Abstract: A thin passivating layer (14) of CdTe is formed on a layer of photoconductive HgCdTe (4) by means of electrochemical deposition. The photoconductive layer (4) is used as a cathode. A first anode (26) is fabricated of tellurium and a second anode (28) is fabricated of an inert substance such as graphite. An electrolyte (30) comprises an aqueous solution of CdSO.sub.4 and unsaturated TeO.sub.2. Alternatively, electrolyte (30) can be saturated with TeO.sub.2, in which case a first anode is fabricated of an inert substance, and an optional second anode is fabricated of cadmium. After purifying the cathode (1) and the electrolyte (30), cadmium and tellurium are simultaneously deposited upon cathode (1). Stoichiometric balance is maintained to maximize the resistivity of the passivating CdTe layer (14). This is accomplished by regulating the deposition voltage of cathode (1) with respect to a saturated calomel electrode (22).

Abstract: A modular solar radiation concentrator consists of many identical reflective panels (1), each having the shape of a portion of the surface of a sphere. The panels (1) are mass produced, mounted between a pair of horizontal beams (2) so they can partially rotate about two orthogonal axes, and aligned as part of multi-beam (2) modules (3) on a test fixture so that all panels (1) reflect distant radiation upon a small aperture (36). Spaced occur between all panels (1) when mounted in the concentrator. The reflector support structure (4) has a finite number of identically angled bends so that the overall reflector (47) approximates the surface of a sphere. A solar radiation receiver (34) is hingedly suspended to the support structure (4) at the focal point of each of the panels (1). The reflector (47) is mounted upon an azimuth/elevation mount (6, 46), which rotates reflector (47) 360.degree. about a vertical azimuth axis and 90.degree. or more about an orthogonal elevation axis.

Abstract: A combiner for power combining electromagnetic energy is disclosed. At least two electromagnetic cavities are positioned having intercavity coupling among all cavities: each cavity is tangent to all other cavities and/or external transmission line connections are employed to enhance/provide intercavity coupling. Each cavity contains within it at least one power generating device. An input/output port is connected via a nonreciprocal device to an output load and an injecting oscillator which usually has a lower power level than that of the free-running combiner and a higher spectral purity. The cavities are intentionally tuned to at least two different frequencies. For the two cavity and three cavity embodiments, a greater bandwidth is obtained compared with prior art combiners where the cavities are tuned to the same frequency. The power loss is slight.

Abstract: A launch tube (2) for launching a missile (4) is supported by a single base (6) which enables the tube (2) to pivot about orthogonal yaw and pitch axes. An aerodynamic stabilizing trim tab (20) is positioned within the interior rear of the launch tube (2). During launch, exhaust gases from the missile (4) flow over the trim tab (20), producing a lift torque which balances the torque about the pitch axis caused by gravity acting upon the missile (4). This gravitational torque would otherwise tend to pull the nose of the launch tube (2) increasingly downward as the missile (4) is launched. The angle of incidence of the trim tab (20), its surface area, and its distance from the pitch axis are varied to adjust the lift torque and the drag attributable to the trim tab (20). The drag is used to balance forward frictional force upon the launch tube (2) caused by the motion of the missile (4). The pitch torques and the linear forces are balanced simultaneously.

Abstract: An electromagnetic cavity filter (10) is formed by at least two cavities (12) having electrically conductive walls (40, 15). When more than two cavities (12) are employed, their midpoints do not have to be colinear; rather, it is sufficient that the angle formed by the midpoints of any three successively coupled cavities is an integral multiple of 90.degree.. Thus, a folded "engine block" geometry can be realized such that the filter's input cavity (12) is proximate to the output cavity (12). This allows a canonic filter response. Each cavity (12) is the equivalent to two filter poles because two orthogonal modes of electromagnetic radiation can resonate therewithin. Electrically nonadjacent modes of proximate cavities (12), as well as electrically adjacent modes, can be coupled, permitting elliptic filter functions. Electrically nonadjacent modes are coupled by means of an iris (30) opening between the two cavities (12).

Abstract: An escapement device has a latch plate interposed between an input and output shaft. The latch plate is pivotably connected to the input and output shafts. The latch plate has a shoulder which abuts a coaxially mounted gear ring. The output shaft is spring loaded to rotate in one direction. The input shaft can be rotated to disengage the shoulder of the latch from one of the gear ring teeth to allow the output shaft to rotate under its spring bias until the output shaft repositions the latch shoulder to reengage another one of the gear ring teeth.

