Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for neutralizing mines and obstacles that can quickly and efficiently clear a specified surf zone without human intervention. In a preferred embodiment, the invention utilizes firing tubes including a combustion chamber, a mechanism for supplying an aluminum fuel to the combustion chamber; and an ignitor for igniting the aluminum fuel within said combustion chamber to generate pressure waves. The firing tubes arranged in arrays located on sides of a main body of an autonomous vehicle. Activation of the firing tubes on a rear side of the main body is utilized in a preferred embodiment to propel the vehicle forward. Forward propagating pressure waves generated by firing tubes arranged on forward facing first and second sides of the main body are utilized to destroy mines and other obstructions located within a selected surf area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling and penetrating hard materials utilizes a high velocity gun system that fires multiple shots of a projectile and an energetic slurry at the surface of the material to be penetrated. The penetrating device includes one or more firing barrels that are loaded with a propellant, a projectile and an energetic (explosive) slurry, and are controlled to fire in a preselected firing sequence. The projectile enters the material to be penetrated generating a hole into which the energetic slurry is also fired. The energetic slurry detonates upon contact with the material causing an explosion that further fractures the material and which blows the material out of the hole. The process is repeated until a desired penetration depth is obtained.

Abstract: A hyperspectral imaging endoscopy apparatus is provided that utilizes spectral technology to acquire, process and exploit gastroscopic data. The apparatus allows for real time anomaly detection and identification. The apparatus includes an endoscope, a spectrometer and a processing unit that perform hyperspectral analysis on spectral data generated from the spectrometer. The endoscope and associated coupling optics are preferably optimized for cylindrical symmetry, thus allowing continuous inspection of gastrointestinal or arterial walls.

Abstract: A broadband coupled-line N-way power combiner is presented for combining N RF signals into a common load. This combiner includes N≧2 input ports, a common output port, and N identical at least two-conductor coupled transmission lines, and N isolating resistors. Each of these two-conductor coupled transmission line has at one end one conductor connected to one of the input port of the power combiner, and another conductor connected to the common output port. At another end two conductors of each two-conductor coupled transmission line are terminated to one of the N isolating one-ports.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for imaging deep underground objects utilizes the application of a spectral regularization routine that is applied to measured data prior to the application of an inversion routine to measured surface impedances to map subsurface conductivity. Specifically, measurement of magnetic and electric fields is conducted utilizing sensors at a measurement site, a processor is used to generate either resistivity or conductivity data based on the measurements of the sensors, the processor then performs the spectral regularization routine and an inversion routine to generate data that can be utilized to identify underground targets. The spectral regularization routine and inversion routine can either be processed separately (decoupled) or together. The measurements of the magnetic and electric fields are preferably made under the assumption of the presence of a plane wave at the measurement site.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for neutralizing mines and obstacles that can quickly and efficiently clear a specified surf zone without human intervention. In a preferred embodiment, the invention utilizes firing tubes including a combustion chamber, a mechanism for supplying an aluminum fuel to the combustion chamber; and an ignitor for igniting the aluminum fuel within said combustion chamber to generate pressure waves. The firing tubes arranged in arrays located on sides of a main body of an autonomous vehicle. Activation of the firing tubes on a rear side of the main body is utilized in a preferred embodiment to propel the vehicle forward. Forward propagating pressure waves generated by firing tubes arranged on forward facing first and second sides of the main body are utilized to destroy mines and other obstructions located within a selected surf area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling and penetrating hard materials utilizes a high velocity gun system that fires multiple shots of a projectile and an energetic slurry at the surface of the material to be penetrated. The penetrating device includes one or more firing barrels that are loaded with a propellant, a projectile and an energetic (explosive) slurry, and are controlled to fire in a preselected firing sequence. The projectile enters the material to be penetrated generating a hole into which the energetic slurry is also fired. The energetic slurry detonates upon contact with the material causing an explosion that further fractures the material and which blows the material out of the hole.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling and penetrating hard materials utilizes a high velocity gun system that fires multiple shots of a projectile and an energetic slurry at the surface of the material to be penetrated. The penetrating device includes one or more firing barrels that are loaded with a propellant, a projectile and an energetic (explosive) slurry, and are controlled to fire in a preselected firing sequence. The projectile enters the material to be penetrated generating a hole into which the energetic slurry is also fired. The energetic slurry detonates upon contact with the material causing an explosion that further fractures the material and which blows the material out of the hole. The process is repeated until a desired penetration depth is obtained.

Abstract: An electrically initiated distributed igniter (EIDI) system combines most of the advantages of conventional pyrotechnic igniters with those of ETC planar igniters without the disadvantages of either. The EIDI system lends itself to precise timing control of multiple electric circuits, embedded charge ignition, and other design advantages to be discussed here. The EIDI system utilizes discrete igniter pads which require only a few millijoules of energy each and are quite small in size, about 3 mm in diameter. As a result, the igniters can be used in very large numbers to give good spatial distribution, even for smaller 25 to 40 mm diameter gun charge designs. Energy requirements are so minimal that small disposable firing capacitors and semi-conductor switches can be pre-packaged inside the casing along with the propellant and igniters.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for neutralizing mines and obstacles that can quickly and efficiently clear a specified surf zone without human intervention. In a preferred embodiment, the invention utilizes firing tubes including a combustion chamber, a mechanism for supplying an aluminum fuel to the combustion chamber; and an ignitor for igniting the aluminum fuel within said combustion chamber to generate pressure waves. The firing tubes arranged in arrays located on sides of a main body of an autonomous vehicle. Activation of the firing tubes on a rear side of the main body is utilized in a preferred embodiment to propel the vehicle forward. Forward propagating pressure waves generated by firing tubes arranged on forward facing first and second sides of the main body are utilized to destroy mines and other obstructions located within a selected surf area.

