Abstract: An apparatus for confirming a frequency measurement of a received signal includes a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) module for receiving a sampled digital signal. The DFT module is configured to analyze the received sampled digital signal, and output amplitude values at different frequency components. A threshold comparator is included for receiving the amplitude values of the frequency components and outputting a thresholded-amplitude value exceeding a predetermined threshold value. A frequency confirmation is provided based on the thresholded-amplitude value. The sampled digital signal is sampled at a sampling frequency of fs, and the DFT module is configured to analyze the received sampled digital signal at a frequency bandwidth that is equal to or less than fs. The frequency bandwidth is equal to the sampling frequency of fs, when the received sampled digital signal includes I and Q signals.

Abstract: A cryptographic processing system includes a cipher circuit and hash circuit. An input control unit and output control unit work together to process data packets in a pipelined manner wherein the data packets move through the processing system in a single-pass. The input control unit manages data received from a read interface and the initiation of cipher processing of the data in the cipher circuit. The output control unit manages data output to a write interface and the hash processing of the data in the hash circuit. Data moves through the cipher circuit in clear data and cipher data form so that the output control unit may selectively send clear data and/or cipher data to the hash circuit and to an output FIFO memory buffer, which handles final processing under the control of the output control unit prior to sending fully processed data to the write interface.

Abstract: An improved method for determining whether a measurement point, measured using a differential absorption LIDAR (DIAL) system, represents a plume point or a non-plume point. Concentration path lengths (CPL's) for a plurality of measurement points are determined. An average non-plume CPL, CPL, is provided. For each measurement point, a standard deviation, CPLsd, is calculated based on first order error propagation and it is determined that the measurement point represents a non-plume point when the Hooshmand decision rule (HDR) is met. The HDR is given by, ( cpl - CPL _ CPL sd ) 2 > ( T ) 2 , where cpl is the corresponding CPL of the measurement point being tested and T is a threshold standard deviation level.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating a device's capabilities uses a digital watermark embedded in content data. The watermark includes parameters concerning a source unit's communications capabilities. The watermark is embedded within content data, such as multimedia data, of a data packet. A destination unit, upon receiving the data packet detects if a watermark is present, and if so extracts the source's capability parameters from the watermark. The destination unit then negotiates with the source unit to use certain capabilities based on the source capability information contained in the watermark.

Abstract: A transceiver employing a steerable phased-array antenna includes a modem architecture in which signals from each antenna element in the array are independently processed down to the individual baseband channel level, and digital beamforming is performed at baseband. The data rate reduction from IF to baseband permits parallel signal data from multiple antenna elements to be time multiplexed and serially processed at acceptable data rates at baseband with minimal modem hardware requirements. Both for transmit signal modulation and received signal demodulation, the computation of carrier tracking, automatic gain control (AGC)/power-control, and beamforming are shared by the same processing circuitry for all channels when performed at baseband. The resulting baseband circuitry is only incrementally larger than that required for carrier tracking and AGC alone, yet accomplishes independent beamforming for each antenna element on each user channel.

Abstract: A method for measuring scene inhomogeneity includes directing radiance of a scene into an interferometer; and oscillating a field-of-view (FOV) of the interferometer, while directing the radiance of the scene into the interferometer. A Fourier transform of signals emerging from the interferometer is obtained with magnitude values of the Fourier transform as a function of wavelength. The magnitude values are separated into (1) component values occurring within a predetermined wavelength band of the interferometer and (2) a component value occurring outside the predetermined wavelength band. The component value occurring outside the predetermined wavelength band is used to measure scene inhomogeneity.

Abstract: A quarter-turn valve includes a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and a diaphragm adjacent arranged in said valve body for movement between a closed and opened position for restricting and controlling fluid flow. The valve further includes an input shaft for receiving a torsional input load in a closing direction and a torsional input load in an opposite opening direction. A cam is mounted on the input shaft. The cam transforms input loads to linear output loads that flex the diaphragm between its closed and opened positions.

Abstract: A plug connector device (10) for multicore flat cables (15), has a plug (11) which can be fixedly joined to one end of a flat cable in a mechanical fashion, and a plug socket (12) which can be run through by the flat cable (15) such that, with their first contact ends (62), contact elements of the plug socket (12) engaging in the plug (11) can be electronically connected to the flat cable at their other contact ends (63) using IDC technology. To assure that the plug connector device is robust and has high contacting reliability, provision is made that plug (11) is provided with contact elements (18), whose first contact ends (38) are configured for the electrical connection to the first contact ends (62) of the contact elements (19) of the plug socket (12), and whose other contact ends (36) are configured for the connection to the flat cable (15) using IDC technology.

Abstract: Membrane strip diffusers are disclosed, useful for example in aerating wastewater in activated sludge plants. These diffusers have membranes, diffuser bodies and gas conduits elongated in the same general direction. Such conduits may be attached to or formed integrally with the diffuser bodies. Gas chambers form beneath the membranes when they inflate, and these are separate from but communicate with the gas conduits, e.g., through passageways distributed along the lengths of the membrane supports. Preferably, the passageway flow cross-sections are small, thus tending toward uniform distribution of gas along the membrane's length. Ways to edge- and end-seal the membranes to the diffuser bodies are also disclosed.

Abstract: A limiter device is used as a fiber optic faceplate (FOFP) night vision goggle for limiting light or laser induced damage on a vacuum side of the FOFP. The limiter device includes a plurality of longitudinally extending optical fibers, each bundled to each other to form a light input surface on an external side of the FOFP and a light output surface on the vacuum side of the FOFP. The optical fibers include fiber optic cores and a glass cladding surrounding each of the cores. A portion of the glass cladding is replaced by an optical absorber material extending longitudinally away from the light input surface. The optical absorber material may extend longitudinally about 1-20 microns away from the light input surface.

