Abstract: A neuromorphic focal plane array ROIC device for temporal and spatial synchronous and asynchronous image event processing comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising an input section comprising a Sample and Hold (SH) component; a low offset buffer/comparator section comprising a Switched Capacitor Filter (SCF); and a digital event output section comprising an analog pixel bus whereby temporal and spatial image data are synchronously and asynchronously processed.

Abstract: A Global Positioning System (GPS) digital antenna controller is provided, comprising antenna electronics, a code generator, and an interface. The antenna electronics can be configured to receive a GPS signal. The code generator can be configured to generate a pilot code signal that is synchronized to the DAE local clock reference. The interface can be configured to send the GPS signal and the code signal to a GPS receiver. A system may comprise the GPS digital antenna controller and GPS receiver. The GPS receiver can comprise a second code generator and a processor configured to resolve a timing difference based on the pilot code signal and a second code signal of the second code generator. The controller may be remote from the receiver. The interface may comprise an asynchronous data interface (e.g., Ethernet, USB, Infiniband, or Firewire). To resolve the timing difference may involve GPS code and carrier tracking.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponder. A system implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes an antenna array configured to operate in an omnidirectional mode and a steered directional mode. The system also includes a receiver configured to receive signals provided through the antenna array while operating in the omnidirectional mode and a detector configured to detect an IFF interrogation message in the received signals. The system further includes an angle of arrival (AOA) estimator configured to operate the antenna array in the steered directional mode to estimate an AOA of the IFF interrogation message. The system further includes a transmitter configured to operate the antenna array in the steered directional mode to transmit an IFF response message in the estimated AOA direction. The transmit power of the IFF response message may be based on, for example, the steering gain of the antenna array.

Abstract: The disclosed method enables efficient registration and correction of random vertical and horizontal offsets of a plurality of images of a feature to enable combination thereof with maximum noise suppression. The method includes obtaining image cross correlations and estimating correlation peaks. If a correlation peak cannot be uniquely determined for a given correlation, all candidates are retained. An improved robust weighted regression is applied thereto to obtain estimates of the image shifts. Dimensional symmetry is exploited to remove redundancy from the weighted normal equation, and computational requirements are further reduced by analytically determining the coefficients matrix and the inhomogeneous matrix, thereby circumventing conventional computations. Solution of the resulting consistent, full rank, linear system requires only matrix inversion. For N images, the present method thereby increases computation speed and reduces storage by approximately N2.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for batch processing signal acquisition. A batch processing signal acquisition system implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes a recording controller configured to store samples of an input signal to a memory. The input signal is received at a first sampling rate. The system also includes a playback controller configured to read samples from the memory for playback of the input signal at a second sampling rate. The system further includes an acquisition processor configured to detect and locate, in time and frequency, a signal of interest in the playback of the input signal. The system further includes a signal processor configured to process the signal of interest in the playback of the input signal based on the detection and location provided by the acquisition processor.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to characterize optical properties (Scattering, attenuation, de-polarization) of a light-transmitting medium and local environment, by determining a scattering rate of light through a medium, wherein determining the scattering rate of light through the medium is accomplished by utilizing polarized light transmitted from an optical source. The system and method performs a function based on the characterized optical properties of the medium, wherein the function is one of, for example: detection of objects embedded in the medium, object ranging through the medium, or deblurring of images acquired through the medium.

Abstract: Techniques for jointly estimating geolocations of a plurality of emitting targets. An example method includes acquiring a plurality of bearing measurements, establishing a search grid based on the bearing measurements, performing a joint maximum likelihood optimization procedure on the bearing measurements over the search grid to produce an estimated geolocation solution by solving a nonlinear multi-target geolocation description function for all targets associated with a current rank, repeating the joint maximum likelihood optimization procedure set successive ranks until a maximum rank is reached, evaluating the estimated geolocation solution sets for each rank to determine a number of targets, based on the number of targets, selecting the corresponding geolocation solution set for the rank corresponding to the number of targets, and processing the selected corresponding geolocation solution set to produce a geolocation result that includes an estimated location of each target.

Abstract: A 3D-printed reflective optic providing very high specific stiffness through the utilization of a hollow shelled design, with closed back, filled with high-stiffness internal volumetric space-filling open-cell lattice structures. Structurally-integrated sacrificial structures are included for the purposes of reduction or elimination of tooling during post-processing operations.

Abstract: High power monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) differential single pole double throw switches utilizing a series of transistors formed by a gallium nitride (GaN) foundry process. The differential switches of the present disclosure allow for larger power handling capability and wideband operation while further providing differential amplitude and phase matching.

Abstract: A microelectronic component includes a substrate having at least one electrical pad, a resilient material on the substrate, and a conductive element on or in the resilient material and coupled to the at least one conductive pad. The resilient material may include, for instance, a compressible polymer. The conductive elements configured to be placed in contact with at least one test probe, where the resilient material is configured to be compressed by the at least one electrical probe into a deformed shape and where the resilient material is configured to return from the deformed shape to a non-deformed shape subsequent to a removal of the conductive element from contact with the at least one electrical probe.

