Abstract: A testing system, in particular for weapons and avionics applications, includes a bus interface unit capable of operating as a bus controller, a remote terminal, and a monitor. The bus interface unit is compatible with military standard buses and is controlled using an enhanced Atlas test programming language. Test instruments are provided on cards using a two-part architecture in which common test instruments are arranged as part of a core tester unit while application-specific enhanced are controlled by a separate microprocessor in a functional interface unit.

Abstract: A viewing window is equipped with a selective attenuator for a harmful incoming laser beam. The attenuator principally employs a holographic optical element which selectively deflects the laser beam where it may be absorbed or further deflected. Ordinary light passes undeflected so that it may be processed by optical equipment or a viewer.

Abstract: A re-entrant groove heat pipe provides capillary channel fin surfaces which are smooth, continuous, and offer a large radius of curvature upon which an extended thin film of working liquid may develop. Superior formation of thin films of the working fluid allows heat to be conducted more readily between the surface of the heat pipe and the surface of the fluid where evaporation and condensation takes place.

Abstract: A method of defining component lengths, especially cable lengths, in a radio frequency or microwave system so as to minimize in-phase coupling of voltage reflections in the system involves the use of prime roots of prime numbers as scaling factors which are multiplied with a minimum component length to obtain a list of potential component lengths. The scaled potential component lengths are then screened for accidental relationships with component lengths obtained using lower order roots in order to prevent accidental harmonic relationships from arising in the system, and the resulting screened list is evaluated to ensure that the remaining potential component lengths meet such system requirements as available spans, minimum and maximum component lengths, number of lengths required, and matched Insertion Loss requirements.

Abstract: A magnetically levitated vehicle adapted for movement along a guideway, comprising a passenger compartment, at least first and second primary magnets and a plurality of confining magnets. The first and second primary magnets are secured on the vehicle to produce a magnetic field having a magnetic flux density extending outward from the primary magnets, to support the vehicle spaced from and to move the vehicle along the guideway. The plurality of confining magnets are disposed on the vehicle to confine the magnetic flux extending outward from the primary magnets and to reduce the strength of the primary magnetic field in the passenger compartment. Preferably, the confining magnets maintain the strength of the magnetic field in the passenger compartment below 5 gauss; and even more preferably, those magnets are used to maintain the strength of the primary magnetic field in the passenger compartment below 1 gauss.

Abstract: An interrupted monogroove slot in a heat pipe facilitates priming of the heat pipe under zero gravity conditions by preventing the monogroove slot from completely priming before the liquid channel is primed.

Abstract: An ampoule contains an ingot of non-monocrystalline material. A seed of the same material but monocrystalline in nature is embedded within the ingot. A spring biases a piston to retain the seed and ingot together, even in an environment with vibrational forces. When the ingot is melted, the piston contains all of the melted material within a volume free of empty space. Upon cooling the ingot solidifies to a monocrystalline mass.

Abstract: An aviator harness fitting includes a releasable member secured to a buckle member by means of a movable bolt. A pressure inlet is provided to enable translational motion of the bolt in the manner of a piston. When actuated, the bolt moves to a release position to permit separation of the releasable and buckle members.

Abstract: A segmented coil has individual segments mounted on a common electromechanical switch plunger. The e.m.f. developed by the coil segments are superposed so that a reduced input voltage, relative to a continuous single coil, is capable of translating the plunger between two oppositely situated sets of switch contacts. The segmented coil structure assumes the same wire thickness as that of a prior art continuous coil operating with an input voltage of greater value. The result is retention of a small switch package for reduced voltage levels due to the fact that coil wire diameter and the number of turns may be kept the same as for a continuous coil operating with a higher voltage.

Abstract: An antenna system includes a reflector grid which reflects signals which are within the operative frequency range of the antenna and passes received signals of higher frequency. An absorber is placed proximate to the reflector grid to absorb signals which are passed by the grid. A second reflector located proximate to the absorber reflects signals back through the absorber such that signals reflected by the antenna system are twice attenuated by the absorber.

Abstract: A first extended interactive amplifier operates at a fixed frequency while a second such amplifier sweeps across a frequency range. The respective extended interactive amplifiers produce individual signals which are fed through separate waveguides to corresponding horns of an antenna. The frequency separation of the produced frequencies is made to match a threat radar's IF channels. By setting the jamming signal frequencies well above the threat radar band, the mixers of the threat radar receiver generate grossly unbalanced angle error signals. This disturbs the capability of the threat from homing in on the jamming site. Accordingly, the resulting jamming signal provides excellent electronic countermeasures.

