Abstract: A gaze directed visual system includes a gaze tracker for determining an area of interest; an image generator for generating an area of interest image about the area of interest and generating a background image elsewhere; paired field buffers, for each field of view, for providing a composite image from the area of interest image and the background image; and a timing and control block for interleaving timing of read and write operations on each pair of field buffers whereby reading of the composite image commences upon completion of writing a first portion of the background image so that transport delay is minimized in displaying the composite image on a high resolution display device.

Abstract: The system includes a first polarizing element; an electro-optically driven birefringent element; a second polarizing element; an optical assembly; and, an optical-to-electronic imaging sensor assembly. The first polarizing element receives an incoming optical wavefront and provides a linearly polarized output therefrom. The electro-optically driven birefringent element receives the linearly polarized output and produces two polarization eigenwaves, an output of the birefringent element being elliptically polarized. The second polarizing element has a polarization axis perpendicular to a polarization axis of the first polarizing element. The second polarizing element receives the output from the birefringent element and provides a linearly polarized output. The optical assembly receives the output of the second polarizing element and forms a real image therefrom.

Abstract: An automated tube trimming system accurately trims tubes to the correct height and angle. The tube trimming system is a combination of an automated trimming saw and a unique spherical tube clamping system. A spherical clamp having a fixed clamp section and an internal swivel portion is used to clamp a tube at an appropriate angle for cutting in an automated tube trimming saw. The spherical clamp may be tightened onto the tube at an angle appropriate to provide the correct mating cut to easily weld to a second mating tube section or fitting. Conventional methods cut perpendicular to the direction of the tube, thereby requiring time consuming and labor intensive grinding and deburring. The ability to provide accurate and simple formation of trimmed tubes may be useful in a wide variety of industries where the movement of air and fluid through tubes is performed.

Abstract: A carrier frequency converter for converting a first information carrier frequency of a first carrier to a second information carrier frequency of a second carrier. The converter includes an input control optics assembly for receiving a first carrier and adjusting the first carrier in accordance with first desired frequency, polarization and beam propagation parameters. A non-linear optical medium provides optical rectification of an output of the input control optics assembly. An output control optics assembly receives an output of the non-linear optical medium and adjusts the output in accordance with second desired frequency, polarization and beam propagation parameters. The output of the output control optics is a second carrier having an information bandwidth equivalent to the information bandwidth of the first carrier.

Abstract: The system has a single pulse spectrum capability for sensing the presence of contamination on a surface to be interrogated. The system includes a narrow frequency bandwidth visible pulse and broadband infrared pulse that are directed to the surface. An output wavelength discriminator receives the reflected sum-frequency that is generated. The output wavelength discriminator is substantially non-transmissive at the frequencies of the visible pulse and the infrared pulse, but is substantially transmissive at the sum-frequency of the visible pulse and the infrared pulse. The output of the wavelength discriminator is a broadband output. A frequency disperser receives the output of the wavelength discriminator and provides a physical separation of output wavelengths of the broadband output. A multi-channel analyzer analyzes the intensity of the physically separated output wavelengths as a function of their physical positions.

Abstract: An aircraft door includes a seal that integrates a flexible silicone seal portion and a rigid blade seal portion into a single continuous seal around the mold line gap between the door and frame. The arrangement allows for the use of space saving piano hinges to mount the door. The seal includes a rigid blade seal around three edges of the door and a flexible hinge cover seal adjacent to the hinge edge of the door. The flexible hinge cover seal is bonded to terminal blocks which in turn can be mounted to the door edge and to the door frame such that the flexible hinge cover seal covers the mold line gap adjacent to the hinge.

Abstract: A test signal attenuation circuit is built into a signal transmitter for modifying the energy content of the transmitter output signal. The built-in test signal attenuation circuit includes circuits for generating an attenuated, degraded, chopped signal. The built-in test signal attenuation circuit may be used for purposes of testing the performance of a link under degraded conditions.

Abstract: An autonomous lithium-ion cell balancing system with integrated voltage monitoring includes a lithium-ion battery having a plurality of cells, a cell balancing circuit and a cell balancing control circuit. The heart of the cell balancing circuit is a plurality of gated cell balancing converters that are connected with the battery cells and a common share bus. Each gated lithium-ion cell balancing converter receives and input drive voltage and an input sample voltage and transfers energy from highly charged lithium-ion cells to the less charged lithium-ion cells, forcing all cells to have the same energy level. Further, the gated cell balancing converter provides a telemetry output voltage analog to an input cell voltage, eliminating the need for a separate cell voltage monitor.

Abstract: A ceramic fabric and a resin are combined to form a fire protection sheet capable of being co-cured onto a parent laminate structure. The resulting monolithic composite firewall shows fire protection ability comparable to that of the conventional titanium structure, without the problems associated therewith, such as titanium panel separation and disbonding. The fire protection sheet easily conforms to the shape of the parent laminate and is also useful as a repair material for damaged conventionally protected firewalls.

Abstract: An optically baffled heating station for joining wire connections by using a solder sleeve includes: an outer housing; a reflection block where said reflection block includes a reflection chamber where the reflection chamber forms the shape of two overlapping ellipses where the ellipses intersect at one respective focal point of each ellipsis and the opposing non-intersecting focal points are separated by about a 90° angle; two heating elements within a heating element block where the two heating elements extend beyond the heating element block and protrude into the reflection pockets of the reflection chamber. A slot extends between the two heating elements through the reflection block and the heating element block. The closed end of the slot includes a target area where the shrinking of the sleeve occurs. The target area receives the reflected light and minimizes the reflection of light toward the open end of the slot.

