Abstract: An integrated resistor includes a resistor body region and a resistor contact region that is aligned with the body region. Because the resistor includes an aligned body and contact, it often occupies a smaller area than prior integrated resistors having a similar resistance value. A method for forming such a resistor is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for metal plating an article comprising a frame having a plurality of sealing members positioned thereon, the frame being capable of conducting an electrical current between sealing members, each sealing member being adapted to be in close contact with part of an article to be located thereon, and to thereby substantially prevent fluid from touching that part of the article or entering into a bore or recess of the article, each sealing member further being adapted to conduct current between the frame and the article.

Abstract: A threshold device or comparator comprises an array of energy emitters, e.g. light emitting diodes (16) or diode arrangements. The bits of a binary string are supplied to respective diodes or diode arrangements, which have the property of emitting energy of a distinguishable different characteristic depending on whether the applied bit is a 0 or 1. Sensors (18, 20) sensitive to the intensities of the respective different characteristics detect the intensities and a comparator 24 provides an output indicating the relative quantities of 0's and 1's in the binary string.

Abstract: An under voltage lockout {overscore (RESET)} circuit is connected to the {overscore (RESET)} terminal of a EEPROM. The EEPROM is used in a system which may include a computer or processor and which may be used in space. The under voltage lockout {overscore (RESET)} circuit maybe an under voltage lockout circuit used on a LinFinity SG1526/B or a Unitrode UC1526 regulating pulse width modulator which maintain the {overscore (RESET)} voltage low at all values of power supply voltage source voltage less than a predetermined level. In one embodiment the under voltage lockout {overscore (RESET)} circuit output voltage does not have a “floating voltage” which rises to a level higher than its value when a comparator initially senses that a power supply voltage source voltage is less than the predetermined amount. This is a flat {overscore (RESET)} characteristic under voltage lockout.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photonic local oscillator signal generator. The generator includes a plurality of waveguides fabricated in a single substrate. The waveguides are fabricated with a lateral separation that enables an evanescent tail of an optical mode field generated in one waveguide to overlap with an evanescent tail of an optical mode field generated in an adjacent waveguide. The overlap of the evanescent tails produce cross-coupling between the laser light generated in the adjacent waveguides. The generator uses a common pumping element to pump laser cavities of both of the waveguides. The use of a common pumping element and the cross-coupling produces phase locking between the laser light generated in the plurality of waveguides. As a result of the phase locking, mutual optical coherence between the laser light is achieved. The mutual optical coherence provides an interference signal upon photodetection.

Abstract: A device for changing the divergence of a beam of microwave radiation comprises a ferrite body having an aperture through which the beam passes. Magnetic wires pass both through the body and across the aperture, or a magnetic coil on either side of the aperture, causes a differential phase delay as the beam passes through the aperture which broadens or narrows the beam.

Abstract: Pyrotechnic compositions having combustion reaction products that include a high percentage of carbon dioxide at high temperatures. These pyrotechnic compositions include a fuel component having combustion product with a relatively high percentage of carbon to hydrogen content, such as an aromatic polycarboxylic anhydride fuel component. These pyrotechnic compositions may be employed to emit infrared radiation from a decoy flare or other device. The compositions may also be employed as a gas generating propellant for a projectile, such as a flare or rocket, or for other applications such as an automobile airbag. These pyrotechnic compositions emit infrared emissions with minimized short wavelength components, and produce substantially non-toxic combustion gases having relatively small amounts of water vapor.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing simultaneous jamming of a number of missiles is disclosed comprising a plurality of reticles each having a pattern therein which provides necessary spin frequency and carrier frequency (if required) for the missile to be jammed. The reticles are arranged in series and modulate a source of radiation and generate the spin and carrier frequencies by blocking or rejecting radiation within the spectral passband of the missile to be jammed.

Abstract: An expendable jammer is ejected as a decoy from a target in which the jammer includes a single port, keyed primed oscillator which is primed with the low level signal received at its antenna. The priming signal is injected directly into the tank circuit of the oscillator which is rapidly turned on and off (keyed) to produce a rapidly pulsed signal which tracks the frequency of the priming signal. The resultant signal from the oscillator is transmitted back to the receiving section of the radar initiating the signal in such a manner that the receiver cannot distinguish the individual pulses of returned energy due to the high PRF of the returned signal. Thus the signal from the jammer is detected as a CW signal. The expendable jammer also has a multiple threat capability in which simultaneously arriving signals from different sources result in a jammer output at each of the different frequencies of the incoming signals with sufficient jamming power at each frequency.

Abstract: A low profile, broadband includes an active conductive edge having a shape which approximates a quadratic curve. Two identical elements may be used in an opposed manner to form signals across their respective active edges, and two pairs of opposed identical elements may be used in quadrature for handling circularly polarized signals with a high degree of polarization purity. The quadratic curvature of the elements can provide sufficient space to co-locate a second, smaller antenna within the same volume and aperture as the larger antenna. Applications include combinations of a wide variety of current communications systems.

