Abstract: A method of bonding silicon to sapphire may be performed at room temperature and with no greater pressure than that due to one wafer resting on another. The method comprises the steps of polishing one side of a flat sapphire wafer to a mirror-like surface; polishing one side of a flat silicon wafer to a mirror-like surface; cleaning the wafers and then stacking the wafers so that their corresponding mirror-like surfaces contact. The room temperature bonding that occurs is relatively strong, and the bonded wafers can be handled without danger of their becoming unbonded. If desired, the bonded wafers may be subjected to further processing to further strengthen their bond.

Abstract: The invention provides a fiber reinforced optical microcable comprised of a buffered optical waveguide coated with a fiber reinforced protective sheath made of a fiber reinforced, ultraviolet light cured resin over which is formed an ultraviolet light cured resin overcoat. The protective sheath is manufactured by soaking reinforcing fibers in the UV curable resin, placing the wetted fibers around the buffered optical waveguide, feeding both the fibers and buffered optical waveguide through a die, and curing the resin with ultraviolet light. Then, an ultraviolet light cured resin is flow coated over the protective sheath and cured with ultraviolet light to complete the microcable.

Abstract: The Self-Adapting Filter is an adaptive interference suppression device t can be used to extract bandspread communication signals from a received signal containing significant structured interference. The filter processes signal quantities consisting of inphase and quadrature (real and imaginary) components of received signal baseband samples. Process weights are calculated directly from the symmetric differences of the signal samples. Calculating the statistics of the samples is not necessary, nor is the calculation and use of signal sample magnitude and phase. By processing components of the received signal baseband samples directly, a simple implementation of an approximate locally optimum processing algorithm is possible enabling simple filter hardware and operation. All processing can be pipelined.

Abstract: A deployment system is disclosed for deploying a vertical, sub-surface bud, underwater acoustic sensor array in the ocean which includes a mechanical load transfer and cable separation mechanism which is embodied as a rigid triangular member. The vertical, sub-surface buoyed underwater acoustic sensor array is attached to a support cable which is connected at one end to the sub-surface buoy and at its other end to one of the vertices of the rigid triangular member. An anchor is attached to another vertex of the rigid triangular member and the third vertex of the triangular member is fitted with a strain relief/cable support, rotatable leg that is in turn attached to the deployment or shore cable. After deployment, the triangular member becomes the mechanical link between the array anchor and the array's vertical support member. It also acts as a mounting surface for the necessary electrical cable junction boxes or other required instrumentation and hardware.

Abstract: A broadband coplanar waveguide to slotline transition for transferring radio frequency energy having a wavelength, .lambda.

Abstract: A superconducting magnet module comprises an alternate series of abutting and coaxially aligned first and second superconductive magnet modules. The first magnet module includes a first substrate having opposed first and second faces and a bore filled with a superconductive material extending between the first and second faces. The first face is formed of an electrically conductive material and the second face is formed of an electrically insulating material. A first spiral track of the superconductive material is formed on the first face in electrical and thermal contact with the electrically conductive material. The first spiral track is melt fused to the superconductive material in the bore. The second magnet module includes a second substrate having opposed third and fourth faces. The third face is formed of an electrically conductive material and the fourth face is formed of the electrically insulating material.

Abstract: A uniplanar microstrip to slotline transition is provided which includes a ubstrate having opposed first and second sides. A first electrically conductive layer is joined to the first side of the insulating substrate; and a second electrically conductive layer is joined to the second side of the substrate. The second layer is configured to provide a microstrip, a microstrip transmission mode to slotline transmission mode transition having a matching element, and a slotline.

Abstract: An ion-selective reference probe which is adapted for use with potentiomec measurement systems is disclosed. The reference probe is non-chloride based and employs a specially adapted electrolyte which is reversible (i.e. with regard to ionic activity). More particularly, the electrolyte includes appropriate concentrations of ethylenediamine and copper(II) ions in a solvent to permit reversibility of the electrolyte within a desired range. Junction potential between the electrolyte and a test solution is minimized by forming the electrolyte from a portion of the test solution.

Abstract: A continuous optical data path is provided through an optical fiber exteng from a launch platform to a missile. The launch platform, a surface craft, submarine or aircraft, has a tether cable connected at one end with a length of the optical fiber extending to a dynamically designed body. The dynamically designed body prevents damage of the length of optical fiber by pulling it and the tether cable beyond the structure and propulsors of the launch platform. A body spool of the optical fiber provided on the dynamically designed body pays out optical fiber as the dynamically designed body is pulled along by the launch platform and a canister spool of optical fiber on a missile canister for the missile provides the continuous optical data path as the canister is deployed from the dynamically designed body. A missile spool of the optical fiber may be included on the missile to provide the continuous data path if it is desired to launch the missile from the missile canister.

Abstract: This invention describes a method of controlling light emission from porous silicon and porous silicon devices using ion implantation. The emitted light intensity can be either selectively increased or decreased by suitable processing of the silicon prior to the fabrication of the porous layer. Amorphizing the silicon prior to the fabrication of the porous layer quenches the light emission. Ion implantation with doses below the amorphization level enhances the intensity of the emitted light of the subsequently fabricated porous layer.