Abstract: Methods for growing HgCdTe (15) upon a CdTe substrate (5) using a HgTe source (3) and close-spaced vapor phase epitaxy (CSVPE). A processing temperature T of between 520.degree. C. and 625.degree. C. is employed over a processing time t of between approximately 1/4 and 4 hours. The thickness A of the grown HgCdTe (15) is a linear function of processing time t. The mole fraction x of cadmium in the HgCdTe (15) is a linear function of temperature T and an exponential function of the mole fraction y of mercury in the source (3). The lower the relative amount of mercury in the source (3), the greater the relative amount of mercury in the end product (15), and vice versa. Any crystal plane and any axial orientation of the CdTe substrate (5) can be used without affecting the rate of growth of the HgCdTe (15), the single crystal nature of the HgCdTe (15), or the mirror-like finish of its surface.

Abstract: A coaxial radiating waveguide antenna is disclosed, comprising two conductive concentric right circular cylinders forming a cavity. Equally spaced within the cavity is a set of probes phased in such a manner as to produce TE.sub.21 or a higher order difference mode of radiation. One side of the toroidal antenna is sealed by a flat conductive ring; the other side is generally open and terminates in two flared regions which serve to shape the beam in the desired fashion. A broad null surrounds the boresight axis with major lobes disposed approximately 45.degree. therefrom in the case of TE.sub.31 propagation. The resulting radiation can be circularly or linearly polarized.

Abstract: The amplifier device, which may be an FET power amplifier, is of the type having an operating parameter which exhibits thermal instability under constant electrode bias conditions, and thermal stability when bias is varied as a function of ambient temperature in accordance with an empirically determined relationship.The method involves the empirical determination of the varying bias conditions needed to cause thermal stability of the operating parameter over the required range of temperatures, and the provision of a temperature-compensating power supply which produces the necessary bias at each temperature in the range.The temperature-compensating power supply incorporates a bias monitor circuit to produce a control signal which has a nearly constant value so long as bias conditions are in accordance with the empirically determined relationship at every temperature within the range.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus embodied in a gyroscopic missile seeker to provide a rosette scan pattern of the field of view. A single driving motor is employed with a traction drive assembly to produce the necessary counter-rotation of scanned elements and thereby effect the rosette scan pattern.

Abstract: A new structure for a pressurized metal-gas battery is presented, with emphasis upon reducing weight and volume. Thus, the battery is particularly suitable for spacecraft applications. Positive and negative terminals are moved away from the center axis of the terminating ellipsoidal domes of a cylindrically shaped pressure vessel, thus permitting smaller size and saving weight while providing torsional support to the electrode stack. A center rod and end plates are fabricated of an insulative, chemically resistant material having a high strength-to-weight ratio, and provide both axial and radial support for the electrode stack while permitting expansion and contraction of the pressure vessel independently of the stack.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery cell having positive and negative terminals penetrating the same end of the cell, and equalized internal resistance through all paths connecting electrode modules with the terminals. The equalized resistances insure uniform aging of electrode pairs, thus maximizing the life of the battery. A single equalizing busbar is inserted between the equalized terminal, which can be either the negative or the positive terminal, and that end of the equalized busbar remote from the terminaled end of the cell. The length and linear resistance increment of the equalizing busbar are independent of corresponding parameters for the equalized and non-equalized busbars. The resistance increment between any two adjacent electrode connections along each of the equalized and non-equalized busbars must be the same. A simple way to satisfy this condition is to make the length and linear resistance increment of the equalized and non-equalized busbars substantially equal.

Abstract: This specification discloses how to control the resonant slot length fed by a boxed strip line and a slot array antenna which uses a standing wave to form a broadside and an off broadside main beam. A plurality of linearly arranged elongated slots are fed by one continuous stripline feed conductor. The conductor has conductor portions each associated with one slot and each having a longitudinal axis which is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the associated slot. The conductor portions form a zig-zag pattern, adjacent slots having conductor portions angled at a different direction with respect to the direction of alignment of the slots.

