Abstract: A xenon short-arc lamp system includes a choice of two anode heatsinks with different mechanisms for thermally interfacing to, and supporting, e.g., a 300W-400W xenon short-arc lamp. One heatsink, allows a conventional mounting in which a split ring and clamp combination accommodate and clamp to a screw-on base adapter fitted to the 300W-400W xenon short-arc lamp. The lamp can then be operated at 300W. The second heatsink accommodates the 300W-400W xenon short-arc lamp directly without the adapter. A large threaded stud on the lamp is screwed directly into the heatsink and is seated such that a large orthogonal flat planar annular ring area also makes a tight thermal connection. The lamp can then be operated at its higher limit because of the much improved thermal resistance.

Abstract: An air-chiller comprises a primary compressor that circulates a mixture of four refrigerants with different boiling points through a primary condenser and several heat-exchanger coils in series. Each heat exchanger coil includes a large section of tubing in which are disposed four smaller sections of tubing. Two of these smaller sections of tubing carry the air to be chilled. The other two smaller sections of tubing carry high pressure refrigerants from the compressor and condenser. The remaining inside volume of the large section of tubing provides for the suction-return of heat-laden refrigerants. Input air passes through the four heat exchangers in series and comes out the fourth one highly refrigerated. The high-pressure refrigerant coming out of the primary compressor is chilled below ambient temperature by a secondary refrigeration sub-system. Such is circulated, after drying, through an auxiliary condenser for additional refrigeration before going to work in the first heat-exchanger coil.

Abstract: A hitch adapter comprises an inner square tube member for receiving Class-II 1.25? drawbars and an outer U-channel member for plugging into a Class-III 2? receiver. The inner square tube and outer U-channel members are welded together such that one wall of the inner square tube bridges the gap between the distal edges on opposite legs of the outer U-channel. One such leg of the outer U-channel is longer than the other and is positioned and aligned to protrude about 1/16? beyond the adjacent outer corner of the inner square tube member. Such protrusion nests into the respective inside corner of the particular Class-III 2? receiver it is mated to. The protrusion provides a camming action to take up any looseness and slack, and thereby eliminate wobble and rattle when installed by a user. A series of hitch pin holes allows a threaded hitch pin to pass through the adapter, a Class-II 1.25? drawbar and a Class-III 2? receiver. Threads inside the Class-II 1.

Abstract: A security system comprises a secured asset associated with a high-sensitivity GPS receiver that can receive network aiding information. Indoors, the pseudo-ranges from orbiting GPS satellites can be computed by using digital correlators to pull directly received satellite signal transmissions from the noise floor, but the NAV-data transmissions cannot be demodulated well enough due to the attenuation caused by the building structure. So a wireless network is relied upon to provide aiding information that supplies the almanac and ephemeredes. The fact that the NAV-data transmissions cannot be demodulated well enough is taken as indicia that the system is being operated indoors, and such can be used in a geo-fence control to decide if indoor or outdoor use is not permitted. The secured asset can be temporarily or permanently disabled according to such geo-fence controls.

Abstract: A mobile GPS-aiding system uses a GPS reference receiver to collect GPS navigation messages, a GPS-aiding data network server to distribute over the Internet all ephemeris and almanac data gleaned from the navigation messages, a number of commercial broadcast radio stations to publish such ephemeris and almanac data on particular sub-carriers, a number of vehicles equipped to receive the radio broadcasts and the sub-carriers and to retransmit them locally, e.g., via Bluetooth. Portable GPS receivers, operated near any of the vehicles, a receive Bluetooth transmissions with the ephemeris and almanac data with the identity of the radio broadcast station then being tuned. A breadcrumb database is used to index the locations of the radio broadcast stations. Each mobile GPS receiver contributes to such database after it computes a location fix. If the location of the radio broadcast station is already known to the database, then the location can be accessed and used before finding a position solution.

