Abstract: A method and device for modifying a frequency range of a radio transceiver by mixing a signal to be transmitted by the transceiver with the output of a local oscillator so as to change the frequency thereof to a desired frequency for transmission and by mixing a received radio transmission with the output of a local oscillator so as to change the frequency thereof to a frequency within the nominal reception band of the transceiver.

Abstract: A uniform coating of radar-absorbing material (RAM) is produced on small or intricate parts by suspending the part in a vessel, slowing filling the vessel with RAM slurry without turbulence from the bottom up, subsequently draining the slurry slowly without turbulence to leave a coating of RAM on the part, and repeating the process until a coating of sufficient thickness is obtained.

Abstract: A heat-resistant, thermally insulative, ductile turbocharger housing for an internal combustion engine having a structure comprised at least partially of fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite (FRCMC) material. The FRCMC material includes a polymer-derived ceramic resin in its ceramic form and fibers. The material, being for the most part ceramic, provides the heat-resistance and thermal insulating capabilities of the FRCMC material, while the fibers produce a desired degree of ductility in the FRCMC material.

Abstract: The present invention is an automated sealant applicator held by a gantry tool and is computer directed and controlled for performing sealant operations on workpieces. The automated sealant applicator is computer directed and controlled for moving around a workpiece and for applying controlled amounts of sealants along precise paths, and with desired sealant patterns. The amount, path, and pattern of sealant are derived from engineering data. A CCD advanced vision system and/or a cutter chuck with a positioning and locating system can be used to precisely locate and apply sealant to the workpiece.

Abstract: A method for detecting and tracking turns of a maneuvering target comprises the steps of determining first and second radar information of the maneuvering target. The first and second radar information and a set of target speeds are used to determine a set of turn radii for the maneuvering target. The first and second radar information and a set of target arc speeds are used to determine a second set of turn radii for the maneuvering target. The set of turn radii and the set of target speeds define a speed-radius curve, and the second set of turn radii and the set of target arc speeds define an arc speed-radius curve. An intersection of the speed-radius and arc speed-radius curves is located, and the intersection is used to determine whether the maneuvering target has made a turn.

Abstract: An electronic package includes a graphite-aluminum metal matrix composite (MMC) housing or support member that dissipates heat from an electronic component or circuit and a hermetic glass feedthrough seal between the graphite-aluminum MMC material and one or more electrical feedthrough pins or wires connected to the electronic component. The glass feedthrough seal comprises a low melting point, low coefficient of expansion (CTE) solder glass, such as lead zinc borosilicate, effective to form a hermetic glass-to-composite seal by a combined chemical and mechanical compression sealing force. The vitreous solder glass preferably exhibits a CTE in the range of about 41 to about 78 ppm/degree C. and a melting temperature in the range of about 300 to about 500 degrees C.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of forming an acoustic attenuation chambers within a honeycomb core. The honeycomb core have a plurality of honeycomb cells having interconnected side walls. A plurality of septum layers are spaced from one another within the honeycomb cells to define acoustic attenuation chambers between the septum layers and the side walls of the honeycomb cells. Each of the septum layers have an associated ablating wavelength and is transparent to the ablating wavelengths of the other septum layers. A laser beam having a laser wavelength is directed towards the septum layers. The laser beam is selectively absorbed by a septum layer which has an associated ablating wavelength equal to the laser wavelength to ablate apertures therethrough without ablating other septum layers.

Abstract: A structure for providing an enhanced heat transfer capability in a circuit board having electronic components and which is at least in part cooled by a gas flowing around the board. The enhanced heat transfer structure includes thermally conductive fibers attached at a first end to an exterior surface of the circuit board and jutting out generally perpendicular to the exterior surface. These fibers are used to conduct heat from the circuit board and transfer it to the gas. The fibers are attached the circuit board by electrostatic fiber flocking methods. It is preferred that these thermally conductive fibers are carbon fibers. The fibers can be attached to the exterior surface of the circuit board by a layer of adhesive. The fibers also do not necessarily have to be attached to the entire circuit board. They may be attached to only a portion of it, such as to temperature sensitive electronic board components.

Abstract: The present invention is an infrared traffic sensor with feature curve generation to derive empirical information for determining traffic patterns. A real-time IR image camera is positioned over an automobile and truck traffic thoroughfare for collecting video image data of the traffic thoroughfare. Data in the form of a video signal taken by the infrared video camera is received by a signal processing unit for processing the data. The processed data is used to generate statistical feature curves from which the empirical traffic information such as the number of vehicles, the speed of the vehicles, and the classification of the vehicles are determined.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a replacement heads-up display system for a vehicle flat-screen display system. The flat-screen display system including flat-screen display electronics which is connectable to a flat-screen display input connector for providing flat-screen display input signals therethrough. The flat-screen display electronics is sized and configured to be received by a flat-screen display bay formed in a vehicle control panel. The flat-screen display is attachable to a flat-screen display bezel which is attachable to the vehicle control panel. The replacement heads-up display system is provided with heads-up display electronics which is configured to mechanically and electrically interface with the flat-screen input connector. The heads-up display electronics is formed to receive and transmute the flat-screen input signals to heads-up display signals. The heads-up display electronics is sized and configured to be received by the flat-screen display bay.

