Abstract: An IR-FPA (10) having a plurality of radiation detectors (2a) and a multipurpose ROIC (2) is disclosed. The radiation detectors (2a) are organized as a two dimensional array. The multipurpose ROIC (2) includes a plurality of readout circuit unit cells, individual ones of which are coupled to individual radiation detectors (2a) for receiving electrical signals therefrom. Each of the readout circuit unit cells operates in one of a first mode to provide a corrected m frame averaged output signal (Vout.sub.THPF) or, a second mode to provide a subframed averaged output signal (Vout.sub.2). In the first operating mode, a high pass filtering circuit subtracts a low frequency charge pedestal from the electrical signal to form the corrected m frame averaged output (Vout.sub.THPF).

Abstract: An inverted boxhorn antenna array comprising a power divider that is constructed from a single metal piece and a flat metal sheet that is fastened to a rear surface of the power divider. The power divider is fabricated using a variety of waveguide junctions coupled between substantially identical inverted boxhorn subarrays. The junctions includes a central magic tee junction for coupling energy from an input port into the power divider. Alternating folded shunt and folded series tee junctions are used to transfer power coupled by way of the central series junction to the inverted boxhorn subarrays. Specially dimensioned folded shunt and series tee junctions are used in the inverted boxhorn subarrays. Waveguide matched loads are bonded in waveguides between each of the inverted boxhorn radiators of the subarrays. A fully functional antenna assembly includes a radome cover, a quadrature correction plate 18a, and a twist polarizer disposed in front of radiating elements of the inverted boxhorn antenna array.

Abstract: A filter (10) for selectively transmitting electromagnetic energy over a range of frequencies (28, 30, 32) adapted for use with white light (24). The filter (10) includes rugate layers (18, 20) for creating a resonant cavity that resonates at desired bandpass frequencies (28, 30, 32). An absorptive layer (12) absorbs frequencies near the bandpass frequencies (28, 30, 32) and reflects frequencies outside the bandpass frequencies (28, 30, 32). Phase matching layers (14, 16) allow the transmission of electromagnetic energy within the transmission bands (28, 30, 32) through the absorption layer 12. In an illustrative embodiment, the bandpass frequencies (28, 30, 32) comprise the three tristimulus frequencies, i.e., red (28), green (30) and blue (32) frequencies. The rugate layers (18, 20) include first (18) and second (20) rugate layers made of SiO.sub.2 and Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5, respectively.

Abstract: A system for correcting optical aberration created by a conformal window has a conformal window (12) with an outer surface (26) and an inner surface (28). The inner surface (28) is an aspheric surface for compensating for higher order aberrations. An aberration generator (16) is aligned to receive input from the conformal window (12) and dynamically corrects lower order aberrations, notably focus and astigmatism, over the field of regard.

Abstract: Fault simulation apparatus 10 that simulates faults in a piece of equipment 12 coupled to a VME bus 11. A computer 30 generates user defined faults that are to be simulated and provides initialization data and control signals to VME fault insertion apparatus 20 coupled between the VME bus 11 and the piece of equipment 12. The VME fault insertion apparatus 20 comprises bus fault logic 15 interposed in request and acknowledgment signal lines and data lines, that intercepts normal bus data transmission, and inserts user-defined data into bus data that is transmitted to the equipment 12 to simulate failures therein in response to fault definition signals 23.

Abstract: A reference-free direct digital lock-in system (RDDL 10) has a first input coupled to a periodic electrical signal and an output for outputting an indication of a magnitude of a desired periodic signal component. The RDDL also has a second input for receiving a signal (9) that specifies a reference period value, and operates to autonomously generate a lock-in reference signal having a specified period and a phase that is adjusted to maximize a magnitude of the outputted desired periodic signal component. In an embodiment of a measurement system that includes the RDDL 10 an optical source provides a chopped light beam having wavelengths within a predetermined range of wavelengths, and the periodic electrical signal is generated by at least one photodetector that is illuminated by the chopped light beam. In this embodiment the measurement system characterizes, for at least one wavelength of light that is generated by the optical source, a spectral response of the at least one photodetector.

