Abstract: A method for use with a computer which directly transfers incoming data into the computer memory. A functional address contained in a received message is used to index a pointer in a vector table. The indexed pointer addresses an input control block associated with the functional address. The input control block is used to control the flow of data into the computer memory. The input control block also controls access to the computer memory for subsequent messages having the same functional address.

Abstract: Apparatus for calibrating and testing infrared detection devices is provided. The apparatus comprises a substrate which supports a target pattern of dielectric material which is at least partially absorbing to infrared radiation. A heater is used to supply heat to the substrate. Since the substrate and dielectric material have different emissivities, an apparent temperature difference is perceived by an IR detection device. As a consequence, temperature differences as low as about 0.02.degree. C. and below can be generated for calibrating and testing IR imaging devices.

Abstract: A method of producing coherent radiation signals which have reduced coherent noise content. The method involves modulation of the position of an apodizer or aperture disposed in the optical path of the radiation provided by the coherent radiation source. The modulation causes diffraction patterns created by the apodizer or aperture to be unstable, hence reducing the noise content of the transmitted radiation. In particular, a method of producing holographic exposures containing reduced coherent noise content is disclosed. The positions of apertures or apodizers utilized in producing the holographic exposure are modulated during the exposure process. The modulation is on the order of wavelengths of the illuminating radiation used to produce the exposure. The position modulation creates a slight fogging of the exposure due to the noise, but the desired hologram is recorded with little or no decrease in efficiency.

Abstract: A sun shield (16) is placed in front of an RF reflector (12) for thermal protection thereof. The shield comprises a Kapton substrate (20) with a thin aluminum capacitive grid (26) on the shield's reflector side (24), and a partially reflecting layer (28) of germanium on its sun side (22). Other materials and combinations thereof may be placed on either or both sides singly or in layers to obtain desired reflectance and thermal energy rejection away from the reflector.

Abstract: Trade-off between dynamic range and sampling rate in a charge coupled device is virtually eliminated in the serpentine charge coupled device of the present invention. In this device, for each charge packet transferred in a first direction, a plurality of n charge packets are transferred in a second transverse direction in the serpentine register. Accordingly, for a given charge transfer rate in the first direction, the charge coupled device clock frequency is increased by a factor of n. The serpentine register is formed on the semiconductive substrate having two parallel channel stops extending in a first direction and a plurality of parallel interlaced channel stop fingers extending in a second direction which are alternately connected to the two parallel channel stops.

Abstract: A non-destructive charge subtraction output system for charge coupled devices (CCD) in which a floating electrode is clamped in the presence of a first charge so that when the first charge leaves the potential well and a second charge enters, the signal sensed is representative of the difference between the first and second charges with excellent common mode rejection, high bandwidth, and low power. The system operates so as to either provide a difference of adjacent charges along a channel either with or without an isolating bit or bits or to provide subtraction of the charges selected along a sequence of charges passing through the CCD channel. One use of the system in accordance with the invention is to sense moving targets in a scene having a substantially fixed or non-moving background.

Abstract: The specification discloses a low-temperature, charge-free process for forming a layer of a native oxide on the surface of a substrate of a chosen semiconductor material. The substrate is exposed to neutral, charge-free oxygen atoms that are the primary oxidizing species and are formed in a manner which eliminates the generation of charged particles or high energy radiation. These oxygen atoms then react with the surface of the substrate to form the native oxide thereof. The use of neutral oxygen atoms avoids damage to the substrate due to exposure to charged particles or high energy radiation, both in the manner in which the oxidizing species is formed and in the manner in which the native oxide layer is grown. In a preferred embodiment, the neutral oxygen atoms are formed by exposing a chosen oxygen-containing precursor to radiation of a selected wavelength to cause the direct dissociation of the precursor to generate oxygen solely in atomic form.

Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory circuit having at least one variable threshold FATMOS transistor in the cross-coupled lateral branches and a plurality of input switching transistors controlling operation of the circuit. Capacitive imbalance between the nodes of the circuit is reduced by having each transistor which is connected between a node and an input switching transistor driven by the same control signal as a corresponding transistor connected between the other node and an input switching transistor. This reduces the occurrence of wrong-state switching in the circuit during reading.

Abstract: An improved missile guidance system is provided which automatically compensates for jitter motion of the optical sight of a video tracker. The invention is adapted to receive video data input from an infrared detector or conventional camera. The invention includes circuits for filtering, gating, and digitalizing the incoming data as well as a formatter for directing successive frames into memory. Two memories are provided; the contents of which are sampled by matching logic as the second memory is being loaded. The matching logic thereby compares one frame of data to another at plurality of positions and provides a signal to an address latch when the best match is obtained. The format circuitry provides the position information to the address latch where it is stored for further processing. The output of the address latch is filtered to eliminate any signals representative of intentional tracking motion.

Abstract: There is herein described a process for fabricating GaAs FETs with an ion implanted channel layer wherein an ion implanted substrate is capless annealed under an arsine overpressure, and a relatively shallow portion of the outer surface of the substrate in the active layer is removed for the deposition of a gate metallic electrode.

Abstract: Negative working resists, prepared from poly(vinylpyridine) polymers which exhibit good sensitivities to 20 keV electron beam radiation, are disclosed. The poly(vinylpyridine) polymers of this invention may contain alkyl substituents on the pyridine rings in ortho, meta or para positions with respect to the nitrogen atom within said ring.

