Abstract: A system and method for volumetric display of video images extracted from arbitrary background environments comprising an arrangement for extracting a video image in real time from an arbitrary background and creating a stream of extracted image data in response thereto and a free space or volumetric display operationally adapted to display the stream.

Abstract: A system and method for combining computer generated 3D environments (virtual environments) with satellite images. In a specific application, the system enables users to see and communicate with each other as live avatars in the computer generated environment in real time.

Abstract: A receiver adapted to receive a transmitted signal and provide a replay capability in response thereto. The inventive receiver includes the medium (electronic or physical) for storing at least a portion of the received signal. In accordance with present teachings, the inventive receiver selectively outputs either a stored selection or the receive signal in response to user input (i.e. a replay signal). In the illustrative embodiment, the receiver is a satellite digital audio radio service receiver having a radio frequency tuner and audio decoder. The system controller is a microprocessor that causes the system to store each selection as it is received. In the best mode, this is facilitated by the transmission and receipt of a start of selection signal and an end of selection signal. The replay signal is provided via a user interface. Software running on a microprocessor includes code for detecting the presence of the instant replay signal.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an Internet conference call bridge management (ICCBM) system and method with which a person (customer) having access to the Internet may efficiently input the contact number of at least one party (call recipient) with whom the customer wants to speak. The ICCBM system then calls the customer, calls the party or parties, and the audio signals are bridged in a manner that optimizes the call signal to noise ratio, minimizes demands placed on computing resources, and provides controls with which the customer may monitor and control the telephonic access of the other participants through the duration of the conference call.

Abstract: A monolithic semiconductor power device. The device is designed to produce high energy density and high power level RF/Millimeter wave radiation using the quasi-optical spatial power of an array (100) of small amplifiers (200) on a solid state wafer (300). Each cell (200) of the array (100) contains a reflection amplifier (206) that receives radiation and retransmits the signal back into the approximate same direction from which it was received. The radiation exiting from the array (100) is physically like a reflection that has been modified by the individual amplifier's characteristics. The exiting amplified radiation leaves the array (100) as a coherent wave front (110). The individual amplifier elements are fabricated on a monolithic solid state wafer (300). Rather than being diced into individual amplifiers, the elements are electrically connected together with proper biases and ground levels on the actual solid state wafer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the angular position of a rotor. The rotor is a part of a resolver used to determine the position of a shaft, or the like, in operation in a system such as a shaft in a missile gimbal. A digital signal processor is used advantageously to reduce cost. The inherently poorer performance of a data sampling approach in the presence of noise, as compared to the prior art tracking converter approach, is overcome by novel application of the digital signal processor and related circuitry.

Abstract: An aircraft based imaging system. The inventive system includes a sensor mounted in the aircraft in a known orientation, circuitry for acquiring signals generated by the sensor from a scanned area, a system for georeferencing the acquired signals; and a system for compensating for tilt in the acquired signals. In a specific embodiment the sensor is an infrared sensor and the system for georeferencing the acquired signals is a receiver adapted to receive signals from a global positioning system. In the specific embodiment, the means for compensating for tilt in the aircraft includes a gyroscope, a magnetometer and software for controlling the gyroscope to produce signals indicative of the orientation of the aircraft. The software compensates for tilt in the acquired signals and uses the GPS signals to create an accurate mosaic of the images generated by the sensor.

Abstract: A satellite digital audio radio receiver system and method. The inventive receiver includes a circuit for down-converting a first ensemble in a received combined signal in a first mode of operation and for down-converting a second ensemble from the received combined signal in a second mode of operation. The first ensemble includes a first signal received from a first transmitter, a second signal received from a second transmitter, and a third signal received from a third transmitter. The second ensemble includes a second signal from the first transmitter, a second signal from the second transmitter, and a second signal from the third transmitter. A controller is included to selectively switch the circuit from the first mode to the second mode. The first ensemble comprises first, second and third frequency slots and the second ensemble comprises fourth, fifth, and sixth frequency slots.

