Abstract: A waveguide type electro-absorptive optical modulator that resists damage to its input facet and methods for minimizing or eliminating optical and electrical damage to the input facet of waveguide type electro-absorptive modulator by fabrication of an electrically isolated region in the modulator's waveguide proximate the input facet by forming an ion implantation region in at least one waveguide confinement rib proximate the input facet, a signal contact end on the at least one rib that is recessed from the plane of the input facet, or both.

Abstract: There is described a vehicle door assembly with shear layer control for controlling the airflow in and around an aperture in the vehicle fuselage. The vehicle door assembly consists of an upper door and a lower door, both slidably mounted to the exterior surface of the vehicle fuselage. In addition, an inner door is slidably mounted beneath the upper door. Beneath the inner door is an aperture assembly having an aperture opening positionable to be substantially flush with the exterior surface of the vehicle fuselage. Also provided are means for positioning the aperture assembly in an upward and downward direction in relation to the vehicle fuselage.

Abstract: A programmable data alarm containing a dedicated microprocessor serially interfaced with a data communications network is configured to monitor the network's data transmission lines for transmission of preselected characters. A number of preselected character strings may be input into the data alarm through data terminals coupled to the communications network and stored in a non-volatile memory. The microprocessor compares each character string transmitted over the communications network to the stored preselected character strings and outputs an audible and visual alarm signal when a match between the transmitted and stored strings occurs. The microprocessor may also be configured to monitor the handshake lines of the data communications network for signal transitions that will trigger the alarm signal.

Abstract: An optical scanning system wherein a moving cylinder supporting a segment of recording media on its inner surface is axially moved over a pair of fixed cylinders. A slit is provided between the fixed cylinders, and a light beam is radially scanned by the system through and along the slit to scan the surface of the supported segment of media as the moving cylinder moves in an axial direction over the fixed cylinders and across the slit. A pressure source provides air to the moving cylinder, with the supplied air expelled from an inner surface of the moving cylinder against the fixed cylinders to form an air bearing. Air is also expelled into the area between the fixed and moving cylinders to float the media therein during media advancement. A vacuum source is also provided to draw air through the moving cylinder from the area between the fixed and moving cylinders holding the media against the inner surface of the moving cylinder while the media is being scanned by the light beam.

Abstract: A plurality of data storage modules form a library, with a directory archive maintaining a directory of the information contained on each data storage module (file server application) or on the storage modules retained in the library (volume server application). A plurality of interface computers are coupled to a plurality of host computers for receiving data and for generating request signals to access the library. In response to a received request signal, the directory archive locates a data storage module and generates a location output signal. A control computer receives the location output signal and generates a media access signal for causing the data storage module to be loaded into a selected data recorder. An input/output data channel couples the interface computer generating the access request signal to the selected data recorder for reading or writing an entire volume of information or selected file information to/from the data storage module.

Abstract: A communications system programmable to operate at a selected one of multiple frequency ranges and any one of a plurality of modulations schemes and data rights including an open architectural bus line for linking a plurality of board level units. A single board receiver exciter operates to receive and transmit signals at a plurality of frequencies and contains means for interfacing the single board receiver exciter with the open architectural bus line. A single board modulator demodulator allows for modulation/demodulation and for encoding/decoding of signals. The single board modulator demodulator also includes means for interfacing with the open architecture bus lines so that instruction and programming commands may be received. A single board processor multiplexer controls operations of the single board receiver exciter and the single board processor multiplexer over the communications link created by the open architecture bus line.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the direction and range to a signal source from a single movable antenna. The direction and range are determined by the simultaneous solution of trigonometric equations which describe triangles including the source and at least two positions assumable by the antenna as apices. The simultaneous equations incorporate the distances from the source to each antenna position as triangle sides and the determination of the relationship between these sides provides for the solution of the equations. The relationship of the triangle sides is determined by detecting periodic symbols occurring in the source signal while the antenna is moved through multiple positions. Actual symbol occurrences corresponding to each antenna position are detected. The expected occurrences at the first antenna position of the symbols actually occurring at the subsequent antenna positions are determined.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a reconfigurable microstrip transmission line network having a microstrip circuit consisting of an RF ground plan separated from a transmission layer by a dielectric layer. The transmission layer comprises a silicon material responsive to a plurality of excitation sources. The excitation sources generate excitation beams which upon interacting with the surface of the transmission layer actuate a conductive pathway. By alternately actuating and deactuating the excitation sources and varying the excitation beams, the configuration of the microstrip transmission line network upon the transmission layer may be reconfigured as desired.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the position of a piston in a hydraulically or pneumatically operated actuator including a fixed position, rotatable shaft having a pair of attached pins, each pin off-set from the center of the shaft. The pins are positioned on either side of a drive ring located about the circumference of the piston. When the piston moves in either direction, one of the pair of pins will remain in contact with the drive ring and cause uni-directional rotation of the shaft. In order to detect piston position, a sensor is mounted to detect shaft rotation.

Abstract: A heat exchanger and method for mounting and cooling electronic components includes a chassis with plural removable mounting modules and a coolant distributor mounted on the modules. Each of the modules has a thermally conductive core for mounting electronic components and heat transfer ducts integral therewith that form uninterrupted thermal paths for conduction of heat from the electronic components to the coolant in the ducts. Each module has it own coolant ducts so that the weight of the heat exchanger may be reduced by the weight of the ducts when a module is removed, and so that cooling for each module may be separately tailored.