Abstract: A slide switch is movable in the direction of oscillation of the reed of a magnetic circuit. A resilient arm is attached at one of its ends to the switch. The slide switch drives the arm in the direction of the oscillation of the reed, the motion of the arm being in a plane parallel to the oscillation path of the reed but removed from it. A ramp is located adjacent the opposite end of the arm and intersects the plane of the oscillation path of the reed, one end of the ramp engaging the opposite arm end at its equilibrium position and the other end of the ramp extending well into the plane of the oscillation path of the reed.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for detecting the presence of acoustic signals which includes a laser source, and a detector coupled to opposite end of an acousto-optic transducer. The transducer may employ fiber optic waveguides, etched to allow evanescent coupling therebetween, and disposed within a flexible housing. Integrated and planar optic transducers are provided in various forms employing two integrated optic waveguide channels, two planar waveguides, or a planar waveguide and absorber combination. Each configuration is disposed within a flexible housing and the waveguides are separated from each other by a predetermined distance. Any flexing of the housing is transformed into a displacement of the waveguides relative to one another. The coupling between the waveguides is a very sensitive function of distance, and hence detection of variations in the energy coupled by the waveguides provides an indication of the presence of the acoustic signals.

Abstract: A cathode/grid assembly for effecting a dual power mode electron gun for use with a traveling wave tube. The conventional "shadow grid" is both electrically and mechanically isolated from the cathode. A variable voltage source is connected to the shadow grid to bias it slightly above or slightly below the cathode potential, depending on the power mode. The electron emitting surface area of the cathode is the same in both modes. By changing the bias on the shadow grid, the transverse beam temperature may be increased to compensate for the reduced space charge density of the low power mode. Thus, the diameter of the low power beam is substantially the same as the diameter of the high power beam. This ensures good beam transmission and high electron beam rf interaction in the low power mode.

Abstract: A complex optical system may be maintained in alignment by means of a technique in which an analytical model of the system is utilized which is assumed to be capable of essentially optimal performance. A physical example of the same system design is then assembled and a plurality of performance characteristics are measured related to the intensity function associated with a point source image on the system's focal plane detector array. A plurality of specific adjustments are then calculated by means of a second order approximation technique which would have the effect of degrading the performance of the analytical model to equal that measured for the physical example, whereupon compensating physical adjustments are made to the physical example to improve its measured performance.

Abstract: A complex optical system may be aligned by means of a technique in which an analytical model of the system is utilized which is assumed to be capable of essentially optimal performance. A physical example of the same system design is then assembled and a plurality of performance characteristics measured. A plurality of specific adjustments are then calculated which would have the effect of degrading the performance of the analytical model to equal that measured for the physical example, whereupon compensating physical adjustments are made to the physical example. For many applications, the performance measurements may relate to aberrations to the wavefront of the point source image quantified by means of a Hartmann mask or the like. In that event, the estimation technique may be a straight-forward linear approximation technique including possible damping and/or weighting factors.

Abstract: A semiconductive substrate, such as a silicon wafer, is mounted on a baseplate for inclusion in an optical device such as a liquid crystal light valve. An optical flat presses the top surface of silicon wafer toward the baseplate and against an O-ring seal surrounding a fluid adhesive. The fluid adhesive hydrostatically distributes the force of compression to guarantee optical flatness and self-compensation for the amount fluid adhesive surrounded by the O-ring. The optical flatness of the semiconductor substrate is limited only by the flatness of the optical flat against which it is compressed. Parallel alignment of the optical flat, the substrate and the baseplate is achieved by reflecting a laser beam through the semiconductive substrate and observing the interference fringes therein, while adjusting the relative alignment so as to maximize the distance between fringes.

Abstract: An enhancement-mode field effect transistor (ENFET) logic circuit providing greater fan-out capability. The logic circuit employs a conventional common-source inverter section, but additionally incorporates a current-driving section which drives the common-source inverter section. A current-driven inverter logic circuit is realized by employing a second ENFET transistor to drive the gate of the common-source inverter section. A current-driven NOR gate is realized by employing two ENFET transistors in parallel which drive the common-source inverter section. Also a current-driven NAND gate is realized by utilizing a single transistor having two gate inputs to drive the common-source inverter section. The use of sweep-out circuitry allows for control of the operational speed of the device. The logic circuit designs have high fan-out capability compared to the common-source inverter circuit alone.

Abstract: A method for changing the spin rate of a spinning spacecraft having a dynamic balancing mechanism which utilizes the communications channel between the spacecraft and the receiving terminal, the master index pulse generator on the spacecraft, and the spacecraft axial thrusters. To change the spin rate, a dynamic imbalance of a known wobble angle and phase is introduced by the dynamic balancing mechanism. An axial thruster is then fired for a predetermined time interval thereby coupling a portion of the axial thrust force into the rotational energy of the spinning body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit comprising (1) a logic element responsive to data of first and second negative voltage potentials, the logic element having a depletion mode MESFET data input gate, and (2) a depletion mode MESFET transmission gate operatively associated with the data input gate for enabling the selective serial transmission of data therethrough to the logic element in response to clock signals of third and fourth negative voltage potentials, the pinch-off threshold voltage of the data input gate being between approximately the first and second negative voltage potentials, the pinch-off threshold voltage of the transmission gate being between approximately the third and fourth negative voltage potentials, said third negative voltage potential being approximately equal to or more negative than said second negative voltage potential, said first negative voltage potential being more positive than said second negative voltage potential, and said fourth negative voltage potential being more