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.

Abstract: A sensor chamber is disclosed for testing the operation of detector modules designed to be placed in earth orbit. The sensor chamber includes a chamber housing and a vacuum pump for evacuating the sensor chamber housing to vacuum conditions representative of a space environment. An infrared detector module is disposable within the sensor chamber, the module being operative to receive an infrared frequency signal and generate an output signal in response thereto. A window is formed within the sensor chamber housing, adjacent the detector module, to facilitate communication of infrared frequency signals to the detector module. A detector servo mechanism is provided for regulating the orientation of the detector module within the sensor chamber housing. The detector servo being operative to effect movement of the detector module with respect to the infrared frequency signal.

Abstract: The signal-to-noise ratio of a received radar echo is maximized by maximizing the received energy E of the echo. The energy E is maximized when the transmitted waveform s(t) is chosen so that ##EQU1## is maximized, where y(t) is the echo signal echoing from the target.

Abstract: An acoustic attenuating liner has a non-metallic honeycomb core bonded on a backsheet. A corrosion-insulated perforated sheet is bonded to the honeycomb core by adhesive between the perforated sheet and the core. The mesh is woven to a plurality of different determined weave patterns from material on and affixed to the perforated sheet, whereby the mesh has a plurality of different resistances. The mesh is aligned with the perforated sheet and is bonded to the perforated sheet by additional adhesive between the mesh and the perforated sheet, thereby providing a segmented liner with a plurality of facesheet resistances.

Abstract: An anti-roll system for a missile launcher mechanism is disclosed wherein an ejector foot, operatively associated with the launcher to eject the missile from the launcher, has a pair of tabs which contact missile latching lugs on the missile to prevent roll of the missile about its longitudinal axis during missile launching. When carried by the aircraft, the missile is latched by a latching system against the ejector foot to provide stable support for the missile during aircraft maneuvering. When the missile is launched, the latching system is unlatched and the ejector foot urges the missile away from the launcher. At the end of its movement, the missile continues its movement away from the launcher and separates from the ejector foot. The missile typically has a pair of latching lugs that extend from the outer periphery of the missile body and which are gripped by the missile latching system.

Abstract: A strip of alumina is thermally bonded to the under surface of an LED display by a thermally conductive adhesive. A thermally conductive front panel is placed in thermal contact surrounding the front surface of the display. A double sided, thermally conductive pressure-sensitive tape is used to bond a heatsink in thermal contact with the alumina. The heatsink is in thermal contact with the front panel and dissipates heat from the display via the alumina, the heatsink and the front panel.

Abstract: An eddy current analyzer is employed to locate and map a substrate edge hidden from view by a cover plate. A probe has an axial bore in which rests a spring-biased marker. The analyzer scope traces locate hidden points along the edge and the marker maps these along the cover plate. A line drawn between the points locates the edge thereby enabling holes to be drilled at equal distances from the hidden edge.

Abstract: An elongated enclosure includes a number of apertures through which a film must be precisely viewed. A slider receives a removable film holder into which a film, such as a 35 mm slide is positioned. A precision recirculating bearing assembly provides accurate and smooth motion of the slider within the housing. A number of alignment components are located in the device to repeatedly and accurately position the film, relative to the apertures. Thus, a laser beam or optical axis can repeatedly and precisely pass through the same point of the image as it appears in a corresponding aperture.

Abstract: Movable aerodynamic control surfaces are mounted to a MAGLEV vehicle. They operate in combination with magnetically actuated coils that are located in the vehicle and cooperate with coils or metallic sheets located along the vehicle guideway. Sensors provide clearance information concerning the vehicle relative to the guideway as well as translational speed and vehicle rotational measurements. Based on input from these sensors, a computer positions the control surfaces and energizes the magnetic coils so as to unload dynamic forces and stresses imposed by the vehicle while providing smoother vehicle movement indicative of superior passenger comfort.

Abstract: An optical correlator console for mounting and assembling the components of an optical correlator system in a unique stable, compact and functional configuration in which all of the components are mounted in a compact configuration on upper and lower sides of a base support plate. The components which do not ordinarily require accessibility are mounted below the support plate and the components which ordinarily require accessibility during operation and use of the optical correlator are mounted above the support plate. The lower side of the support plate mounts a laser source and a collimator along with several other incidental optical components, with the laser source providing a laser beam as an input to the collimator which provides an expanded and collimated optical beam. The additional incidental optical elements can include a spatial filter and a shutter mounted interposed between the laser source and the collimator.

Abstract: The effectiveness of randomly indexed randomly ejected decoys/aerobodies is improved by flying lifting glide instead of ballistic trajectories. Elements matching body contours are deployed to locate the neutral point above and behind the center of gravity. These elements are oriented to generate strongly cross-coupled forces and moments in pitch and yaw, provide favorable aerodynamic rolling moments and trim the configuration at positive lift. Various layouts are discussed. Means of achieving desirable stability levels, even at supersonic speeds, improve trimmed lift/drag ratios, minimize induced roll and inertial cross-couplings, etc., are also described.