Abstract: A security mount for securing at least one piece of equipment to a surface includes a mounting plate which is mounted onto each piece of equipment for engaging a tension cable. The mounting plate contains an outwardly projecting portion which contains a channel for receiving one end of a tension cable therethrough. The end of the tension cable is fixedly attached to a ballstop which has a diameter greater than that of the channel. The ballstop prevents the end of the cable from slipping back through the channel to provide a secure attachment thereto while imparting to it complete freedom of movement. The opposite end of the cable contains an eyelet which is fixedly attached by a bolt disposed between a pair of coupled plates. The bolt only can be accessed by uncoupling the plates. The plates are attached to a surface from below the surface by a mounting bolt which extends through the surface and through an aperture in the first plate, and which is threaded into the second plate.

Abstract: Each of at least two asynchronous generators connected to a common electrical load for uninterruptibility of the power supply is driven by a corresponding one of at least two drives in such a way that when any one of the generators is driven above synchronous speed by a slip fraction while its stator is electrically excited, its shaft mechanical power is converted to electrical output power at its output terminal. A control circuit is connected to the load, coupled to the output terminals of the generators and connected to the input terminals of the generators and provides an excitation voltage and controls the phase of the excitation voltage of each of the generators with respect to the load voltage. This controls the slip fraction of each of the generators loosely whereby load current from any source is completely controlled.

Abstract: Prior art single FET switches suffer the disadvantage of uncertainties in the turning on and off thereof due to the high back bias voltage required. In the present system, by using a dual FET configuration, with the respective source regions of the FETs connected at a common node and a floating bias voltage source connecting the common node to the respective gate regions of the dual FET, a switching circuit which is capable of handling higher voltages and whose dB compression stays constant is provided. Since the dual FET circuit is symmetrical, depending on the polarity of the biasing voltage, the drain and the source regions are interchangeable.

Abstract: An optical electronic multiplexing reflection sensor system for a plurality of Bragg sensors connected in series spaced relation in a plurality of single mode fiber optic cable buses. In each of the buses a unique address is provided each sensor function by wavelength selection. Each of a plurality of monochromators is coupled to a corresponding one of the buses and has a control connected to it for controlling the operation of the monochromator. A tunable laser source is coupled to each of the buses. A wavelength sweep generator is coupled to the laser source and provides outputs to the controls of the monochromators. Each of a plurality of photodetector receivers receives the output of a corresponding one of the monochromators and each has an output providing output signals indicating individual wavelengths of the Bragg sensors coupled to it. Each if a plurality of analog to digital converters is connected to the output of a corresponding one of the photodetector receivers.

Abstract: A robotic vehicle is commanded by a fiber optic cable which also delivers television camera images. In the event the vehicle is moved backwards, the creation of a slack length of cable from a storage drum is avoided by the inclusion of a take-up reel in the vehicle. Any slack cable created by backward movement of the vehicle is immediately taken up by the take-up reel so as to prevent cable snags and possible damage by virtue of backward rolling of the vehicle over the cable. During normal forward operation of the vehicle, the take-up reel allows the cable to pass through it without interference.

Abstract: An optical scene test generator is provided for testing the operation of detector modules designed to be placed in earth orbit. The OSTG includes first and second sources of infrared frequency light sources. The templates may be irradiated to generate images representative of a background scene, such as the earth's surface, and an object moving in relation to the background, such as a missile. Background and object images are thereafter combined and presented upon the surface of an infrared detector element to be tested. Mechanisms are provided for selectively regulating the movement of the background and object images, with respect to each other and jointly with respect to detector modules to be tested.

Abstract: A multiple target correlation system for unambiguously detecting, locating and determining the orientation of an array of multiple targets or objects. The multiple target correlator provides a means for fabricating a matched filter array or multiple matched filter with multiple targets stored on a single plate and a method for interrogating this multiple target matched filter with multiple scene images thereby providing for the identification of each object or target and determining its location and orientation in coordinates that are user selectable. The multiple target correlator utilizes a multiple matched filter having two matched filters for each particular object or target stored thereon, and each matched filter is positioned at a unique angle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a video display that is especially useful in an aritcle handling system to help control a mechanical arm to move an article into a selected position. A video camera is connected to the article for movement therewith, and with the video camera held a given distance from and at a given orientation relative to the article. The video camera is operated to produce a picture on a video screen of a target that is located the given distance from and at the given orientation relative to the selected position, and a display controller is actuated to produce an outline of the target on the video screen. The mechanical arm is used to carry the article toward and into the selected position; and as this is done, the article is moved to keep the video camera positioned so that the picture of the target on the display screen is kept generally centered within the graphical outline of the target.

Abstract: A serpentine continuous vapor passage is formed in a metal card which mounts electronic components. Elongated channels of the passage evaporate the contained liquid in response to conducted heat from mounted electronic components. By mounting the side edges of the card to heat conductive retaining means, the evaporated fluid becomes condensed at end sections of the passage thereby transferring the heat from the card and converting the evaporated liquid in a gaseous state back to a liquid state. The resultant card is gravity-insensitive and a thermal-resistance path is minimized so that the cooling capability of the card becomes maximized.