Abstract: A very high speed video imaging system wherein the video image from each video frame of M.sub.1 columns and M.sub.2 rows of video pixels is multiplexed serially by row, each image pixel corresponding to an address in said video frame; image enhancement processing is performed in real time, using r programmable processors operating on successive kernels comprising L.sub.1 rows and L.sub.2 columns of the image pixels. Real time image processing is made possible by multiple image copying means which furnishes multiple copies of the image pixels to the r processors, wherein each one of the processors receives a copy of only those image pixels having an address lying within an assigned range, which limits the amount of data handled by each processor for each video frame.

Abstract: A processor for operating on video and azimuth signals from a radar system having an antenna which scans in azimuth. The processor enhances the signal-to-noise ratio of the video signals while imposing thereon a substantially constant azimuth delay error.The processor includes a first circuit for forming and storing a count indicative of the video signal history in each range zone. The processor also includes a second circuit for generating and removing a flag signal indicative of azimuth leading and trailing edges respectively of a target pulse in the video signal. A gating circuit is included to pass video signals, for a given range zone, to an output terminal during the presence of a flag signal associated with the zone.

Abstract: An improved photodector which in utilizing a low noise load network instead of a resistor has the advantages in signal-to-noise ratio of a large load resistance without the deleterious effect on response time. The circuit includes a conventional photodiode with an operational amplifier at its output. The load network is disposed in the feedback path of the operational amplifier. It consists of a second operational amplifier, a fixed resistor and a variable resistor.

Abstract: A discharge-excited waveguide gas laser is disclosed utilizing a transverse rf excitation voltage at a frequency of at least about 30 MHz applied between elongated electrodes on opposite sides of the laser discharge chamber. A plurality of shunt inductances are coupled between the electrodes externally of the chamber at periodically spaced locations along the length of the chamber. These inductances provide a negative admittance which compensates for the variation in the phase angle of the transmission line reflection coefficient along the length of the laser discharge chamber. The variation in the magnitude of the standing wave voltage produced in the chamber by the excitation voltage is reduced accordingly, thereby improving the uniformity of the laser-exciting discharge.

Abstract: A non-volatile random access memory cell has two branches, each branch comprising a source-to-drain channel and a series load connected to the channel to define a node therebetween, each channel having an associated electron tunneling region, a floating gate overlying the channel and a control gate overlying the floating gate, the control gate of each of the branches connected to the node of the other branch and the floating gate of each of the branches overlying the electron tunneling region of the source-to-drain channel of the other branch. The resulting structure is a cross-coupled floating gate structure in which threshold voltage control of one floating gate tunneling metal oxide semiconductor (FATMOS) transistor is controlled by another FATMOS transistor, the two transistors comprising a single random access memory cell. Data may be written in either volatile or non-volatile mode in a state which is not inverted from that previously stored during volatile writing.

Abstract: In an electro-optical display device, a fiber optic faceplate which transmits light only through a well-defined solid angle, is optically coupled to an electro-optical display panel having a specularly reflecting surface. The display panel can be either an active device, such as laser diodes, or passive such as a dynamic scattering liquid crystal device. The axes of the optical fibers comprising the faceplate are slanted to the display surface at an angle such that the light which enters the front surface of the faceplate and is specularly reflected from the display surface is trapped within the faceplate. However, light emitted or scattered from on-state display elements is transmitted through the faceplate to the viewer.A high contrast display results because off-state display elements on the display surface appear dark under even intense ambient illumination whereas the on-state elements appear bright.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided which includes a laser oscillator for providing light along a first optical path, and a laser amplifier for amplifying light along a second optical path. Means for coupling light between the first and second optical paths is disposed at one end of the laser amplifier, and a nonlinear medium disposed at the other end thereof for intercepting light provided along the first and second optical paths. The laser oscillator provides a single-mode laser beam along the first optical path which is made incident upon the nonlinear medium from substantially opposite directions. A portion of the beam from the laser oscillator is coupled through the laser amplifier, which forms a probe beam that samples the laser amplifier system. This beam further impinges upon the nonlinear medium and interacts with the counter-propagating laser beams therein.

Abstract: A monolithic imager utilizing a plurality of detector cells for detecting the presence of radiation and producing a two dimensional mapping thereof. The detector cells are arrayed in a matrix having a square center surrounded by a number of polygonal rings so that a relatively high resolution mapping of detected radiation is achieved at the center of the imager.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter includes a charge coupled device comparator receiving an analog signal which is to be converted to an eight bit binary word. An eight bit charge coupled device shift register addresses an eight bit digital-to-analog converter through eight separate resettable latches to generate a reference signal which is compared in successive approximations to the analog signal by the charge coupled device comparator to generate each binary bit of the eight bit word. Sensitivity of the charge coupled device comparator is enhanced by the use of charge coupled regenerative feedback to generate each binary bit of the eight bit binary word, which is read serially into an output register. The charge coupled device comparator decides whether each bit of the eight bit binary word is to be a logic one or a logic zero by comparing the analog input signal with reference signals selected in successive approximations by a shift register addressing the digital-to-analog converter.

