Abstract: An externally-powerable sensor is described for detecting ultrasonic energy and for providing an accurate indication of the level of such energy to an external monitoring device over a wide dynamic range. A first electrical signal proportional to the detected ultrasonic energy is chopped by the output of a free-running multivibrator to generate a signal having a frequency differing from the frequency of the first signal by an amount within the audio frequency range. Such difference signal is selectively amplified to concentrate the spectral energy of the difference component in a lower portion of the audio range. A low pass filter extracts, from the so-concentrated difference signal, a modified audio signal whose frequency content is at the lower end, illustratively 0-6 KHz, of the spectrum of the concentrated difference signal. The output of the low pass filter is processed to generate a DC output current that is proportional to the detected ultrasonic energy level.

Abstract: A finger joint prosthesis for MP joint or PIP joint in which a socket has an opening at a portion thereof and a spherical face on an inner side thereof and is integrally formed with a stem on a side opposed to the opening, a head has a spherical portion fit to the spherical face via the opening and is integrally formed with a stem extending outwardly from the opening and a sheath for surrounding the stem of either of the socket and head is provided and the stem is movable slidably in an axial direction by adhering and fixing the sheath to a narrow cavity at a nearly disposed portion or a remotely disposed portion whereby the joint prosthesis is matched with motional characteristic of finger.

Abstract: The invention provides a device that generates predictable and reproducible sounds. The device according to the invention serves as a standard to calibrate ultrasonic measuring equipment through either a gaseous medium or a solid medium. The device according to the invention is similar in basic shape to an hourglass or venturi (e.g., a sand-type egg-timer), but instead of using fine particles, such as sand, the device includes identical media particles (e.g., marbles, balls, beads, etc.) which drop from an upper chamber to a lower one. The media particles are pre-sorted so that those sealed within the hourglass structure are uniform. An impingement post (e.g., a bell or sounding plate) is positioned in the path of the falling media particles so that each will hit the sounding plate, resulting in a reverberating sound. The impingement post is cantilevered and supported from a side of a chamber of the hour glass structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a device that generates predictable and reproducible sounds. The device according to the invention serves as a standard to calibrate ultrasonic measuring equipment through either a gaseous medium or a solid medium. The device according to the invention is similar in basic shape to an hourglass or venturi (e.g., a sand-type egg-timer), but instead of using fine particles, such as sand, the device includes identical media particles (e.g., marbles, balls, beads, etc.) which drop from an upper chamber to a lower one. The media particles are pre-sorted so that those sealed within the hourglass structure are uniform. An impingement post (e.g., a bell or sounding plate) is positioned in the path of the falling media particles so that each will hit the sounding plate, resulting in a reverberating sound. The impingement post is cantilevered and supported from a side of a chamber of the hour glass structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a device that generates predictable and reproducible sounds. The device according to the invention serves as a standard to calibrate ultrasonic measuring equipment through either a gaseous medium or a solid medium. The device according to the invention is similar in basic shape to an hourglass or venturi (e.g., a sand-type egg-timer), but instead of using fine particles, such as sand, the device includes identical media particles (e.g., marbles, balls, beads, etc.) which drop from an upper chamber to a lower one. The media particles are pre-sorted so that those sealed within the hourglass structure are uniform. An impingement post (e.g., a bell or sounding plate) is positioned in the path of the falling media particles so that each will hit the sounding plate, resulting in a reverberating sound. The impingement post is cantilevered and supported from a side of a chamber of the hour glass structure.

Abstract: A device for carrying out motional training by continuously flexing and extending a joint of the body comprises a mounting piece for mounting the device in the vicinity of a joint, a drive unit arranged on the mounting piece including a reversable rotation motor having a motor output shaft, a manual switching clutch connected to the motor output shaft, a power transmission connected to the motor output shaft and a transmission output rotating shaft, a swinging arm having a base portion mounted on the mounting piece, and a free end portion of the device including another mounting piece for mounting the free end side of the device to a portion of the shaft body in front of a joint. The swinging arm is coupled to the transmission output rotating shaft and subjected to a reciprocating swing motion during regular and reverse rotation of the transmission output rotating shaft. A movable range setting copying mechanism sets the first swing end and the second swing end of the swing arm.

