Abstract: The invention provides for the detection of both longitudinal and vertical windshears during the takeoff and landing phases of aircraft flight. Standard instrumentation available on many aircraft is used to calculate the aircraft's energy loss or gain by integrating the value of the longitudinal shear. When the energy loss or gain exceeds predetermined levels, appropriate annuciation is provided to the human pilot. The same standard instrumentation aforementioned is also used to calculate changes in the aircraft's specific energy rate, that is the aircraft's actual energy rate divided by the aircraft's weight, to determine the effect of vertical winds. Specific energy rate is calculated by integrating the difference between the aircraft's acceleration relative to the ground and its acceleration relative to the airmass in which it is flying.

Abstract: A combination pilot burner and generator including a pilot burner head for deflecting a pilot flame in a given direction. The proper location of the generator for optimum flame sensing is assured by securing the generator to the pilot burner head by welding or other securement.

Abstract: A microbridge flow sensor includes integral bridge portions and temperature-measuring resistive elements. The bridge portions are integrally formed above the right and left openings of a substrate, respectively. The temperature-measuring resistive elements are respectively formed on the surfaces of the bridge portions.

Abstract: In a flight management system (FMS) of an aircraft, there is included a speed generator that outputs a speed command for the aircraft in accordance with a preselected mode. The FMS further includes an apparatus performing a method for adjusting the speed to achieve a desired arrival time. The apparatus comprises a unit for generating a speed adjustment coefficient (KSA), a unit for calculating wind forecast error, and a unit for adjusting the command speed outputted from the speed generator. The adjusting unit utilizes the KSA, actual wind speed at the current aircraft position, and wind forecast error at the aircraft position. The speed adjustment compensates for the error in the wind forecast, in order to achieve the desired arrival-time.

Abstract: In a dithered ring laser gyro, a dither reference signal is provided to supply information representative of the dither angle or dither angular rate. This information is processed by a signal processor to generate a correction signal which is the sum of (i) a first function of the dither reference signal indicative of the dither angle multiplied by a first coefficient, and (ii) a second function of the dither reference signal indicative of the dither angular rate multiplied by a second coefficient. The aforementioned coefficient may be either selected or generated based on historical data derived from the dither reference signal and the usual sensor output signal. In turn, the correction signal is subtracted from the usual ring laser gyro output signal to provide a corrected sensor output signal.

Abstract: A dialogue system uses a three wire bus connecting a central station with a plurality of substations with two of the wires carrying an AC supply voltage and a third one of the wires carrying data by means of a closed loop of the AC carrying wires and the third wire. The central station uses a series connection of a data transmitter and a data receiver with the third data wire and each substation includes a data receiver in series with the data wire and a data transmitter between the data wire and both AC wires.

Abstract: A delay timer formed by a sequence of inverters alternating in type, some with single and some with multiple outputs each having an output connected to the input of the next. An output from each of the multiple output inverters is connected to the timer output.

Abstract: A neural network associative memory which has a single layer of primatives and which utilizes a variant of the generalized delta for calculating the connection weights between the primatives. The delta rule is characterized by its utilization of predetermined values for the primitive and an error index which compares, during iterations, the predetermined primative values with actual primative values until the delta factor becomes a predetermined minimum value.

Abstract: A cased telescoped ammunition in which a rigid liner fills the gap between the control tube and the metering tube. The liner comprises an energetic material which transfers the ignition stimulus from the control tube propellant to the main propellant. Energetic materials in the liner can be modified to increase the ignition stimulus for proper cold round performance or decrease ignition stimulus for an improved timed sequencing of the round's performance. Both double-based and single-based energetic materials may be used.

