Abstract: A system for re-distributing light emitted from a light source using an optical element is described. The optical element is manufactured using a bulk matrix material, and diffusing particles and/or scattering particles are embedded within the bulk material. The optical element is coupled to the light source to capture emitted light and redistribute the light in a desired angular distribution pattern depending on the ratio of total weight of diffusing particles to total weight of scattering particles.

Abstract: A modular dashboard assembly for a vehicle, such as a tactical vehicle, is described. In some cases, the dashboard assembly includes a smart back plane and removably attachable front modules. The back plane may facilitate communications between components within the front modules and systems with the vehicle, or between components.

Abstract: A system for re-distributing light emitted from a light source using an optical element is described. The optical element is manufactured using a bulk matrix material, and diffusing particles and/or scattering particles are embedded within the bulk material. The optical element is coupled to the light source to capture emitted light and redistribute the light in a desired angular distribution pattern depending on the ratio of total weight of diffusing particles to total weight of scattering particles.

Abstract: A modular dashboard assembly for a vehicle, such as a tactical vehicle, is described. In some cases, the dashboard assembly includes a smart back plane and removably attachable front modules. The back plane may facilitate communications between components within the front modules and systems with the vehicle, or between components.

Abstract: A reconfigurable display system is provided that has an electronic display operatively coupled to a computer and having a display active area and peripheral portions. A touch screen extends over the electronic display and has touch portions adjacent to the peripheral portions. The touch screen provides touch-receiving portions to receive touch inputs and deliver the touch inputs to the computer or the electronic display. An overlay is removably disposed on the touch screen covering at least the touch portions. A plurality of actuatable keys are adjacent to the touch screen and in alignment with the touch-receiving portions of the touch screen. The keys provide touch inputs to the touch-receiving portions when the keys are actuated by a user. A frame secured to the touch screen or the electronic display is positioned over the overlay with the overlay intermediate the frame and the touch screen. The overlay, keys, and the frame are removable from the touch screen.

Abstract: A reconfigurable display system is provided that has an electronic display operatively coupled to a computer and having a display active area and peripheral portions. A touch screen is sealably coupled with the display and extends over the electronic display. The touch screen has touch portions adjacent to the peripheral portions of the electronic display. The touch screen provides touch-receiving portions to receive touch inputs and deliver the touch inputs to the computer or the electronic display. The sealed touch screen display assembly is washable and decontaminatable. A boarder assembly is removeably connected to the touch screen display assembly. The boarder assembly has a boarder portion adjacent to the touch portions of the touch screen. A plurality of actuatable keys is carried by the boarder portion and in alignment with the touch-receiving portions of the touch screen.

Abstract: A system for re-distributing light emitted from a light source using an optical element is described. The optical element is manufactured using a bulk matrix material, and diffusing particles and/or scattering particles are embedded within the bulk material. The optical element is coupled to the light source to capture emitted light and redistribute the light in a desired angular distribution pattern depending on the ratio of total weight of diffusing particles to total weight of scattering particles.

Abstract: A contactless switch module, which is actuatable between a closed circuit position and an open circuit position, a plurality of magnetic field sensing sensors, and a plurality of magnets. The switch also includes a multi-channel switch controller. Each one of the plurality of magnetic field sensing sensors is communicatively coupled to an input channel of the multi-channel switch controller. The multi-channel switch controller is configured to determine a switch state based at least upon the respective states of its input channels.

Abstract: A modular dashboard assembly for a vehicle, such as a tactical vehicle, is described. In some cases, the dashboard assembly includes a smart back plane and removably attachable front modules. The back plane may facilitate communications between components within the front modules and systems with the vehicle, or between components.

Abstract: An adaptive measurement system measures a transition rate associated with an output of a device. An input signal that is characteristic of the output of the device is received by an input signal-to-frequency converter, which changes state based upon a characteristic of the input signal. The input signal-to-frequency converter provides a second signal, which reflects the state changes of the input signal-to-frequency converter. The second signal is sampled over a sample period and an instance of average transition rate is determined. A control subsystem may use the instance of average transition rate for regulating the device.

Abstract: A dual mode switch is provided in accordance with the present invention. The switch is selectively and mechanically cycled between a first state and a second state while power is provided to a biasing member. The switch is selectively cycled from the second state to the first state by stopping the supply of power to the biasing member.

