Abstract: This specification discloses an apparatus and method for supporting and moving an antenna load when tracking a satellite in a synchronous orbit. The apparatus includes three elongated supports all of which are attached to the antenna with couplings having a two degree of freedom of movement and two of which supports are attached to the ground with couplings having a two degree of freedom of movement. A stabilizing member coupled between the two supports having a two degree of movement connection with the ground rigidifies the support apparatus. Adjusting the longitudinal length of the elongated supporting members permits the antenna to be simply and effectively positioned over a wide angular range.

Abstract: 1.

Abstract: This on-line circuit estimates the bit error rate (BER) of a binary data signal stream in the presence of noise uncorrelated with the signal. For a binary data signal having two states, e.g., plus V and minus V biased around a specified reference level (REF), the circuit counts the number of instances in which the received signal deviates more than 2V from the reference level. This accumulated count gives an accurate estimate of the BER over several orders of magnitude variation of the BER. One embodiment counts just the deviations in a positive direction. This circuit functions independently of any bit pattern and can be used for on-line monitoring without decreasing the information carrying capability of the link. The time required to accumulate a statistically significant sample is the same as for a direct comparison between sent and received bits.

Abstract: This specification discloses a microwave circular polarizer for converting a linearly polarized microwave signal to a circularly polarized microwave signal and vice versa. A transducer, such as an Orthomode junction is used to obtain a power split or a power recombination of two orthogonal linear polarizations. To obtain the phase delay required to generate a circularly polarized signal from two linearly polarized signals, the polarizer includes a phase compensator with a pair of waveguides which have appropriate width and length so that signals passing therethrough develop a phase difference therebetween and a composite circularly polarized signal results. The amount of phase shift occurring in each of the waveguides varies with the frequency of the signal in such a way as to produce a high purity circular polarization over a broad frequency band. A phase shift of 90.degree.

Abstract: A highly sensitive non-refrigerated sensor configured in a microwave bridge to receive incident radiation from a remote target or source. A test arm of the microwave bridge has an aperture for receiving the incident radiation and for allowing that radiation to enter the test arm. A photoconductive film is mounted within the test arm to receive a defocused image of the target. The effect of the incident radiation illuminating the photoconductive film is to change its conductivity characteristics and simultaneously change the reflectance/transmittance characteristics within the test arm of the microwave bridge. An RF detector senses the imbalance of the bridge and produces an output which is used to either indicate the strength of the received incident radiation or to feedback information to a reference arm of the bridge. The feedback information is used to adjust the phase and amplitude of the microwave energy in the reference arm and rebalance the bridge.

Abstract: The effects of microphonic noise on the output of an array of commonly-mounted pyroelectric detectors are suppressed by contemporaneously adding the signal outputs from all of the detectors, determining the averaged signal, and separately subtracting the averaged signal from each detector output. The method cancels microphonic noise and reduces random noise with only a slight decrease in the signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A mounting device for a gun pod has a threaded bolt with a head fixed to an airplane wing. The threaded bolt engages a threaded aperture of an inner sleeve rotatably mounted in an aperture of a middle sleeve. The aperture of the middle sleeve is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation thereof. The middle sleeve is rotatably mounted in an aperture through an outer sleeve. The aperture through the outer sleeve is also eccentrically positioned the same amount from the axis of the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve is rotatably mounted in a retainer mounted in an aperture in the gun pod. The gun pod is also pivotably mounted to the airplane wing at a position spaced from the mounting device such that adjustment of the mounting device adjusts the vertical and azimuth angles of the gun pod with respect to the wing.

Abstract: A beam projector which is controlled to alternately transmit rectangular cross-sectional beams substantially parallel to a projection axis, wherein the beams are respectively pulse modulated over a correspondingly distinct pulse rate frequency range to supply yaw and pitch information and are respectively scanned in a direction correspondingly orthogonal to the cross-sectional length of each beam. The size format of the beam cross-sections and the angles of scan are controlled according to a predetermined time variable function. In a first time period, the largest cross-sectional beams are alternately transmitted and the scan angle is decreased as a function of time, so that a fixed area of detectable information is available for detection with respect to an imaginary orthogonal reference plane moving along the projection axis at a rate corresponding to the predetermined time variable function.