Abstract: A linear motion wind driven power plant utilizes a closed-loop track having a plurality of carriages configured to move thereabout. At least one sail is formed to each of the carriages so as to be rotatable 360 degrees of azimuth. At least one electrical power generator generates electrical power from the movement of the carriages around the track. A sail assembly is defined by the sail, a sensor system for sensing lift generated by the action of the wind upon the sail, and a controller which causes the sail to turn to a position wherein the sensed lift of the sail is approximately maximized.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a ceramic foam made by mixing a liquid pre-ceramic resin and a liquid phenolic resin, allowing the resultant mixture to chemically foam, curing the mixture for a time and at a temperature sufficiently to convert the mixture to a polymeric foam, and then heating the resultant polymeric foam for a time and at a temperature sufficient to break-down polymers of the polymeric foam and convert the polymeric foam to a ceramic foam. The ceramic foam of the present invention contains residual decomposed components of the liquid phenolic resin and/or liquid pre-ceramic resin.

Abstract: Structural ceramic matrix composite material to be employed as automotive engine parts and the like is provided with erosion-resistant qualities in several ways. For one, an erosion-resistant material is applied to the surface as by plasma spraying. The erosion-resistant material can also be mixed with the fibers of the material, particularly near the surface.

Abstract: An aircraft with a variable forward-sweep wing and the method of configuring the wing in an optimal position for a desired flight regime. The variable forward-sweep wing is positionable from an essentially unswept position to a full-forward sweep position. In the unswept position the wing is approximately orthogonal to a fuselage centerline, while in the full-forward sweep position the wing has approximately a delta wing planform. Moreover, as the wing position changes from the unswept position to the full-forward sweep position the trailing edge becomes the leading edge. In addition, the aforementioned apparatus may be used in a method to configure the aircraft for flight in a desired flight regime. This method includes moving the wing to an optimal position for the desired flight regime.

Abstract: An optical correlator includes at least one electrically addressable liquid crystal array, at least one LED array for generating a reference image which is modulated by changing the transmissivity of the liquid crystals in the liquid crystal array, and at least one two-dimensional large size photodiode, the photodiode receiving a modulated image from the liquid crystal array. LED and liquid crystal array are stacked together with a photodiode or an array of photodiodes with no space between, for an exceptionally simple, compact and inexpensive optical correlator structure.

Abstract: An integrated brake pad and back plate having a brake pad section formed from a first fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite (FRCMC) material and a back plate section formed from a second FRCMC material. The brake pad and back plate are integrated because the sections are molded together to form an integral, unitary structure. The first FRCMC material used in the brake pad section includes a pre-ceramic resin in its ceramic state, fibers and possibly a filler material. The types and amount of these constituents are generally chosen so as to impart characteristics desirable in brake pads, such as high temperature and erosion resistance, and a high coefficient of friction. The second FRCMC material used in the back plate section includes a pre-ceramic resin in its ceramic state and fibers.

Abstract: A method and a coarse tuning circuit for performing direct frequency selection and down-conversion on a received analog bandpass signal for a digital receiver having C channels are disclosed. Each of the C channels has a bandwidth B. The analog bandpass signal in a channel of interest has a center frequency f.sub.c and a two-sided bandwidth not greater than B. The method comprises the following steps: (a) sampling the bandpass signal at a sampling frequency f.sub.s greater than twice the product of B and C, to produce a digital sampled signal which has an intermediate frequency much closer to the baseband frequency of zero kilohertz than the sampling frequency f.sub.s ; (b) computing, from f.sub.c and f.sub.s, a non-negative integer value m to determine the selection of a channel from the C channels of the digital receiver; and (c) forming directly from the digital sampled signal two digital signals I.sub.1 and Q.sub.

Abstract: A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) which operates at UHF frequencies and which includes a two element antenna. The SAR generates a null in the backlobe of the antenna pattern at the location of a target which is steered rather than trying to obtain directivity in the mainlobe. Both analog and digital implementations are provided. In the analog approach, required phase shifts are performed at a frequency higher than the RF output frequency and the receive and transmit nulls are steered separately to increase the width of the null so as to allow for wider SAR swaths. The digital implementation involves steering the null only on receive and multiplying fast time samples by a complex phase correction similar to that used in the analog approach to form the beam. The phase correction is also performed prior to range resolution which employs "stretch" processing, so as to achieve high range resolution.

Abstract: An airplane arresting gear has a generally planar frame (20) having a front end and a rear end that is adapted to be attached at the front end to a structure of the airplane for pivotal movement about a frame pivot axis (FPA) substantially parallel to the airplane z-axis between a stowed position in which the frame (20) resides within the fuselage skin and a deployed position in which the frame (20) extends rearwardly and obliquely downwardly with respect to the x-axis of the airplane. A shank (30) having a cable hook (80) at the rear end is coupled at its front end to the rear end of the frame (20) for pivotal movement about a shank pivot axis between a deployed position in which the shank (30) extends rearwardly from the shank pivot axis and a stowed position in which the shank (30) extends generally forwardly from the shank pivot axis and lies abreast of the frame (20).

Abstract: A parallel computer synthesizes a digital map. The computer includes a first stage and a second stage. The first stage includes a background processor for generating a map background image and N overlay processors for generating first through Nth map overlay images of non-relocatable map features. First and second sets of interim buffers are alternately connected to the background processor and to the N overlay processors. The second stage includes a second stage processor connected to the output of the first and second sets of interim buffers for combining, according to a predetermined priority, the overlay images generated by the processors of the first stage to generate a composite map image. The second stage processor also generates a final map overlay image of relocatable features, and combines the composite map image with the overlay image of relocatable features to generate a display map image.