Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing, via a single fabrication line, circuits that are radiation tolerant and also circuits that are radiation intolerant. When production calls for radiation-tolerant circuits, low-pressure chemical vapor deposition is advantageously used to deposit an electrically-insulating material, such as silicon dioxide, in trenches to provide electrical isolation between adjacent semiconductor devices. When production requires radiation-intolerant circuits, as may be required for export, then the trenches are filled via a procedure that deposits an electrically-insulating material that, on exposure to ionizing radiation, generates a suitably large amount of “positive charge traps.” One procedure suitable for creating such positive charge traps is high-density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDPCVD).

Abstract: A method is disclosed herein for measuring similarity between a first vector and a second vector wherein (i) each element of the first vector represents a first reflectance associated with a respective one of a plurality of spectral bands, and (ii) each element of the second vector represents a second reflectance associated with a respective one of such plurality of spectral bands. The method contemplates determining a magnitude difference and a shape difference between the first vector and the second vector. A similarity between the first vector and the second vector is computed on the basis of the magnitude difference and the shape difference. Further, an image processing method is disclosed herein in which a first input pixel is extracted from a received spectral image or other data source. The first input pixel is converted into a first vector, wherein each element in the first vector represents a reflectance of a respective one of a plurality of spectral bands.

Abstract: An active armor system, which includes a first armor layer and a second armor layer. An interior space is interposed between the first and second armor layer. A third layer is also positioned preferably adjacent to and on the inner side of the first layer This third layer is comprised of a material selected from a piezoelectric material, and electrostrictive material, and a magnetostrictive material. The third layer may also be characterized as any material capable of producing an electrical or magnetic field within the space in response to the application of mechanical force on this third layer. The application of force on the third layer as a result of the impacting of a shaped charge projectile on the first armor layer will result in the production of an electric or magnetic charge in the interior space which will disrupt the formation of the shaped charge gas jet so as to prevent the penetration of the second armor layer.

Abstract: A thermoelectric microactuator on a substrate includes a first temperature control element having a first surface bonded to the substrate and having a second surface. A first electrically nonconductive layer has a first surface bonded to the second surface of the first temperature control element and has a second surface. An actuator arm includes a first region bonded to the second surface of the first nonconductive layer and includes a flexure contiguously extending from the first region to an end cantilevered beyond the first nonconductive layer and forming an axis at the junction of the flexure and the first region. The first temperature control element controls the temperature of the actuator arm to thereby deflect the flexure about the axis.

Abstract: A dual band/dual mode meander line antenna which include a ground plane, and a pair of substantially vertical radiating surface elements disposed substantially parallel to one another and perpendicular to ground plane. A generally horizontal top plate element is in substantially parallel relations to the ground plane. A wide band meander line element is capacitively connected to the horizontal top radiating element. At least one narrow band meander line element connected to the top horizontal radiating element.

Abstract: A transducer probe has a fully populated, integrated, matrix array of acoustical transducers for ultrasound imaging. The transducer arrays include tiled subarrays of transducers which may be switched (e.g., in real-time) between vertical and horizontal modes, and may further be configured to perform a first level of transmit and receive beam forming functionality with either horizontal or vertical scanning. Example applications include medical imaging, materials testing, and sonar systems.

Abstract: A laminar flow control system for incorporation in, for example, an aircraft flying surface includes a suction panel comprising a perforated skin (20, 40) mounted on a base member (60), a plenum chamber (30) being in communication with a plurality of micro channels (90) formed in the top surface of the base member (60), the micro channels (90) being in communication with the holes (40) in the skin (20).

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting optical components and adjusting its orientation with respect to the optical axis of other components in an optical system. In one embodiment, the multi-axis gimbal mounting apparatus utilizes a single piece main structure having a pair of live hinges and a locking feature that enhances two kinds of stability. First, the adjustable elements of the mount remain in the intended position when the locking mechanism is actuated with minimal cross-talk between the locking features and the adjustment features. Second, the adjustable elements of the mount remain in the intended position when the mount or the system in which it resides is exposed to extreme environmental perturbations of vibration, temperature, shock, and acceleration. This mount is suitable for use in military laser systems, cryogenic systems, and other industrial optical instruments subjected to harsh environments such as aircraft, ship, and battlefield deployed devices.

Abstract: A method of design and manufacture of an assembly of components including selecting KCs of the type, Product KCs, Assembly KCs or Manufacturing KCs is provided. The method includes the steps of identifying potential KCs and carrying out a risk assessment for variation of the potential KCs based upon four values, namely probability of failure or variation; the severity of the variation; the detectability of the variation, and the repairability of the variation. Scores attributed to each said value may then be multiplied together to produce the risk assessment. Once the KCs have been selected, a process of feature identification and classification for the KC may be carried out, followed by establishment of assembly precedence of features for the KC.

Abstract: To provide horizon to zenith reception coverage for Differential GPS operations, two antennas with complementary patterns may be used. An antenna for high-angle coverage includes a ring of four dipoles excited to provide progressive-phase-omnidirectional (PPO) coverage. A cylindrical (e.g., octagonal) structure, with an upper edge at the diode horizontal centerline, extends upward from a ground plane section. An absorber configuration having a serrated upper edge portion extends around the dipoles above the cylindrical structure and has radiation absorption properties. For an octagonal configuration, the absorber configuration may include eight resistance card sections with triangular portions extending above the wall structure. A conical antenna pattern expanding upwardly can provide omnidirectional coverage above a selected elevation angle (e.g., above 55° elevation).