Abstract: A thermal imaging device comprises an array of microbridges(10) disposed on a silicon readout circuit substrate (12). Each microbridge (10) is supported above the substrate (12) by electrodes (14 and 16) so that a cavity (26) is present between the microbridge (10) and the substrate (12). Each microbridge (10) has a collecting area, a region of which is occupied by a ferroelectric active element (20) which converts to received thermal radiation into an electrical response. Radiation which is received by regions of the collecting area not occupied by the active element (20) is converted into heat energy and then transmitted to the active element (20) by conduction.

Abstract: An insulated gate field effect transistor or a CMOS pair of transistors of a family of logic circuits includable in any type of integrated circuit, including microprocessors, memories and logic macros, and any or all functional portions thereof preferably forms an asymmetrical conduction device junction integrally with the gate structure to provide hysteresis that yields increased noise immunity and reduced power consumption and dissipation by asymmetric alteration of switching thresholds for positive and negative input signal transitions such that the turn-ON transition time or speed is slowed relative to the turn-OFF transition time or speed. The asymmetric conduction function is preferably provided by a polysilicon diode junction which is exposed and allowed to function as such by masking prior to application of a conductive material to the gate structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low-cost, frequency-tunable, steerable, reflector array capable of simulating the electromagnetic effects of a parabolic or similarly-shaped reflector on a planar or conformal surface. Simple scatterers such as short circuited dipoles, disposed on a geometrically planar or conformal substrate, are configured from a series of scatterer sub-elements, electrically connected serially to one another by MEMS switches. These connected scatterer sub-elements form a reflective array disposed above a ground plane on the substrate. By properly controlling the length and spacing of the activated dipole elements, it is possible to simulate the equiphase reflection profile of a horn feed or sub-reflector feed of a parabolic or similar reflector. In addition, the array may be steered by selectively controlling the scatterer configurations.

Abstract: A method for regeneration of particulate filters or traps in the context of a hybrid electric vehicle includes the step of measuring the back pressure of the filter, and adjusting the engine parameters when the back pressure exceeds a particular value to increase the exhaust temperature, to aid in regeneration. In one mode, the engine speed and engine load are both reset toward particular target values. In another version in which the engine load includes an energy storage device such as a battery, increasing the load includes the step of increasing the battery charge level setpoint. Additionally, for those situations in which the battery cannot accept more charge, a power-dissipating resistor is coupled to an electric source to increase the load. In yet another version, the use of the electrical resistor is made dependent upon the temperature of the filter during regeneration.

Abstract: A method of countermeasuring heat seeking missiles is disclosed in which an infrared source is spatially modulated by providing a beam from the source which is swept past a point in space to produce pulsed infrared energy at this point. In one embodiment the beam is swept around a 360° azimuth for omnidirectional protection.

Abstract: A modulated infrared source is disclosed in which spatial modulation is accomplished by the rotation of beam forming optics about an infrared source in which a portion of the energy in the beam produced includes energy coming directly from the IR source without being reflected. Close to 100% of the energy from the infrared source is focused by rotating parabolically shaped elements, such that energy losses due to the modulation technique are minimized. The speed of the rotation of the reflective optics is minimized while maintaining sufficiently high modulation frequencies by the provision of four beams from a single source.

Abstract: A modulated infrared source is disclosed in which spatial-on-spatial modulation is accomplished by the rotation of two sets of beam forming optics about an infrared source. Close to 100% of the energy from the infrared source is focused by rotating two sets of parabolically shaped mirrors about the IR source such that energy losses due toe modulation technique are minimized. The speed of the rotation of the reflective optics is minimized while maintaining sufficiently high modulation frequencies the initial provision of four beams from a single source. This is accomplished by the first set of beam forming optics. Moreover, the effects of unwanted reflection are minimized by the four beam configuration. The four beams are then themselves modulated by the second set of beam forming optics.

Abstract: A modulated infrared source is disclosed in which spatial modulation is accomplished by the sweeping of an infrared beam past a point in space. In one embodiment close to 100% of the energy from the infrared source is focused by rotating optics including parabolically shaped reflectors about the source such that energy losses due to the modulation technique are minimized due to a single reflection of the energy from the IR source. The speed of the rotation of the reflective optics is minimized while maintaining sufficiently high modulation frequencies by the provision of four beams from a single source. In another embodiment a squirrel cage reflecting system is provided in which the energy from the IR source is reflected twice.

Abstract: A modulated fibre Bragg grating strain gauge assembly for absolute gauging of strain including at least one sensor element (1) in the form of a length of optical fibre containing, along part its length, means for partially reflecting light (1a), means for generating and passing a beam of light (2a) with a spectral feature less than 0.

Abstract: An under voltage lockout {overscore (RESET)} circuit is connected to the {overscore (RESET)} terminal of a EEPROM. The EEPROM is used in a system which may include a computer or processor and which may be used in space. The under voltage lockout {overscore (RESET)} circuit maybe an under voltage lockout circuit used on a LinFinity SG1526/B or a Unitrode UC1526 regulating pulse width modulator which maintain the {overscore (RESET)} voltage low at all values of power supply voltage source voltage less than a predetermined level. In one embodiment the under voltage lockout {overscore (RESET)} circuit output voltage does not have a “floating voltage” which rises to a level higher than its value when a comparator initially senses that a power supply voltage source voltage is less than the predetermined amount. This is a flat {overscore (RESET)} characteristic under voltage lockout.