Abstract: A method and apparatus for embedding features and controlling material composition in a three-dimensional structure (130) is disclosed. The invention enables the control of material characteristics, within a structure (130) made from a plurality of materials, directly from computer renderings of solid models of the components. The method uses stereolithography and solid model computer file formats to control a multi-axis head (480) in a directed material deposition process (123). Material feedstock (126, 127) is deposited onto a pre-heated substrate (19). Depositions (15) in a layer-by-layer pattern, defined by solid models (141, 146), create a three-dimensional article having complex geometric details. Thermal management of finished solid articles (250-302), not available through conventional processing techniques, is enabled by embedded voids (152) and/or composite materials (126, 127), which include dissimilar metals (210, 216).

Abstract: The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a communications apparatus which includes a first transmitting antenna array (15A) having a transmitting antenna (16) which is dedicated to serve only a first sector (12). Similarly, a second transmitting antenna array (17A) having a transmitting antenna (18) is dedicated to serve only a second sector (14). Each of the transmitting antenna arrays (15A, 17A) have a beamwidth (19) of generally less than fifteen degrees. Both the first and the second transmitting antenna arrays (15A, 17A) emanate shaped beams which are alternately polarized to ensure the isolation of beams that serve adjacent sectors.

Abstract: The present invention comprises diamantane groups interspersed among benzothiazole groups, benzoxazole groups or benzimidazole groups. This constitutes a rigid-rod polymer with stable cycloaliphatic groups interspersed into the aromatic-heteroaromatic backbone of the rods. The presence of the aliphatic groups decreases crystallinity by adding disorder to the rods thus minimizing interactions between the heteroaromatic groups. The interspersed aliphatic groups act as insulators and thus permit greater relative protonation. Also, the reduced conjugation of the aromatic-heteroaromatic rings reduces the color of the polymers. The preferred method of manufacturing this improved rigid-rod polymer is by condensation of dimethyl diamantanecarboxylate with 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzenedithiol, 1,2,4,5-tetraaminobenzene, or 4,6-diamino-1,3-benzenediol.

Abstract: A Smog and Particulate Collection System for Use on Vehicles with Internal Combustion Engines is disclosed. The present invention not only removes pollutants from the exhaust gases of diesel trucks, but also collects and stores the carbon black byproduct produced by the burning of diesel fuel so that the carbon can be recycled. The preferred embodiment of the invention (10) is mounted on a truck cab (11). The exhaust manifold of the truck (13) is attached to an air intake (12) and transports exhaust gases (14) mixed with particulates (16) to an air cyclone accelerator (23). After the exhaust gases (14) and particulates (16) are accelerated, they are fed into a spiral vortex separation column (21), where fine dust particles of carbon black (28) are removed from the exhaust gases (14). The column (21) includes a metal housing (22) that surrounds an outer vortex chamber (24) and an interior exhaust tube (30) and terminates in a constricted portion (25).

Abstract: An apparatus for making fresh water from salt water comprising an air accelerator for generating a controlled wind-powered vortex of air in a tower located over a supply of salt water. The vortex of air creates a region of negative pressure over the salt water which causes fresh water to migrate up the tower to a condenser whereby the fresh water is condensed and collected in a collection through to then be used as a source of drinking water.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an improved electrolyte for secondary lithium-based cells as well as batteries fabricated using this electrolyte. The electrolyte is a lithium containing salt dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent, which is made from a mixture of ethylene carbonate, ethylene propylene diene terpolymer, 2-methylfuran, and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran. This improved, mixed solvent electrolyte is more conductive than prior electrolytes and much less corrosive to lithium anodes. Batteries constructed with this improved electrolyte utilize lithium or lithium alloy anodes and cathodes made of metal chalcogenides or oxides, such as TiS.sub.2, NbSe.sub.3, V.sub.6 O.sub.13, V.sub.2 O.sub.5, MoS.sub.2, MoS.sub.3, CoO.sub.2, or CrO.sub.2, dissolved in a supporting polymer matrix, like EPDM. The preferred non-aqueous solvent mixture comprises approximately 5 to 30 volume percent ethylene carbonate, approximately 0.01 to 0.1 weight percent ethylene propylene diene terpolymer, and approximately 0.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for real-time optical broadband pseudocolor encoding of an image. A light polarization spatial modulator is utilized to density encode an incident beam of plane-polarized light; the beam is dispersed into its primary colors; the polarizations of the dispersed beams are analyzed to produce positive, negative, and bidirectionally modualated images which are each separately encoded with a primary color; and the primary-color encoded beams are combined to produce a pseudocolored image. In a preferred embodiment the pseudocolor encoding apparatus comprises a compact white-light projection system and a liquid-crystal television spatial light polarization modulator. The invention makes possible the large-screen display of broadband pseudocolor images from real-world input scenes from a television camera.