Abstract: A dual mode seeker for intercepting a reentry vehicle or other target is disclosed. In one embodiment, the seeker is configured with an onboard 3D ladar system coordinated with an onboard IR detection system, where both systems utilize a common aperture. The IR and ladar systems cooperate with a ground based reentry vehicle detection/tracking system for defining a primary target area coordinate and focusing the IR FOV thereon. The IR system obtains IR image data in the IR FOV. The ladar system initially transmits with a smaller laser FOV to illuminate possible targets, rapidly interrogating the IR FOV. The ladar system obtains data on each possible target to perform primary discrimination assessments. Data fusion is employed to resolve the possible targets as between decoys/clutter and a reentry vehicle. The laser FOV is expandable to the IR FOV. Robust and reliable discrimination is obtained at high altitudes.

Abstract: An apparatus to substantially minimize low-cycle fatigue of at least one electrical connection between a first component and a second component includes at least one thermoelectric device to thermally contact at least the first component and includes at least one sensor that is coupled to at least one of the first component or the second component. A controller is provided and coupled to the at least one thermoelectric device and to the at least one sensor. The controller controls operation of the thermoelectric device to substantially minimize low-cycle fatigue by transferring heat from at least the first component in response to signals from the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A high-density electronics package compromises a chip-stack having a plurality of ICs. Oblong-shaped bumps comprising an electrically-conductive bonding material are disposed along one side of each IC in the chip-stack. The one side of each IC bearing the bumps is aligned with the bump-bearing side of all other ICs in the chip-stack. A portion of each oblong-shaped bump extends beyond the edge of its host IC. This portion of each bump is available to electrically and mechanically connect the chip stack to the next packaging layer, such as a printed circuit board.

Abstract: Detection of remote acoustic signals is achieved using a pulse to pulse coherent laser beam which is projected from a telescope to a remote region that contains acoustic signals from a nearby source. Light from the beam is scanned in the region and a resultant signal collected by a telescope. The signal and a reference are applied to an interferometer and the resultant interference pattern applied to a photoreceiver. An alternating current is produced across the photoreceiver which corresponds to the scattered light from the beam caused by the periodic movement of acoustic signals through a region. The detector can be used to determine the curvature of an acoustic signal wavefront and to detect the location of a source producing the acoustic signals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for compensating a radiation sensor for temperature variations of the sensor. In one example, the radiation sensor is a thermal sensor having at least one property that varies as a function of temperature. The thermal sensor outputs signals based on thermal radiation of interest from a particular radiating body in its view. These signals may contain significant undesirable components due in part to changes in temperature of the sensor itself. Methods and apparatus of the invention compensate the sensor for temperature variations of the sensor that are not due to the radiation of interest, so as to significantly reduce undesirable components in the instantaneous signals output by the sensor. In one example, this is accomplished without thermally stabilizing the sensor itself (i.e., dynamic temperature compensation).

Abstract: A wideband meander line loaded antenna is provided with a capacitive feed to lower the reactance of the meander line antenna such that at lower frequencies the antenna reactance goes negative to cancel out the reactance of the meander line and distributed capacitance. The resultant lowering of the low frequency cut-off for the antenna permits the antenna to be used, for instance, in cellular phone applications in which not only are the cellular frequencies accommodated by the antenna, but also PCS and GPS frequencies as well. With the capacitive, feed the low frequency cut-off is lowered by as much as 30% over standard meander line loaded antennas.

Abstract: A system is provided for reducing the time that a ship must be maintained on station to collect calibration data by reducing the frequencies at which calibration data is to be collected. Since it is impractical to consider calibrating over elevation angle and polarization on the full-scale ship, an accurate scale model and test facility are utilized, with surface wave data being collected from the ship before model-based data can be utilized. In the subject system, the number of calibration frequencies used aboard ship is dramatically reduced by as much as 80%, thus reducing the time the ship must be on station when doing a calibration run. In one embodiment, the shipboard surface wave data for one elevation and one polarization is combined with surface wave and sky wave data from the scale model to generate an array manifold or database used in subsequent direction finding activities.

Abstract: A method and a system for implementing the method for determining an exposure gap between a mask and a resist material are provided. A first gratings is provided on one or more sides of a first structure defined by one or more first regions of the mask. A second gratings is provided on one or more sides of a second structure defined be one or more second regions of the mask. The first and the second structures are exposed to incident energy and the difference between a location in the first structure and a location in the second structure is measured. The exposure zap is extrapolated from the difference. The first and second structures are provided on the mask. The first gratings and the second gratings is provided by a mask writing tool.

Abstract: A method for fabricating resistors within a semiconductor integrated circuit device is disclosed. A resistor is fabricated by first depositing a passivation layer on a semiconductor substrate having multiple transistors previously formed thereon. Next, a first contact window and a second contact window are formed through the first passivation layer at a first contact location and a second contact location, respectively. The first and second contact windows are then filled with metal, such as tungsten, and the metal at the first and second contact windows is planarized to form a first bottom contact and a second bottom contact, respectively. A resistive film, such as polysilicon, subsequently deposited over the first passivation layer. Next, a second passivation layer is formed over the resistive film. Finally, a first top contact and a second top contact are formed to respectively connect the first bottom contact and the second bottom contact to the resistive film.

Abstract: A radiation hardened silicon-on-insulator transistor is disclosed. A dielectric layer is disposed on a substrate, and a transistor structure is disposed on the dielectric layer. The transistor structure includes a body region, a source region, a drain region, and a gate layer. The body region is formed on a first surface portion of the dielectric layer, the source region is formed on a second surface portion of the dielectric layer contiguous with the first surface portion, the drain region is formed on a third surface portion of the dielectric layer contiguous with the first surface portion, and the gate layer overlies the body region and being operative to induce a channel in that portion of the body region disposed between and adjoining the source region and the drain region. In addition, multiple diffusions are placed across two edges of the source region.