Abstract: An auto-alignment system for high energy lasers wherein a low energy reference beam is provided at the vertex of a primary mirror that is grated to diffract a low energy holographic replica of the high energy beam. A photodetector based servo-control system compares the line-of-sight of the reference beam to that of the low energy replica and generates control signals which actuate a beam steering mirror to reposition the main beam. The servo-control system also includes a wavefront sensor. This sensor analyzes the wavefront profile of the low energy replica and generates control signals which actuate a deformable mirror to correct spurious wavefront aberrations.

Abstract: An optic receiver capable of detecting the angle of incidence of optical energy relative to an airborne frame of reference. Incoming reflected rays are reflected by a one piece detector element into a line image. Power distribution along the line image varies with the azimuth of the target. Computation of target azimuth from the power distribution along the line image is facilitated by photodetectors mounted on this element and associated electronic circuitry.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for digitizing an applied analog signal. A plurality of closely-spaced parallel optical waveguide pairs are disposed in an electro-optic crystal substrate. A laser source applies light energy simultaneously to one waveguide of each waveguide pair. Electrical conductors disposed on the substrate and connected to a source of an analog signal apply signals therefrom across a coupling region of each of the plurality of waveguide pairs so as to induce coupling of the laser energy between one waveguide and the other waveguide of each of the pairs. The coupling regions are of different lengths for each of the waveguide pairs, the lengths of the coupling regions being related in a predetermined manner. The coupling is proportional to the applied analog signal and to the lengths of the coupling regions. A comparator is disposed so as to compare the output of both waveguides of each of the waveguide pairs and provide a digitized signal therefrom.

Abstract: A laser provides light of a first frequency .omega.+.DELTA. along a first optical path, the light being focused by optics onto a target disposed at the primary focal plane of the optics. A laser amplifier is disposed along a second optical path which receives light reflected from the target and processed through a portion of the optics. This amplifier transmits, substantially unamplified, light at the first frequency .omega.+.DELTA. and amplifies light substantially at a second frequency .cndot.. Phase conjugation apparatus is disposed along the second optical path and provides light which is the phase conjugate of light incident thereupon. The phase conjugated light is provided at the second frequency .omega. and directed back through the laser amplifier for amplification thereof and through the optics to the target.

Abstract: Apparatus, including a detector array, analog-to-digital converter, a microprocessor including a memory, and display for determining the total energy, divergence and position of an applied laser beam from a single laser pulse. The detector array is coupled to the microprocessor and computer memory by way of the analog-to-digital converter. The microprocessor controls the detector array scanning and computes the values for the desired characteristics. The display provides for a numerical, alpha-numerical or printed record of the calculated values. A method of determining the total energy, relative position and divergence is also provided.

Abstract: The optical response of a liquid crystal layer is controlled by an applied a.c. electric field having its amplitude in selected regions of the liquid crystal modulated by charge stored in an underlying charge transfer device.

Abstract: A wideband high voltage video amplifier shares the amplification of positive and negative signal peaks between positively and negatively charging output bipolar transistors, respectively, thereby circumventing distortion of the output signal by the base-to-collector junction capacitance of each transistor.

Abstract: Self-sustained oscillation of the atoms in a maser is achieved in a cavity of reduced size by in-phase feedback for cavity Q-enhancement. Cavity resonant frequency is stabilized using a small reactive element coupled to the maser cavity. The reactance of the small element is precisely controlled so that the resonant frequency of the cavity is stabilized with reference to the radiation frequency of the atoms inside the maser cavity by a feedback control loop using the maser radiation as a reference signal.

Abstract: Analog-to-digital conversion through successive approximation is implemented by means of a charge coupled device. During the conversion process two charges are compared, each comparison yielding one bit of a multi-bit number. By increasing the lesser of the compared charges after each comparison, the need to subtract charge as part of the successive approximation process is eliminated.

Abstract: In double conductor micro-electronic structures, prior to the low temperature deposition or growth of an insulating layer over a polycrystalline or amorphous surface, the surface is annealed using a beam of radiant energy, which causes it to become very smooth, thereby removing any surface spikes. The insulating layer placed thereover has remarkably improved insulation qualities heretofore unattainable at low temperatures. The beam of radiant energy is preferably applied in bursts of energy lasting for a sufficiently short duration so that implanted impurities in the silicon substrate do not redistribute.

Abstract: A charge coupled device multiplexed parallel channel storage array useful with a serial input register having a storage density unconstrained by the serial register and effective for storing analog information. The same serial register cell reads charge packets sequentially to successive parallel channels by means of a single multiplexer electrode overlying the entrances to the parallel channels in a staircase configuration to which the entrances themselves conform.