Abstract: Methods are described for impregnating coal with calcium carbonate by utilizing an aqueous phase ionic reaction between calcium acetate, calcium hydroxide, and water with CO.sub.2 contained within the coal. The coal is enriched in CO.sub.2 by contacting it with CO.sub.2 at high pressure, in either a continuous or pulsed mode. The inclusion of CO.sub.2 in the coal during the process does not involve evacuating the coal and subsequently absorbing CO.sub.2 onto the coal as in prior methods. Rather, the coal is treated with carbon dioxide at high pressure in a practical and viable approach. The impregnation of coal by calcium compounds not only reduces sulfur emissions by effectively tying up the sulfur as calcium sulfide or sulfate, but also increases the gasification or combustion rate. The invention also encompasses the use of other Group IIA elements, as well as the coal products resulting from the methods of treatment described.

Abstract: Three embodiments of MicroCube Interconnection Hardware are disclosed: the MicroVac Vacuum Generator, the MicroControl Module, and the MicroSensor. Each embodiment is a combination of a MicroCube Precision Fitting and Various enhancements which provide precision control, regulation, or measurement of flows of gas or liquid in a semiconductor fabrication environment. The Microcube Precision Fitting is a substantially cubical unitary body that includes a central chamber and at least one external port. Each port comprises an annular counterbored step surrounded by a support wall which both enclose an aperture that extends into the central chamber. The MicroVac Vacuum Generator is a combination of a MicroCube Precision Fitting and three appendages: an inlet, a contaminant port, and an outlet. A first stage fits inside the inlet and is disposed coaxially to a second stage that resides within the outlet.

Abstract: A phase-locked semiconductor laser array in which the phase of oscillation of alternate laser elements is adjusted externally to the laser cavity. A phase plate having parallel ribs of tapered thickness is positioned in close proximity to the emitting facet of a laser array, and is adjusted in position until the ribs are registered with alternate laser elements, and the thickness presented to the emitted laser beams is sufficient to cause a phase change of 180 degrees. After light from the array has passed through the phase plate, the entire set of beams is in phase and produces a practically single-lobed far-field pattern.

Abstract: A diffraction-coupled semiconductor laser array, and a related method for its operation, the array structure having a diffraction section that is electrically controllable independently of a waveguide section having multiple laser channels. Above a critical level of injected gain in the diffraction region, and with appropriate selection of channel and diffraction region dimensions, stable operation in the in-phase supermode results, with adjacent lasers operating in phase and a single-lobed far-field distribution pattern being produced. Below the critical level of injected gain, the out-of-phase supermode or multimode operation is favored and the narrow single peak of the far-field pattern is no longer present. This mode switching can be used to rapidly modulate operation of the array without directly switching it on and off.

Abstract: An improved electro-optic coupled waveguide interferometer (50) is provided. The device comprises a single input (52), a Y-junction splitter (54), two interferometric arms (56a, 56b), a Y-junction combiner (58), a single output (60) and multiple equal-length sections of electrodes (62a-d) with alternating applied voltage polarities. The device of the invention permits use of much smaller Y-junction branching angle, which reduces scattering losses, or a shorter branching waveguide section, which allows construction of a device having an overall shorter length than prior art interferometers. The device takes advantage of a close placement of the interferometer arms, which results in a transfer of optical energy and facilitates a single-gap electrode structure for efficient push-pull operation. The use of multiple-section electrodes restores the high modulation depth otherwise destroyed by the close placement of the interferometric arms.