Abstract: A wireless handheld GPS-enabled device and supporting system comprises a wireless CPU that functions as a host processor, a GPS chipset to provide GPS measurements, and a GPS application hosted by the wireless CPU. Other applications are also hosted by the wireless CPU and are provided with position solutions from the GPS application. The GPS application calls for GPS aiding information from an Internet server via a TCP/IP socket provided by a GPRS link supported by the wireless CPU. Location area identifier (LAI) and “breadcrumb” information are provided to the GPS application so it can skip having to make a z-count determination during initialization.

Abstract: A GPS receiver depends on CMOS technology for both its GPS digital signal processing (DSP) and radio frequency (RF) stages. A resulting increase in RF input noise generated by the CMOS RF input is overcome by placing the antenna on-chip or on a lid of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that includes the DSP and RF stages, and matching it for the best noise figure rather than the best impedance match. The on-chip antenna is matched to the natural high impedance of the CMOS RF input without requiring matching networks that can attenuate already weak signals. Using CMOS technology for both the GPS DSP and RF stages eliminates the need for level shifts between what would otherwise be a 3-volt RF section and a 1.2-volt DSP section.

Abstract: A digital display panel accepts pixel information according to their row-column coordinates. Each pixel can be individually written and read back, much like a random access memory (RAM). A pixel array self-refreshes, and can retain and display each image frame long after the original writing, like a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Each pixel is instrumented with a transducer to sense pressure, temperature, light, strain, etc., and provide sensor read-out data that is addressable by row-column coordinates. Such is very useful in touchscreen applications. The transducers and their corresponding pixels each have a special relationship, the transducers can directly manipulate a visual quality of the pixel through a direct connection, without intervention or assistance by a host processor.

Abstract: A method for correcting frequency errors in the local reference frequency crystal oscillator of a GPS receiver begins with a step in which the ordinary temperature response of a crystal is characterized. A hardware circuit is incorporated with that crystal to mirror that same characteristic. A temperature sensor is used to control a compensation applied. The combination outputs a fairly flat temperature response, e.g., near zero delta-frequency change over the operating temperature range. But this flat response has an unknown offset from the true frequency. A next step finds a precision timing reference, such as when the receiver locks onto and tracks GPS satellites. The receiver then knows time precisely and a navigation software can compute the offset accurately. A value is stored for that offset in memory. Such value is thereafter recalled at each cold start and is used by software to remove the expected frequency offset.

Abstract: A GPS receiver comprises a crystal oscillator with a manufacturer's characteristic curve, a GPS radio, a TCO temperature sensor, and a GPS receiver software. The crystal oscillator serves as a local reference oscillator for the GPS radio. The GPS receiver software instructs the GPS radio to search radio spectrum for GPS satellite transmissions. Once the combination locks onto a minimum number of GPS satellites and produces a user position fix, the precise crystal oscillator frequency can be measured and associated with a temperature reading from the TCO to software-compensate the local oscillator in later cold-start frequency searches. A “flat” SCXO model is piecemeal upgraded with individual calibrations as they are collected over the life of the GPS receiver. During manufacturing of the GPS receiver such flat-SCXO model begins as a device characteristic curve supplied by the crystal manufacturer.

Abstract: A camera comprises a multitap imager, separate digitizing channels for each imager tap, adjustments for channel gain and black level, a pattern generator, and a channel balancer. The channel balancer compares adjacent pixels and sums the differences in levels over many frames. Any accumulated difference is used as a feedback signal to drive the summing to a minimum. If the imager is temporarily hooded, the feedback is used to balance black levels between the channels. If the imager is operating, the feedback is used to dynamically adjust the channel gain of one channel to match the other. A pattern generator is used once during calibration to generate a test pattern in the digitizing channels that makes it obvious to a framegrabber how exactly to restitching the various lanes or zones of the whole image frame back together.

Abstract: A low-photon flux image-intensified electronic camera comprises a gallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) photocathode in a high vacuum tube assembly behind a hermetic front seal to receive image photons. Such is cooled by a Peltier device to ?20° C. to 0° C., and followed by a dual microchannel plate. The microchannels in each plate are oppositely longitudinally tilted away from the concentric to restrict positive ions that would otherwise contribute to the generation high brightness “scintillation” noise events at the output of the image. A phosphor-coated output fiberoptic conducts intensified light to an image sensor device. This too is chilled and produces a camera signal output. A high voltage power supply connected to the dual microchannel plate provides for gain control and photocathode gating and shuttering. A fiberoptic taper is used at the output of the image intensifier vacuum tube as a minifier between the internal output fiberoptic and the image sensor.