Abstract: A reduced size wideband antenna operates at multiple frequency bands. The antenna is formed from a plurality of fractal elements either cascade connected, series connected or parallel connected. The fractal elements of the antenna structure repeat a specific geometric shape.

Abstract: A broadband coupled-line N-way power combiner is presented for combining N RF signals into a common load. This combiner includes N.gtoreq.2 input ports, a common output port, and N identical at least two-conductor coupled transmission lines, and N isolating resistors. Each of these two-conductor coupled transmission line has at one end one conductor connected to one of the input port of the power combiner, and another conductor connected to the common output port. At another end two conductors of each two-conductor coupled transmission line are terminated to one of the N isolating resistors. The opposite ends of these resistors are connected to each other in a ring. This power combiner also can operate in reverse as N-way power divider.

Abstract: A wideband lens antenna lens of reduced thickness includes a lens antenna constructed of a flat inhomogeneous dielectric plate. A radiation source is located on one side of the dielectric plate and a reflector is located on another side of the dielectric plate opposite the radiation source. In operation, signals generated by the radiation source of arbitrary polarization pass through the dielectric plate, are reflected by the reflector, and pass back through the dielectric plate a second time before being emitted from the lens antenna. In such a case, the provision of the reflector allows the thickness of the dielectric plate to be cut in half as compared with conventional lens antennas. If the signals supplied by the radiation source are linearly polarized, a polarization transformer is provided on the same surface of the dielectric plate as the radiation source.

Abstract: The antenna array element provides an active element input impedance with a practical tuning frequency range of 3.6:1 (almost two octaves) and a wide instantaneous bandwidth. The balanced feed inputs to the element may be phased to produce any desired polarization. The antenna element is formed from two stacked crossed grid dipole elements with carefully optimized dimensions. The interelement array spacing is the maximum possible for/grating lobe free operation using a rectangular array lattice.

Abstract: An identification/security tag system, including miniaturized tags which can be readily concealed, utilizes a concept of "electronic" Doppler shifting to generate a frequency shifted signal in response to an interrogation signal. The frequency shifted signal is used to identify individual tags. The implementation of electronic Doppler shifting permits the utilization of conventional police/sport radar guns as a combined transmitter and receiver unit, thereby greatly reducing the expense of the system. The high frequency operation of the system permits size of the tag to be significantly reduced with respect to the size of tags used in conventional tag systems. Rectenna circuitry is further employed to eliminate the need for an active power supply in the tag in some applications.

Abstract: A mobile laboratory for in situ detection of organic and heavy metal pollutants in ground water is disclosed. Pulsed laser energy is delivered via fiber optic media to create a laser spark on a remotely located analysis sample, which is irradiated. In a first operational mode, laser energy emitted from an optical delivery system, e.g., a fiber optic media, is focused, for example by one or more lenses, on the surface of an analysis sample, thus generating a plasma. At high temperatures generated by the laser spark, dissociation occurs, allowing the emitted spectrum to be analyzed for the presence of trace elements, such as heavy metals. Because temperature changes after the end of the laser pulse result in a changing spectral characteristic of the sample, signals emitted from the recombining plasma can be used to identify the contents of the sample.

Abstract: A wide bandwidth, wide scan, antenna array element provides an active element impedance close to 350 ohms over a bandwidth approaching one octave in a periodic equilateral triangular array lattice. The two balanced feed inputs to each element may be phased to produce any desired polarization. The interelement spacing is the maximum possible for grating lobe free operation. This antenna element combines features of a crossed grid dipole with a folded dipole. The antenna structure consists of conductors lying in two planes which are parallel to a ground plane. These are joined by a limited number of perpendicular conductors. The VSWR remains below 2:1 in a 300 or 350 ohm system for scan in any direction out to 30 degrees off of broadside over a bandwidth approaching one octave.

Abstract: A system and method for "power beaming" energy from a source at high frequencies and rectifying such energy to provide a source of DC energy is disclosed. The system operates at a frequency of at least 10 GHz and incorporates a rectenna array having a plurality of rectenna structures that utilize circuit elements formed with microstrip circuit techniques. Each rectenna element is associated with a resonating cavity structure.

Abstract: An adjustable focal length reflector for operation in space includes a membrane having a reflective surface. The membrane is subjected to incident radiation pressure. An assembly is located at the perimeter of the membrane to exert force on the membrane to counteract the incident radiation pressure in order to vary the focal length of the reflective surface. In a preferred embodiment the assembly includes an inflatable torus whose internal pressure is varied to vary the amount of force exerted on the membrane.

Abstract: A system and method for power beaming energy from a source at high frequencies and rectifying such energy to provide a source of DC energy is disclosed. The system operates at a frequency of at least 10 GHz and incorporates a rectenna array having a plurality of rectenna structures that utilize circuit elements formed with microstrip circuit techniques.