Abstract: Apparatus for measuring projectile muzzle velocity with an accuracy of .+-.0.1% is mounted in an easily portable muzzle attachment. It operates in the following manner. A washer shaped permanent magnet is positioned on a projectile body. A position sensor containing two inductive coils is located inside the muzzle. When the projectile is fired, the magnet mounted on the projectile passes through the inductive coils, inducing a voltage in each coil. Each voltage is amplified and then fed into hysteresis and zero crossing comparators corresponding to each inductive coil. The zero crossing comparator detects when the induced voltage crosses zero. The hysteresis comparator will gate out any noise induced zero crossings. The two zero crossings are used to start and stop a digital counter which generates a velocity count signal that corresponds to the velocity of the projectile. Further noise interference rejection is obtained by encasing the muzzle extension in a magnetic metal.

Abstract: A simulated toggle switch capable of being set and reset by remote means and being manually operated. Control signals are received by two on-board electronic drive circuit assemblies which cause two corresponding magnetic solenoids to drive two cams clockwise or counterclockwise, independently of each other. This, in turn, causes a bat handle to move to an uppermost position, a lowermost position, or to be centered. In addition, the position of the switch is remotely sensed.

Abstract: An ultra-low power, fast start fuze oscillator contained in a fast moving projectile which contains a programmable projectile fuze. It is an RC oscillator which uses a low power comparator, three biasing resistors, a timing resistor and a timing capacitor to produce an output frequency as low as 8 kHz with a frequency error of less than .+-.0.1% over a -40.degree. C. to +60.degree. C. temperature range. At the same time, it is capable of surviving a high g environment (30,000 g to 60,000 g) in a reliable manner. Furthermore, the oscillator draws a very low amount of power, using a maximum of about 20 uA of current and has a start-up time limited to a maximum of 1.5 msec. An additional circuit can be connected to the positive supply voltage input of a lower current version of an RC oscillator to jump start the RC oscillator, thereby improving start-up time to 1.5 msec while reducing the current drain to 15 uA.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method and mechanism by which to align closed loop interferometric fiber optic gyroscopes. Such method and means includes aligning the gyroscope periodically at fixed time intervals; providing multiplexed control of the gyroscope's internal phase rebalance control loop and gain scaling control loop, enabling one or the other, but never both simultaneously, and thereby eliminate acceleration-dependent errors; eliminating the 1 LSB phase discontinuity produced during each roll-over in the gyroscope by adding an offset to the output ramp produced by said serrodyne ramp generator; and providing a means and method to align the phase-rebalance loop gain for each production unit.

Abstract: An accurate, yet ultra low power fuse electronics is presented in which two methods are used to reduce power consumption in the fuze electronics. First, the fuze uses low power 3.3 volt logic chips ("LV" series or equivalent CMOS logic chips) along with switches that have low input capacitance and low quiescent current. Second, a circuit design is used which, while still accomplishing the objects of the invention, drastically reduces the number of electronic elements required. When a projectile is fired from a weapon, a fire control system transmits a signal to a data conditioner located on the projectile. The data conditioner demodulates and filters the signal, producing a burst time data word which is transmitted to a microcontroller. The data conditioner is comprised of passive components, therefore no supply power is required. The microcontroller decodes the data word and also uses the data word to correct any error in the high and low speed fuze oscillators.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method and mechanism for eliminating acceleration-dependent errors and loop interaction effects in gain-stabilized, closed-loop, interferometric fiber optic gyroscopes. Such method and mechanism include enabling the modulation gain accumulator and disabling the rate accumulator on every occurrence of ramp flyback if the gyroscope is operating below a certain velocity threshold and enabling the modulation gain accumulator and disabling the rate accumulator on one out of every N occurrences of ramp flyback if the gyroscope is operating above a certain velocity threshold. Such method and mechanism also includes use of proportional circuitry to scale the magnitude of the bias modulation component to be a percentage of the serrodyne ramp voltage and the DC component to be zero volts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for firing a firearm. A trigger is pulled which causes a hammer to rotate away from an electrical power source. After the hammer passes its maximum position, it is released by the trigger releases it, thereby causing the hammer to strike the electrical power source. The force from the hammer causes electrical energy to flow from the electrical power source to an electrically activated primer, thereby igniting the primer.

Abstract: A self-correcting inductive fuze setter is used to detect and correct any errors that might occur during transmission and reception of a velocity corrected time data word so that a projectile will be detonated at the proper time. The self-correcting inductive fuze setter uses an error detection/correction algorithm to create an encoded data word from the velocity corrected time data word. Next, the encoded data word is used to digitally modulate a carrier signal, which is then transmitted from the muzzle of the weapon to the projectile. The received carrier signal is then demodulated by a demodulator/filter and decoded by a decoder located on the projectile producing the original velocity corrected time data word. In addition, the self-correcting inductive fuze setter will measure the error in both the high-speed fuze oscillator and the low-speed fuze oscillator located on the projectile and adjust the transmitted data word to account for these errors.

