Abstract: A method for measuring thermal differences in infrared emissions from semiconductors, the method utilizing an image sensor including an array detector having a plurality of detector elements which produce signals corresponding to semiconductor radiation emission focused thereupon by an optical lens system. At least one bandpass filter is utilized to substantially filter that portion of the semiconductor radiation emission having wavelengths greater than 5 micrometers. The detector element signals are processed to identify performance degrading phenomena occurring in the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A modular processor unit, known as an ASP unit (50), is provided for intelligently enhancing a conventional physical security system (20) without significant reconfiguration. The unit (50) is installable between conventional sensors (30) and a conventional transponder (28), the transponder being in communication with a central control station (22) of the system. The ASP unit (50) analyzes, over a period of time, a plurality of preselected features of the signal received from said sensor and used the features to evaluate a polynomial and thereby classify an event as an intrusion or a nuisance. The ASP unit (50) further includes an output state simulation relay switch (72) responsive to the classification for simulating an element of the sensor (30) and for providing an output state to the transponder (28). In one embodiment, the ASP unit (50) is connected by an ASP communications network (52) to a retraining workstation (54).

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting a particular type of particle in an energy range of interest are provided. The apparatus includes two photomultipliers (24, 26) which are spaced apart in facing relation to one another. A scintillator (22) is positioned between the photomultipliers (24, 26). The scintillator (22) comprises an array of optical fibers, preferably light pipes (40), arranged substantially contiguously side-by-side. Each of the light pipes (40) has a first end proximate the first photomultiplier (24) and an opposing second end proximate the second photomultiplier (26). Each light pipe (40) has one of its ends being non-transmissive of light. The light pipes are arranged so that contiguous ones of the light pipes (40) do not have their same ends being non-transmissive of light. Each of the light pipes (40) in the array have a cross sectional dimension thereof chosen in relation to a distance that the particular type of particle in the energy range of interest can travel.

Abstract: Method and appartus are provided for mitigating orbital debris by using a collision medium to promote hyper-velocity collisions with orbital debris, and to trap any debris remaining after said collision in a manner whereby the remaining debris is retrievable. In a first embodiment, the collision medium comprises streams of liquid droplets which are directed proximate the interior of an intake cone (30) toward a collector (34). As hyper-velocity orbital debris collides with the stream or droplets comprising the collision medium, the orbital debris is substantially vaporized. The stream further serves to entrain any residual debris remaining after the collision, and to usher the residual debris to the collector (34) wherein both the stream and the residual debris are collected. In another embodiment, the collision medium comprises a plurality of filaments (430, 434, 436, 438) mounted on a substrate (414).

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a circuit using a relatively inexpensive relatively slow sampling rate A-D converter which provides resolution which is far superior to that obtained normally from the A-D converter being used. This is accomplished by providing a variable delay circuit wherein the delay is controllable. The maximum delay of the delay circuit is matched to the sampling rate of the A-D converter being used. The delay is then varied so that trigger pulses for commencing a sampling cycle are commenced at different points along the wave or information signal being sampled so that, after several different amounts of delay have been provided to information initiating triggering pulses, the information signal will have been sampled at various points therealong to provide the higher degree of resolution required while still using a relatively inexpensive slow sampling rate A-D converter.