Abstract: A fin lock device (12) for a missile. The device (12) provides a mechanism for locking a missile fin (14) by grasping an edge of the fin (14) and a mechanism (32, 42) for retracting the locking mechanism (18) to release the fin (14). The fin (14) is grasped by a notch (20) therein adapted to receive the edge of the fin (14). The piston (18) is retracted by burning a pyrotechnic powder in a cavity adjacent to the piston (18) to fill the cavity with gas and create a pressure differential to force the piston (18) away from the fin.

Abstract: An antenna adapted to apply a uniform electromagnetic field to a volume of gas and including an input terminal for receiving electrical energy into the antenna and an array of radiating elements connected to the input terminal thereof. In the illustrative embodiment, the antenna has four radiating elements. Each radiating element is a conductor wound in a rectangular spiral shape. Each radiating element is connected to the input terminal on one end and an output terminal on a second end thereof. The input terminal is equidistant from first, second, third and fourth output terminals connected to the first, second, third and fourth radiating elements, respectively. The inventive antenna affords a novel method for plasma processing a device including the steps of: mounting the device within a chamber; providing a gas the chamber; and applying an electromagnetic field to the gas via an array of antenna elements disposed relative to the gas to generate a uniform distribution of the plasma.

Abstract: An equalization system and method. In a most general sense, the inventive equalization system includes first and second filters for filtering an in-phase component of a received signal in accordance with first and second sets of coefficients, respectively. The system includes third and fourth filters for filtering a quadrature component of the input signal in accordance with third and fourth sets of coefficients, respectively. The outputs of the first and third filters are subtracted to provide an equalized in-phase output signal and the outputs of the second and fourth filters are added to provide an equalized quadrature output signal. In the illustrative embodiment the filters are finite impulse response filters and the coefficients are provided by a microprocessor. In accordance with the present teachings, the filters are implemented in a general purpose filter. The delay elements of the filters are calculated in accordance with a mean square error algorithm.

Abstract: A compact four-way waveguide power divider (10). The inventive power divider (10) includes an input waveguide (11) that terminates at a junction with two adjacent waveguides on opposite sides of the input waveguide. On the opposite side of the junction is a conducting wall into which is built an inductive septum (20). The inductive septum (20) serves to partially match the input impedance of the structure. Second and third inductive septums (22 and 24) are also built into the output arms of the power divider (10). The purpose of the second and third septums (22 and 24) is twofold. In addition to partially matching the power divider's input impedance, the positions of the second and third septums (22 and 24) can be adjusted to equalize the power division between the output arms. Hence, the waves exiting the four output arms of the power divider have highly equalized amplitudes and phases. Further, the phases at the output ports are equalized by adjusting the lengths of the output arms.

Abstract: A versatile signal processor. The inventive signal processor includes a plurality of filters which are selectively interconnected to provide a variety of digital signal processing functions. In the illustrative embodiment, each filter is adapted to multiply input data by a coefficient. Further, each filter includes adders for accumulating the products. The coefficients are provided by an external processor which configures the general purpose filter to a particular function, such as a general purpose filter, a Hilbert filter, a finite impulse response filter, an equalizer, a beamforming network, a convolver, a correlator, or an application specific integrated circuit by way of example. When interconnected in accordance with the teachings provided herein, these circuits may be used to provide a digital receiver.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving dispatch messages in a broadcast radio receiver. In one embodiment, audio dispatch messages can be received, in another embodiment, data dispatch messages can be received. In either embodiment, a previously selected broadcast channel is received until a dispatch alert message is simultaneously received. The dispatch alert message includes a dispatch ID codes which is compared by the receiver with a previously stored dispatch ID code. If equality is found, the receiver switches from the previously selected broadcast channel to a dispatch broadcast channel to receive the dispatch message. Upon completion of the dispatch message, the receiver automatically switches back to the previously selected broadcast channel.