Abstract: A stackable ball grid array module in which a chip select decoder is used to reduce the number of busses required for communication between modules. Additional modules may be added without requiring additional interconnect lines in the array. Cooling of the individual modules may be accomplished using a support member made from an enhanced heat transfer material or placing an enhanced heat transfer material layer between the modules. The devices on the module may be encapsulated, and the modules may be constructed in a chip first or cavity-down configuration. Methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted laser spotlight system employs a coherent/incoherent spotlight as a light source to produce an eyesafe light dispersion pattern to illuminate an ambient environment. The laser spotlight system includes an integrated laser unit having an integrated laser, power supply and control unit for selectively transmitting coherent light. A fiber optic cable optically couples the laser unit to a spotlight which receives the coherent light from the laser and transmits a beam of coherent light into the ambient environment. An incoherent light transmitter selectively transmits a beam of incoherent light coincident with the beam of coherent light. A converter module may be disposed intermediate the laser and the spotlight to convert the frequency and wavelength of the coherent light.

Abstract: A receiver carrier synchronization apparatus and method for carrier synchronization with a received signal having a known data pattern preamble uses a "punctured" preamble for making carrier synchronization estimates thereby reducing the number of receivers required. The known data pattern preamble of the received signal is processed with a local reference signal and a differentiated replica of the known data pattern preamble to generate an error signal. The error signal is selectively sampled in the time domain in accordance with a puncture scheme, and the sampled error signal is used to generate the local reference signal in a closed loop. The received signal is processed with the local reference signal and a replica of the known data pattern preamble to generate a synchronization estimate signal.

Abstract: An identification document and a method of placing personalized data (variable text and color image) directly on the identification document having a data receiving page. The method comprises the steps of: printing personalized data directly onto a silicone release coat of a release sheet; positioning the release sheet with the side containing fused toner adjacent to the adhesive of an adhesive side of a security laminate; passing the release sheet and the security laminate through a laminator to transfer the personalized data to the adhesive of the security laminate; removing the release sheet leaving the personalized data on the security laminate; and passing the security laminate and the data receiving page through a laminator to seal personalized data between the security laminate and the data receiving page.

Abstract: There is described a tape format and a method for formatting a length of magnetic tape with a number of system zones. Each system zone contains an area for mechanical load/unload operations or threading operations and an area containing volume format information for the entire magnetic media.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying non-gravitational pressure to a surface includes a frame structure having a longitudinal axis, a pair of connecting members coupled to the frame structure along parallel axes normal to the longitudinal axis of the frame structure, vacuum fasteners coupled to the connecting members to secure the frame structure on an underlying surface, a vacuum pump mounted on the frame structure for activating the vacuum fasteners and a positive pressure pump mounted on the frame structure for inflating a collapsible diaphragm to apply pressure to the underlying surface. The apparatus is useful for applying doublers to aircraft components to repair localized damage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for evaluation and inspection of a composite-repaired structure generates a frequency-varying electrical signal to test and evaluate the composite-repaired area. The electrical signal is converted into a mechanical signal and transmitted through the composite-repaired area of the structure. The transmitted mechanical signal is received and converted into an electrical signal for processing. The processed signal is compared with a baseline reference signal to determine whether the composite-repaired area is damaged or undamaged. The baseline reference signal is obtained at the time of the composite repair of the structure.

