Abstract: An apparatus for controlling voltage sequencing for a power supply having multiple switching regulators includes a first switching regulator, a second switching regulator, a first and second resistors, and a first and second transistors. The first switching regulator provides a positive output voltage at a positive voltage output. The second switching regulator provides a negative output voltage at a negative voltage output. When the voltage at a node between the first and second resistors exceeds a predetermined positive voltage, the first transistor turns on to limit the positive output voltage at the positive voltage output. When the voltage at the node between the first and second resistors drops below a predetermined negative voltage, the second transistor turns on to limit the negative output voltage at the negative voltage output.

Abstract: A fuel inerting system, comprising a first supply means (2) to supply an inert gas to a fuel tank (8) to scrub the fuel therein when the ullage (16) of the fuel tank is inert, and a second supply means (4) to supply the inert gas to scrub the fuel (6) therein when the ullage of the fuel tank is not inert, the first and second supply means (2, 4) being individually operable by means of a valve arrangement (10), in such a manner that only one of the supply means is operable at any given time. The inert gas consists of nitrogen enriched air, produced by passing air from a pressurized area of the aircraft through a nitrogen separator located within, but removable from, the aircraft.

Abstract: A loading probe includes an elongated solid first body portion (1) shaped from a first material and capable of simulating the normal acoustic impedance presented to a transducer to be tested by a medium in which the transducer is to operate and a second elongated solid body portion (2) made from an acoustically absorbent material having acoustic impedance characteristics substantially matched with those of the first material from which the first body portion (1) is made. The material from which the second body portion (2) is made is chosen so as to be mouldable to the first body portion (1) to form the second body portion (2).

Abstract: A Turbo multi-user detector (MUD) processing system in multiple access communications channels that decreases the likelihood of improper decoding of the final values of interest, thereby allowing for a reduction in the number of iterations performed and lowers complexity without negatively impacting performance. The present invention comprises a multi-user detector serially concatenated to two decoder sections in such a manner that data flows iteratively from the MUD and to each detector stage and back to the MUD to correct for errors.

Abstract: Antennas having a circular array of radiating elements are arranged to enable continuous 360 degree scanning of a sum and difference beam pattern. With a 108 element circular array, a sub array of 27 contiguous elements may be step scanned to 108 positions while maintaining sum and difference antenna patterns. Each scan step may require only two switch adjustments, one to initiate excitation of a contiguous leading element and terminate excitation of the trailing element, and the other to change coupling of a middle element from a divided power port of a left power divider to such a port of a right power divider. Configurations using sub arrays whose element complement is not evenly divisible into the total number of array elements, using sub arrays consisting of an odd number of radiating elements, or employing minimized feed network complexity are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is an amplifier for amplifying an optic signal. The amplifier includes a signal source transmitting the signal, which includes a signal portion in the L-band. The signal first passes into a first signal manipulator. The first signal manipulator is one or more collimators and/or concentrators and, in some embodiments, can include dichroics or optical manipulators known to those skilled in the art. An input pump is aligned to overlap the signal with pump light. From the first signal manipulator, the signal and the pump light intersects the erbium doped crystal, wherein the pump light excites the crystal and the signal impinges the crystal, amplifying the signal.

Abstract: Stereoscopic visualization display apparatus comprising a table (6) having a top (12) onto which a stereoscopic image is projected, a stereoscopic projector (2) closely adjacent to the table (6) and oriented so as to project an image away from the table (6) and towards a reflector (8) so positioned as to reflect the image from the projector (2) onto the table top (12).

Abstract: Techniques for underwater detection of fully or partially buried objects such as sea mines and underwater cables are disclosed. An acoustical camera produces three dimensional volumetric images of a target area volume of an underwater floor. One or more first images are produced of the target area volume. An acoustical transducer pulse is then directed to the target area volume so as to disturb the loose particulate or elastic matter included in the target area. One or more second images are then produced while the pulse is present in the target area volume. The images can be compared for evidence of buried objects, or to otherwise evaluate objects included in the target area. The camera can be configured with an interferometer mode so as to produce volumetric images at a real-time frame rate.

Abstract: The entire contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference. A method and apparatus for detecting and monitoring fractures in a structure by monitoring acoustic energy transmitted within the structure by receiving continuously over a period of time electrical signals from a plurality of acoustic tranducers carried by the structure in a pulse processor to form data bursts from pulses in the signals and deriving, for each of a plurality of the data bursts, delta-t values representing the differences between burst arrival times at each sensor, the delta-t values forming a delta-t pattern, and generating a damage indication signal when the delta-t pattern is repeated to a predetermined degree.

Abstract: A processing scheme for digital storage media using multi-user detection to separate tracks of data or remove interference from neighboring tracks. In one embodiment, data is written on a plurality of tracks positioned sufficiently close together so that multiple tracks are detected simultaneously by the read access sensor. Upon scanning the surface for data, the read element simultaneously receives the data signals from a plurality of tracks. Joint detection signal processing resolves the interference and data bits from the multiple sensed tracks, enabling closer packing of data with minimal guard space.