Abstract: A low SWAP-C apparatus and method enable determining precise location and orientation in a GPS-denied environment. A camera image of a scene is registered to a synthetic image predicted according to an initial estimate of location and orientation and a 3D model of the environment to obtain an accurate cross-plane location estimate perpendicular to the camera pointing direction, and an approximate downrange location in the pointing direction. A range sensor is then used to correct and refine the downrange estimate. The steps can be iterated until a required accuracy is attained. The camera can be an electro-optical or infrared imaging system. The range sensor can be a laser range finder or a LIDAR. The initial location estimate can be based on inertial measurements and/or earlier GPS readings. The registration can include applying a photogrammetric bundle-adjustment process. The disclosure is applicable to navigation, weapons pointing, and situational awareness.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for estimation of relative velocity between a receiver platform and a transmitter platform. A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes measuring a first time of arrival, a first phase, and a frequency of a first radar pulse received from the transmitter platform. The method also includes measuring a second time of arrival and a second phase of a second radar pulse received from the transmitter platform. The method further includes calculating a relative velocity between the receiver platform and the transmitter platform based on a difference between the first time of arrival and the second time of arrival, a difference between the first phase and the second phase, and the frequency. The method further includes calculating an angle of arrival of the first and second received radar pulses based on a ratio of the calculated relative velocity to a velocity of the receiver platform.

Abstract: An optical detection system uses high-resolution holographic filters for target detection within a very-large field of view image acquired with a reflector. The holographic filter acts as an optical computer, mixing phase and amplitude information of known targets with light from the scene, automatically enhancing portions of the image that match threat objects or other object of interest. A lens forming a Fourier transform of the entire scene is used, and within that transform, the holographic information of a target or multiple targets is added. By acting as an inverse optical transfer function, the hologram gathers the target information to single point, and removes non-target background. Amplification is done by using a laser-illuminated hologram to create a phase-amplitude filter in a photorefractive material at the transform plane. By mixing the hologram and the scene at the transform plane, the matching is enhanced regardless of target location in the scene.

Abstract: Ultrashort pulsed laser systems are described. In one example, a pulsed laser system includes a source laser configured to emit a pulsed source laser beam, a splitter configured to split the source laser beam into first and second input laser beams, a first amplifier module configured to amplify the first input laser beam using chirped pulse amplification (CPA) and to produce, at a first output port, a first output laser beam in a first spectral range based on soliton self-frequency shift (SSFS) in the first amplifier module, a second amplifier module configured to amplify the second input laser beam using CPA and to produce an intermediate beam based on SSFS in the second amplifier module, and a mid-infrared fiber configured to receive the intermediate beam and to produce, at a second output port, a second output laser beam in a second spectral range based SSFS in the mid-infrared fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a lower plate, an upper plate above the lower plate, and a plurality of vias extending from the lower plate to the upper plate. The lower plate, the upper plate, and the plurality of vias include conductive material. A post including conductive material extends from the lower plate and towards the upper plate. An inner plate including conductive material is above and in contact with the post, where the post and the inner plate are separated from the upper plate by dielectric material. The plurality of vias are arranged to at least in part wrap around the post. A signal line extends between the lower and upper plates and at least in part wraps around the post, where the signal line extends through an opening between a first via and a second via of the plurality of vias. In an example, the apparatus is a resonator structure.

Abstract: A soft-kill countermeasure system utilizing a confirmation device, which may be radar, to enhance existing countermeasures, and enable new countermeasures to be utilized to combat the ever evolving and increasing sophistication of threats. The threat defeat confirmation may allow for rapid or immediate redirection of the countermeasure system to address additional simultaneous threats. The confirmation device can be mounted on a gimbal head or above a gimbal to take advantage of slewing movement to direct the confirmation signal towards the threat.

Abstract: Techniques and architecture are disclosed for a wireless fuze setter interface, comprising an electronics subsystem comprising a plurality of ports and a plurality of output interfaces having a common interface with the plurality of ports on the electronics subsystem. The plurality of output interfaces comprises an electrical energy transfer zone configured to provide electrical energy to the fuze, and a high speed data communications zone configured to transfer fuze setting data to the fuze. The wireless fuze setter interface provides fuze setting capability without the need for rotational or other physical alignment between the fuze and the fuze setter.

Abstract: The system and method for a multi-element, ultra-low SWaP chemical concentrator incorporating Applicant's own open cell foamed adsorbent material which allows high volume sampling (e.g., liters per minute) to achieve low detection limits (ppt) using high-volume, low-pressure air sources (i.e. fans or blowers) rather than pumps. The device delivers the sample directly to an analyzer without the need for a typical intermediate cryogenic trapping step. In one example, a rotary style concentrator comprises four individual foam elements. Each element can be individually heated to desorb analytes.

Abstract: A transceiver unit includes an enclosure, a first input port, a second input port, a first output port, and a second output port. A radio frequency (RF) pass-through path is within the enclosure between the first input port and the first output port and includes a gain module. The RF pass-through path is configured to receive a first RF signal at the first input port and to transmit a second RF signal at the first output port. The gain module is configured to amplify the first RF signal to produce the second RF signal. The transceiver unit further includes a transceiver path within the enclosure between the second input port and the second output port, the transceiver path including a signal processor.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing a carbide-derived carbon (CDC) fiber in solid-phase micro extraction. Optically pumping the carbide-derived carbon (CDC) fiber, as compared to using thermal desorption, enhances performance of the system. CDC provides for a broad based sorbent that is insensitive to high humidity. Optical pumping may be done axially or radially on a modified gas chromatography needle. In some cases, staged, or pulsed, optical pumping is used to drive off solvent or other lower boiling compounds first and then the desorption of the remaining analytes is cleaner and the instrumentation is less likely to be overloaded.