Abstract: An automated inspection system and method enables rapid, remote and non-contact inspection of large objects, utilizing non-destructive inspection techniques, that does not require continuous manual repositioning of the inspection equipment. The inspection system includes a remote controlled robotic vehicle including a sensor package capable of non-destructive inspection of a structure and a mechanism for locating the sensor package at a plurality of inspection sights on the structure; a positioning system for determining the location of the robotic vehicle with respect to the structure to be inspected; a control system for controlling the movement of the robotic vehicle around the structure to be inspected; and an analysis systems for analyzing data generated by the sensor platform.

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: Airborne units (2) acquire images as electronic signals either directly or indirectly from first ground based units (2a) and transmit them by broad band radio to second ground based units (3, 4), either directly or indirectly via second airborne units (1), which units (3, 4) record the received image signals for a period of time sufficient to permit a section of the received image to be selected by narrow bandwidth means (5, 6).

Abstract: Techniques using QDIP technology to form imaging focal plane arrays capable of sensing one or more colors are disclosed. Hybridizing such QDIP arrays to supporting electronic circuitry (e.g. such as CMOS read-out circuitry) enables the generation of an IR image that could be used for applications such as surveillance, night vision, and search and rescue operations.

Abstract: A hemispherical meander line loaded antenna is provided which can fit within a hemispherical radome as to minimize real estate on an aircraft such as an unmanned airborne vehicle. In one embodiment, a double monopole is recreated in a hemispherical form, thus to make what was originally a rectilinear package into a hemispherical package without materially affecting VSWR or ultra-wideband and antenna pattern characteristics. The wideband double monopole hemispherical meander line loaded antenna is provided with a single feed, with the delay associated with the meander lines equalize the reactance of the antenna, thereby to enable proper impedance matching.

Abstract: The combination of a Vivaldi slot and a meander line loaded antenna is provided which exhibits an ultra wideband characteristic with the Vivaldi notch expanding the high end and with the meander line loaded antenna portion reducing the low frequency cut-off. When these antennas are arrayed, this array exhibits a single lobe and an ultra wide 100:1 bandwidth. The Vivaldi notch portion of the antenna accommodates the higher frequencies, whereas the meander line loaded antenna portion of the antenna accommodates the lower frequencies, there being a smooth transition region between the Vivaldi and meander line portions of the antenna and no discontinuity. In one embodiment, the antenna is made to work between 50 MHz and 1500 MHz with a VSWR less than 3:1. The Vivaldi notch meander line combination assures that for an array one does not have a separation of the elements more than a 0.5 wavelength at the highest frequency, thus to eliminate the possibility of creating grating lobes.

Abstract: A low cost diagnostic system for testing the airborne static discharge systems and the grounding systems for aircraft. The present invention is a passive electrostatic detection scheme which in one embodiment is an array of inexpensive, miniaturized sensors for measuring the detected E-field disturbances from aircraft. The measurements are taken on the runway upon arrival and indicate whether the aircraft had an appreciable accumulated charge indicating a failure of the electrostatic discharge system. The system further verifies that the ground discharge devices are properly working and any charge is dissipated upon landing. In one embodiment the measurement information is transmitted to a central location where the aircraft and the measurement data are matched and maintenance is scheduled for aircraft having high levels of electrostatic charge.

Abstract: Wire bond pad and solder ball or controlled collapse chip connections C4 are combined on a planar surface of a an integrated circuit device to provide a die. Known good die (KGD) testing is optionally performed using wire bond connections or stress tolerant solder ball connections. The KGD testing is conducted after the integrated circuit dies are diced from a wafer. Solder ball or C4 array connections which withstand thermal stress are used to KGD test the die prior to final use of the wire bond pad connections to an end use device. Alternatively, wire bond pads are used to test the die while maintaining the solder ball or C4 array in a pristine condition for bonding to a final end product device. Both testing with the solder ball C4 array contacts and with the wire bond connections provides metallurgical connections for the KGD test. The solder ball or C4 array is connected to the wire bond pads and either connection can be used to burn-in test the die.

Abstract: A higher intensity eye safe laser is provided for long range target designation or illumination as well as long range eye safe communications by providing a single beam line combination of an optical parametric oscillator and optical parametric amplifier which are used to double the output of the optical parametric oscillator while limiting beam spread to less than 1.2 milliradians assuming a 20 mm clear aperture. The OPO/OPA combination requires no conditioning, isolation or synchronization optics and provides a factor of two improvements in beam quality as compared to an equivalent optical parametric oscillator, with the subject system providing a compact robust configuration. The high conversion is provided by the use of a simple optical parametric oscillator seeding an optical parametric amplifier without double passing the pump pulse in the optical parametric oscillator.

Abstract: A contrast-based image fusion system and method of processing multiple images to form a processed or fused image including regions selected from one or more images. Images are divided into image regions. Portions of the images are filtered if necessary. A contrast map is generated for each image via a convolution kernel resulting in a contrast map with contrast values for each image region. Contrast values are compared and image regions are selected based on a selection criteria or process such as greater or maximum contrast. The selected image regions form the fused image. If necessary, the luminance of one or more portions of the fused image is adjusted. One sensor is selected as a reference sensor, and an average intensity of each region of the reference sensor image is determined across the reference sensor image. The intensity of one or more regions in the final image is adjusted by combining the determined average luminance values and intensity values of the final image.