Abstract: A fiber optic fabric includes woven optical fibers, an opaque coating on the fibers and openings on the high points of the weave. The opaque coating prevents light leakage from the fibers and the openings allow light to be emitted from the fabric in a directed manner. The fabric is capable of emitting light at an angle relative to the surface of the fabric such that the light is not visible from every viewpoint.

Abstract: A last chance aircraft back-up hydraulic system in which fuel from the fuel tanks of the aircraft is injected into the return line of a leaking hydraulic system by use of a pump activated by a guarded switch by the aircraft's pilot. The fuel serves as hydraulic fluid to operate the pumps of the system as it is injected upstream from the fluid being lost to extend the operating time of the system and prevent failure so the aircraft can be landed at a site.

Abstract: The present invention provides a remote controlled machine axis (or indexer) system that comprises a horizontal base plate, a first vertical plate, and a second vertical plate, wherein the first vertical plate and the second vertical plate are coupled to the horizontal base plate. The system further comprises a first arbor coupled to the first vertical plate, a second arbor coupled to the second vertical plate, a bearing positioned through the first vertical plate and the first arbor, a rotatable base plate coupled to the first arbor and to the second arbor, and a vice coupled to the rotatable base plate. The system also comprises a wireless transceiver coupled to the horizontal base plate, a servomotor coupled to the wireless transceiver and to the horizontal base plate, an integrated power source coupled to the servomotor, to the wireless transceiver, and to the horizontal base plate, and a reducer coupled to the integrated servomotor and to the second vertical plate.

Abstract: An automatic tube tee forming and trimming system uses a single apparatus for milling a hole in a tube, pulling a forming die through the milled hole, and face trimming the resulting pullout joint to the desired height. The forming die is pulled out through the hole via a universal driver which is simply attached to the drawbar without requiring any twisting to lock the assembly. The system may automatically conduct each of the steps once the tube is loaded into the apparatus. The apparatus completes the tube tee forming and trimming process in a relatively small cell, without the need to travel out to another factory area, within a relatively short period of time, and with minimal use of manual labor.

Abstract: In an aircraft having an engine and an AMAD, a power take off shaft is rotationally connected to the engine, and the power take off shaft provides rotational power from the engine. A power producing device having an internal shaft is provided for producing additional auxiliary power. The power producing device may be an electrical generator with an internal shaft rotationally connected to the power take off shaft. The electrical generator converts one portion of the rotational power to additional electrical power, and fits in a pre-existing unused space within the aircraft, located between the engine and the AMAD. An output shaft is rotationally connected to the power take off shaft and rotationally connects to the AMAD to provide another portion of the rotational power to the AMAD. Additional electrical power generation is produced without modification to the engine, AMAD, or existing electrical generators.

Abstract: A fiber fed illumination system includes a solid-state light source, such as an LED; a light guide, such as a fiber optic; and a coupling assembly. The light emitting surface of the light source may be flat or concave. In the coupling assembly the light guide is placed either next to the flat surface or at the aperture of the concave surface. The light guide may be bonded directly to the light source or bonded so that index matching optical gel resides between the light emitting surface and the light guide. The coupling assembly includes a cavity surrounding the light emitting surface with a feature for retaining the light guide in proximity to the light source. The cavity is filled with index matching optical gel. The size of the light guide matches the size of the solid-state light source in order to provide the smallest feasible light guide.

Abstract: The system includes a fixed wavelength laser and a tunable wavelength laser as inputs. Respective input optical fibers receive the inputs and transmit them to a first position proximate a location on a surface to be interrogated. Respective fiber coupling optics deliver the inputs to the interrogated location on the surface. The inputs are alignable so that their surface locations of optical illumination overlap on the interrogated location. Output fiber coupling optics receives a reflected output resulting from a three-wave mixing process occurring at the interrogated location. An output optical fiber receives an output of the output fiber coupling optics and transmits the output to a desired position from the interrogated location.

Abstract: An optically clear structural laminate includes a thermosetting resin, a silane coupling agent and a filler. The laminate has a high weight to strength ratio and is capable of optical transmission over a wide range of temperatures.The laminate has increased tensile strength and is capable of being easily formed into complex shaped components. The structural properties of the laminate make it useful as aircraft canopies and windows.

Abstract: A quick change, self-contained vacuum system includes a debris container with an input opening and a pressure head that is configured to receive a fluid under a high pressure and which includes a low pressure inlet and an exhaust port. A guide pin may be provided along with a body that is selectively engageable with the pressure head and the guide pin. The body includes a bore having a first port communicating with the exhaust port of the pressure head and a second port communicating with the input opening of the debris container. The vacuum system further includes a shutoff valve that is operable in response to movement of the guide pin. In operation, movement of the guide pin relative to the body in one direction establishes locking engagement of the pressure head and the body along with a response by the shutoff valve to establish fluid communication between the exhaust port of the pressure head and the input opening of the debris container.

Abstract: The present invention provides a visual display system that comprises an image generator and a plurality of adjacent video display modules. The image generator may be adapted to generate a video image viewable by an operator of the visual display system, where the video image may be representative of a portion of a composite display image. The plurality of adjacent video display modules include displays that may be adapted to display the portion of the composite display image, where the video display may be remotely coupled to the image generator and may be responsive to the video image generated by the image generator.