Abstract: A dual band, stacked microstrip antenna produces circular polarization. A two-layer, 90.degree. microstrip coupler is mounted to a hi-band patch and a lo-band patch and provides two inputs to the antenna to excite two orthogonal linearly polarized radiation patterns in quadrature. The coupler outputs are connected to the antenna by two conducting pins that connect directly to the groundplane of the lower patch. The coupler uses the hi-band patch as a groundplane and is transparent to the radiation from the antenna. An antenna input connector is connected to the coupler input by means of a coaxial line through the center of the antenna. The isolation port is terminated in a surface mounted 50-ohm resister to ground through a quarter wave length open transmission line.

Abstract: A computer, responsive to user input, controls the presentation of an audio-visual work to a user. Through the selection of several interactive learning options, support and reinforcement of the learning process is provided. In particular, the computer interacts with the user to challenge the user's understanding of the audio-visual work. In connection with the presentation of foreign language works, the user interacts with the computer in role playing, transcription, translation, fill-in-the-blanks and speech repetition activities designed to teach the user to speak the foreign language. Furthermore, as the audio-visual work is presented, a computer generated transcription or translation is displayed for user contemplation, and the user may interact with the computer by requesting the display of grammatical, cultural and geographic notes the further assist in the learning process.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically announcing the arrival status of a vehicle to occupants of the vehicle. The apparatus stores route identification, trip identification, and destination identification for at least one predetermined route. The destination information includes, for each destination, at least a destination number, destination name, and a set of first and second latitude and first and second longitude coordinates defining a logical box associated with each destination. The apparatus also stores digital information corresponding to an announcement for each destination, inputs an intended route and trip identification at a starting point of the intended route and trip, and has a GPS receiver for determining the present position of the vehicle in latitude and longitude coordinates.

Abstract: A method for selecting tie point locations within a series of overlapping images. Initially the series of images are ordered to maximize the potential for successful phase correlations between adjacent images. Adjacent pairs in the ordered images are then phase correlated to determine the translational offsets between adjacent pairs. The overlapping regions in adjacent pairs are assessed for normalized cross correlation and initial candidate tie points are selected within the regions at a reduced resolution. The initially selected tie points are then phase correlated at full resolution and any surviving candidate tie point locations are further refined to sub-pixel accuracy.

Abstract: A receiver carrier synchronization apparatus and method for carrier synchronization with a received signal having a known data pattern preamble uses a "punctured" preamble for making carrier synchronization estimates thereby reducing the number of receivers required. The known data pattern preamble of the received signal is processed with a local reference signal and a differentiated replica of the known data pattern preamble to generate an error signal. The error signal is selectively sampled in the time domain in accordance with a puncture scheme, and the sampled error signal is used to generate the local reference signal in a closed loop. The received signal is processed with the local reference signal and a replica of the known data pattern preamble to generate a synchronization estimate signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the velocity of a platform includes a GPS receiver and inertial measurement unit (IMU) located at the platform. The GPS receiver provides GPS navigation data using a plurality of GPS satellites while the inertial measurement unit provides inertial navigation data. Acceleration computed from the GPS navigation data is combined with the inertial acceleration generated from the IMU using a Kalman filter to generate a substantially IMU-bias free acceleration of the platform. The resultant acceleration measurement and the GPS navigation data are used to calculate the velocity of the platform in conjunction with a second Kalman filter for removing GPS systematic errors that are normally removed by use of a ground reference station.

Abstract: Radar detection of accelerating airborne targets in accordance with the present invention utilizing a sequence of velocity, acceleration matched filters. This system includes a transmitter generating a signal oscillating at a predetermined frequency controlled by modulator such that the transmitter repeatedly outputs short duration pulses. The output pulse frequency is passed to an antenna that radiates the energy into free space. Reflected electromagnetic wave energy is received by the antenna to produce a radar return signal that is processed to a receiver that includes a radio frequency amplifier having an output that is mixed with a local oscillator signal an applied to an IF amplifier. An output of the IF amplifier is mixed with the output of an IF oscillator where the mixed signal passes through a low pass filter to a pulse compression network. An output of the pulse compression network is input to a matched filter processor array having multiple outputs applied to an adaptive threshold detector.