Abstract: A system and method for storing and retrieving a sparse matrix from memory of a computing device while minimizing the amount of data stored and costly jumps in memory. The computing device may be an FPGA having memory and processing elements. The method comprises storing non-zero data elements of the matrix in a data array and storing their corresponding column address values in a column index array. To read this stored data from memory, each preceding value of the column index array may be compared with each current value of the column index array to determine if the data array value corresponding with the current column index array value belongs on the next row of the matrix. The method may include pre-ordering the matrix with zero-pad placeholders or creating a row increment pointer array which typically stores fewer values than the number of rows in the matrix.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electric synchronous machine having a stator and a moving part includes operating the machine with a deceleration moment so that a speed of the moving part of the machine is reducing, monitoring the movement of the moving part of the machine, and, upon detection of a direction reversal or a speed of the moving part of approximately zero, transitioning to a holding mode by impressing at least one current pattern of string currents in the stator of the machine. The method also includes maintaining the current pattern until a stable equilibrium of moments between the external moment and a braking moment of the machine is established.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an extendable wand, and a sensor head coupled to the wand. The sensor head includes a continuous wave metal detector (CWMD) and a radar. When the wand is collapsed, the wand and the sensor head collapse to fill a volume that is smaller than a volume filled by the sensor head and the wand when the wand is extended. Frequency-domain data from a sensor configured to sense a region is accessed, the frequency-domain data is transformed to generate a time-domain representation of the region, a first model is determined based on the accessed frequency-domain data, a second model is determined based on the generated time-domain representation, the second model being associated with a particular region within the sensed region, and a background model that represents a background of the region is determined based on the first model and the second model.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the suitability of a particular location on a mobile craft for mounting a magnetometer includes positioning a magnetometer in a particular location. The magnetometer including at least one output indicating magnetic measurements made by the magnetometer. A computer is connected to the magnetometer and programmed to monitor the output(s) of the magnetometer. An attempt is made to detect magnetic interference at the mobile craft and a human-perceptible indication is provided if the output(s) of said magnetometer changes by more than a specified amount while attempting to detect magnetic interference.

Abstract: Systems (224, 222, 700) and methods (800) for providing wireless health monitoring for a locator beacon (216). The methods involve: coupling a Transponder and Sensor Module (TSM) to the locator beacon such that at least one condition of the locator beacon or a battery (230) of the locator beacon can be remotely monitored; periodically detecting the condition by the TSM (224); and periodically and wirelessly transmitting, from the TSM to a wireless device (222, 700) located in proximity to the TSM, a signal including information describing the condition detected by the TSM. The TSM can include, but is not limited to a transponder (e.g., an RFID tag) and sensor. The wireless device, can include, but is not limited to a transponder interrogator.

Abstract: Components for use in vacuum electron devices are fabricated from highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and exhibit excellent thermal conductivity, low sputtering rates, and low ion erosion rates as compared to conventional components made from copper or molybdenum. HOPG can be reliably brazed by carefully controlling tolerances, calculating braze joint material volume, and applying appropriate compression during furnace operations. The resulting components exhibit superior thermal performance and enhanced resistance to ion erosion and pitting.

Abstract: Pixel-level monolithic optical element configurations for uncooled infrared detectors and focal plane arrays in which a monolithically integrated or fabricated optical element may be suspended over a microbolometer pixel membrane structure of an uncooled infrared detector element A monolithic optical element may be, for example, a polarizing or spectral filter element, an optically active filter element, or a microlens element that is structurally attached by an insulating interconnect to the existing metal interconnects such that the installation of the optical element substantially does not impact the thermal mass or thermal time constant of the microbolometer pixel structure, and such that it requires little if any additional device real estate area beyond the area originally consumed by the microbolometer pixel structure interconnects.

