Abstract: In a system for modulating an RF carrier, the RF carrier is fed through a lowpass filter and phase shifted approximately ?90 degrees. The RF carrier is also fed through a high pass filter and phase shifted approximately +90 degrees. A switch connected to the output of the lowpass filter and connected to the output of the highpass filter, selects and outputs either the ?90 degree phase shifted carrier output from the lowpass filter or the +90 degree phase shifted carrier output from the highpass filter depending on a switching state determined by data bit information received at a data port to produce a BPSK modulated RF carrier. Two such BPSK modulators may be combined using lowpass and highpass filters to form a QPSK modulator. Two such QPSK modulators may be combined with an attenuator to form a QAM modulator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for the efficient indexing and delivery of information to interested users who have expressed an interest in or “subscribed” to information items that are continuously released or “published” by some data source in XML format. Previously, publish and subscribe systems accepted keyword-based subscription profiles and did not support subscription to XML documents according to their structures. Direct approach to implement XML-based publish and subscribe system by checking each user profile against an XML document is very time consuming. The presentation invention, though, provides an efficient method to identify interested subscribers for each XML document by indexing queries utilizing a graphical structure of nodes. When an XML document is published, the index identifies all matched expressions in the index and delivers at least a portion of an XML document to a user who has expressed an interest in receiving this information.

Abstract: An improved spacecraft ordnance system includes a plurality of squibs each connected with a resistor having a squib unique resistance value and a driver unit including built-in test circuitry. Ordnance harness cables connect the squibs with the driver unit. The resistors enable squib identification. The built-in test circuitry enables unambiguous verification of correct connection of each squib with the driver unit. The built-in test circuitry includes a low-impedance multiplexer for selecting a driver line for monitoring, a precision current source for providing a relatively low current to a selected output of the driver unit producing a voltage proportional to the total resistance from signal to ground, and a analog/digital converter for digitizing the voltage and reporting the result to a computer for comparison to predicted values using a telemetry interface and therefore identifying the selected squib. An EMI-tight adapter housing the squib-specific resistor may be attached to the squib.

Abstract: A method and article of manufacture of joining a stringer to a wing or tail panel and curing a wing or tail panel is disclosed. A sheet of titanium is placed between a cured stringer and an uncured wing or tail panel. The stringer, wing or tail panel and sheet are then placed within a vacuum bag, and gas is pumped out of the bag. The bag is then placed in an auto-clave to cure the wing or tail panel.

Abstract: An aircraft part manufacturing device for automated composite lay up includes a mandrel tool having a an interior mandrel surface that conforms to an outside mold line (OML) of a part: to be manufactured. One or more circular rings surround the mandrel and are attached to the mandrel. The circular rings rotate supported by bearings in a bearing cradle so that the mandrel rotates concentrically with the circular rings about an axis of rotation passing through the center of the circular rings. Multiple composite material delivery heads simultaneously deliver material directly to the outside mold line on the interior mandrel surface while the mandrel is rotated. A cantilever supported gantry beam supports the material delivery heads inside the interior mandrel surface. A connecting mechanism connects the material delivery heads to the gantry beam and provides motion of the material delivery heads relative to the interior mandrel surface.

Abstract: A packet-based downlink level control subsystem is provided for a wireless communication system. The subsystem includes a mechanism for embedding into each packet a power level code. The subsystem further includes a packet transmitter mechanism responsive to the embedded power level code for adjusting the power of the transmitted signal in accordance with the embedded power level code. This enables the transmitted power levels to be tailored to fit the needs of different individual receiving stations.

Abstract: A system for equalizing amplitude tilt distortion in a signal includes an amplitude tilt maker and an amplitude tilt sensor. The input signal is split in the amplitude tilt maker between a signal through path and a phase shifted, time delayed signal path. The phase shifted, time delayed signal then passes through a voltage controlled attenuator. Combining the phase shifted, time delayed signal with the signal that travels along the signal through path provides the amplitude tilt. The tilt can be adjusted by changing the control voltage to the attenuator in order to compensate for amplitude tilt distortion in the input signal. The voltage controlled attenuator is controlled by the amplitude tilt sensor, which “senses” the tilt using a loop signal from the amplitude tilt maker.

Abstract: An antenna system includes a reflector having a modified-paraboloid shape; and a multi-beam, multi-band feed array located at a focal point of the reflector so that the antenna system forms a multiple congruent beams that are contiguous. The system has a single reflector with non-frequency selective surface. The reflector is sized to produce a required beam size at K-band frequencies and is oversized at EHF-band frequencies. The synthesized reflector surface is moderately shaped and disproportionately broadens EHF-band and Ka-band beams compared to K-band beams. The synthesized reflector surface forms multiple beams each having a 0.5-degree diameter at K-band, Ka-band, and EHF band. The multi-beam, multi-band feed array includes a number of high-efficiency, multi-mode circular horns that operate in focused mode at K-band and defocused mode at Ka-band and EHF-band by employing “frequency-dependent” design for the horns.

Abstract: A universal replacement tip for a caulking tube designed to replace an original caulking tube tip after the tip has been used or in the event the user wishes to use a tip that produces a different shape and/or thickness of caulking bead without the need or special adapters, flanges or modification to the dispensing gun in which the caulking tube is used. The caulking tube replacement tip includes a flange at its base with an adhesive material attached to the bottom of the flange. The base is placed over the remains of the original caulking tube tip after it has been cut off and is secured to the top of the caulking tube with the adhesive material. The caulking tube replacement tip tapers up from the base to a sealed tip which can be any shape and size including round, oval, rectangular, square and star-shaped.