Abstract: To eliminate bulkiness associated with the conventional transmission of control signals to a phase array, and to overcome the precise requirements needed to coherently control a phase array in the prior art, the present invention uses incoherent light to provide optical synchronization of the phase array. For the system of the present invention, incoherent light, in the form of different optical signals having multiplexed thereon a local oscillator signal and a command signal including a plurality of control signals, are summed by a wavelength division multiplexer and sent, over an air path, to each TR module of the phase array. On receipt, each TR array separates from the summed optical signal the oscillator signal and a control signal which is recognizable and to be used only by that TR module. The separated oscillator signal is next fed to a mixer, for modulating a radar signal.

Abstract: A re-entry vehicle that includes three detachable modular components which anticipate total re-useability. Modularization of the composite re-entry vehicle offers great flexibility in re-arranging the various modules to suit a particular mission. The three module components include a crew module, principally serving as a crew cabin, and attached thereto is a modular heat shield or re-entry module which principally provides for thermal protection of the cabin module during re-entry. Propulsion for the cabin module to achieve a particular re-entry orbit is provided by a versatile service stage which becomes detached from the other two modules upon attainment of a desired re-entry trajectory. When used in conjunction with a Space Station, the versatile service stage may be propelled back to the Space Station for refueling and re-use.

Abstract: An adaptive power limiter circuit for suppressing power spikes output by a receiver to reduce the chances of damage to the receiver includes a first attenuating stage having an input terminal for receiving power spikes of input magnitude. A first FET is coupled to the input terminal and an output terminal is coupled to the first FET for providing power spikes of output magnitude which are diminished in power relative to the input magnitude. A second attenuating stage has an input terminal connected to the output terminal of the first attenuating stage for receiving the power spikes output by the first stage, an additional FET is coupled to the input terminal of the second stage and a second stage output terminal is coupled to the additional FET for providing power spikes of output magnitude which are considerably diminished in power relative to the input magnitude of the spikes at the input terminal of the first stage.

Abstract: The invention utilizes a hydrogen atmosphere during the heat treatment of an Al-Li alloy. The presence of such a reducing atmosphere prevents the reaction of surface lithium atoms with atmosphere components that would cause a diffusion and subsequent depletion of lithium atoms in the region near the surface. As a result, the present invention suppresses lithium loss and consequently prevents the formation of agglomerated lithium atom vacancies which would otherwise develop into microscopic metallic porosity. The prevention of such a condition maintains high fatigue resistance and corrosion resistance in association with metallic strength.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating communication among circuit components mounted on a board, in which the components transmit radiation to a "lambertian" (optically rough) surface located in opposition thereto for detection by the other components. If component identification information is included with each transmission, the present invention allows establishment of dynamically changing interconnections among any of the components on a board. The invention requires a relatively small spatial volume for implementation, and affords large data-transfer rates and freedom from electrical or other interactions.

Abstract: An acoustic attenuating liner has a non-metallic honeycomb core bonded on a backsheet. A corrosion-insulated perforated sheet is bonded to the honeycomb core by adhesive between the perforated sheet and the core. A mesh woven form corrosion-resistant metal is bonded to the perforated sheet by additional adhesive between the mesh and the perforated sheet for bonding said mesh to said perforated sheet. The additional adhesive has predetermined characteristics including a minimum viscosity of 1000 poises during curing.

Abstract: A method for forming multilayer bump contacts for use in flip-chip bump bonding and the like. The method comprises applying a base layer to a substrate and then applying a malleable conductive layer to the base layer. In a first embodiment, individual bump contacts are formed by removing portions of the base layer and malleable layer such that a plurality of bump contacts are formed. In a second embodiment a photoresist and etching process is used. The need to precisely align a mark to define the position of the malleable layer relative to the base layer is eliminated since the positions of the malleable layer and the base layer are defined simultaneously in both embodiments. Thus, the number of process steps is reduced, yield is increased, and alignment accuracy is improved.

Abstract: An unmanned aircraft is provided which dual turbo shaft engines diving contra-rotating propellers. A bow plane provides pitch control during normal aircraft cruising. The contra-rotating propellers generate a slipstream for wing and tail sections that permit the aircraft to execute hover without the use of complicated tiltable rotor or jet assemblies.

Abstract: A pulse compression modified OMIR waveform s.sub.N (t) is obtained by computing the OMIR eigenfunctions .phi..sub.i, i=1, 2, . . . , .infin., for an autocorrelation function of the expected target impulse response, specifying a waveform c(t) having a desired pulse compression characteristic, and generating expansion terms ##EQU1## for various expansion indices N, until a desired waveform is obtained. The expansion coefficients c.sub.