Abstract: A tool for i) aligning a bore pattern on a wafer with a corresponding pattern in a connector, and ii) maintaining the alignment of the wafer bore pattern and the connector pattern as the wafer is inserted into the connector.

Abstract: The optical tape recorder of the present invention is capable of archiving data at rates in excess of 400 megabits per second by concurrently writing or reading a plurality data tracks in each data trace. A read-write module outputs an illumination beam comprised of combined multiple write beams (channels), a read beam and an autofocus beam. Optics within the read-write module spatially combine and accurately position the plurality of beams with respect to each other to form the multi-beam illumination beam. A read-write head comprised of a synchronized scanning transmissive polygon and rotating lens wheel scans the multi-beam illumination beam across a recording media to read or write multi-channel data tracks. An autofocus system is also included to ensure that the multi-beam illumination beam is accurately focused on the recording media.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing vehicular traffic information using presently existing cellular telephone system technology. Traffic sensors monitor the control and voice channel transmissions of cellular units within a cellular telephone system. Data from these transmissions is extracted and analyzed according to a statistical model and derived vehicle geolocating information to generate vehicular traffic information that is transmitted to a central control center. By combining the information from all of the traffic sensors and each individual cell within a cellular telephone system, a picture of the traffic conditions existing along major thoroughfares may be determined.

Abstract: A method of estimating both atmospheric conditions and surface temperatures of an object from either a single set of multispectral images or multiple simultaneously-acquired single-band images of the object. Estimates of atmospheric conditions are generated by determining and radiometrically correcting radiance values measured from the image of the object. Expected radiance values are then determined and compared with the measured radiance values. The best fit of the radiance values measured from the image of the object to the expected radiance values corresponds to the best estimate of the atmospheric conditions associated with the object. The present method estimates atmospheric conditions for the object regardless of the availability of atmospheric conditions associated with the image.

Abstract: A prefabricated and assembled microstrip antenna element has at least one layer of dielectric substrate on which is deposited a metal etched to form a radiating element and over which is attached a protective radome. To compensate for uncontrollable variations in the dielectric constant of the substrate between different lots of material, the resonance frequency of the assembled microstrip is shifted or tuned to a desired resonance frequency by drilling a bore hole of predetermined diameter and location through the radome, metal layer and substrate that removes a predetermined amount of metal from a predetermined location on the radiating element. The bore hole is then filled with a non-conductive epoxy having a dielectric constant approximately equal to that of the substrate.

Abstract: A device and method of manufacture for producing electrically conductive regions in hermetically sealed insulative plates or hermetically sealed electronic component enclosures. The electrically conductive regions consist of a monolithic composite material comprising particles of an insulative material and a conductive metal. The material of the insulative particles, their size, and the type of conductive metal used are selected so that the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the resulting electrically conductive region approximates the CTE of the surrounding material.

Abstract: A circuit card assembly thermal core includes a composite material that includes particles of diamond and a conductive metal such as aluminum, copper, nickel and beryllium and which may be made by pressure infiltration casting. The diamond particles are 110 to 160 microns in size and 10 to 80 percent by volume, and preferably 140 to 160 microns in size and 40 to 60 percent by volume. The composite material has both a high thermal conductivity and low density which may be matched with the coefficient of thermal expansion of other materials with which used.

Abstract: A printed circuit board includes vibration areas where vibration sensitive components of an electrical circuit design fabricated on the printed circuit board are mechanically isolated from supporting circuitry. The present invention provides a printed circuit board with areas having an increased natural resonant frequency of vibration for the circuit board area where the vibration sensitive circuit is located. The printed circuit board comprises a number of slots, holes or other openings around the vibration sensitive circuitry. In addition, one or more circuit board conductive paths are provided for maintaining electrical conductivity between the isolated circuit and the supporting circuits.

Abstract: The present invention provides a read-write head for an optical tape recorder comprised of a synchronized scanning transmissive polygon and rotating lens wheel. The transmissive polygon is a multi-sided piece of transparent optical quality material for displacing a through transmitted collimated read or write light beam. The lens wheel comprises a unitary disk-shaped piece of optical quality material having a plurality of individual lenses precision molded or diamond point turned therein for focusing the through transmitted and displaced read or write light beam onto a recording media. The polygon is rotated to translate the displaced beam for scanning along a linear path aligned with an arcuate path followed each successive lens on the rotating lens wheel. The rotation of the polygon and lens wheel are synchronized such that each scan of the displaced beam along the linear path coincides with the movement of a lens along the arcuate path to trace out a data track on the recording media.

Abstract: Separations between the end of one data file and the beginning of the next data file are recognized, without utilizing an entire data storage block by means of a controlling program for a peripheral recording device monitoring the control information headers of helically stored data on a recording tape. When files are stored on the recording tape, the controlling program increments an increase of a file section number by one and increments to zero a data block number at the beginning of a new data file. When the recording device is reading the recording tape and there is detected an incrementation of the file section number and a zero value for a data block number, a recognition is made that this data indicates the end of one data file and the beginning of another data file.