Abstract: A connector assembly having a signal post receptacle subassembly and a ground post receptacle subassembly. The signal post receptacle assembly has a connector shell which is mounted on an electrical assembly chassis, and has an electrical insulation board which is supported by the connector shell, and has a group of signal posts extending through and supported by the electrical insulation board, and having a retainer plate assembly fixedly attaching the electrical insulation board to the connector shell. The ground post receptacle subassembly has a ground post plate mounted on the retainer plate assembly, and has a group of ground posts with each ground post being fixedly connected at one end thereof to the ground post plate. An electrical grounding path extends from each ground post, through the ground post plate, retainer plate assembly, and connector shell, to the electrical assembly chassis.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for reducing cross talk in tape recording and playback systems is disclosed. A single magnetic track containing D data bytes of the prior art is divided into W substracks, each containing D/W data bytes. The tape recorder is capable of recording at a preselected full speed and integral fractions thereof. When recording is done at less than full speed, the W subtracks which comprise a track are offset longitudinally, such that the area covered by the W subtracks approximates the area of a single track of the prior art recorded at full speed. To further suppress cross talk, wide write heads and narrow read heads, or opposite azimuth angle heads may be used.

Abstract: An adaptive segmentation system that utilizes a genetic algorithm in image segmentation. The system incorporates a closed-loop feedback mechanism in the segmentation/learning cycle. The system can adapt to changes appearing in the images being segmented, caused by variations of such factors as time and weather. Adaptation is achieved with a measure based on differences of analyzed past imagery and current imagery and on the criteria for segmentation quality. The invention is not dependent on any particular segmentation algorithm or specific sensor type.

Abstract: An optical reconstruction filter in the form of a phase diffraction grating (that is, a diffractive diffuser) placed between a flat panel liquid crystal color matrix display and a viewer to optically filter flat panel images and present a higher quality image to the viewer.

Abstract: An aircraft radar altimeter includes a programmed microcontroller which permits effective simultaneous tracking of at least two targets such that, for example, both ground and obstacles on the ground can be simultaneously tracked, thus avoiding crashes when the aircraft is operating at very low altitudes. The microcontroller is operatively coupled to the radar transmitter and to the receiver so that information relating to a first target can be stored away while a search and track operation is run on a second target. The information concerning a detected second target is likewise stored away and the microcontroller permits alternate tracking of the two targets with the stored information being used as the basis for establishing an initial position for a target when tracking of that target is resumed.

Abstract: A precision voltage reference incorporating at least one superlattice resonant tunneling diode and support electronics. The precision voltage reference is stable as to temperature and radiation.

Abstract: A colorimeter for characterizing the color of an object is placed in an environmentally sealed enclosure for use in industrial environments. In order to maintain an acceptable operating temperature for the colorimeter's electronics and lamp, a heat shield is placed around the lamp to substantially isolate it from the electronics. The heat shield and the environmentally sealed enclosure are made of a highly heat conductive material such as aluminum. The heat shield is thermally coupled to the environmentally sealed enclosure.

Abstract: A communications system has an active master node which transmits request messages in serial bit fashion on a data bus, and a plurality of responder nodes each of which receives the request messages on the data bus and may respond to a request message with a serial bit answer message. The possiblity exists that a plurality of responder nodes may provide concurrent answer messages forming a composite signal which the active master node may not be able to recognize as containing answer messages. A low pass filter is provided in the active master node which provides as its output only those pulses in the composite signal whose length is within a predetermined interval, typically from approximately a tenth to one half of the interval for each bit in the answer messages. A counter receives the low pass filter output and provides a collision signal to the associated master node if more than a preselected number of pulses within the predetermined interval are present.

Abstract: A self-centering vise for holding a sample in a laboratory instrument includes a pair of elongated rails, end plates attached to opposite ends of the rails disposing them in side-by-side spaced relationship to define a guide channel having a dovetail shape in cross-section between the rails, a central shaft rotatably mounted to the end plates and extending between the end plates and through the channel, and a pair of jaws mounted on the shaft in the channel between the rails and extending above and laterally of the channel so as to overlie and slidably contact the upper slide surfaces of the rails for holding a sample therebetween upon the rails.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cover for a semiconductor chip package. The cover comprises a sealing surface for providing a seal between the cover and a semiconductor chip package. A mounting surface for mounting a capacitor to the surface of cover is provided. The mounting surface comprises metalization including a metalized power pad and a metalized ground pad for mounting at least one capacitor on the surface of the cover.