Abstract: An apparatus and method for stabilizing the frequency of a piezoelectric crystal resonator, especially useful in common emergency positioning radio beacons. A temperature compensated crystal oscillator circuit (TCXO) is mounted on one surface of a thin substrate. The TCXO includes a piezoelectric device such as a quartz resonator and a capacitor thermistor compensation network to reduce the frequency fluctuations of the crystal through variations in temperature. A heating circuit is mounted to the opposing surface of the substrate, thereby providing a thermal connection between the two circuits. The heating circuit includes a temperature sensor for sensing changes in ambient temperatures and a heater control amplifier for adjusting the power of a heating element. The substrate with the two circuits disposed thereon is suspended within a hermetically sealed enclosure by a plurality of support pins.

Abstract: An emergency position information radio beacon utilized in conjunction with a global positioning system that receives latitude and longitude information continuously in which the GPS data is periodically transferred into the EPIRB before activation in order to preserve battery power in the EPIRB. The EPIRB includes a first micro controller that is connected by an electro/optical data input to the GPS with the first micro controller being a very low power drain. Periodically, such as every 10 minutes, latitude and longitude information is transferred from the GPS into the EPIRB memory after which the EPIRB memory and system is maintained in a sleep mode with no power consumption. This insures that the EPIRB has geographical position information data before activation that can be transmitted with the emergency signal to search and rescue at the same time preserving the battery power of the EPIRB which is utilized only during the emergency period. The system is power off 99.

Abstract: A power switch for use with a personal locator beacon (PLB), or an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), that prevents accidental activation of the beacon to prevent false alarm transmission of emergency signals. The personal locator beacon includes electronic circuitry housed in a portable hand-held housing that includes a fail safe power switch which has a lever arm that is selectively movable between first and second offset recessed cavities formed in the housing. The lever arm is rotatable about a shaft between an "off" position wherein the lever arm is received within the first cavity, and an "on" position wherein said lever arm is received within the second cavity. An edge portion formed by the offset cavities stops the lever arm from rotating from the first position to the second position unless the lever arm is manually moved laterally along the shaft to clear the edge portion.

Abstract: An emergency position indicating radio beacon, sized for mounting on a life vest or the like, that includes a water-activated switch that automatically activates the transmitter when the water-activated switch is mounted in water. The water-activated switching circuitry includes an insulated electrical paddle that separates the exposed electrical contacts a predetermined distance to insure that the device will not be inadvertently activated by moisture, but that it must be immersed in water for proper contact. The system also includes a memory circuit and power amplification.

Abstract: A survival radio for use for transmitting and receiving information for search and rescue having an improved structural housing assembly for increased reliability to prevent moisture and water intrusion, while permitting use of the device in any ambient air pressure. The housing assembly includes a tongue and sealed groove connections joined by deforming the tongue in a pliable state, housing assembly apertures covered by a deformable flexible sealable plastic panel to permit manual actuation of internal switches and an air vent that has a porous plug permitting air pressure equalization between the inside and outside of the housing assembly, while preventing water intrusion.

Abstract: A hand-held strobe light which may be used in rescue or emergency operations in peacetime or in a combat zone. The light includes a watertight housing with a high intensity bulb which flashes white light. Interchangeable blue and infrared filters attached to a flash guard body can be used with the bulb for filtering various wave lengths of light spectrum in combat situations and for both 360 degree or line-of-sight transmission.

Abstract: A bipolar compression cell for a water-activated battery that can be used with a plurality of such cells stacked together in a side-by-side array to form the bipolar battery. Each cell includes an elastomeric frame that can be compressed and a special alloy foil that separates cuprous iodide and magnesium elements and which does not interact with the cuprous iodide or magnesium to allow for bipolar action when the cells are stacked side-by-side. The use of elastomeric frames allows for low cost manufacture, eliminating manual construction. The water-activated battery is especially useful in sonobuoys.

Abstract: A water-activated, primary reserve battery for use in an environment, such as the ocean, that provides an environmentally safe battery, especially useful in sonobuoys. The battery includes the use of cuprous iodide as a cathode and magnesium as the anode in an array to provide voltage, amperage, and operational time equivalent to conventional lead chloride batteries. Once the sonobuoy is no longer useful as it deteriorates in the environment, no lead will be presented into the ocean. The structural frame members protect the cuprous iodide which is brittle in a rigid array and provides for proper venting of gas and sludge formation to insure efficient operation of the battery.

Abstract: An emergency battery system having an infinite shelf life, comprising a first primary reserve, water-activated battery that can be connected directly to an emergency appliance to provide voltage therein once activated, that can be connected to a self-contained, rechargeable battery utilized with the water-activated battery and stored for long periods of time to provide charge to the rechargeable battery, which itself can then be connected to an electrical emergency appliance, or the water-activated battery is connected to a power conversion circuit that can provide a variety of voltages to emergency electrical appliances that already have their own self-contained, rechargeable batteries. The emergency battery system described herein can be used to power emergency appliances, such as lights, lanterns, emergency radios, or DC-powered telephones. As long as the water-activated battery is kept free of moisture or water, the shelf life is virtually infinite.