Abstract: A night vision system including a power system having a low voltage unit coupled to a high voltage unit. The low voltage unit includes a low voltage controller and a low voltage table correlating pulse widths to step values. The low voltage unit transmits the step value to the high voltage unit in a pulse train having a period corresponding to a frequency. The high voltage unit including an opto-isolator for receiving the step value from the low voltage controller, a high voltage controller accessing a high voltage table correlating step value to pulse width and threshold. The high voltage controller generates control pulses at the frequency in response to the pulse width and the threshold.

Abstract: A coaxial connector has inner and outer contacts (34, 36) connected to inner and outer conductors (20, 22) of a coaxial cable (14), in a contact arrangement of small diameter (A), so each coax contact arrangements can carry high frequency signals. The outer contact has a rear portion (70) lying within the cable outer conductor (22) and locked in place by a crimp sleeve (72), and the outer contact has a front portion (74) that projects forward of a housing front face (80) and that has laterally opposite sides (82, 84) that are exposed to be contacted. The housing has a forward projection (102) with projection portions (104, 106) that lie on longitudinally (M) opposite sides of the outer contact front portion and that have projection front ends that merge and support the center contact (34) at a location forward of the outer conductor.

Abstract: A fiber amplifier system and method are provided for reducing noise produced by a fiber amplifier by combining an optical signal to be amplified with a continuous wave optical signal that stimulates ions in the fiber amplifier to reduce photons produced by spontaneous emission when a level of the optical signal of interest is very low or zero.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of generating multi-resolution images using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) phase history data. A high resolution SAR image may be formed from the phase history data, or a lower resolution SAR image may be formed from a sub-aperture of the phase history data. The multi-resolution images may also be compressed. Compressed multi-resolution images are progressively transmitted to a client until the client receives an image with adequate image quality and/or resolution. Compressed multi-resolution images may also be used for iterative target detection, where images are analyzed by a target detection processor, starting with a lowest resolution image, going to a highest resolution image, until an adequate image of the target or scene is obtained. If a target is not found in the multi-resolution images, a new sub-aperture is chosen on the phase history data, and the target detection process repeats for the new sub-aperture.

Abstract: An air exchange assembly that allows for the passage of large volumes of air through a continuously rotating joint. The large cross section of the passageways in the air exchange assembly allow for a large volume of low pressure air to pass through in both directions to make a closed loop air cooling system possible. The invention supports air flows of 10,000 standard cubic feet per minute (scfm) of air through two 20 inch diameter ducts through the rotating joint. The basic design can be scaled to allow for small ducting and lower air flow or larger ducting and higher airflow. The invention can also be scaled to provide for more channels of air flow.

Abstract: A photonic channelized receiver includes: an optical source, an optical combiner, an electro-optical modulator, an etalon, a wavelength splitter, and a set of detectors. The optical source produces a set of optical signals at spaced wavelengths, and the optical combiner combines the optical signals into a common beam. The electro-optical modulator modulates the common beam with an RF signal to produce sidebands offset from frequencies of the optical signals by the RF signal frequency. The etalon has a periodic transfer function that filters the modulated common beam such that the signals in the filtered, modulated common beam function as receiver channels corresponding to respective RF frequencies. The wavelength splitter separates the common beam into channel output signals whose intensities are a function of the frequency of the RF signal. The detectors measure the intensities of the channel output signals to determine the frequency of the RF signal.

Abstract: A modular electronics enclosure for one or more circuit card assembly includes top and bottom lids formed substantially the same with at least one intermediate circuit card support member disposed therebetween. At least one spring clip clamps the top and bottom lids together around the intermediate support member.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for disseminating information in a communication network having a plurality of nodes. The method includes receiving, in a node, a packet including link-state advertisements (LSAs) from the communication network and a flooding status field. Based on the flooding status field, the node determines the type of LSA received and then re-floods the packet onto the communication network, based on the type of LSA determined from the flooding status field. A sub-field in the flooding status field indicates whether the LSA is intended for distribution to the entire communication network, or is intended for distribution to other nodes in the communication network located within a predetermined range of the node. The node prevents re-flooding of the LSA, if the other nodes in the communication network are located outside of the predetermined range. The node includes a re-flood timer which is set to expire based on an urgency level included in the flooding status field.

Abstract: A transmitter employing a cryptographic algorithm and key generates and transmits a staggered pulse signal that includes a plurality of high-power pulses that are part of a pseudonoise (PN) code. The high-power pulses are separated by a group of low-power chips and the time interval between the high-power pulses is varied according to the cryptographic algorithm and key. A receiver, employing a corresponding cryptographic algorithm and key receives the signal and correlates it with a locally generated code that is modified according to the cryptographic algorithm and key to detect the phase of the received PN code. The receiver also can include a matched filter configured according to the cryptographic algorithm and key to detect the sequence of high-power pulses in the received signal.

Abstract: Common data structures associated with procedurally-oriented software, such as Fortran COMMON blocks, are translated into object-oriented (OO) classes. Procedurally-oriented software modules are reduced in complexity by extracting an appropriate number of sub-modules from the original source code so that the original module and each extracted module is below a predetermined complexity level, if possible. The original module and extracted modules are assigned to an object-oriented class based upon a measure of each modules' association to the respective class' data members, where the assigned modules are then translated into object-oriented methods. This approach greatly reduces overall system development time and costs by automatically generating maintainable object-oriented code based upon translated procedurally-oriented source code.