Abstract: A canister for storing a particulate-type product. The canister comprises opposing face panels, opposing side panels, a bottom closure, a top closure and a seal membrane. The opposing side panels together with the opposing face panels define an upper opening and a lower opening. The bottom closure is connected to the opposing face panels so as to encompass the lower opening. The opposing face panels, the opposing side panels and the bottom closure combine to define an internal storage region. The top closure is connected to the opposing face panels so as to encompass the upper opening. The top closure is configured to provide selective access to the internal storage region. Finally, the seal membrane is connected to the inner surfaces of the opposing face and side panels adjacent to and extending beneath the top closure. The seal membrane forms a substantially air-tight seal at the upper opening to maintain integrity of particulate-type product disposed within the internal storage region.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a multilayer opaque coating on an integrated circuit or multichip module. First, an opaque coating composition is heated to a molten state and the molten opaque coating composition is applied so as to form an opaque coating that overlies active circuitry on the surface of the integrated circuit or multichip module, to prevent optical and radiation based inspection and reverse engineering of the active circuitry. Further coatings are applied over the opaque coating to shield the active circuitry of the integrated circuit or multichip module from the adverse affects of electromagnetic interference and/or high energy radiation.

Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus and method for assembling a food container having a body portion with an annular rim configured to be secured to an annular rim of a base portion of the container. The manufacturing apparatus and method includes a container supporting assembly, a tool member, a drive assembly, an oscillator assembly and a suspension assembly. The container supporting assembly supports the body and base portions of the container with the annular rim of the base portion engaging the annular rim of the body portion. The drive assembly moves the tool member along a first axis between a first position, wherein the tool member is engaged with the annular rim of the base portion, and a second position, wherein the tool member is disengaged therefrom. The oscillator assembly oscillates the tool member relative to the container supporting assembly to cause oscillation of the base and body portions relative to one another.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bearing assembly with thermal compensation. The bearing assembly includes a bearing mechanism defined by a pair of races and a plurality of bearing elements. The races are manufactured from a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially different than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material from which the bearing elements are manufactured. A thermal compensation mechanism of the bearing assembly is contiguous with the races. The thermal compensation mechanism permits movement of the races relative to the bearing elements in a direction parallel the rotational axis of the bearing mechanism as a result of the effect of temperature variations on the materials of the races and bearing elements.

Abstract: A vibration damping and isolation apparatus including a passive damping mechanism and an active enhancement mechanism. The passive damping mechanism operates to dissipate vibratory and shock forces applied to the vibration damping and isolation apparatus. The passive damping mechanism includes first and second spaced damping elements. A first resilient structure connects the first damping element to the second damping element to define a primary fluid chamber between the first and second damping elements. The passive damping mechanism further includes a second resilient structure that defines a secondary fluid chamber which is in fluid communication with the primary fluid chamber via a fluid flow orifice. A fluid fills the primary fluid chamber, the secondary fluid chamber and the fluid flow orifice.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vibration damping and isolation apparatus having a passive damping mechanism. The passive damping mechanism includes an outer tubular member and an inner member. The inner and outer members are linearly movable relative to one another upon application of forces to the damping apparatus. The inner member is spaced from the outer member by a fluid shear gap that is filled with a viscous fluid. Fluid pressure of the viscous fluid remains constant while the viscous fluid dissipates the forces by direct fluid shear upon relative linear movement of the outer and inner members.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a primer coating and an opaque coating on an integrated circuit or multichip module. First a primer coating composition is applied to a surface of the integrated circuit device or multichip module to form a primer coating that increases the resistance of the surface to thermal and mechanical damage that may occur as a result of the application of the opaque coating. An opaque coating composition is then heated to a molten state and the molten opaque coating composition is applied over the primer coating to form an opaque coating that overlies active circuitry on the surface, to prevent optical and radiation based inspection and reverse engineering of the active circuitry.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mounting mechanism and method for accurately securing and uniformly bonding piezoelectric transducers (PZT's) to a dither spring. The dither spring includes a central hub, an outer toroidal rim, a plurality of flexible reeds and a plurality of lobes. The reeds extend between the hub and the rim, and one of the lobes is positioned between each pair of adjacent reeds. A mounting mechanism includes locating channels on the lobes sized to receive mounting inserts that hold the PZT's during assembly. The mounting mechanism accurately positions and provides a uniform bonding force to the PZT's to precisely and firmly secure the PZT's on the dither spring reeds.

Abstract: A substrate holder and mask system for depositing curved films and mirrors on flat mirror substrates. A spherical mask is held in close proximity to a substrate by a support structure to intercept a fraction of vapor from a distant source. The film deposited on the substrate behind the mask has a spherically symmetric curvature when the source has a large area. The cross section of the mask support structure is made as small as possible to minimize irregularities in the spherical figure. A mirror is subsequently deposited on said curved substrate after removing said mask.