Abstract: A method is provided for encoding an image in an iterated transformation image compression system. The image, represented by an array of pixels, is partitioned into ranges and domains. A transformation is generated for each domain such that no transformation is constrained to be contractive. Each domain's transformation is optimized in terms of the intensity scaling and offset coefficients. A domain and corresponding optimized transformation is selected that minimizes transformation error data. These steps are repeated for a chosen plurality of the ranges that form a non-overlapping tiling of the image and such that the corresponding optimized transformations associated with the chosen plurality form an eventually contractive map. Information that identifies each of the chosen plurality of the ranges and the selected domains and corresponding optimized transformations is then stored in an addressable memory as an encoding of the image.

Abstract: A ceramic material for electronic circuit devices is sintered at less than r equal to 1000.degree. C. temperature. A filler material such as quartz and a glassy binder RO--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --B.sub.2 O.sub.3 are mixed together along with an appropriate glassy binder prior to firing. RO is drawn from the group of metal oxides MgO, CaO, SrO, BaO, ZnO or CdO and the glassy binders form no more than 40 vol % of the ceramic material. The glassy binder has a suitable viscosity and other properties so that after it is mixed with the quartz filler, sintering occurs at the relatively low temperature. As a consequence, high conductivity conductors made of copper, silver and gold can be appropriately metallized prior to firing. The strength and low dielectric constant of the ceramic material make the material well adapted for ceramic substrates, thick films and the like which are used in VHSIC and VLSI applications.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing rapidly modulated coherent optical emission is described in which a doubly resonant cavity produces amplitude modulated sum frequency generation. The configuration of the resonator provides a region where both fundamental wavelengths are overlapped and another region where both fundamental wavelengths are spatially distinct. The resonator further contains a laser gain element in the other region where the wavelengths are spatially distinct to produce one of the two fundamental resonant wavelengths. A laser source injects a signal into the resonator at the other resonant wavelength. The injected wavelength is at or near a wavelength for which the laser gain element can be optically pumped. In one embodiment, one laser both injects a signal into the resonator and simultaneously pumps the laser gain element contained within the resonator cavity. The resonator further contains a nonlinear crystal for intracavity sum frequency generation of the two fundamental wavelengths.

Abstract: A means for intracavity sum frequency generation is described in which a er operates simultaneously, cw, at two wavelengths where the net gain at one wavelength is substantially lower than that at the other. The optical alignment of the resonator provides a region where both fundamental wavelengths are overlapped, and another region where both feedback paths are spatially distinct. An active feedback mirror is located in the path of the lower net gain laser transition to provide optical amplification at that wavelength. The laser resonator further contains a sum frequency generating crystal for intracavity sum frequency generation of the two fundamental wavelengths. The sum frequency generating crystal is placed near a laser resonator cavity mode waist in the region where both wavelengths are spatially superimposed, producing the sum frequency of the two wavelengths.

Abstract: An array of five, ridge waveguide horns provides monopulse operation over a wo octave range. A unique coax-to-ridge waveguide input coupler and an extended ridge matching section at the radiating apertures provide the extended frequency range. The horn assembly is lightweight, compact and suitable for array applications. A five horn monopulse primary feed array is exemplified.

Abstract: A method of fabricating epitaxial thin films, such as doped films or silicon-on-sapphire films, relies upon ultrahigh vacuum vapor deposition. The method calls for a preparing of an ultrahigh vacuum chamber to reduce water and oxygen pressure to below 10.sup.-10 Torr. At at least one sapphire substrate is placed in the ultrahigh vacuum chamber and is purged in the chamber with about 600 sccm hydrogen for about 5 minutes. A silicon film or a doped film is deposited on the sapphire substrate at temperatures between about 700 and 850.degree. C. with base pressures between about 1.0 and 2.0.mu. and gas flow rates of about 2.0 sccm SiH.sub.4 and 20 sccm H.sub.2 for about 30 minutes to provide an about 1000 .ANG. thick silicon film, or, doped film, on the sapphire substrate.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming thin films, such as high temperature superconductors, on a surface of a substrate using pulsed microwaves to control substrate temperature. The method includes vaporizing a liquid source to form a series of vapor pulses, irradiating the vapor pulses and a makeup gas with pulsed microwaves, and exposing the surface of the substrate to the irradiated mixture to form a thin film on the surface. The microwaves may be pulsed to coincide with the arrival of the vapor pulses at the substrate, thus reducing the amount of material consumed and the amount of waste. Further, the plasma may be closely confined to the substrate with a dielectric waveguide to reduce the power required for irradiating the mixture and to prevent the formation of stray deposits on surfaces enclosing the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining oxygen levels in an isolated volume f fluid (e.g. water) is provided. The method and apparatus are adaptable for use with a benthic flux sampling device and rely upon periodically measuring the oxygen concentration in the isolated volume with an oxygen sensor system, monitoring the oxygen sensor system with a control unit, and automatically dispensing oxygen into the isolated volume of fluid with an oxygenation system to maintain a predetermined constant level of oxygenation that corresponds to the ambient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for fabricating a silicon-on-insulator voltage multiplier.

Abstract: A signal amplitude distribution analyzer measures the amplitude probability density function of electrical signals, and in particular, the amplitude probability distribution of noise signals. Such measurements may be used to determine the "Gaussianicity" of noise signals, that is, a measurement of how closely the amplitude distribution of noise signals corresponds to theoretical values derived from the Gaussian probability distribution density function. This theoretical density function represents the relative percentage of time that a noise signal is at a given amplitude. The invention gives an approximation of this function by measuring the amount of time a noise signal is between a window of two adjustable voltage levels. This is accomplished by producing an output voltage proportional to the amount of time a noise signal amplitude falls within the window of values defined by the two adjustable voltage levels.