Abstract: A CMOS imager system including an active pixel sensor having an access supply which provides distributed feedback, a column buffer (having gain and FPN suppression), and an A/D converter co-located with the sensor such that the effective transmission path between the column buffer (or optional analog PGA) and the A/D converter acts as a resistor, rather than a reactance. The system may further include both an analog gain amplifier stage and a digital programmable amplifier stage.

Abstract: There is disclosed a core structure with a very low profile, high power density and lower losses. Higher core surface area and improved core utilization in terms of flux density are other desirable feature in the disclosed design. The disclosed design also allowed for a larger core area where the DC fluxes are added, thereby reducing the air-gap requirements in the cores derived from low saturation density materials such as ferrites. The cellular nature of the design can also be effectively employed in vertically packaged power converters and modules.

Abstract: A bipolar junction transistor (BJT) requires the fabrication of a BJT structure and of a support post which is adjacent to, but physically and electrically isolated from, the BJT structure. The BJT structure includes a semi-insulating substrate, a subcollector, a collector, a base, and an emitter. Metal contacts are formed on the subcollector and emitter to provide collector and emitter terminals. Contact to the structure's base is accomplished with a metal contact which extends from the top of the support post to the edge of the base nearest the support post. The contact bridges the physical and electrical separation between the support post and the base and provides a base terminal for the device. The base contact need extend over the edge of the base by no more than the transfer length associated with the fabrication process. This results in the smaller base contact area over the collector than would otherwise be necessary, and a consequent reduction in base-collector capacitance.

Abstract: Monazites and xenotimes are rare-earth phosphates showing a combination of properties expected to be suitable for thermal barrier coatings. For example, lanthanum phosphate (La-monazite) can be used to form thermal barrier coatings to protect superalloy and ceramic parts exposed to high temperature and damage by sulfur, vanadium, phosphorus and other contaminants. The monazite or xenotime coatings can be applied using any of the common application methods including EB-PVD, laser ablation and plasma spraying. The stoichiometry of the coatings can be modulated according to the stoichiometry of specially prepared starting target (source) material. The most effective coatings appear to be largely crystalline and show a columnar structure with feather-like microstructure. For La-monazite, effective coatings between 10 and 500 micrometers in thickness can be deposited on substrates having temperatures between about 750° C. and about 950° C.

Abstract: A BJT device configuration includes an emitter finger and via arrangement which reduces emitter finger width, and is particularly suitable for use with compound semiconductor-based devices. Each emitter finger includes a cross-shaped metal contact which provides an emitter contact; each contact comprises two perpendicular arms which intersect at a central area. A via through an interlevel dielectric layer provides access to the emitter contact; the via is square-shaped, centered over the center point of the central area, and oriented at a 45° angle to the arms. This allows the via size to be equal to or greater than the minimum process dimension, while allowing the width of the emitter finger to be as narrow as possible with the alignment tolerances still being met.

Abstract: A digital programmable gain stage for adjusting the gain of an input signal. A fine gain adjustment circuit sets gains between 1 and 2 (0-6 dB). A coarse gain adjustment stage adjusts the gain by multiples of 2. An input signal is multiplied by the fine gain adjustment factor, and then the coarse gain adjustment stage multiplies or divides the result by a multiple of 2. This architecture allows for gain adjustments from −24 dB to +66 dB in steps of 0.006 dB, using 14 bit resolution. Any number of gain ranges and gain resolutions are feasible with the current design by changing the bit width of the individual components.

Abstract: An apparatus for optically coupling a light source with a light-receiving end face of an optical waveguide comprises a lens for focusing a light beam emitted from the light source at a focal point on the light-receiving end face of the optical waveguide. An adaptive coupler, positioned in the optical path, is responsive to a beam steering control signal for steering and aligning the focal point relative to the light-receiving end face of the optical waveguide. In one form, the adaptive coupler comprises a pair of transparent substrates having confronting, parallel inner faces, the inner face of one of the pair of substrates carrying a beam intercepting, optically transparent, constant potential electrode and the inner face of the other of the pair of substrates carrying an electrically resistive, beam intercepting, optically transparent film. A pair of spaced apart electrodes in electrical contact with the film apply a linear voltage gradient along the film.

Abstract: An image sensing system includes an image sensor and a black clamping circuit which reside on the same substrate. Particular embodiments use common components for both imaging and black clamping, and digital control of an analog black clamp function.

Abstract: Individual pixel reset circuits for an array of electromagnetic radiation sensors include a reset transistor connected to enable a reset of the pixel's sensor, and a logic gate connected to activate the reset transistor in response to a plurality of array reset signals. The logic gate can be implemented with only three transistors, and enables the selection of individual pixels for reset.

Abstract: A MEMS module is provided comprising at least one MEMS device adhesively bonded to a substrate or wafer, such as a CMOS die, carrying pre-processed electronic circuitry. The at least one MEMS device, which may comprise a sensor or an actuator, may thus be integrated with related control, readout/signal conditioning, and/or signal processing circuitry.