Abstract: A method for decelerating beams of charged particles that have been accelerated using a linear accelerator. The high-energy particles, such as electrons, are passed through a series of induction cells, each of which generates an electrical pulse as a packet of electrons passes through it and has its velocity reduced. The energy removed from the packets of electrons in the form of electrical pulses can either be stored for later use or discharge, or can be immediately employed to accelerate other electrons in an associated linear accelerator.

Abstract: A technique for correcting spherical and other aberrations in a particle beam. Spherical aberration is caused by variations in beam behavior dependent on the cube of the radius or radial position with respect to the beam axis. To correct for such aberration, the beam is passed through multiple compensation electric field arrays, each of which has multiple rows of parallel wires stretched transversely across the beam path, the rows being biased with separate voltages to provide an electric field that varies in proportion to the cube of the distance from the central row of the array. The multiple arrays provide a cylindrically symmetrical electric field, and are oriented at a uniform angular spacing, which, for spherical aberration, is 120 degrees.

Abstract: A substrate structure for lightweight, flexible solar cell arrays, in which a plastic substrate is provided with a structure for discharging accumulations of electrons on its rear face and has appropriate heat emmissivity properties. In one embodiment, a Kapton substrate layer is coated with a grounded aluminum layer, which is suitably painted for emissivity. In another embodiment, a poorly conductive Kapton substrate layer, impregnated with carbon, is used to dissipate the charge, and to provide the appropriate emissivity. In a third embodiment, a grounded VDA layer is sandwiched between two Kapton layers.

Abstract: A standing-wave annular laser resonator providing high energy extraction efficiency and good beam quality without the need for polarization coatings. The resonator includes an axicon, a scraper mirror, and a rear mirror system. A critical feature of the configuration is that the axicon has an inner conical mirror of which the apex is offset from the usual position, such that a radial beam reflected from an outer conical mirror has one portion that bypasses the inner mirror without impinging on it. This portion of the radial beam is reflected back along an annular path and makes two more passes through an annular gain region before becoming available for outcoupling around the scraper mirror. The rear mirror system retroreflects and annular beam back on itself in inverted form, without introducing any polarization mixing.

Abstract: Apparatus and a related method for controlling the characteristics of a high-power laser beam to provide a desired beam divergence, spectral content, and phase. A high-power beam, as from a free-electron laser, is directed into a conical Raman amplifier, together with a Stokes seed beam having the desired characteristics. The amplified output from the amplifier is divergent and its intensity falls of rapidly enough to allow the use of solid material optics without damage or destruction of the optical elements. The Raman amplifier is contained in part by two moving-gas windows, which seal the amplifier from the vacuum environment of the laser without the use of solid material optics. In one embodiment of the apparatus, the resulting output beam is precorrected for phase aberrations caused by optical elements and the transmission medium through which the beam is directed.

Abstract: A diode laser having an acitve layer bounded by confinement layers and two end facets that include etched mirrors selected to form an unstable resonator with good transverse mode quality. Energy from the unstable resonator is coupled out of the device through a transmissive window in one of the facets, the window providing a relatively large flux area and permitting higher output powers without loss of mode quality. Since stripe geometry is not used to control mode quality, a large current-carrying area is available, which reduces the current density and also permits higher output powers and longer operating lives.

Abstract: A structure and a corresponding method for producing a permanent electric biasing field in an electrooptical device. Electrodes are embedded in an insulating layer formed over the device, which includes a substrate of electrooptical material and an optical waveguide formed in the substrate. The electrodes are electrostatically charged and encapsulated in the insulating layer, to produce the desired electric field without the need for an external voltage source.

Abstract: A thermal imaging device uses a scanning mirror (2) to guide incident radiation to a detector array (4) which, after optoelectronic conversion, drives a light-emitting diode array (6) synchronously; this image is represented via the back of the scanning mirror on the imaging optical system (9). On the visual collimator side of the scanning mirror, a scan position sensor (12) including a light source (12a) is provided in addition to a detector (12b), a beam splitter (12d), and a collimator objective (12c). A plane plate (7) which operates as a dichroic beam splitter is shown between the scanning mirror (2) and the light-emitting diode array (6). Another dichroic beam splitter (8) is shown between the scanning mirror (2) and the scan position sensor (12). Autocollimation is obtained since both beam splitters reflect the radiation from the light source in the direction of the scanning mirror.