Abstract: A bootstrapping tandem navigation receiver system includes two independent navigation receivers. A first uses coherent detection and makes carrier-phase pseudorange measurements. A second uses non-coherent detection and a longer predetection interval and thus can acquire satellites in very weak signal environments. The second navigation receiver delivers a bootstrapping message to the first receiver that allows it to directly acquire the satellites without searching for them. The first navigation receiver then drives to find carrier phase lock and produces its more accurate measurements.

Abstract: A roving extended range high sensitivity satellite positioning system receiver provides position fixes in adverse signal conditions as low as minus 150 dbm and with as few as three satellites by measuring the bit phase of the navData message and the codephase, and finding a simultaneous solution. Previous position fixes that were obtained in the vicinity by earlier rovers are deposited in an indexed database for consultation. A cellular phone system can be used to communicate the vicinity ID's and their database entries.

Abstract: A product security system includes an RFID chip and antenna that are polymerized onto separable parts of a commercial product package. The RFID chip includes a unique serial number that can be interrogated by a wireless reader. A database of such unique serial numbers associated with particular manufacturing production runs is used in a method to detect counterfeiting. The RFID chip and antenna are embedded such that attempts to remove or transfer them will be obvious to an inspector.

Abstract: A real-time financial search engine retrieves financial updates in real-time. A condensation memory in the real-time financial search engine stores financial data in a compacted space that allows computation of a smaller set of numbers. Real-time feed is converted into a two-dimensional (X, Y) location code for placement on a linear location code array of a security symbol. A single number of a location code efficiently represents (time, price) or (time, volume) in a 2D coordinate plane for real-time search of financial data.

Abstract: A color-recognition camera comprises a red-green-blue CCD-imaging device that provides an analog RGB-video signal. A set of three analog-to-digital converters convert the analog RGB-video signal into a digital RGB-video signal. A digital comparator tests the digital RGB-video signal pixel-by-pixel for a match against a color setpoint. If a match occurs, a pixel with a particular color represented by the color setpoint has been recognized and a “hit” is output. A pixel address counter provides a pixel address output each time a “hit” is registered. The number of hits per video frame are accumulated, and a color-match area magnitude value is output for each frame. Alternatively, neural networks are used to indicate hits when a pixel in the video image comes close enough to the color setpoint value. Just how close can be “learned” by the neural network.

Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor microstructures with a combination of etching steps, i.e. local RIE, isotropic, etc. followed by deep anisotropic etching.

Abstract: A combined satellite positioning and electro-optical total station system includes a reference oscillator that provides local oscillator signals for a satellite navigation receiver and a precision frequency source for use by an electronic distance meter. When the satellite navigation receiver is locked onto and tracking orbiting navigation satellites, the highly precise cesium-rubidium clocks in the navigation satellite system can be used as standards to control the reference oscillator in the combined satellite positioning and electro-optical total station system. Baseline measurements made by the electronic distance meter are therefore not subject to mis-calibrations and drift as long as the satellite navigation receiver is locked onto and tracking the orbiting navigation satellites.

Abstract: A semiconductor-wafer chuck for heating and cooling a device-under-test includes a heat-spreader plate with a clamping surface for a semiconductor wafer. A heater is disposed within the heat-spreader plate. A chiller heat-exchanger provides for heat removal. A motion control system is used to move the chiller heat-exchanger in relation to the heat-spreader plate, and thus provide for an adjustment of the thermal resistance and thermal coupling between the two. The heater comprises electric heating elements with a variable power input, and the chiller heat-exchanger is moved sufficiently far away to prevent boiling and evaporation of a coolant disposed inside. A device-under-test temperature controller controls the device-under-test temperature by adjusting the heater power, chiller fluid temperature and/or by moving the chiller heat-exchanger in relation to the heat spreader plate.