Abstract: A composite armor 10 and method for making it. The armor 10 has a honeycomb core 12 that is provided with polygonal openings 14 and oppositely facing sides 16, 18. Inserts 20 are placed within at least some of the openings. A pair of sheets 22, 24 are respectively secured to the oppositely facing sides of the honeycomb core to close the openings, thereby containing fracture debris after impact, and to provide reinforcement. One method of making the composite armor includes: providing a honeycomb core having polygonal openings; adhering a sheet to cover the polygonal openings that are located on one side of the honeycomb core; at least partially filling at least some of the openings with a resin; placing one or more inserts within at least some of the openings; and adhering a front sheet to the oppositely facing side of the honeycomb core. A preferred manufacturing practice involves resin infusion.

Abstract: A software-defined radio includes a communications security processor (221) configured to transmit and receive a plurality of waveforms under a plurality of communications standards, and a reconfigurable resource configured to execute a plurality of software programs. Each of the software programs is capable of reconfiguring the reconfigurable resource to emulate one of a plurality of processors to process a portion of the plurality of waveforms under one of the plurality of communications standards. The reconfigurable resource is implemented on a single chip. In one embodiment, the reconfigurable resource is a field programmable gate array (301). In the same or another embodiment, at least one of the plurality of processors is a digital signal processor (400, 500, 700, 1000).

Abstract: An active signal suppression system utilizes multi-rate recombinant transmultiplexer (56) to suppress or cancel an undesired signal (46) from a wideband composite signal (40) to be applied to an analog to digital converter (20). The transmultiplexer (56) includes a first demultiplexer (88,90), multiplier (100), switch (120), and multiplexer (128,130). The demultiplexer and multiplexer each have a poly phase filter and Fast Fourier Transform pair which permit channelization and facilitate the generation of a cancellation signal (145) for suppression of the undesired signal. Signal cancellation circuit (60) receives the composite signal (40) at one input (70) and the cancellation signal (145) at another input (76). A minimum mean square estimation circuit (MMSE) (158) and a second demultiplexer (145, 146) are included in a feedback circuit to provide error correction.

Abstract: A guidance seeker system for a projectile includes a plurality of photoconductive sensing elements symmetrically disposed about a central axis of the projectile. When a target is illuminated with a light source, a lens transmits light reflected from the target to one or more of the photoconductive sensing elements. Dependent on which photoconductive sensing element is irradiated, a variance between the line of flight of the projectile and the target is determined. A voltage impulse resulting from irradiation of the photoconductive sensing element triggers actuation of a course corrector, such as a diverter, to nudge the line of flight of the projectile to increase the likelihood of the projectile reaching the desired target. This guidance seeking system is particularly effective when the target is designated with a pulsed laser.

Abstract: A fire extinguisher includes a gas generator for pressurizing a suppressant. The generator includes an ignition cord within a flexible tube extending within an interior of an extinguisher bottle. Advantageously, there is additional generant between the tube and the ignition cord. The extinguisher may be manufactured as a retrofit of an existing hand-held supercharged extinguisher.

Abstract: A system for locating parallel arcing faults in a set of wires is described. The system includes three devices that can be used in combination or alone. A first device applies a current to a wire while grounding the remaining wires of the set of wires so as to cause the parallel arc, the first device being adapted to locate the parallel arcing fault using one or more leading edges of one or more electromagnetic waveforms being conducted on the wire under test. A second device comprises a controller and two or more receivers, each receiver being electrically coupled to the controller for receiving one or more leading edges of one or more electromagnetic waveforms being radiated by the parallel arcing fault. A third device senses one or more leading edges of one or more electromagnetic waveforms as well as the ultrasonic emissions emitted from the parallel arcing fault.

Abstract: A first optical fiber, a second optical fiber, and a prism are used to turn light through 180° in a small space. The prism can be a discrete microprism or a custom prism specially made using precision molding techniques or by specially machining a section of coreless optical fiber using precision machining techniques. A precision holder or substrate can be used to facilitate molding of a prism and/or assembly of the overall apparatus.

Abstract: A direct conversion receiver includes a differential mode mixer with first and second DC coupled amplifier chains, the first and second amplifier chains are connected to the mixer for amplifying differential signals. A common mode offset correction circuit is coupled to the first and second amplifier chains so as to feedback correction signals that cause common mode DC offsets in the first and second amplifier chains to be equal and opposite. A differential mode offset correction circuit is coupled to the first and second amplifier chains so as to feedback correction signals that cause differential mode DC offsets in the first and second amplifier chains to be equal. The only solution for the two correction circuits is zero DC offset.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system (90) is provided that supports a high degree of separation between processing elements. The computer-implemented system (90) comprises a plurality of cells (92) residing on the computer-implemented system, where each cell (92) includes a domain of execution (94) and at least one processing element (96); a separation specification (99) that governs communication between the processing elements (96); and a kernel (98) of an operating system that facilitates execution of the processing elements (96) and administers the communication between the processing elements (96) in accordance with the separation specification (99), such that one processing element (96) can influence the operation of another processing element (96) only as set forth by the separation specification (99). In particular, the separation specification provides memory allocation, remote procedure calls and exception handling mechanisms.

Abstract: A hardware resource manager (18) dynamically allocates hardware resources in a software-defined communications system. The hardware resource manager (18) creates a specification of required hardware resources (300) necessary for executing a system application. The hardware resource manager (18) then creates a list of candidate hardware resources (306) from the plurality of available hardware resources in response to an application creating its own abstract resource specification (78) of required hardware resources. The hardware resource manager (18) then maps each required hardware resource on the specification of required hardware resources to a least functional and most available candidate hardware resource on the list of candidate hardware resources in a manner that maximally preserves most functional and least available candidate hardware resources on the list of candidate hardware resources (316-326).