Abstract: A lamp assembly in which the lamp housing has a plurality of light bulb sockets and a slot for receiving an electric ribbon cable. The ribbon cable consists of a laminate of dielectric material having a plurality of electrical conductors embedded therein, the conductors having contact surfaces exposed through strategically placed windows in the dielectric material of the ribbon cable. Contact means retained within the housing extend from the exposed contact surface on a specific conductor to a specific light bulb socket.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a hermetically sealed alkali metal battery container. The battery includes a ceramic ring having upper and lower contoured surfaces thereon located on its outer circumferential surface. Outer metal casings defining an upper battery container and a lower battery container are formed so as to have a bell-shaped open end on each one. The bell-shaped open end of respective casings are located adjacent the contoured surfaces formed on the ceramic ring. Each bell-shaped open end of a metal casing has associated therewith a sealing band which engages the open end of the casing to compress the same into engagement with an associated contoured surface of the ceramic ring to form a hermetic seal therebetween.

Abstract: A thermal compensator assembly employed in an optical system to adjust the relative location of lens elements to maintain a preset focus as the ambient temperature changes. A serpentine channel, having several elongated channel portions parallel to the optic axis, contains a plurality of spherical elements throughout most of its length. The serpentine channel is formed on the surface of a first lens barrel, having a relatively high linear coefficient of expansion, and changes in length as the first lens barrel changes in response to ambient temperature change. The spherical elements are made of a material such as Kovar or Invar, having a relatively low linear coefficient of expansion, and therefore occupy a substantially fixed length with respect to the responsively changing length of the serpentine channel. A second lens barrel is bias mounted for movement with respect to the first lens barrel so as to abut the spherical elements within the serpentine channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the astigmatic focusing of a spherical mirror by adjusting the radius of curvature configuration thereof. Adjustment is made by applying a couple to the outer edge of the spherical mirror. A floating support mechanism prevents distortion of the variable curvature mirror as it is oriented at different tracking angles by applying a positive fluid pressure to the convex back surface of the mirror.

Abstract: A linearly expanding and contracting linkage assembly, responsive to changes in temperature, is constructed from a plurality of elongated link elements having alternately dissimilar linear coefficients of expansion. The link elements are adjacently arranged in link pairs and the links in each pair are joined at a first end so as to appear folded. Each pair includes a first link element with a relativey large coefficient of expansion and a second element with a relatively small linear coefficient of expansion, so that the amount of linear movement of the second end of the second element with respect to the second end of the first element in each pair is due to the difference between the dissimilar linear coefficients of expansion.

Abstract: Ablation of single crystal alkaline earth metal halides as barium fluoride is accomplished by contacting them with monovalent acid in fluid medium. Smooth etched surfaces are obtained by hydrogen halide as hydrochloric acid in aqueous solution acting on single crystal barium fluoride.

Abstract: This specification teaches a battery structure of lightweight construction. Such a battery is particularly useful as the power source for a space satellite. The battery structure includes a plurality of cells. Each cell has a plurality of non-strengthened cell walls which contact other nonstrengthened cell walls when the cells are in an assembled condition. Each cell also has strengthened cell walls which do not contact any other cell walls when the cells are in an assembled condition. Structurally strengthened end plates are located at opposite ends of the assembled cells to provide support for any nonstrengthened cell walls of the cells coming in contact therewith. Structure is provided for holding the structurally strengthened end plates and cells in an assembled condition. By strengthening only exposed walls, a lightweight battery construction is achieved.

Abstract: A cyclic motion generator comprising a mechanism capable of providing from a constant speed input a cyclic motion output, either linear or rotary depending on the application, which can be sinusoidal. The new mechanism has the further capability of being conveniently manually infinitely adjustable in amplitude from zero to maximum without requiring stoppage or disconnection of the input or the output.

Abstract: A receiver dryer for a refrigeration system is disclosed. A receiver dryer body is formed in an extrusion operation. The body contains structure defining at least a pair of passageways and structure for mounting a desiccant containing device between such passageways. End caps are provided for closing top and bottom ends of the body. These end caps contact opposite ends of the desiccant containing device whereby the desiccant containing device forms a barrier between the pair of passageways. Fitting members are provided which are connectable to the passageways through the end caps to permit flow of a fluid through the device. The fluid enters a first fitting and proceeds through a first passageway into a compartment on one side of the desiccant containing device. The fluid flows through the desiccant containing device into a second compartment and is removed from the second compartment by flowing out through the second fitting member.