Abstract: A method is provided for processing a signal containing regular or quasi-regular elements of unwanted signal, the method comprising the steps of: establishing timing characteristics of the unwanted signal elements in a portion of said signal; generating a time domain window function using said established timing characteristics; and applying the generated window function to said signal portion to selectively reduce the amplitude of said unwanted signal elements relative to other elements of said signal. Preferably the method includes applying an algorithm to restore the positions and amplitudes of spectral peaks in a frequency domain representation of the windowed signal.

Abstract: A collapsible discone antenna is provided with an ultra wide band width by providing a collapsible conical skeleton cone, with the rods of the skeleton being provided with meander lines so as to effectively reduce the overall dimensions of the antenna by a factor of 2, with the antenna rods being electrically interconnected at their distal ends so as to eliminate performance degradation due to varying ground conductivities. A specialized feed configuration is used in one embodiment to feed multiple antennas stacked above a low band disc through the utilization of one or more coaxial lines which are wrapped around a ferrite toroid so that they may be passed up through the low-band disc without detuning the low band discone antenna. The use of the toroid inductor between the low-band cone and the low-band disc further reduces the low frequency cutoff of the antenna by markedly decreasing the VSWR at frequencies as low as 20 megahertz.

Abstract: A reduced complexity 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 and decreases the computation complexity for each iteration, thereby allowing for a reduction in the number of iterations performed and lowers the overall complexity without negatively impacting performance. In one form the present invention comprises a multi-user detector coupled to two or more decoder sections, two ore more recoders, and a compare and adjust section in such a manner that data flows iteratively to correct for errors in a computationally efficient manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for releasing a jam between an inter-engaged lead screw (2) and nut (1) in a motor driven lead screw actuator under load includes a device for releasing the jam and a device for operating the jam release device when the normal operating correlation between torque applied to the actuator by the motor (3) and the output force of the actuator corresponding to normal unjammed operation of the actuator under load (4) is lost.

Abstract: By substituting a ring optical parametric oscillator for the linear cavity, one eliminates the effects of feedback solved in the prior art by the use of isolators and by the purposeful off-axis alignment of the pump laser beam. The result is an exceedingly robust system with state-of-the-art efficiency for maximizing output power while preserving beam quality.

Abstract: A read/write circuit for accessing chalcogenide non-volatile memory cells is disclosed. The read/write circuit includes a chalcogenide storage element, a voltage limiting circuit, a current-to-voltage converter, and a buffer circuit. The voltage limiting circuit, which is coupled to the chalcogenide storage element, ensures that voltages across the chalcogenide storage element will not exceed a predetermined value during a read operation. During a read operation, the current-to-voltage converter, which is coupled to the voltage limiting circuit, converts a current pulse read from the chalcogenide storage element to a voltage pulse. By sensing the voltage pulse from the current-to-voltage converter, the buffer circuit can determine a storage state of the chalcogenide storage element.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of enhancing signals received by a receiver in a mobile telecommunications network. The method comprises correlating the received signals to produce a correlation and making a selection from the correlation to create a replica for enhancing the received signals.

Abstract: A group of pixels obtained using an imaging device is converted into a group of pixels having an equal or lower count by receiving at least first and second input pixels having an initial intensity value, forming at least one intermediate intensity value from each of the first and second input pixels, and combining the intermediate intensity values formed from the first and second input pixels to form at least one output pixel. This allows the pixels formed to have improved signal-to-noise characteristics, and it reduces transmission rates. A feature of the present invention allows a distance between the imaging device and an object to be used to select the number of output pixels formed. Another feature of the present invention allows a change in distance between the imaging device and an object to be used to dynamically adjust the number of output pixels formed. A further feature of the invention allows a variable resolution image to be converted to a fixed resolution image.

Abstract: A method and system for training an audio analyzer (114) to identify asynchronous segments of audio types using sample data sets, the sample data sets being representative of audio signals for which segmentation is desired. The system and method then label asynchronous segments of audio samples, collected at the target site, into a plurality of categories by cascading hidden Markov models (HMM). The cascaded HMMs consist of 2 stages, the output of the first stage HMM (208) being transformed and used as observation inputs to the second stage HMM (212). This cascaded HMM approach allows for modeling processes with complex temporal characteristics by using training data. It also contains a flexible framework that allows for segments of varying duration. The system and method are particularly useful in identifying and separating segments of the human voice for voice recognition systems from other audio such as music.

Abstract: A parallel-hybrid transmission has one or more electrical motor/generator units, at least one of which moves in an anti-engine-wise direction in certain operational modes. The motor/generators are coaxially or concentrically arranged with the transmission input and output shafts via planetary gear sets. Associated clutch closures selectively couple power to and from the sun gears and planetary carriers of the gear sets through a complex planetary gear configuration such as a Ravigneaux gear set, for switching between certain operational modes. The clutch and brake operations selectively achieve multiple ratio range operations including engine starting under electric power, high torque acceleration from a standstill, regenerative deceleration (braking), multiple ratio range operation, load sharing, rotation-matched step-less shifting and combined or individual continuously variable combustion engine and electric motor and/or generation modes.

Abstract: An applique armour panel for fitting to a substrate and for protecting the substrate from missile or other projectile attack which panel comprises an exterior plate (1), an interior plate (4) and a layer or layers (7) of explosive material therebetween. The explosive material is detonated by an incoming missile to cause disruption of the incoming missile and reduce its penetrative effect. The panel is constructed so that upon reactive explosion the interior and exterior plates are driven apart more rapidly at one edge of the panel than at an opposite edge by a rotating moment of one plate relative to the other.

