Abstract: A robotic lead trimmer employing a sensor probe guided over a printed wiring board by a robot to determine the contour of a printed wiring board and a lead trimming element guided by the robot to automatically follow the determined contour of the board during lead trimming to achieve tight trimming tolerances. The sensor probe in conjunction with a fixed sensor is employed to determine an offset factor related to dimensional variations in the lead trimming element in order to impart additional accuracy to the lead trimming operation. An air ionizer and blower are utilized to neutralize static charge and remove debris. The robotic lead trimmer may be enclosed and utilized in conjunction with a tooling shuttle which receives a printed wiring board and transfers it to within the working envelope of the robot.

Abstract: A pulse radar system including an RF exciter for generating a repeating sequence of internal pulses of RF energy of different frequencies. A transmit circuit responsive to the internal pulses of RF energy generates a transmit radar signal comprising a transmit repeating sequence of transmit intervals during which pulses of RF energy are transmitted. A single receiver responsive to the repeating sequence of internal RF pulses receives radar return signals based on all of the RF frequencies in a receive repeating sequence of receive intervals which do not occur at the same time as said transmit intervals.

Abstract: A laser source 28 and curvature matching optics 30 cooperate to generate a probe beam 32 having a generally Gaussian phase front with a given radius of curvature. The probe beam is reflected off of the surface of a primary mirror 12 and the differences, if any, between the radii of curvature of the probe beam 32 and mirror surface is detected by detector array 38. Suitable feedback circuitry can be employed to drive the actuators of segments 16-22 to provide the mirror 12 with the desired figure.

Abstract: A fiber guide includes a sleeve having a longitudinal slot therealong a first member, having a notch, is fixed in the sleeve with the notch substantially aligned with the slot. A second member, also having a notch, is rotatably disposed in the sleeve. Thus, a fiber can be positioned in the notches of the first and second members and secured therein by rotating the second member. The fiber can also be readily removed from the guide, without damage or impediment, by reversing the rotation of the second member.

Abstract: This invention relates to a technique for forming filament windings which are designed to enable filament (52) to be paid out at a high rate used particularly for guided missile systems using a filament as a data link. Numerous prior art techniques exist which have disadvantages such as difficulty in winding, poor coil stability, and high drag associated with paying out of the filaments. Additionally, some of the prior art techniques do not result in a densely packed coil, thus requiring larger size spools and compromising the packaging efficiency of the overall system. In accordance with this invention, a "deep nested" filament coil winding (80, 94, 102) is provided. By providing a pitch distance of approximately the filament diameter times the square root of 3, and advancing the coils in two equal steps as the turns wrap around the coil spool, a highly densely packed coil is provided which can be wound against a single flange (84, 104) or a pair of separated flanges (84, 86).

Abstract: Optical fibers formed by rolling crystals of infrared transmissive material, such as potassium chloride, have been made into a smooth optical fiber by rolling between smooth grooved rolls (16) and (20) in a heated, atmosphere controlled environment.The Government of the United States of America has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract Number N00014-79-0-0691 awarded by the Department of Defense.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a multiple exposure hologram includes an object beam cut out mask 24 and reference beam cut out mask 60. Different segments of the masks are left uncovered during each exposure step and operate to shape the reference 18 and object 16 beams so that they illuminate selected areas of the photosensitive plate 12. The angle of incidence of the object beam 16 remains constant during each exposure step while the reference beam 18 illuminates the plate 12 at different angles during each exposure step. During playback, a plurality of lamps 94-106 project reconstruction beams at the hologram 12 to individually or collectively render the holographic segments viewable with a minimum of crosstalk between each segment. In the preferred embodiment, the reference beam mask includes diamond-shaped cut outs 62-74 which are selectively used with associated object beam mask cut outs 28-40 to generate a hologram in the form of a seven-segment display.

Abstract: The invention is a low loss multiple pole multiple throw microwave switch having a transmission line for each of a plurality of outputs. A phase shifting device is provided in each transmission line operable between first and second states to shift the phase of a microwave signal transmitted therethrough. A matrix of signal dividers and cross-over networks cooperate with the phase shifting devices to produce additive and substractive vertical signal components such that all of the components at one output are additive and the signal components at all the other outputs have a vector sum of zero.

Abstract: The method and system for reducing phase error of phased array radar beam steering controllers having digitally controlled phase shifters includes the monitoring of individual digitally controlled phase shifter elements, determining an additive phase correction to reduce the number of failed phase shifter elements, determining whether said additive phase correction is achievable by comparing the stuck bit state at each said failed changers element with said additive phase correction and adjusting the phase commands to the nearest values which can be achieved if the additive phase correction is unachievable.

Abstract: A fiber optic buffer defect detection system including a laser, for illuminating the fiber buffer with a collimated beam of light energy, and detectors for detecting any scattering of the beam, from a defect in the fiber buffer. The detectors are mounted to collect scattering out of a radial plane defined by the angular rotation of the beam about the fiber at the point of intersection of the beam with the fiber buffer.

Abstract: A connector system for selectively coupling in a desired manner the input/output terminals of an integrated circuit chip to the input/output terminals of one or more other integrated circuit chips or to a circuit interface pin. The system includes, for each of the chips, an insulating mesa member mechanically attached to a surface of the chip. Each of the mesa members has a surface having a plurality of conductive pads disposed thereon, each of the pads being conductively coupled to the input/output terminals of the associated chip. A substrate having a recess made therein is provided with a plurality of conductive pathways. The recess defines a region of the underlying substrate, the region being provided with resilient compressible conductive pedestals, the pedestals being conductively coupled to the pathways within the region.