Abstract: An improved search and rescue transponder having an improved housing assembly that permits the device to be turned on or off by rotating one segment of the housing relative to the other for ease of use even with heavy or bulky gloves. In addition, the housing assembly exterior surface includes a plurality of longitudinal ridges for ease in gripping. The housing assembly includes an upper housing and lower housing joined by a retaining ring and O-ring seal, eliminating the need for fasteners for manufacturing efficiency. The lower housing includes quick disconnect that attaches to a mounting disk affixed to a ship or life raft. The mounting disk includes a plurality of resilient fingers which act in conjunction with cam surfaces on the flange of the lower housing, which when rotated together allow for a quick disconnect.

Abstract: A battery system for use in a battery-operated device, such as a rescue light or radio used in a hostile environment, employs at least one battery element contained within a tubular support member. In embodiments which employ multiple battery elements, the battery elements are in electrical communication with one another, illustratively by welding or soldering their teminals to one another. At one end of the tubular element, a terminal of the battery system is covered entirely by a seal formed of a resilient material. The seal additionally closes the entire end of the tubular member. At the second end of the tubular member, a second seal is provided for closing the second end of the tubular member, but not covering the second battery supply terminal. The battery system operates in conjunction with a housing for the battery-operated device which may have arranged therein a pointed contact which penetrates the first seal so as to achieve electrical communication with the first contact of the battery supply.

Abstract: An ear microphone includes a bimorph piezoelectric transducer mounted on a PC board having an amplifier therein and surrounded by a helically wound spring. The piezoelectric transducer and spring are potted in a semi-soft potting compound which is formed in a shape adapted to be inserted into an external auditory ear canal to permit bone conduction to the microphone element. A cable is coupled to the amplifier through which a signal can be withdrawn for processing by electronic equipment.

Abstract: A battery cell which comprises an anode element of magnesium alloy metal, a carbon or stainless steel current collector, and a manganese-dioxide-type cathode mix and electrolyte comprising mainly manganese dioxide with the addition of potassium monoperoxysulfate to substantially improve the open-circuit voltage of the battery cell and to substantially decrease polarization. Additions to said mix of such metal oxides as nickel oxide, lead dioxide, cobalt oxide, aluminum oxide, copper oxide, silver oxide or others substantially contribute to increased battery capacity. The addition of lithium chloride to the above improved battery cell in small amounts substantially increases the low-temperature range of these battery cells without improvement of battery capacity.

Abstract: A test apparatus is disclosed which is particularly adapted for testing survival-type radio transmitters in the field. The apparatus includes an enclosed metallic test chamber into which the antenna of the radio transmitter is placed. A movable load carriage within the chamber applies a load to a predetermined point on the antenna which results in simulating in the test chamber the radio frequency absorption/reflection characteristics of the antenna in free space. A direct measurement of the radio frequency energy absorbed by the load is thus indicative of the performance of the radio transmitter and its antenna in free space.

Abstract: A disc-type motor characterized by increased efficiency is disclosed. The motor includes first and second parallel spaced stator members made of magnetic material in fixed relation, each of the stator members having a flat circular shape and an even plurality of pie-shaped permanent-magnet poles thereon, illustratively eight in number. The facing poles on the stator members have opposite polarities. The motor further includes a disc-like rotor made of a non-conducting material rotatably mounted between the two stator members. Conducting wires are wound in a non-overlapping (single-layer) flat spiral configuration to form a number of coils equal to twice the number of poles per stator member, half adhered to each face of the rotor disc. Each coil encloses a pie-segmented area about equal to the area of one of the stator poles. On each face of the rotor the coils magnetically oppose one another, and the coils on one face of the disc are angularly offset from the coils on the other face of the disc.

Abstract: A mounting bracket for engaging a stored module for float-free release by engaging an enlarged upper portion and the lower portion of the module until after a first upward displacement of the module to then allow free lateral movement of the module. Only the enlarged upper portion of the module is engaged by a stationary upper retainer, so that after the upward displacement, the upper retainer leaves the body portion of the module free for lateral exit. A lower retainer engages the lower module portion. Because these retainers do not act frictionally, they allow unhampered upward movement of the module within the bracket.

Abstract: A disc-type motor characterized by increased efficiency includes first and second parallel spaced stator members made of magnetic material in fixed relation, each of the stator members having a flat circular shape and an even plurality of pie-shaped permanent-magnet poles thereon, illustratively eight in number. The facing poles on the stator members have opposite polarities. The motor further includes a disc-like rotor made of a non-conducting material rotatably mounted between the two stator members. Conducting wires are wound in a non-overlapping (single-layer) flat spiral configuration to form a number of coils equal to twice the number of poles per stator member, half adhered to each face of the rotor disc. Each coil encloses a pie-segmented area about equal to the area of one of the stator poles. On each face of the rotor the coils magnetically oppose one another, and the coils on one face of the disc are angularly offset from the coils on the other face of the disc.