Abstract: A spray coating apparatus comprises a spray gun (12) operable to deposit a sprayed coating via a spray nozzle (18) onto a surface, a mapping means (22) associated with the spray gun (12) operable to ascertain and store topographical characteristics of the surface, a position sensor (28) operable to ascertain the position of the spray gun (12) relative to the surface, and a coating thickness monitor (26) operable to ascertain the thickness of a coating applied to the surface, the apparatus further including a display means (32) operable to display to an operator the deposition of the sprayed coating on the surface.

Abstract: A system for correcting the effect of radome aberration on line-of-sight signals indicating target position. The aberration is in fact dependent upon both operating frequency and ‘angle-of-look’ and the essence of the present invention is to separate the corrections appropriate to each of these factors. The apparent line-of-sight signals are subjected to a frequency dependent amplification the result being used to address a store of error correction data. The apparent line of sight signals are also used to address a second store of error correction data and the two sets of correction data are added into the apparent line-of-sight signals to give true line-of-sight.

Abstract: A honeycomb-like shell is provided for an acoustic projector used in sonar applications to increase the bandwidth of the projector, reduce its weight, and to provide increased power density and reduced shell costs. The shell has outer and inner layers, with the honeycomb structure therebetween. The honeycomb shells have application in slotted cylindrical projectors, flextensional projectors, inverse flex tensional projectors, and oval-shaped projectors in which the honeycomb structure replaces the solid shells, with the honeycomb providing the relatively high specific stiffness required for the acoustic properties of the projector. The honeycomb shell achieves the same bending stiffness of the solid shells with less weight through the utilization of radial stiffeners between the inner and outer layers.

Abstract: A method and system begin at a random node of a trellis model having a set of at least two axes, wherein one axis corresponds to time and a second axis corresponds to frequency, a set of M states, corresponding to a set of all possible frequencies that may be transmitted by the system, and branches leaving each state, that terminate at allowable transmit frequencies for a next frequency hop. The number of branches leaving each state is dependent on the number of encoded bits per hop. Next, B bits of data are passed to a buffer, where B is the number of bits that will be transmitted per frequency hop. The method and system then combine the B bits of data with information for previously selected frequencies to select a current frequency, transmit the selected frequency, and feedback the currently selected frequency information to be used as previously selected frequency information when selecting a next frequency.

Abstract: A dual mode radar seeker comprising a wide-band passive anti-radar antenna system (3) at the rear of a radome (1), operating at relatively low radar frequencies in an amplitude comparison tracking mode, and a high-frequency (W-band) active amplitude-comparison antenna system (5) in the nose of the radome (1) and having a common boresight with the anti-radar system. The active system employs coarse phase shift steering (31, 41) of the antenna ‘beam’ for the transmit and, optionally, also, the receive ‘beam’. The high frequency and the use of phase shift steering both help to keep down the size of the active radar thus enabling it (5, 7, 9) to be positioned far forward in the nose of the radome (1) so as not to obscure the field of the anti-radar system (3).

Abstract: A composite for use in the aircraft construction industry includes an optical transmission device, such as an optical fiber, embedded within a carrier. The optical transmission device is provided with a high-quality optical interface surface which provides for optical connection to the optical transmission means from outside the carrier. The optical interface surface is provided as part of a micro-optical component which processes the optical signals to improve light extraction from a supply to the optical transmission means. The buried optical transmission device is accessed by a passageway formed in the carrier to the interface surface. If the passageway is formed prior to completion of finishing processes on the composite, a protective plug is provided to close the passageway until the optical connection is required.

Abstract: A circuit for accessing a chalcogenide memory array is disclosed. The chalcogenide memory array includes multiple subarrays with rows and columns formed by chalcogenide storage elements. The chalcogenide memory array is accessed by discrete read and write circuits. Associated with a respective one of the subarrays, each of the write circuits includes an independent write 0 circuit and an independent write 1 circuit. Also associated with a respective one of the subarrays, each of the read circuits includes a sense amplifier circuit. In addition, a voltage level control module is coupled to the read and write circuits to ensure that voltages across the chalcogenide storage elements within the chalcogenide memory array do not exceed a predetermined value during read and write operations.

Abstract: A library tool suite supplements conventional design tools to increase the speed, automation and accuracy of creating physical designs for a library of cells to be used in chip designs. The tool suite may include a post operations tool, an audit tool, a custom interface, a setup file and a place and route model preparation utility which interact with the conventional tools and design data to automate and ensure integrity of the physical design process. The tool suite facilitates automatically generating libraries corresponding to an overall cell plan, generating attributes defining strength of connection between possible pin placements within a cell to facilitate routing inter-cell nets through a cell, and auditing cells for errors prior to inclusion in a manufacturing library.

Abstract: A multi-user turbo decoder combining multi-user detection and forward error correction decoding is disclosed that utilizes iterative decoding of received, interfering signals, and the construction of a decoding tree of the decoder is changed for each iteration of the decoding based on the previous conditional probability estimates of the value of the data bits of each signal making up the received, interfering signals. Before each iteration of multi-user decoding, a probability estimate is calculated that the value of the bit in a signal has a certain value for all of the data bits. Using the probability estimate a new decoding tree is constructed before each iteration of decoding such that the signal bit having the most reliable estimate is assigned to the lowest or root level of the tree.