Abstract: The drogue 11 comprises a canopy 50 supported by a plurality of adjustable ribs 42 and further ribs 43. A control unit 36 is provided for moving the adjustable ribs 42 into a first position P1, in which an air stream can inflate the canopy 50 whereby drag on the canopy causes the drogue 11 to draw a fuel hose 74 from a tanker aircraft 63 into an extended position, and into a second position P2 in which the canopy 50 takes on a cylindrical form and drag thereon in the extended position will be reduced. Selected adjustable supports are movable relative to the others by a control mechanism 41 to adjust a selected portion of the canopy 50 whereby the drag on that portion will be increased and the drogue 11 will move to a new position.

Abstract: An error correction decoding (ECC) processing scheme is disclosed that reduces computational complexity normally associated with multiuser detection (e.g., TurboMUD) solutions, without causing degradation in quality of service or decreasing the total throughput. Error correction decoding algorithms are applied only to portions of the estimates that were affected by the immediately previous MUD update process. Even though the MUD and/or ECC updating is targeted so as to reduce complexity of each iteration, all of the estimates are maintained and remain candidates for future updates. As such, there is no negative impact real-time or future performance. This targeting approach can be used in conjunction with many variations of MUD, including full-complexity or reduced complexity, and may include MUD with confidence ordering or voting, and other techniques for facilitating efficient and effective MUD processing.

Abstract: A method and system to rapidly, passively, estimate target range, speed and heading for non-maneuvering and maneuvering radio frequency airborne emitters (enemy targets and threats) for tactical fighters using batch based recursive estimators for track initialization and track maintenance that includes providing information processing that operates on interferometer cosine (cone angle) measurements, and estimated SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) data, threat database, and feedback information from pilot maneuver cue algorithm. The present method will initialize airborne tracks using varying degrees of real time and a priori information to quickly estimate coarse airborne emitter heading using real time interferometer cosine (cone angle) measurements and provide pilot aircraft maneuver cues that will accelerate passive range (target speed and heading estimates) convergence.

Abstract: A power management system and method of operation is disclosed. The power management system may include a controller associated with each load or subsystem of a plurality of loads or subsystems to determine a lowest operational voltage based on an operating point of the associated load or subsystem. The power management system may further include a voltage link to supply a highest voltage of the lowest operational voltages.

Abstract: A system to manage energy includes at least one power converter and at least one associated energy storage unit. The at least one energy storage unit is able to supply power to the at least one power converter or is able to receive power from the at least one power converter.

Abstract: A method for determining magnitude and direction of spectral channel drift for several consecutive spectral regions over a wide spectral range. According to the method of the present invention, in-field testing of a spectral filter sequentially irradiated by two blackbody sources is performed to generate a response function of the spectral filter. The response function is ensemble averaged to reduce any noise. Background radiance is then removed to produce a smoothed spectral transmittance function of the spectral filter. The first derivative function of the smoothed spectral transmittance function is determined. The first derivative function is separated into spectral band regions having +/− N pixels on either side of the function minima. The value of N is selected to optimize the detection algorithm sensitivity to change while extending the limit of spectral shift magnitude.

Abstract: An aircraft 1 comprising interchangeable wings 5 detachedly connected to a fuselage 3, each wing 5 containing the fuel and flight systems 13,15 for engines 7 mounted to the wings 5, so that the fuselage 3 need contain no flight systems, simply a “bus” 23 for communication and the transfer of data between the wings.

Abstract: An acoustic transducer design having a slotted oval-shaped shell and active transducer elements located on the inner surface of the shell is disclosed. The design provides a high power, ultra-low frequency oval projector having a number of applications, including underwater seismic prospecting and fish mitigation.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing sidewall contacts for a chalcogenide memory device is disclosed. A first conductive layer is initially deposited on top of a first oxide layer. The first conductive layer is then patterned and etched using well-known processes. Next, a second oxide layer is deposited on top of the first conductive layer and the first oxide layer. An opening is then etched into at least the first oxide layer such that a portion of the first conductive layer is exposed within the opening. The exposed portion of the first conductive layer is then removed from the opening such that the first conductive layer is flush with an inner surface or sidewall of the opening. After depositing a chalcogenide layer on top of the second oxide layer, filling the opening with chalcogenide, a second conductive layer is deposited on top of the chalcogenide layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing multipath interference for commercial FM signals which use SCA secondary signals in QAM format that includes tracking the time series of phase measurements of a received stereo pilot signal for determining the proper phase reference for demodulation of QAM signals at the center of the time series. Phase measurements of the pilot signal are tracked over a predetermined tracking period. The phase measurement is used to support demodulation of the QAM signal. The SCA secondary signals in QAM format transmitted on commercial FM have minimal multipath interference and Doppler interference by movement of transmitter and receiver (vehicular).