Abstract: A release film is coated with a thin layer of metal by, for example, a vapor deposition process. The film is then stretched over a composite object, made, e.g., of fiberglass-epoxy or graphite-epoxy, which one desires to metallize. A treatment involving either vacuum or pressure and that may involve heat is used to transfer the thin metal layer to the composite object. The stretchable film is then peeled off the object, leaving a metal coating bonded to the object. The epoxy resin or other adhesive in the composite material gives structural integrity to the object as well as provides a bond for the metal, so that the composite object may be molded and metallized in one step. Alternatively, a two-step process of molding then metallizing or metallizing then molding can be employed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a seal which provides effective hermetic sealing of insulated metallic feedthroughs in metallic containers. The device has particular applicability in the fabrication of pressurized metal/gas battery cells such as those used in spacecraft. A conductive terminus protrudes through a metallic vessel which may be pressurized. It is desired to maintain electrical separation between the terminus and the wall of the vessel by means of a dielectric, which is compressed between the terminus and a metallic boss to provide a hermetic seal. The compressive force is applied radially outwardly by means of drawing a nondeformable pin through a hollow cylindrical barrel constituting the terminus, thereby slightly deforming the barrel and grossly deforming the dielectric. The pin may be either pulled out of the barrel from within the vessel or pushed into the barrel from outside the vessel, but in each case force is applied radially outwardly in a gradual, relatively frictionless fashion.

Abstract: In a demodulator for an antipodal data stream, such as a PSK or FSK demodulator, a signal quality measuring circuit having a high dynamic range. Any signal quality parameter can be measured, such as BER and E.sub.b /N.sub.o. The number of zero crossings in a certain error gate is compared with the total scaled number of zero crossings in the sampling interval. These values are translated into a quantitative measure of signal quality by means of a pre-established table of values obtained during calibration of the instrument. The wide dynamic range of the circuit is achieved by using several gates of various widths. The gates are derived from a bit synchronizer; the system functions without the necessity for superimposing upon the data stream any coding information as is common with BER measurement devices of the prior art.

Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit for protecting a transformer from high voltages in those cases where a differential and a common mode output exist at the secondary of the transformer. The differential output is a load having a relatively small voltage thereacross; the common mode output is an output terminal connected to said load and having a relatively high voltage applied thereto. The present invention replaces the transformer with two or more smaller transformers cascaded together. A resistor is connected between the primary and the secondary of each transformer. Together the resistors form a voltage dividing network which splits the single high voltage among all of the transformers, relieving the stress on each. Optional capacitors are connected in parallel across each of the resistors in the case where the interwinding capacitances of the transformers are not equal. Each of the load and the output terminal can be either an a.c. or a d.c. component. If the load is a d.c.

Abstract: In a data link conveying antipodal (two level) data bits, a signal quality measuring circuit using prestored experiential data acquired during a calibration phase. Any signal quality parameter, such as BER and E.sub.b /N.sub.o, can be measured by the circuit. The number of events falling within an error gate is compared with a more universal measure of bit events occurring during the sampling interval. These values are translated into a quantitative measure of signal quality by means of a prestored lookup table. The error gates can be shaped to represent phase deviations, amplitude deviations, or any combination of phase and amplitude deviations. A wide dynamic range can be achieved by using several different gates of various shapes. The gates are derived from a bit synchronizer; the circuit functions without the necessity for superimposing upon the data stream any coding information as is common with BER measurement devices of the prior art.

Abstract: A fully distributed computing system comprises several processors, each having an arbitrarily long unique logical address. A bidirectional bus connects each of the processors and is used for communicating information between and among processors, and for resolving requests from a competing set of processors desiring access to the bus for subsequent communication with another processor. Resolving apparatus, comprising pan-processor control lines and a resolution member within each processor, awards bus access to that competing processor having the lowest logical address. All control lines within the resolving apparatus are bidirectional; as a result, the system "fails soft," i.e., there is no single point of failure in the system; one of the processors can fail without disrupting the operation of the remainder of the system. Each processor's resolution member comprises one or more resolve elements, which can be single-bit, dual-bit, or multi-bit resolve elements.

Abstract: This device provides for a substantially orthogonal transition or connection point between a strip transmission line configuration (one conductor, or two conductors sandwiched around a dielectric support, positioned in air between two ground planes such as might be used in a microwave antenna feed network) and a coaxial line section. The particular construction of the "side-launch transition" suppresses spurious parallel plate modes, and, in the case of two conductors surrounding a dielectric, trapped modes which occur between the two conductors. A U-shaped upper "dam" and corresponding lower "dam," electrically interconnected at several points, surround the termination of the stripline conductor(s) and provide suppression of parallel plate moding at the transition. In the case of two conductors surrounding a dielectric, electrical interconnection at the terminal point of the stripline conductors suppresses the trapped modes before they can be launched.