Abstract: A direct digital-to-analog microwave frequency signal synthesizer device which employs both wideband and narrowband direct digital frequency synthesizer (DDFS) circuitry to improve frequency and phase agility, reduce spurious performance, and minimize direct analog circuitry. A clock output having an extremely precise and highly stabilized frequency is fed to the wideband DDFS circuit and to the narrowband DDFS circuit. One or the other is selectively enabled by control logic circuitry. When the former is enabled, precision, high frequency resolution, low spurious, fast frequency switching is achieved at the microwave output. When the latter is enabled, precision, high frequency and phase resolution, low spurious, is achieved, providing frequency chirp, and frequency phase control at the microwave output. The output of the wideband DDFS circuit is processed to reduce the spurious response and up-converted, while the output of the narrow band DDFS circuit is directly up-converted.

Abstract: Advanced boresight equipment and methods of using the same to effect a transfer of a two- or three-dimensional frame of reference from an ADL to a device to be boresighted.The equipment includes a stationary inertial sensor that is boresighted with respect to a reference line (such as the aircraft ADL). The stationary inertial sensor includes a first gyroscopic combination for generating a first output indicating a two- or three-dimensional frame of reference based on the ADL, and a docking station. The docking station facilitates alignment of a portable inertial sensor that also has a gyroscopic combination for generating a second output indicating its frame of reference.

Abstract: A training apparatus, method and kit for remotely and substantially instantaneously evaluating the alignment, settings and levels of the aiming devices of a howitzer gun.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining the general direction of the origin of a projectile. At least one sensor, having at least three spaced-apart transducers, each being capable of encountering a blast wave generated at an origin of and by a propellant for the projectile, is provided for generating a signal responsive thereto. From the signals, a time relation is measured between at least three transducers when the blast wave serially encounters each of the three transducers. From the time relations, at least one unit sighting vector from at least one sensor to the origin of the blast wave is determined so that the unit sighting vector points in the general direction of the origin of the projectile.

Abstract: A gyroscopic system and method is provided for translating parallel and non-parallel lines between a reference line and a device to be aligned with respect to the reference line. A first inertial sensor is provided that is configured to be substantially stationary. This inertial sensor is boresighted with respect to the reference line and includes at least two gyroscopes and a mirror having first and second nonplanar surfaces. A second, portable inertial sensor is provided that includes a gimbal, a gimbal drive system, an electronic energy beam generator, a collimator, and at least two gyroscopes. One or more of the electronic beam generator, collimator, and gyroscopes can optionally be mounted on a platform that is mounted on the gimbal and adapted to move in accordance with signals from the gimbal drive system. A control circuit is provided that is operable to measure output signals generated by the first and second inertial sensor gyroscopes and to determine relative orientations of the inertial sensors.

Abstract: An articulated, intravascular pump having multiple pump sections linked together for relative motion and driven by a common drive cable is disclosed. Each pump section is relatively short, so that it may easily pass through bends in an insertion catheter, the iliofemoral artery and the aorta artery. Disposed in the aortic arch during operation, the pump includes means for selectively directing the discharge blood flow from each pump section to inlets of major arteries branching from the arch.

Abstract: An enhanced deck for generating live fire simulations of fuel spill and chemical fires and the like includes a receptacle for receiving a volume of fluid such as water within which is mounted a fuel burner array. Gaseous or liquid fuel is delivered to the burner assembly under pressure, resulting in the expulsion of fuel into the liquid, where the fuel transforms into vapor and rises to the surface of the receptacle. A support surface such as a metal grating or other rigid temperature resistant structure is provided at the upper end of the liquid receptacle and is at least partially immersed in the liquid so as to be in heat transfer relationship with the support surface. The fuel vapor is ignited at the support surface to generate a training fire. Preferably, a flow of liquid is provided to the receptacle to replace liquid that evaporates from the heat of combustion to maintain the support surface at or below a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for providing a simulation of a flashover condition that can occur during the course of suppression of a live fire. The flashover simulation is implemented by selectively supplying and igniting fuel to an auxiliary or flashover fuel burner assembly positioned adjacent the ceiling of the burn room of a firefighter trainer. Preferably, the flashover simulation is implementable only upon attainment of a threshold value of one or more pre-selected trainer operational parameters that are monitored throughout the course of a training scenario. Preferred trainer operational parameters for such monitoring include flame height at a main burner assembly and air temperature adjacent to or near a ceiling portion of the burn room.

Abstract: An articulated, intravascular pump having multiple pump sections linked together for relative motion and driven by a common drive cable is disclosed. Each pump section is relatively short, so that it may easily pass through bends in an insertion catheter, the iliofemoral artery and the aorta artery. Disposed in the aortic arch during operation, the pump includes means for selectively directing the discharge blood flow from each pump section to inlets of major arteries branching from the arch.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the humidity and temperature of atmospheric air at selected distances along a field of view by passive IR spectrometry. An IR spectrometer is provided. A plurality of IR power densities values received by the spectrometer along the field of view at a plurality of discrete, selected IR wavelengths are measured. A set of equations which equate the measured IR power density to functions of temperature and humidity at the selected wavelengths is provided. From the set of equations the temperature and humidity of the atmospheric air along the field of view at selected range segments along the field of view are calculated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for remotely controlling the bending of an elongated member by implementing energy responsive control over a member that is configured from two plastic materials of differing coefficients of thermal expansion. The disclosed methods and apparatus are particularly applicable for use in applications such as surgical catheterization where control of the member from a position relatively remote from the member is desired.