Abstract: A system and method of creating a pulse train signal of a pulse width modulator whose fundamental frequency is time-varying is disclosed. The electrical system includes a pulse width modulator which provides a pulse train signal. The system also includes a power source connected to the pulse width generator. The system further includes a binary counter having an input and a plurality of outputs, wherein the pulse train signal generated by the pulse width modulator is operatively coupled to the input of the binary counter. A plurality of resistors are operatively coupled to the plurality of outputs of the binary counter and operatively coupled to a node. A timing resistor is operatively coupled between a first voltage potential and the node, while a timing capacitor is operatively coupled between the node and a second voltage potential. The node is operatively coupled to an input of the pulse width modulator.

Abstract: A standard slow wave meander line having sections of alternating impedance relative to a conductor plate is provided with a top shield connected to the conductor plane for the purpose of lowering the resonant frequency of narrow band antennas and lowering the low frequency cutoff limit of wide band antennas due to a higher delay per unit length occasioned by the use of the top shield. The shielded meander line may be utilized as a coupling device to truncated antennas such as a whip antenna or grounded loop antenna for the purposes of loading the antenna so as to provide lower frequency performance. Since the propagation constant of the meander line structure depends upon the number of high impedance/low impedance transitions per unit length, the utilization of the top shield results in more phase shifts per unit length and thus more delay per unit length, with the symmetric double sided version having double the number of transitions per unit length.

Abstract: A method of locating an assembly point (P) on a first part (40), at which assembly point the first part is to be joined to a second part (1), the method comprising the steps of: determining an assembly location (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) in respect of the second part; measuring a portion (42a, 42b, 42c) of a surface (43) of the first part, the surface being spaced away from the second part, so as to define the position and orientation of the surface; and, calculating the assembly point on the surface of the first part, where the surface of the first part is intersected by a vector (N) passing between the determined assembly location and the surface of the first part.

Abstract: Described herein is an improved reference surface (10) which can be used for calibrating cooled infra red detectors. The reference surface (10) comprises a plurality of corner cube units (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22) which reflect radiation directly incident on them. The surface of each corner cube unit (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22) is partially reflective and partially emissive so that, when imaged by a cryogenically cooled detector, the reference surface (10) appears as a black body source at a lower temperature than the actual temperature thereof.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for controlling the deployment of a towline connecting a mooring craft to an ejected object comprising the steps of monitoring velocity to determine when a point for optimum braking has been achieved and then engaging a brake system to retard deployment of the towline, a DC motor augments and controls the brake system. The DC motor further controls the retrieval of the object. A cutter mechanism uses a first blade to grip the towing cable to maintain tension thereon as a second blade cuts the cable. A spring biased boom in combination with spring biased fins on the ejected object rapidly deploys the object from its storage housing. A locking mechanism secures the deployment mechanism in a stable locked position upon the object reaching its fully extended position.

Abstract: An X-band capable track and hold amplifier capable of handling input frequencies of greater than 1 GHz, and as high as 15 GHz. The amplifier is built using a pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (PHEMT) process which gives high yield and uniformity.

Abstract: GaAs substrates with compositionally graded buffer layers for matching lattice constants with high-Indium semiconductor materials such as quantum well infrared photoconductor devices and thermo photo voltaic devices are disclosed.

Abstract: A transponder receiver for detecting different radio frequency (RF) interrogation mode signals having relatively wide and narrow bandwidths about a common RF center or carrier frequency. A front end stage of the receiver has a preselector with a wide band RF filter for passing both of the wide and the narrow bandwidth interrogation mode signals about the RF center frequency, and a mixer for converting signals from the preselector to frequencies within an intermediate frequency (IF) band. A first IF channel has a narrow band IF filter with a pass band sufficiently wide to pass first IF signals corresponding to the narrow bandwidth interrogation mode signals, but to reject signals corresponding to undesired interfering signals at frequencies near the narrow bandwidth interrogation mode signals. A second IF channel has a wide band IF filter with a pass band sufficiently wide to pass second IF signals corresponding to the desired wide bandwidth interrogation mode signals.

Abstract: An electromagnetic protection ASIC that includes a high transconductance FET switch array operatively arranged to momentarily short all lines of ingress/egress to ground when triggered by a nuclear event detector.

Abstract: In an ATM satellite communication system, congestion parameters for the downlink from the satellite are measured in the satellite and are broadcast to the downlink terminals or to the downlink and uplink terminals linked by virtual channels extending through the satellite. At a downlink terminal or uplink terminal, the parameters broadcast from the satellite are used to calculate an explicit rate for a virtual channel in the downlink. The explicit rate calculated at the terminal is used by the source for the virtual channel to determine the rate of transmission of Available Bit Rate cells on the virtual channel.