Abstract: A telecommunication system includes a transmitter configured to modulate a forward link RF carrier with a first set of data; a receiver configured to demodulate a second set of data from a return link RF carrier; an orthomode transducer having two linear ports and a circular waveguide port, where one of the linear ports is connected as an input from the transmitter and another linear port is simultaneously connected as an output to the receiver; an antenna; and a linear-to-circular polarizer connected to the circular waveguide port and connected to the antenna, where the linear-to-circular polarizer is configured so that a first linear polarization at the circular waveguide port results in a first circular polarization at the antenna and a second circular polarization at the antenna results in a second linear polarization at the circular waveguide port.

Abstract: A system which features an actuator mechanism for controlling orientations of reflecting surfaces of an optical reflector or antenna is disclosed. As integrated into the system, the actuator may control both pan and tilt characteristics of reflective surfaces to create an adaptive system for focusing or otherwise directing light or other radiation. The invention is suited to large aperture, low density, and high surface accuracy segmented optical or other electromagnetic wave receivers needed for terrestrial and space-deployed applications in fields such as astronomy, communications, earth imaging, and directed energy.

Abstract: A power line modem interface includes a modem that modulates an RF signal with digital data and demodulates an RF signal to recover digital data. A filter is connected to the modem and to a DC power line that supplies power to a local power supply. The filter couples the RF signals from the modem to the DC power line and filters the RF signals out of the local power supply. The filter includes: a first inductance connected to a hot side of the DC power line; a second inductance connected in series with the first inductance and connected to the local power supply; and a capacitance with a first plate connected between the first inductance and the second inductance and a second plate connected to the modem so that the RF signal is passed between the modem and the DC power line.

Abstract: One aspect is a method which determines a float remaining figure (for example, a float remaining circle) for a manufactured pattern of features. In some embodiments, the size and relative location of two or more float remaining figures, each for a different part (each part typically designed in accordance with a different pattern of features), are compared and optionally also transformed to provide a quantifiable measure of whether the two parts fit (or can be modified to fit) and if so how well the parts fit. Other aspects are systems programmed to perform any embodiment of the method, and computer readable media which store code for implementing any embodiment of the method.

Abstract: A dual-side thermal interface and cooling design of an integrated power module is disclosed which effectively reduces the equivalent thermal impedance on the power module by 20%. This in turn reduces the temperature rise of the junction temperature of the power devices inside the power module by 20% with an equivalent load current. As a consequence the weight and volume associated with the conventional cooling mechanism not employing a dual thermal interface is reduced, thus increasing the ambient operating temperature limit of a power converter in the module.

Abstract: A method of analysis to process jitter information by using a window average statistic model to determine a pointing accuracy. The pointing accuracy ultimately determines whether or not a mission can proceed. The process includes the following: collect a signal, process the signal to produce data, insert the data from the signal into a statistical model to produce statistics, compile the statistics using the statistics model to produce a probability density function, integrate the probability density function to produce a probability distribution function, determine a pointing accuracy from the probability distribution function.

Abstract: This invention introduces innovative filtering techniques to recover the instability phase margin loss due to time delay induced from a throughput shortage problem of a spacecraft central processor (SCP). This invention relates to digital control systems and, more particularly, to a phase recovery filtering technique to alleviate spacecraft central computer processor or (SCP) throughput shortages. This filtering technique recovers the unstable phase margin loss due to the time delay caused by the SCP throughput problem. The filtering techniques may be accomplished without schedule slip or extra cost to the project.

Abstract: A computerized method is disclosed for determining the size and location effects of simulated or manufactured features on an object, determining the transformation of a pattern of features, determining usable feature size within a pattern of features, and determining the remaining feature tolerances. The simulated or manufactured position of a pattern of features is used to determine how to translate a tolerance zone framework. Positional errors and remaining feature tolerances are determined relative to the translated design framework.

Abstract: A phased array antenna includes a plurality of assemblies, each assembly including a plurality of elements and a plurality of digitally controlled centralized beam formers coupled to respective ones of the plurality of elements. The digitally controlled centralized beam formers may be disposed under the plurality of radiating elements and may be operable to provide a first signal to the respective ones of the plurality of radiating elements representative of a plurality of signals of a first polarization and a second signal representative of a plurality of signals of a second polarization. A method for distributing signals to a radiating element of a phased array antenna includes the steps of generating a first signal representative of a plurality of signals of a first polarization at a digitally controlled centralized beam former, and distributing the first signal to the radiating element.

Abstract: A method for applying pressure to the area of a composite part masked by a secondary feature comprises the steps of positioning a pressure augmentation strip in contact with the masked area, securing a pressure transfer wedge on each of two sides of the secondary feature, such that pressure is transferred to the pressure augmentation strip during co-curing/co-bonding, and co-curing/co-bonding the composite part and the secondary feature. When the area between the composite part and the secondary feature is fairly large, the method can comprise the further steps of positioning a sine wave spring between the pressure augmentation strip and the secondary feature, injecting a structural paste adhesive into the voids around the sine wave spring, and curing the structural paste.

Abstract: A traveling wave multiplying digital-to-analog converter has propagation-delay matched transmission lines for conversion of a high data rate digital input to a high frequency RF analog output, for example, at microwave and millimeter wave frequencies and above. The traveling wave multiplying digital-to-analog converter includes an array of constant, high impedance multiplying cells that are identical to improve component matching and propagation delay matching. The multiplying cells are connected in a spatial interleaving manner along bit lines that propagate the high bandwidth digital input. The interleaving effects a “spatial averaging” that maintains linearity of digital to analog conversion in the presence of any linear gradient ? from one cell to another across the array of multiplying cells.