pilot just prior to launch. This connects power to the fuze and removes a solenoid interlock from the mechanism. At separation the movement of a rod used to enable the rocket motor initiating device removes a second mechanical interlock from the device. After separation initiation of the rocket motor causes hot gas pressure to be applied to a piston located in the rocket motor section external to the fuze and interfacing with a plunger that extends from the safety-arming mechanism. Action of the piston on the fuze plunger applies arming energy to the mechanism.

Abstract: Methods for controlling the sizes and shapes of fragments produced by ward casings are disclosed.

Abstract: A data bus coupler having a fiber optic bundle input, a separate optical ulator or detector (described in a concurrent disclosure by the same inventors) attached to each fiber of the bundle for adding information to, extracting information from, or detecting the information conducted by the fiber, and an output wherein the fibers are rejoined into a fiber optic bundle. The optical modulator/detectors are double heterojunction semiconductors that are switched "on" by reverse biasing and with large voltages they may act as photoavalanche diodes when detecting incident radiation.

Abstract: Compositions consisting essentially of about 1 weight percent carbon black, rom about 20 to about 35 weight percent polytetrafluoroethylene and from about 79 to about 64 weight percent of a material selected from the group consisting of isobutylene-isoprene copolymer and ethylene-propylene rubber are disclosed as being useful as protective fillers in situations where the protective filler is subjected to high temperatures and pressures.

Abstract: The forward end of a warhead casing is structured to improve warhead penetion characteristics. The forward wall of the warhead casing is configured with thicker peripheral portions tapering to a thinner central portion and the warhead explosive is separated from the forward wall by a shock pad.

Abstract: A warhead casing is designed to protect the high explosive material therein from open fires or other sources of intense heat which might cause premature explosion of the warhead. The warhead casing is relieved throughout the greater part of its outer circumference and may be then counter-relieved over a slightly lesser distance. The relieved area is filled with an ablative material covered by a protective intumescent coating, for example, of fire resistant, impregnated cloth.

Abstract: An injection system for a liquid propellant gun including coaxial flow vas giving complete mixing of two propellant components by convergent streams, wherein ullage is eliminated by closely contouring the valves with the gun chamber and the flow valves are automatically controlled by action of the propellant pump.

Abstract: An optical scanning system having a rotatably driven, curved reflective sace with a predetermined pattern of reflective and non-reflective portions annularly arranged near the circumference of the surface. The emission source, such as an infrared source, is focused onto an area of the surface in the ring of the portions such that when the surface is rotated the portions are rotated under the image and as each reflective portion is brought into alignment with the image, the image is reflected to a detector. The orientation of the surface is continuously monitored for correlation with each detection. The sum of the orientations at detection per rotation defines placement of the source in the field of view of the system. Appropriate computer programs may be used to increase processing speed and, thereby, increase efficiency.

Abstract: A tunable laser having a laser material capable of being tuned such as an ganic dye, tuning means including an intra-cavity semiconductor element to which an electric field can be applied, and an angle sensitive filter or reflector such as a diffraction grating.

Abstract: An improved firing circuit for rocket launchers and the like which includes normally open switch between the power source and the firing selector switch and an oscillating grounding switch. The grounding switch and the firing selector switch are simultaneously operated by a rotary solenoid or the like and are connected by a ratchet arrangement so that oscillatory motion of the grounding switch causes rotary motion of the firing selector switch. The normally open switch is closed to apply power through the selector switch only near the end of each increment of rotation.

Abstract: The use of polysulfones and powdered oxidizer in the manufacture of cartres is disclosed.

Abstract: A filter-cooler is provided for use with a rocket motor to cool and filter ighly aluminized hot gases from around 5800.degree. F to around 2000.degree. F. The cooled and filtered gases are then usable, for example, in thrust vector control mechanisms. A decomposable chemical coolant section is placed ahead of the filter section so that alumina present in the gases begins to solidify ahead of the filter and may be more efficiently removed.

Abstract: A temperature control circuitry for use in detecting the temperature of a vice and providing a programming voltage output for controlling a heating apparatus to vary the temperature of the device. The circuitry utilizes a thermocouple as a sensing element in conjunction with a sweep voltage generator and is capable of controlling the time required to heat the device, depending on its material, to a specific temperature over a wide range of temperature values. This is accomplished by superimposition of the thermocouple voltage of the device on a linear ramp voltage generated by the sweep voltage generator. The error signal produced is further processed to control the output of power supplied to heating elements in order that a linear temperature rise or fall of the heated device results over a predetermined elapsed time.

Abstract: A tape search system for automatically retrieving a particular segment on a ideo tape in which the segments to be retrieved are indicated at the time of recording by cuing the audio track and causing a parallel dump in the up-down counter which counts the number of recording seconds. The information of each dump is placed in a different memory register. Each cue number corresponds to the memory location of desired information that can be retrieved by selecting the appropriate cue number(s).

Abstract: An amphibious vehicle is provided with pivoted plates on either side for ement between an extended position approximately horizontal and a "folded" position approximately vertical with respect to the normal position of the vehicle. A third plate may also be attached beneath and parallel to the bottom of the vehicle. These plates are so shaped that in the extended position they serve as planing skis and are fabricated from a material which will afford armor protection to the vehicle when the plates are in the folded or retracted position.