Abstract: The present system estimates target motion with nonzero acceleration (including maneuvering uncertainty) using angle only (AO) measurements. The present approach employs a mixed coordinate system framework by combining modified spherical coordinate (MSC) system and Reference Cartesian Coordinate (RCC) system to keep accurate information flowing from one frame to the other while eliminating the numerical sensitivity of the angle measurements to the TSE vector. This integrated coordinate systems framework is achieved due to the state vector information of two frames (RCC and MSC) is effectively preserved between processing cycles and state vector transformation steps. The AO TSE architecture and processing schemes are applicable to a wide class of passive sensors.

Abstract: A system and method of verifying hardware that includes software configured to control its operation, the method comprising providing an abstracted version of hardware to be tested; verifying the functionality of the hardware; writing test bench software using physical-layer routines; drafting hybrid verification intellectual property modules, wherein the hybrid verification intellectual property modules comprise both synthesizable and non-synthesizable code and are configured to stimulate the abstracted hardware and to test software anticipated to be used in connection therewith; and creating network-level routines that can be passed to physical-layer routines as part of a hardware verification process.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptive spurious signal (spur) processing at a broadband RF receiver. Spur processing addresses the detection of spurs generated by the receiver when high level RF signals are present at its input. The spurs can lead to undesired false detections. Based on signal parameters of the received RF signal, the system detects a strong enough real signal that would cause a spur and prevent generation of false reports. The adaptive spur mitigation scheme uses multiple detection and report thresholds to enable false report rejection with an improved high probability of rejecting false detections, while minimizing the adverse effects on multi-tone dynamic range. The necessary detection and report thresholds are generated based on a system level behavioral model that predicts the performance of several different types of spurs as a function of signal parameters. The thresholds are tuned to match the behavior of the dominant spur.

Abstract: A transducer system includes a housing, an electromechanical transducer within the housing, a wicking material adjacent to a portion of the electromechanical transducer, and a coolant solution within the housing. The coolant solution transitions from a liquid phase to a gaseous phase in response to a temperature of the electromechanical transducer exceeding a threshold temperature. In some example cases, the coolant solution has a boiling point of less than about 60° C., which effectively defines the threshold temperature. The coolant solution may be chosen such that it remains a liquid during a first phase (cooling via conduction), and then evaporates during a second phase (cooling via conduction and convection) as the electromechanical transducer heats up.

Abstract: A transducer system includes a housing having an opening, an electromechanical transducer within the housing, and an elastomeric boot over the opening. At least a portion of the elastomeric boot includes copper-comprising particles. In some applications, the copper acts as an antifouling agent and/or enhances the thermal conductivity of the elastomeric boot.

Abstract: Circuit techniques are disclosed for improving the SFDR of a DAC. In an embodiment, a DAC includes a resistor ladder network operably coupled to input logic circuitry and an output. The input logic circuitry receives a multi-bit input signal and effectively creates a plurality of processed input signals therefrom. The resistor ladder network is configured to receive the plurality of processed input signals and includes a corresponding plurality of current paths. Each current path includes: a current switch operably controlled by one of the processed input signals; a first resistor in series with the current switch; a second resistor in series with the first resistor; and a feedforward capacitor in parallel with the second resistor. The output is operably coupled to each of the plurality of current paths and is configured to output an analog output signal that corresponds to the multi-bit input signal.

Abstract: A system and associated method determines the characteristics of an electric network including distance to a fault through the use of a power divider and a measuring device that measures a quantity from which voltage magnitude can be determined. The measuring device may be a power detector. The power detector may include a power meter to measure voltage and/or a power sensor to measure amplitude. Then, the results from the power detector are used in conjunction with a Hilbert transform to estimate the phase associated with at least two voltage magnitudes when a combined signal is a minimum phase signal.

Abstract: A guidance system for deployment on-board a projectile includes a laser-seeking detector, an imaging device, and a control module. The laser-seeking detector is designed to detect the position of the projectile with reference to a laser spot on a target. The imaging device is designed to capture one or more images in front of the projectile. The control module is designed to control a flight direction of the projectile based on input received from the laser-seeking detector in a first mode, control the flight direction of the projectile based on input received from the imaging device in a second mode, and switch between the first mode and the second mode while the projectile is in flight towards the target. Both guidance technologies are leveraged to develop an improved guidance technique that provides highly accurate targeting and allows for a faster rate of fire to deal with multiple targets.

Abstract: A direction finding system and method to utilize synthetic apertures within a single short pulse transmission to extrapolate additional data relating to the signal to thereby increase the accuracy of the direction finding results given by a single short pulse is provided. The direction finding system may further exploit the movement of a platform to create the synthetic apertures within the signal data.

Abstract: The system and method for lightweight spiral antenna array packaging uses a foam core and metallic elements such that the foam core is machined to accept the folded metallic elements to create a compact and light weight assembly. The assembly can be bonded to other assemblies to form arrays. The array is then encapsulated in a prepreg fiberglass skin with a conductive layer of fabric/screen therein.