Abstract: A system (50) and method for converting an incoming image of a scene (12) into electronic form adapted for use with focal plane arrays of detectors (24, 28). The inventive system (50) includes a surface (30) having an electromagnetic energy transmissive region (34), a reflective region (32), and a transition region (36) that has varying reflectance. A first focal plane array (24) detects a first portion (18, 39, 43) of the incoming image (12) that is transmitted through the transmissive region and the transition region (36). A second focal plane array (28) detects a second portion of the incoming image (20, 41, 45) reflected by the reflective region (32) and the transition region (36). An image combining system (40) combines the first (43) and second portions (45) of the incoming image via an image combining algorithm and provides a combined image without a dead pixel region. In the illustrative embodiment, the incoming image (12) is focused onto the surface (30) via a first lens (22).

Abstract: An assembly for controllably supporting a thin optical substrate (44) having a light reflective first surface (43) and an opposite back surface (45) comprises a base (12) and coupling medium for controllably movably coupling the back surface of the optical substrate and the base to one another. The coupling medium includes a multilayered medium having a plurality of piezoelectric actuators (10,10) interspersed in an array there within. The array (8) is formed from a single monolithic block (2) containing all of the piezoelectric actuators (10,10).

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for determining whether one or more organic substances, namely, proteins (42) and associated cancer cells (40'), are present in a sample (4a). The method comprises a step of deploying a plurality of fluorescent materials (40) in the tissue sample, individual ones of the plurality of fluorescent materials (40) being selected for coupling to a specific type of substance (42) of interest. The fluorescent materials (40) generally emit characteristic wavelengths in response to being illuminated with excitation light (14a'-14c') having predetermined excitation wavelengths. A next step includes illuminating the sample (4a) with the excitation light (14a'-14c'). The excitation light (14a'-14c') causes any of the fluorescent materials (40) that are disposed within the illuminated portion of the sample (4a), and which are responsive to the excitation wavelengths, to emit their characteristic wavelengths.

Abstract: Method of fabricating high density multilayer interconnect structures or flexible HDMI decals. The methods secure a top surface of an HDMI decal fabricated on a rigid substrate to a protective film layer which is in turn adhesively secured to a flat carrier. This structure is then demounted or delaminated from the rigid substrate. The bottom of the HDMI decal, with the protective film layer and flat carrier attached thereto, is secured to a mounting substrate using a relatively thick adhesive layer. After the HDMI decal is adhesively secured to the mounting substrate, the carrier and protective film layer are removed. The top surface of the HDMI decal thus remains flat after it is secured to the mounting substrate, and therefore connection of integrated circuit chips to contact pads on the top surface of the decal is ensured because this surface is flat. The carrier and protective film layer also protects the top surface of the decal while it is secured to the mounting substrate.

Abstract: A multicell transistor for use in a circuit has an input ground plane for an input waveguide and an output ground plane for an output waveguide. The multicell transistor includes a gate electrode coupled to the input waveguide, a drain electrode coupled to the output waveguide, and a source electrode coupled to the input ground plane. An output ground strap spaced from the drain electrode couples the output ground plane to the source electrode. A pair of transmission lines are orthogonally connected to and extend from the gate electrode to form a pair of inductors for matching the impedances of the gate electrode and the input waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of synchronizing a digital receiver to a digital transmitter in both frequency and time using a novel ambiguity transformation. The ambiguity transform combines time correlation and spectrum synchronization into an integrated two-dimensional transform process. The ambiguity transform includes the steps of multiplying a reference sequence with a received signal to create a product signal, calculating the magnitude of the spectrum of the product signal, and determining the peak product signal. Through multiple iterations of the ambiguity transform, and time and frequency shifts, a digital receiver may be synchronized to a digital transmitter. The method of the present invention may be implemented using a digital signal processor (DSP).

Abstract: The present invention provides a broadband transmitting protective coating (10) including an AlGaP protective layer (14) deposited on an optical substrate (12) and an anti-reflection film (16) deposited on the AlGaP protective layer (14). The coating (10) is suitable for use with typical infrared and broadband optical substrate materials such as germanium or multi-spectral ZnS. In the case of a germanium substrate (12), the anti-reflection film (16), (16a) preferably consists of a single layer of hard carbon or alternating layers of hard carbon and silicon. In the case of a multi-spectral ZnS substrate (12a), the anti-reflection film (16b) preferably consists of layered Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 /TaO.sub.5 /LaF.sub.3 /MgF.sub.2. The protective coating (10) is preferably deposited on the optical substrate (12) by a metal organic chemical vapor deposition process wherein an initial layer of AlP is nucleated on the substrate (12) at a temperature of approximately 400.degree. C.