Abstract: A modular sensing station architecture that supports flexible power management includes one or more sensors connected to a WINS node. Each node includes power supply, data acquisition, programmable microprocessor and wireless transceiver modules that communicate data and instructions over a bus. The bus suitably includes a signal bus for communicating instructions and low bandwidth data and a high-capacity data bus for transferring high bandwidth data and executing high power tasks. The dual bus approach provides constant communications among the modules and low-capacity data transfer with the option to activate the high-power circuits or tasks only as needed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for controlling leading edge contamination and crossflow instabilities for laminar flow on aircraft airfoils that is lightweight, low power, economical and reliable. Plasma surface discharges supply volumetric heating of the supersonic boundary layers to control the Poll Reynolds number and the cross flow Reynolds number and delay transition to turbulent flow associated with the leading edge contamination and crossflow instabilities. A closed-loop feedback control system that incorporates these principles includes three primary components: heat-flow sensors, a PID controller, and plasma discharge elements. Heat-flow sensors distributed around the airfoil surface provide root-mean-square (rms) pulsations of the heat flow to the airfoil skin.

Abstract: An Aviation Weather Awareness and Reporting Enhancements (AWARE) system provides situational awareness by effectively filtering, analyzing and visualizing aviation weather data and specific hazard alerts in preflight, in-cockpit and controller applications. The AWARE system includes a temporal-spatial databases that filters weather data and a Bayesian network that assesses specific hazards in the filtered weather data in the context of pilot preferences, aircraft properties and airport properties. The filtered weather data and hazard alerts are then displayed on a client.

Abstract: A semiconductor switch includes a thyristor and a current shunt, preferably a transistor in parallel with and controlled by the thyristor, which shunts thyristor current at turn-off. The thyristor includes a portion of a drift layer, with a p-n junction formed below a gate adjacent to the drift layer to establish a depletion region with a high potential barrier to thyristor current flow at turn-off. The drift layer also provides the transistor base, as well as a current path allowing the transistor base current to be controlled by the thyristor. The switch is voltage controlled using an insulated gate.

Abstract: A dynamic magnet system, particularly useful for electrical generation, employs multiple magnets in polar opposition to each other for individual movement relative to a support structure. The magnets have a critical angle of displacement from a horizontal static position of less than 1 degree, with at least some of the magnets having mutually different properties. With different magnetic strengths, a greater movement is produced for both magnets in response to movements of the support structure, for particular ranges of magnetic strength ratios, than would be the case with equal magnets. The magnet movement can be translated into an electrical signal to power an operating system. Ultra low friction ferrofluid bearings can be used to establish static coefficients of friction between the magnets and support structure less than 0.02, enabling useful power generation from only slight movements of the support structure.

Abstract: Friction stir processing (FSP) modifies the surface microstructure of metals so that thick-section metal workpieces can be bent over large angles without formation of surface cracks. A thick 2519-T8 aluminum plate (25.4 mm thick and 50.8 mm wide) was friction stir processed across the pre-tensile surface to a depth of 6.3 mm, and was then bent at room temperature over a punch with radius 38.1 mm into a v-shaped die to an 80° bend angle. Whereas unprocessed workpieces of this type exhibited surface cracking at 31° bend angle and failed at 40° bend angle, no cracking was evident for the friction stir processed workpiece up to 80° bend angle.

Abstract: An electrical generator includes a magnet constrained to move relative to a conductor by a support structure, with a ferrofluid bearing providing an ultra low friction interface between the magnet and support structure. The assembly has a critical angle of displacement from a horizontal static position of less than 1 degree, and preferably less than 10 minutes. An electrical signal is generated in the conductor by the moving magnetic field.

Abstract: The present invention is a reversible electrodeposition optical modulation device employing a segmented counter electrode that permits localized areas of a continuous optical modulation electrode to be switched independently of each other. Such devices can be configured to enable practically seamless switching over the entire device for smart window and adjustable mirror applications, or to minimize cross-talk and pixel overlap for display applications. Since the electrical contacts and switching circuitry are located on the counter electrode, more active area is available for optical modulation.

Abstract: A waveguide is disclosed that shifts the phase of the signal passing through it. In one embodiment, the waveguide has an impedance structure on its walls that resonates at a frequency lower than the frequency of the signal passing through the waveguide. This causes the structure to present a capacitive impedance to the signal, increasing its propagation constant and shifting its phase. Another embodiment of the new waveguide has impedance structures on its wall that are voltage controlled to change the frequency at which the impedance structures resonate. The range of frequencies at which the structure can resonate is below the frequency of the signal passing through the waveguide. This allows the waveguide cause a adjust the shift in the phase of its signal. An amplifier array can be included in the waveguides to amplify the signal. A module can be constructed of the new waveguides and placed in the path of a millimeter beam.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for rapidly and precisely controlling vortex symmetry or asymmetry on aircraft forebodies to avoid yaw departure or provide supplemental lateral control beyond that available from the vertical tail surfaces with much less power, obtrusion, weight and mechanical complexity than current techniques. This is accomplished with a plasma discharge to manipulate the boundary layer and the angular locations of its separation points in cross flow planes to control the symmetry or asymmetry of the vortex pattern. Pressure data is fed to a PID controller to calculate and drive voltage inputs to the plasma discharge elements, which provide the volumetric heating of the boundary layer on a time scale necessary to adapt to changing flight conditions and control the symmetry or asymmetry of the pressures and vortices.