Abstract: A guidance seeker system for a projectile includes a plurality of photoconductive sensing elements symmetrically disposed about a central axis of the projectile. When a target is illuminated with a light source, a lens transmits light reflected from the target to one or more of the photoconductive sensing elements. Dependent on which photoconductive sensing element is irradiated, a variance between the line of flight of the projectile and the target is determined. A voltage impulse resulting from irradiation of the photoconductive sensing element triggers actuation of a course corrector, such as a diverter, to nudge the line of flight of the projectile to increase the likelihood of the projectile reaching the desired target. This guidance seeking system is particularly effective when the target is designated with a pulsed laser.

Abstract: A data security system (26) provides cryptographic services in a multiprocessor platform (20) supporting a distributed application (22). The distributed application (22) includes a cryptographic object (52) that is executable exclusively on the data security system (26). An input interface object (102), a cryptographic function (90), and an output interface objection (104) form the cryptographic object (52). The data security system (26) includes a first processor element (92) for executing the input interface object (102), a second processor element (94) for executing the cryptographic function (90), and a third processor element (96) for executing the output interface object (104). The combination of data security system (26) and cryptographic object (52) ensures the separation of plain text data (46) from cipher text data (48).

Abstract: Two neural networks are used to control adaptively a vibration and noise-producing plant. The first neural network, the emulator, models the complex, nonlinear output of the plant with respect to certain controls and stimuli applied to the plant. The second neural network, the controller, calculates a control signal which affects the vibration and noise producing characteristics of the plant. By using the emulator model to calculate the nonlinear plant gradient, the controller matrix coefficients can be adapted by backpropagation of the plant gradient to produce a control signal which results in the minimum vibration and noise possible, given the current operating characteristics of the plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a number of techniques for laminating and interconnecting multiple high-layer-count (HLC) substrates to form a multilayer package or other circuit component. A solder bump may be formed on the conductive pad of at least one of two HLC substrates. The solder bump preferably is formed from an application of solder paste to the conductive pad(s). An adhesive film may be positioned between the surfaces of the HLC substrates having the conductive pads, where the adhesive film includes an aperture located substantially over the conductive pads such that the conductive pads and/or solder bumps confront each other through the aperture. The HLC substrates then may be pressed together to mechanically bond the two substrates via the adhesive. The solder bump(s) may be reflowed during or after the lamination to create a solder segment that provides an electrical connection between the two conductive pads through the aperture in the adhesive film.

Abstract: A launcher platform including a support structure and a number of rails mounted on the support structure for supporting missiles thereon, each adjacent rail elevated above the other rails to accommodate additional missiles and different type missiles while maintaining low center of gravity.

Abstract: An amphibian bridge-forming and ferrying vehicle has a self-propelled main floating body having a main deck and two foldable lateral floating bodies having a lateral deck, respectively. Two foldable, hydraulically liftable and lowerable folding ramps with a ramp base and a ramp tip are provided. The folding ramps are connected to the lateral floating bodies. The ramp tips rest against the topside of the ramp bases, respectively, when the folding ramps are in a folded position. The main deck, the lateral decks, and the folding ramps together form a continuous roadway.

Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator in which a tunable resonator (102) having a first port (132) and a second port (106) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the tunable resonator is a series resonating circuit having low driving and load impedances. A power gain element (108) is coupled to the first port and the second port, and an output port (110) is coupled to the power gain element and the second port. The first impedance at the first and second ports is less than approximately ten ohms. The voltage-controlled oscillator is capable of generating a signal at the output port of greater than approximately half a watt.

Abstract: A mobile communications system is disclosed in which at least a first ground station (12) and a second ground station (14) are connected by a backbone link (16) configured to carry backbone traffic. A first satellite (18) is coupled to the first ground station and to a first set of user terminals (22) by a first set of user links (24). A second satellite (20) is coupled to the second ground station and to a second set of user terminals (26) by a second set of user links (28). Both the first set of user links and the second set of user links are configured to carry user traffic. Each of the set of ground stations is configured to reallocate at least one of the user links to accommodate backbone traffic.

Abstract: An apparatus for electronic data storage is disclosed. The apparatus includes any number of discrete data storage devices mounted on a card which readily can be inserted into and removed from an associated piece of electronic equipment, such as a computer. One or more controllers mounted on the card or remotely control the transfer of data to and from each discrete data storage device. Multiple cards containing one or more discrete data storage devices can be arrayed for use in connection with any number of associated electronic apparatus.

Abstract: A communication system (20) employs fixed rate channel-optimized, trellis-coded quantization (COTCQ) at a plurality of diverse encoding bit rates. COTCQ is performed through a COTCQ encoder (40) and COTCQ decoder (54). The COTCQ encoder and decoder (40,54) each include a codebook table (62) having at least one codebook (64) for each encoding bit rate. Each codebook (64) is configured in response to the bit error probability of the channel (26) through which the communication system (20) communicates. The bit error probability influences codebooks through the calculation of channel transition probabilities for all combinations of codewords (90) receivable from the channel (26) given all combinations of codewords (90) transmittable through the channel (26). Channel transition probabilities are responsive to base channel transition probabilities and the hamming distances between indices for codewords within subsets of the transmittable and receivable codewords.