Abstract: A dither circuit is monolitically integrated with a subranging ADC to add a dither signal at the input of the ADC's fine quantizer element to randomize its nonlinear quantization level errors. Because the subranging ADC has at least one overlap bit, the amplitude of the dither signal can range up to at least 2.sup.M-1 LSBs of the fine quantizer without saturating it. The digital equivalent of the dither signal is subtracted at the output of the fine quantizer to maintain the ADC's overall SNR. The randomization of only the fine quantizer element avoids gaining up the nonlinear errors associated with the dither signal itself thereby improving the overall SNR. This approach optimizes performance for small input signals while sacrificing flexibility to correct other sources of error.

Abstract: Flip chip monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC) devices formed on gallium arsenide substrates and use thermally bumped diodes and field effect transistor devices to achieve improved heat dissipation and power protection. Flip chip limiter MMIC devices and transmit/receive switch MMIC devices are specifically provided by the present invention. The flip chip gallium arsenide limiter and transmit/receive switch MMIC devices use plated metallized bumps for both I/O connections and for thermal connections to a host substrate (aluminum nitride). The present invention also incorporates coplanar waveguide transmission line, thereby eliminating backside processing of the gallium arsenide substrates. The transmit/receive switch device provides power protection in both transmit and receive modes.

Abstract: A rotary pump that may be used in manual or automatic dispensing systems to dispense material such as epoxy or solder paste, and the like. The rotary pump has a feed screw shaft with fins disposed in a mixing chamber that mixes the epoxy or solder paste. Epoxy or solder paste disposed in a container is forced by air pressure from the container through a feed shaft to the mixing chamber. The feed screw shaft and fins are driven by a motor that rotates the shaft and fins to blend the epoxy or solder paste in the mixing chamber. The epoxy or solder paste is forced out of a dispensing tip onto an article by the rotary motion of the feed screw shaft. Therefore, mixing of the epoxy or solder paste is achieved just prior to the point of application. The rotary pump keeps the epoxy or solder paste thoroughly blended before it is dispensed.

Abstract: Sensors capable of sensing the proximity of a golf club head and of generating a sensor signal in response thereto are provided. The sensors include control sensors used to communicate user commands and club-head data sensors used to analyze a golf club swing. A computer program is provided to direct a computer to analyze signals generated by the control sensors to interpret commands from a training system user. The computer also analyzes signals generated by club-head data sensors to determine the path, height, impact speed, and face impact angle of the golf club head as a function of the user commands. Analyzed club-head data sensor signals are used to calculate and graphically represent the resulting flight path of the struck golf ball with respect to a graphically simulated fairway and green presented on a video display unit. The simulated fairway and green are defined by data stored within the data storage device.

Abstract: In a subranging ADC, the unary DAC is trimmed by walking through its transfer function while toggling an offset cell at the input to the coarse quantizer and a reference cell in the DAC such that the reference cell is substituted for the cell under test on alternating cycles to provide the last lsb of the reconstructed signal. A test circuit measures the voltage at the output of the summing amplifier for both conditions and generates an error voltage in which the common mode terms have been rejected. The cell under test is then laser trimmed to reduce the error voltage until the cell's DNL error is within an error bound of a tolerance. In one embodiment, the tolerance is dithered to improve spur free dynamic range.

Abstract: A multiple participant interactive system that includes a projection screen (11), a projector (13) for projecting polarized light onto the imaging surface to produce a visible image on the imaging surface, a plurality of light pointers (15) for projecting respective non-polarized beams of light onto the projection screen to produce visible spots on the projection screen, a video detector (17) for detecting the visible spots on the projection screen and providing a video output that represents the visible spots on the projection screen, a computer (21) for processing the video output of the video detector, and a video source (23) which is controlled by the computer and provides a video input to the projector.

Abstract: A memory includes a bitline data signal input (24), at least one memory unit (20), a writing circuit (128) which writes a polarization state into each memory unit (20) responsive to the bitline data signal input, and a sensing circuit (130) that senses a polarization state of each memory unit (20). Each memory unit (20) includes a ferroelectric capacitor (22) and a buffer amplifier (26) in electrical series relationship with the ferroelectric capacitor (22) and the bitline data signal input (24). The buffer amplifier (26) capacitively isolates the ferroelectric capacitor (22) from the bitline data signal input (24) so that the ferroelectric capacitor (22) may be made smaller in size than would otherwise be the case.