Abstract: In an integrated gimbal and High-Powered Multiband Laser (HPMBL) for use in an infrared countermeasure apparatus in a pod mounted on an aircraft, the improvement comprises an optical bench that connects the optical path between side-by-side mounted gimbal and high power laser; and a kinematic mounting system that prevents optical bench bending.

Abstract: A system and method for testing components traveling at high speeds is presented. A system includes an elongated test chamber, high and low pressure reservoirs, a piston and a pressure control system. The elongated test chamber has first and second ends. In some configurations, the test chamber can be a pneumatic cylinder. The high pressure reservoir is connected to the first end of the elongated test chamber and the low pressure reservoir is connected to the second end of the elongated test chamber. The piston travels with a unit under test from the first end of the test chamber to the second end of the test chamber. The pressure control system uses, in part, the low and high pressure reservoirs to dynamically adjust a force profile across the piston as it travels from the first end of the elongated test chamber to the second end of the elongated test chamber.

Abstract: The present invention involves the use of nanoporous carbons derived from partially or fully demetalized metal carbides in personal protection equipment for the irreversible absorption/adsorption of both broad and specific targeted gases. These materials have been specifically processed to provide enhanced effective loadings against specific harmful volatile organic compounds.

Abstract: An array of elements suitable for adaptive processing in an extreme jammed environment comprised of a plurality of smaller sub-arrays of element clusters that have natural orthogonal spatial modes of excitation, wherein the improvement comprises sub-arrays with spatial orthogonality of feed modes, cross-sub-array combination to maximize pre-processing sub-array spacing and diversity of relative configuration, a high-input analog nuller used on the pre-processing sub-array therein, a high-input analog nuller is used to null a dominant jamming signal, possibly exceeding normal communication signal levels, so that the sub-array processed signals could then be fed to an antenna processor with simultaneous beam steering and null steering.

Abstract: Implementing a layered hyperbolic metamaterial in a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) to improve thermal conductivity and thermal dissipation thereby stabilizing optical performance. Improvement in the thermal management and power is expected by replacing the distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) mirrors in the VCSEL. The layered metamaterial structure performs the dual function of the DBR and the heat spreader at the same time.

Abstract: A high linearity bandgap engineered transistor device is provided. In one example configuration, the device generally includes a substrate and an oxide layer formed on the substrate. The device further includes a wide-bandgap body material formed between a portion of the oxide layer and a gate dielectric layer. The wide-bandgap body material has an energy bandgap of 1.35 eV or higher and is lattice matched to the substrate. The device further includes a source-drain material formed on the oxide layer adjacent to the wide-bandgap body material so as to define a hetero-structure interface where the source-drain material contacts the wide-bandgap body material. The wide-bandgap body material is also lattice matched to the source-drain material. The device further includes a gate material formed over the gate dielectric layer. Other features and variations will be apparent in light of this disclosure.

Abstract: A method for fabricating infrared sensors is disclosed. a chalcogenide layer is initially deposited on a substrate. A group of vias is then formed within the chalcogenide layer. After the vias have been converted to a group of studs, a vanadium oxide layer is deposited on the chalcogenide layer covering the studs. Next, the vanadium oxide layer is separated into multiple vanadium oxide membranes. After the chalcogenide layer has been removed, each of the vanadium oxide membranes is allowed to be freestanding while only supported by a corresponding one of the studs. The vanadium oxide membranes will be used as infrared sensors.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently combining multiple laser beams into a single frequency by invoking stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in a dual core optical fiber is disclosed. The method and apparatus essentially becomes a brightness converter for the input laser beams. An SRS seed is generated in a long length of fiber or by a diode and is launched into the back-end of the SBS combining optical fiber. Various single-frequency pump beams are launched into the front-end of the same fiber. The seed acts to lower a threshold for SBS in the fiber, thus invoking the nonlinearity. Provided the various pump beams are close in frequency and seed/pump modes overlap, each acts to amplify the seed through the nonlinear SBS process, providing an output signal which is brighter than the combined pump beams.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for fabricating optical instrumentation. The techniques can be used, for instance, to populate an optical bench with several optics that can be simultaneously bonded and simultaneously verified to precise assembly, and without the use of adjustable mounts or active alignment. The techniques may be embodied, for instance, in a jig designed for operatively coupling to a given optical bench. The jig includes cut-outs that identify placement locations for the various optical components on the underlying optical bench. Thus, once the jig is secured to the optical bench, precise placement of the optical components is simplified. In some such embodiments, the jig further includes a clamping assembly for each cut-out, so that once an optical component is placed on the optical bench via that cutout, the clamping assembly can be engaged to hold that optical component in place while a deposited bonding agent is cured.

Abstract: An entry slit panel for a push-broom hyperspectral camera is formed at least partly from a silicon wafer on which at least one companion sensor is fabricated, whereby the companion sensor is co-planar with the slit and detects light imaged on the panel but not on the slit. In embodiments, the companion sensor is a panchromatic sensor or a sensor that detects light outside the wavelength range of the camera. At least a region of the wafer is back-thinned to a thickness appropriate for a diffraction slit. The slit can be etched or laser cut through the thinned region, or formed between the wafer and another wafer or a conventional blade. The wafer can be back-coated or metalized to ensure its opacity across the camera's wavelength range. The companion sensor can be located relative to the slit to detect scene features immediately before or after the hyperspectral camera.