Abstract: A system and process for testing and analyzing a laser beam is provided. The system and process allows for repeatable testing of a laser beam to provide a beam intensity profile while accounting for variation in measurements attributable to outside factors. The system and process further allows for simultaneous measurement and analysis of a laser beam having multiple wavelengths.

Abstract: A laser warning receiver system and method having at least four optical components mapped to a photodetector array to provide for omnidirectional detection of incident laser light. In some cases, a fifth optical component is mapped to the central portion of a photodetector array to provide hemispheric detection of laser light. The laser warning receiver system is configured to detect laser light in the NIR, SWIR, MWIR, and/or LWIR range using a single photodetector array and ROIC.

Abstract: A projectile round for intercepting an incoming threat to a vehicle or the like is provided. The projectile round may include an explosive layer, which upon detonation, may cause a the fracturing of one or more material layers into one or both of shrapnel and chaff while simultaneously causing the distortion and/or destruction of a piezoelectric material contained within the projectile round. The distortion and/or destruction of this piezoelectric material may further cause the release of an electromagnetic pulse. The projectile round may be part of a countermeasure system against guided munition threats, including those posed by man-portable air defense systems.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for determining AOA of one or more radar pulses received at a vehicle and originating from a source. The techniques are particularly well-suited to provide pilots with a more accurate determination of the azimuth angle to the radar source, although ground-based and water-based vehicles may benefit as well. Some embodiments discussed herein determine a true estimation of both azimuth and elevation angles, with reference to an aircraft's body-centered coordinate system, to the radar source. These parameters can also be used to determine a more accurate position on the ground for the radar source.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for cyber warning. One technique includes a cyber warning receiver (CWR). The CWR includes a bus sensing circuit to sense traffic on a communications bus over time, an anomaly detecting circuit to detect anomalous behavior in the sensed bus traffic, a data fusing circuit to fuse the detected anomalous behavior into groups having similar characteristics, a decision making circuit to decide if the fused anomalous behavior is normal or abnormal, and a behavior logging circuit to log the detected anomalous behavior on an electronic storage device. In one embodiment, the CWR further includes a behavior alerting circuit to alert an operator to the fused anomalous behavior identified as abnormal. In one embodiment, the communications bus is an embedded communications bus, such as a MIL-STD-1553 bus, and the CWR is a standalone device configured to connect to the MIL-STD-1553 bus as a bus monitor.

Abstract: A system and method for nulling or suppressing interfering signals directed toward moving platforms based, at least in part, on dynamic motion data of the moveable platform is provided. The system may be an interference nulling system carried by a moveable platform and may include an antenna array including two or more antenna elements that generates at least one initial steerable null radiation pattern, dynamic motion data logic that determines dynamic motion data of the moveable platform; and update logic that updates the at least one initial steerable null radiation pattern based, at least in part, on the dynamic motion data. The at least one updated steerable null radiation pattern is directed toward a direction from which interfering signals are being transmitted from an interfering signal source.

Abstract: An aperture feed network includes a substrate having a first surface and a parallel second surface, first and second conductive traces on the first surface of the substrate, a third conductive trace on the second surface of the substrate, a conductive via extending through a thickness of the substrate, and one or more ground plane structures on the second surface of the substrate. The substrate comprises a dielectric material. The first and second conductive traces together form a differential signal line. The third conductive trace comprises a first branch and a second branch. The conductive via contacts the first branch of the third conductive trace on the second surface of the substrate and the second conductive trace on the first surface of the substrate. The one or more ground plane structures have irregular shapes.

Abstract: A system and method for metadata processing that can be used to encode an arbitrary number of security policies for code running on a stored-program processor. This disclosure adds metadata to every word in the system and adds a metadata processing unit that works in parallel with data flow to enforce an arbitrary set of policies, such that metadata is unbounded and software programmable to be applicable to a wide range of metadata processing policies. This instant disclosure is applicable to a wide range of uses including safety, security, and synchronization.

Abstract: A mount connects a light emitting device, such as a laser diode assembly, to an optical bench. The mount may include a thermoelectrical module coupled to a sub-element of a heat exchanger extending through an opening formed in the optical bench. The thermoelectrical module acts as a heat sink to draw heat outwardly from the laser diode and cool the same. The heat sink enables the laser diode to transmit heat thereto such that substantially all of the heat generated by the laser diode sinks to the heat exchanger. As such, the laser diode transfers virtually no heat to the optical bench so the optical bench is free of deflections or distortions resultant from the heat generated during generation of the laser beam.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is disclosed to provide reduced phase noise at higher operating frequencies. A buffer-first VCO configured according to an embodiment includes multiple VCO core circuits configured to provide synchronously tuned oscillator signals. Each VCO core circuit is coupled to a summing node through a buffer circuit that generates uncorrelated phase noise such that the summing node provides a summation output of the oscillator signals with reduced phase noise. A multiplexer-less VCO configured according to an embodiment includes multiple buffer-first VCO circuits configured to provide oscillator signals covering a range of frequencies. Each buffer-first VCO circuit is controlled or selected by an enable signal. Buffer circuits are configured to select one of the buffer-first VCO circuits for coupling to a transmission line during a given time period based on the enable signal. The transmission line is terminated in a matched impedance at each end of the line.