Abstract: A multi-resolution feature extraction method and apparatus. In the illustrative embodiment, the feature extractor includes circuitry for receiving and transforming a time variant data signal into a multi-resolution data signal. The multi-resolution data signal is compared to each of a plurality of object templates. The system then generates a feature vector based on a correlation of the multi-resolution data signal to one of the object templates. The multi-resolution feature extraction method employs object templates formed by transforming time variant image data for each of a plurality of objects into a respective multi-resolution template and averaging all templates for each respective object. The method includes steps for transforming an incoming time variant data signal into a multi-resolution data signal, comparing the multi-resolution data signal to each of the object templates, and generating a feature vector when the multi-resolution data signal correlates to one of the object templates.

Abstract: A passive proximity fuze. The inventive fuze (10) is adapted to be mounted on a munition (11) and includes a receiver (16) adapted to lock on to a signal transmitted by a target transmitter (12). The receiver (16) detects a Doppler shift in the signal as the munition approaches the target. When a closest point of approach is reached the Doppler shift changes from increasing to decreasing. The inventive fuze (10) includes a mechanism for detecting this change in the Doppler shift and provides a detonation signal in response thereto. In the illustrative embodiment, the receiver (16) is an FM receiver. The mechanism for detecting a change in the Doppler shift may be implemented with discrete analog circuitry or digital circuitry. In an illustrative analog implementation, first and second resistive/capacitive networks (R1C1 and R2C2) are employed to compute a second derivative of the Doppler shift signal output by the receiver (16).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved electrical interconnection assembly adaptable for creating electrical connections between spaced-apart sections of a high performance missile assembly. Because the electrical connection must extend outside the missile, a plurality of electrical interconnections are integrally formed within a protective housing that is, itself of aerodynamic configuration. The cables may take the form of flat wires, or printed wire assemblies integral with the housing. Pre-stressed foam is formed in the housing to insulate the electrical interconnections. Wire mesh is preferably mounted in the housing between the interconnections and the outside of the housing to protect the interconnections from Electro-magnetic Interference (EMI).

Abstract: A beamforming system including a multiplier stage for providing a plurality of steered signal terms, each term being a product of an input signal term and a steering signal term. A filter multiplies the steered signal terms by a plurality of respective filter weights to provide a plurality of weighted products. The weighted products are summed to provide an output beam directionally responsive to the steering signal. A microprocessor provides the steering signal terms and the filter weights in response to the input signal and/or user input. In the preferred embodiment, the filter is a reconfigurable, general purpose matched filter configured to multiply a plurality of delayed representations of a respective one of the steered signal terms by a plurality of the weights to provide a plurality of intermediate weighted product terms. The filter further includes a summing circuit for accumulating the intermediate weighted product terms to provide a respective one of the plurality of weighted products.

Abstract: An improved tail fin assembly and method of attachment to a tactical missile capable of high performance motion. The tail fin is formed with a widened inner fin platform portion having a centrally disposed cavity formed by a pair of oppositely disposed walls inclined toward one another. An output control shaft extending from the missile includes a pair of oppositely disposed side walls inclined in a direction similar to the side walls of the cavity. When the tail fin is mounted on the output shaft, the end portion of the output shaft extends within the cavity until the side walls are confronting each other. A pair of fastening screws are advanced into aligned openings, drawing the inclined walls into surface contact to pre-load the tail fin assembly with preset tolerances.

Abstract: An antenna adapted to apply a uniform electromagnetic field with high energy density to a volume of gas. The antenna includes an input node for receiving electrical energy and a first coil for radiating electromagnetic energy into the gas. The first coil is connected to the input node on one end thereof and is grounded on the opposite side to cause flux to flow in a first direction. A second coil is included for radiating electromagnetic energy into the gas. The second coil is also connected to the input node on one end thereof and grounded on the opposite side to flow in the first direction. Multiple number of coils can be added to form an antenna. In an illustrative application, the antenna is used in a plasma processing system comprising a vacuum chamber, a gas disposed within the vacuum chamber, and a dielectric disposed around the vacuum chamber. The inventive antenna is mounted around the dielectric tube and radiates electromagnetic energy into the gas.