Abstract: A wide field optically athermalized orthoscopic lens system includes, in order from object to image, a first lens having a negative power, a second lens having a positive power, a third lens group having a positive power, a fourth lens having a positive power and a fifth lens having a negative power. The third lens group includes two lenses having, in order, a first lens with positive power and a second lens with negative power. The powers, shapes, Abbe dispersion values and temperature coefficients of refractive indices of the lenses are selected such that the lens system is athermalized, orthoscopic and achromatized over a wide (e.g. >140° C.) temperature range.

Abstract: A method of passing message data from a first device to a second device in a software defined radio (SDR) apparatus. A shared memory is defined in the apparatus for access by either one of the first and the second devices. A priority message originating from one of the devices and destined to the other device is loaded into a buffer of the shared memory, and the address of the buffer is passed to the other device. The message in the buffer of the shared memory is then accessed directly from the other device.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed that provide time delay integration (TDI) in detection signal processing (such as a signal generated by an IR sensor). The techniques can be implemented, for example, to provide blanking and/or TDI functionality at the readout integrated circuit (ROIC) level for active focal plane array (FPA) elements or other transducer elements. In one example embodiment, an integrator circuit is configured with one or more switches for allowing integration of multiple input signal events such that reset of the integration is controlled independently and can be reset equal to or less often than the number of single events, thereby allowing one or more detected events to be integrated together within a frame interval.

Abstract: A method of spectral-spatial-temporal image detection is disclosed. In one embodiment, a spectrally differenced image is obtained by computing a difference of at least two intensity values in at least two spectral bands of an image. Further, a spatially filtered spectral image is obtained by applying a spatial median filter to the obtained spectrally differenced image. Furthermore, a temporal image is obtained by determining a temporal pixel value difference using a computed predictive frame difference. In addition, a spectral-spatial-temporal filtered image for detection is obtained by using the obtained spatially filtered spectral image and the temporal image.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the prompt dose radiation response of mixed-signal integrated circuits is disclosed. An internal analog circuit inside a mixed-signal integrated circuit generates an internal analog reference voltage that has been used for various purposes in the integrated circuit. At least one external capacitor is added either internal or external to a device package of the integrated circuit. The external capacitor reduces any change in the internal reference voltage due to prompt dose radiation by stabilizing the internal reference voltage and thus improves prompt dose radiation response of mixed-signal integrated circuits. A much greater value of capacitance may be provided without increase in dielectric rupture suceptability or decrease in manufacturing yield which may be associated with added on-chip capacitance. This increased capacitance primarily reduce the amount of disturbance caused to the internal node during a prompt dose radiation event.

Abstract: A multi-band whip antenna having a 30 MHz to 2 GHz bandwidth and an L-band dipole has its coverage extended up to 6 GHz by eliminating nulls and reducing VSWR problems that are cured through the utilization of a sleeve over the feedpoint of the L-band antenna. Chokes in the form of sleeves are provided at either end of the L-band dipole to shorten the L-band antenna for preventing reverse polarity currents at the L-band antenna feedpoint, with the antenna further including the use of double shielded meanderlines to provide improved performance between 410-512 MHz and in which a capacitance sleeve is added at the bottom of the L-band antenna to effectively elongate the antenna below the L-band to permit operation below 700 MHz.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for the monitoring of direct current bias, the system including switching an amplifier of known scale factor from low to high; monitoring a step change in bias generated by the gain change; measuring, the response to the bias change via appropriate peak detection logic; and determining the amount of bias present at an input based on AC response and the amplifier scale factor.

Abstract: A fiber-optic connector for connecting an optical fiber to other optical assemblies is disclosed. The fiber-optic connector includes a top plate having a window of similar refractive index and transmission index as the material of an optic fiber to be contained within the fiber-optic connector. The fiber-optic connector also includes a ferrule connected to the top plate via multiple spring-loaded screws. The ferrule includes an interface and an insert. The insert is capable of firmly gripping an optical fiber. In order to reduce Fresnel reflection losses of the fiber-optic connector, the window is pre-coated with an anti-reflective surface on the side opposite an optic fiber to be contained within the fiber-optic connector.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a method of use. The UAV may comprise a UAV platform designed around a sensor system. The UAV platform may adjust itself in order to stabilize the sensor system. The UAV platform may comprise front UAV wings, back UAV wings, and a payload chamber. The front UAV wings and back UAV wings may adjust themselves by rotating about a line approximately perpendicular to the UAV's flight line. The payload chamber may adjust itself by rotating about the UAV's flight line. The sensor system may be located in an optimal location on the UAV platform, for example, behind the nose as far back as the front UAV wings. The sensor system may comprise an infrared (IR) and a visible camera.

Abstract: A method for verifying stitching accuracy of a stitched chip on a wafer is disclosed. Initially, a set of test structures are inserted within a reticle layout. An exposure program is executed to control a photolithography equipment having a stepper to perform multiple exposures of the reticle on a wafer to generate a stitched chip on the wafer. Electrical measurements are then performed on the test structures at actual stitch boundaries of the stitched chip to evaluate stitching accuracy of the stitched chip.