Abstract: An articulated optical system has a pair of actuators (42, 44) each of which pivot a head mirror (34) about respective parallel axes (E.sub.1, E.sub.2) to direct the line-of-sight of an optical beam through a window (36) of a vehicle (30) to an optical sensor (38). Of the actuators, a coarse actuator (42) pivots the mirror (34) through substantially the entire desired field of regard of the optical system, and a fine actuator (44) pivots the mirror (34) for fine adjustment, e.g., less than five degrees. The coarse actuator (42) is positioned so that the axis thereof (E.sub.1) is located as close as possible to an edge of the mirror (34), so that the radial distance therebetween is small; therefore, the size of the window (36) is minimized with respect to the diameter (d.sub.b) of the optical beam. The fine actuator (44) is attached to approximately the geometric center of the mirror (34), so that the mirror (34) is statically balanced about the elevation axis (E.sub.

Abstract: A spring loaded contact device having a housing with an internal bore, a spring disposed in the bore, a pin disposed in and extending from the bore, and a dimple formed in the housing that secures the pin in the bore. A first portion of the pin contacts the spring, a center portion of the pin is smaller than the first portion and protrudes from the bore, and a head of the pin is disposed external to the bore and has a rounded cylindrical end. A rotary connector using the spring loaded contact devices has first and second printed wiring boards that rotate relative to each other that are electrically interconnected using a plurality of spring loaded contact devices disposed on the first printed wiring board. The spring-loaded contact devices are used to transfer electrical signals or power to conductive contacts formed on the second printed wiring board.

Abstract: A connector having a pair of structural substrates that each contain mechanically raised dimples and adjacent mating flexible interconnect circuits. The structural substrate has one or more structural dimples formed therein that protrude above one surface. A metallization pattern on the substrate overlays each of the structural dimples to provide additional structural support. The flexible interconnect circuits each comprise a dielectric substrate fabricated as a flat flexible circuit having conductive traces formed on top and bottom sides thereof, respectively, that terminate in contact areas. The conductive traces are configured to conform to the shapes of the respective dimples of the structural substrates when they are mated. The mated flexible interconnect circuits are compressed by the structural substrates using plates or other securing members so that contact therebetween is made by the conductive traces adjacent the contact areas.

Abstract: Laminate or DECAL removal tooling and method for removing an interconnect substrate, such as a thin DECAL-like structure from a surface of a printed wiring board, heat sink, or other rigid substrate or structure. The tooling may be used to remove a thin laminate, such as a polyimide decal, from pattern metallized and pattern unmetallized polyimide, or ceramic metallized substrates, or thermally conductive heat exchangers. A cylindrical thermode is heated and secured with a layer of adhesive to the thin DECAL-like interconnect structure. The thermode has a non slip drive mechanism attached thereto that is coupled to a drive mechanism. The thermode is moved by the drive mechanism to peel the thin laminate from the rigid substrate without damage. This allows a new DECAL-like structure to be applied to the rigid substrate.

Abstract: An optical coupler for coupling energy from a laser diode bar is disclosed. The coupler includes multiple rectangular optical fibers that each have a cylindrical lens which is an integral part of each fiber end. The fiber ends are held in a fixed spatial relationship by a retainer. In one coupler embodiment, each fiber end is shaped to define the cylindrical lens. In another coupler embodiment, each fiber end carries a lens shaped from an optical medium. Methods of making the couplers are also disclosed.

Abstract: A multiple quantum well (MQW) radiation sensor distinguishes radiation within a desired bandwidth, particularly long wavelength infrared radiation (LWIR), from background high intensity noise radiation that excites majority-minority charge carrier pairs. A minority charge carrier collector is provided at one end of the MQW, and the flow of minority charge carriers to the collector is sensed. The minority charge carrier flow provides an indication of the majority charge carrier flow that is attributable to the noise radiation rather than to radiation within the desired bandwidth, and can thus be used to provide a corrected indication of the desired bandwidth radiation.