Abstract: A beam-forming network (98) employs one or a plurality of first transmission delay lines (168, 170, 172, 174) for receiving transmit signals (T1-T4) applied thereto, and a plurality of second transmission lines (176), which serve as line summers. Each of the first transmission delay lines has first and second portions (168a, 168b; 170a, 170b; 172a, 172b; 174a, 174b) spaced apart from one another so as to define first and second levels displaced from one another. The set of second transmission lines (176) are arranged in first and second subsets (176a, 176b) which are respectively disposed adjacent to the first and second levels and respectively associated with the first and second portions of the first lines, such that the first subset of second lines is coupled to the first portion of the first lines, and the second subset of the second lines is coupled to the second portion of the first lines.

Abstract: Silicon carbide is deposted by chemical vapor deposition from a vapor source having a single molecular species that provides both the silicon and the carbon. The molecular species has the composition C.sub.n Si.sub.n H.sub.m, where m ranges from 2n+1 to 4n+1 inclusive and n ranges from 2 to 6 inclusive, and exhibits a primary pyrolysis mechanism producing reactive fragments containing both silicon and carbon atoms. Unbalanced decomposition paths are avoided. The silicon and carbon atoms are necessarily codeposited in equal numbers and at equal rates onto the substrate, producing stoichiometric deposited silicon carbide. Preferred molecular sources include H.sub.3 SiCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 SiH.sub.3, a silacycloalkane of the form (--SiH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --).sub.p, where p is 2, 3, 4, or 5, and a cyclic structure of the form (--SiH(CH.sub.3)--).sub.q, where q is 4 or 5.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed power semiconductor package includes a body 11 and a thick metal back 24. The metal back serves as a mounting device as well as a thermal channel for the package eliminating the need for intermediate heatsinks. For example, fasteners 47 extending into the back 24 can be used to mount the package to a printed wiring board 38 and directly to a heatsink 44.

Abstract: This invention provides apparatus and method to increase the direct measurement accuracy of a rotary encoder type of micrometer 10. To overcome a maximum measurement accuracy of 100 microinches there is provided a laser displacement meter which includes a laser head 24 which is coupled to a micrometer bed 12 by a pair of of clamps 26a and 26b and by a magnetic plate 28. Laser head 24 has an output display 30 associated therewith for indicating the magnitude of the measurement made by the laser head 24. Laser head 24 is operable for providing an output chirped laser beam 32 and for receiving a reflected output beam 34. A corner cube reflector 36 is mounted by an arm 38 to a headstock spindle 18. The reflected return beam is detected and processed by a phase demodulator and converted into pulses. The pulses are counted and converted to distance and displayed.

Abstract: A configuration of an electronics unit is disclosed wherein a plurality of circular circuit cards are arranged in an aligned, parallel relationship. Each card has a central circular inner opening formed therein. A plurality of inner and outer spacer elements support the respective inner and outer peripheries of the cards. The conductive patterns on the cards include a plurality of conductive pads arranged around the inner and outer peripheries of the cards. Circular metal-on-elastomer inner and outer connectors engage respective one of the inner and outer spacers, and the metal traces of the connectors make electrical contact with aligned conductive pads of adjacent cards. The unit includes a cover structure which envelopes the circuit card configuration to form a sealed unit, and an electrically insulating coolant liquid is disposed in the sealed unit in direct contact with the circuit cards and electrical components mounted thereon to absorb heat generated by electrical power dissipation.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) simulator is disclosed in which an array of pixels is defined on an insulative substrate by resistor bridges which contact the substrate at spaced locations and are separated from the substrate, and thereby thermally insulated therefrom, between the contact locations. Semiconductor drive circuits on the substrate enable desired current flows through the resistor bridges in response to input control signals, thereby establishing the appropriate IR radiation from each of the pixels. The drive circuits and also at least some of the electrical lead lines are preferably located under the resistor bridges. A thermal reflector below each bridge shields the drive circuit and reflects radiation to enhance the IR output. The drive circuits employ sample and hold circuits which produce a substantially flicker-free operation, with the resistor bridges being impedance matched with their respective drive circuits.

Abstract: An ultra-high speed two-dimensional coordinate transform processor (10) contains layers having conducting lines representing coordinate lines in coordinate systems. Layers in a first set have conducting lines representing a first coordinate system. Layers in a second set have conducting lines representing a second coordinate system and are positioned adjacent the layers in the first set. A signal is applied at a point where lines in the first set intersect. This point represents a point in the first coordinate system. An induced signal is sensed in the layers in the second set at a point where coordinate lines intersect. Since the detected signal will be strongest at the point nearest the applied signal, the intersecting point having the strongest signal will represent the point in the second coordinate system that is the transform of the first point. The processor (10) is faster than conventional coordinate transform methods and is inexpensive to produce.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating metal interconnection lines in an integrated circuit. In general, one method comprises the steps of depositing a layer of metal on an inter-dielectric oxide layer. The layer of metal is patterned and etched to form metal interconnection lines over the oxide layer. Tungsten is selectively deposited onto the etched layer to completely form the metal interconnection lines. Additionally, in a second method, a layer of tungsten may be deposited prior to the layer of metal. This forms a metal line that is completely encapsulated in tungsten. In addition, selective tungsten employed to repair broken metal lines in a fabricated integrated circuit. The selective tungsten is deposited using a chemical vapor deposition process and is deposited onto masked and etched second level (or higher) metal lines formed in the integrated circuit. The method of selectively depositing tungsten comprises the steps of exposing the metal interconnection lines to a mixture of SiH.sub.

Abstract: Sequential signal pulses from unknown sources are deinterleaved by clustering similar pulses into groups. The groups are used to form hypothetical pulse train models. If the hypotheticals are confirmed, they are used to deinterleave corresponding signal pulses. Unconfirmed hypotheticals are deleted.