Abstract: A three-axis attitude orientation system for a spacecraft is described. The single sensor provides roll and pitch information by locating the centroid of the earth and using this as a reference point. The system determines yaw by tracking the position of stars which appear in the field of view around the earth. Three-axis attitude is determined through ultraviolet imaging of the earth's limb and adjacent stars. A diffractive optics sensor and intensified CCD array are utilized for this purpose.

Abstract: A sensor assembly along with numerous processing equipment is provided for attachment to the work table of a precision machining system. By attaching the device to the work table and subsequently driving the work table through a repeated pattern of motions, the actual movement of the table can be precisely determined and, consequently, can be compensated for. The sensor assembly utilizes a plurality of gyroscopes and accelerometers to determine actual movement in inertial space.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control mechanism for regulating the temperature of a fluorescent lamp tube located within a housing. The control mechanism includes a cold spot mechanism defining the cold spot of the lamp tube, a heating mechanism, a power supply and a temperature sensor. The heating mechanism is connected to the power supply and is contiguous with a portion of the cold spot mechanism located outside of the housing. The temperature sensor is also coupled to the power supply and monitors the temperature of the cold spot mechanism. Based upon the temperature of the cold spot mechanism, the temperature sensor operates the power supply, so as to deliver power to the heating mechanism to warm the cold spot mechanism and maintain a cold spot temperature that allows the lamp tube to generate maximum visible light output.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hermetically sealed housing assembly for protecting electrical equipment. The housing assembly includes a hermetically sealed housing member having an exterior wall and an interior region for containing the electrical equipment. A flex tape electrical signal conductor extends through an opening in the exterior wall, and transmits electrical signals between the electrical equipment in the interior region and electrical components in a region exterior to the housing member. The flex tape signal conductor is hermetically sealed to the exterior wall of the housing member at the opening to maintain the integrity of the hermetic seal of the housing member even after temperature-cycling for a period of time.

Abstract: A linear actuator comprising a hollow first cylindrical shaft with helical threads on its exterior surface and helical threads of opposite pitch on its interior surface and a second cylindrical shaft having an exterior surface with helical threads of the same pitch as on the interior surface of the first shaft and a motor for rotating the first shaft and relative to the second shaft end a base member. The second cylindrical shaft is coaxial with and adjacent the first shaft surface and its threads engage the threads of the first interior surface. Helical threads on the base member of the same pitch as the first shaft exterior surface threads are coaxial with and adjacent the first shaft exterior surface and engage the helical threads of the exterior surface of the first cylindrical shaft.

Abstract: A radar altimeter system uses a microprocessor-based subsystem to process radar signals in software. The subsystem includes a track loop and a verify loop for digital signal processing of the radar signals. The track loop generates a gate pulse and integrates a radar return signal over the time window defined by the gate pulse in order to determine the leading edge of the return pulse. The verify loop positions the gate pulse for maximum overlap with the return pulse and integrates the return pulse over the gate pulse to determine the maximum signal strength of the radar return signal.

Abstract: A hand controller system which provides the proper feel of the hand controller during aircraft operation. In both non-redundant and redundant embodiments, torque, and position measurements are made from the hand controller movements and processed to provide a feedback to a control motor in mechanical connection with the hand controller. The system includes self-monitoring of the motor, as well as the signals provided by the position, and torque sensors. Connections are provided from the hand controller system so that cross-coupling may be provided between the pilot's and copilot's hand controllers.

Abstract: The compact brouting switch allows communication between external systems with differing or same protocols. The compact brouting switch includes switch ports which receive and transfer data between the external systems. A processor in the switch controls the movement of data within the switch and assigns data to specific switch ports to transfer data to specific external systems. However, the switch ports also have the capability of directly transferring data from one external system to another external system bypassing the processor.

Abstract: Apparatus for improving the bias stability of a ring laser gyro by selecting a secondary transverse mode and controlling the path length of the gyro to maintain the selected mode.

Abstract: A system for releasably restraining a first element and a second element is disclosed. The containment system uses a tensioner to urge a clamp into contact with the first element and with the second element, and a release selectively operates the tensioner to remove the clamp from contact with the first and second elements to permit relative movement therebetween. The clamp is particularly useful in maintaining a gap between the first and second elements which permits relative movement between the first and second elements after the clamp is removed.

Abstract: A mirror for a ring laser gyro includes alternating optical quarterwave regions of SiO.sub.2 and ZrO.sub.2, and of admixtures of these. The alternating regions have thicknesses suitable for reflecting a laser beam in a ring laser gyro. A final coating of ZrO.sub.2 and SiO.sub.2, and of admixtures of these, is constructed so as to be made substantially of ZrO.sub.2 at a bottom portion and so as to have gradually increasing SiO.sub.2 content so that the top surface comprises substantially pure SiO.sub.2 material.