Abstract: A hybrid power supply provides powers to a load, such as a light emitting diode (LED) backlight display, using pulse wave modulation (PWM) enable signal to control activation of a linear power supply and a switching power supply. During an initial part of an active portion of a duty cycle of the PWM enable signal, the linear power supply is activated to supply the load with constant current. During the remainder of the active portion of the duty cycle of the PWM enable signal, the linear power supply is deactivated and the switching power supply is activated to provide current to the load. A bias current and voltage may be provided to the LED during an inactive portion of the duty cycle of the PWM enable signal. The hybrid power supply combines the high efficiency of the switching power supply with smooth dimming control at low luminance of the linear power supply.

Abstract: A night vision equipment compatible area light fixture may include a housing, one or more LEDs such as gallium nitride or indium gallium nitride LEDs, and a filter assembly positioned to filter electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of 950 nm. The filer may, for example, substantially block electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between approximately 930 nm and approximately 1000 nm. The filter may additionally, for example, substantially blocking electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between approximately 900 nm and approximately 1000 nm. The filter may further, for example, substantially block electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between approximately 700 nm and approximately 1000 nm.

Abstract: A dual mode switch is provided in accordance with the present invention. The switch is selectively and mechanically cycled between a first state and a second state while power is provided to a biasing member. The switch is selectively cycled from the second state to the first state by stopping the supply of power to the biasing member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ultrasonic assisted deposition of a release agent onto a workpiece is disclosed. The release agent can be any fluorinated or non-fluorinated phosphorous-containing organic acid. The workpiece can be any workpiece desired to be coated with the release agent, such as a surface needing an anti-stick coating required in a plastic casting or injection mold. Metal oxide workpiece surfaces strongly bond to fluorinated phosphorus-containing organic acids. In particular, the present invention can deposit anti-stick coatings onto smooth or porous surfaces, such as anodized aluminum and its alloys, using ultrasonic assisted deposition.

Abstract: A method and a system for fabricating articles made from thermoset resins using an ionic mold release agent. The invention uses a mold having a metal oxide surface with enhanced mold release characteristics. The release agent is applied internally in the resin composition or externally on the metal oxide surface. The method includes providing a mold, forming a metal oxide surface on the mold, providing an ionic release agent, providing the acid or base conjugate of the release agent at the metal oxide surface, providing a thermoset resin in the mold, and curing the resin in the mold. A method of using float glass having a SnO2 enriched surface, wherein the method includes the steps of providing an ionic release agent externally to the tin oxide surface, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and a system for fabricating articles made from thermoset resins using an ionic mold release agent. The invention uses a mold having a metal oxide surface with enhanced mold release characteristics. The release agent is applied internally in the resin composition or externally on the metal oxide surface. The method includes providing a mold, forming a metal oxide surface on the mold, providing an ionic release agent, providing the acid or base conjugate of the release agent at the metal oxide surface, providing a thermoset resin in the mold, and curing the resin in the mold. A method of using float glass having a SnO2 enriched surface, wherein the method includes the steps of providing an ionic release agent externally to the tin oxide surface, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ultrasonic assisted deposition of a release agent onto a workpiece is disclosed. The release agent can be any fluorinated or non-fluorinated phosphorous-containing organic acid. The workpiece can be any workpiece desired to be coated with the release agent, such as a surface needing an anti-stick coating required in a plastic casting or injection mold. Metal oxide workpiece surfaces strongly bond to fluorinated phosphorus-containing organic acids.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp (10) includes a tube (12) and a fluorescent gas mixture sealed in the tube. A phosphor layer (20) is deposited on the interior surface of the tube. A pair of internal electrodes (14), connected by a first circuit (16) to a first power supply (18), are located in the tube at opposite ends thereof. The first power supply (18) causes a high-intensity arc discharge between the pair of internal electrodes (14) and, in turn, produces fluorescent light. An opposing pair of conductive traces (22, 24) connected by a second circuit (26) to a second power supply (28), are silk-screened onto the exterior surface of the lamp tube (12) along the length thereof. The second power supply (28) causes the opposing pair of conductive traces (22, 24) to produce a transverse electric field that creates a low-intensity transverse discharge. The low-intensity transverse discharge is used to lower the luminance range of the fluorescent lamp.