Abstract: A system and method for storing and retrieving a sparse matrix from memory of a computing device while minimizing the amount of data stored and costly jumps in memory. The computing device may be an FPGA having memory and processing elements. The method comprises storing non-zero data elements of the matrix in a data array and storing their corresponding column address values in a column index array. To read this stored data from memory, each preceding value of the column index array may be compared with each current value of the column index array to determine if the data array value corresponding with the current column index array value belongs on the next row of the matrix. The method may include pre-ordering the matrix with zero-pad placeholders or creating a row increment pointer array which typically stores fewer values than the number of rows in the matrix.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting wireless devices that are signaling in high proximity to a convoy or other operation and preventing messages from reaching the wireless devices. One class of the techniques uses surgical jamming methodologies that minimize power consumption and collateral interference, while being maximally inconspicuous; another class uses baiting beacons to prevent the messages from reaching the wireless devices. Still another class of techniques denies wireless devices access to a wireless network. An exemplary embodiment applies the techniques to wireless devices and beacons in a GSM network.

Abstract: A host computer supports a virtual guest system running thereon. The host system has a firewall that prevents it from communicating directly with the Internet, except with predetermined trusted sites. The virtual guest runs on a hypervisor, and the virtual guest comprises primarily a browser program that is allowed to contact the Internet freely via an Internet access connection that is completely separate from the host computer connection, such as a dedicated network termination point with its specific Internet IP address, or by tunneling through the host machine architecture to reach the Internet without exposing the host system. The virtual guest system is separated and completely isolated by an internal firewall from the host, and the guest cannot access any of the resources of the host computer, except that the guest can initiate cut, copy and paste operations that reach the host, and the guest can also request print of documents.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cancelling interference from a received signal in order to properly detect a signal of interest are disclosed. A combined signal of interest plus interference signal may be received. A copy or sample of the interference signal may be determined. The interference signal and the combined signal of interest plus interference signal may be converted to the optical domain. The interference signal may be optically phase shifted by ?180 degrees, which may result in an optically inverted interference signal. The optically inverted interference signal may be variably optically attenuated and/or variably optically time delayed, for example based on a detected output power of an optical subsystem of the interference cancellation system. As a result, interference cancellation of the interference signal from the combined signal of interest plus interference signal may be achieved, resulting in 50 dB or more of cancellation of the interference signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for mitigating port swapping during signal tracking. The method and apparatus generally include acquiring a first signal characteristic corresponding to a signal assigned to a first port, comparing the first signal characteristic to a second previously acquired signal characteristic, and assigning the signal to a second port if the first and second signal characteristics vary. Such a configuration mitigates port swapping without requiring signals to include identification information, thereby enabling assignment of signals corresponding to any format or source.

Abstract: A computing system (10) includes a plurality of hardware computing resources (12-36) controlled at least in part by a plurality of autonomous computing agents (40,42,44). Each autonomous computing agent (40,42,44) includes or has access to operating information including processing information (46), resource information (48), optimization information (50), and communication information (52). The computing agents (40,42,44) collaborate to optimize performance of the system (10) and to assign computing tasks to the resources (12-36) according to a predetermined strategy. The predetermined strategy may seek to optimize speed, power, or communication efficiency of the system 10. Each agent (40,42,44) may optimize performance of the system (10) by assigning tasks to best-fit resources or by reconfiguring one or more resources.

Abstract: A system for a conjugate gradient iterative linear solver that calculates the solution to a matrix equation comprises a plurality of gamma processing elements, a plurality of direction vector processing elements, a plurality of x-vector processing elements, an alpha processing element, and a beta processing element. The gamma processing elements may receive an A-matrix and a direction vector, and may calculate a q-vector and a gamma scalar. The direction vector processing elements may receive a beta scalar and a residual vector, and may calculate the direction vector. The x-vector processing elements may receive an alpha scalar, the direction vector, and the q-vector, and may calculate an x-vector and the residual vector. The alpha processing element may receive the gamma scalar and a delta scalar, and may calculate the alpha scalar. The beta processing element may receive the residual vector, and may calculate the delta scalar and the beta scalar.

Abstract: Microbolometer pixel structures including membrane material in a current path between at least two spaced electrodes, the membrane material having multiple openings defined in the current path that are configured such that substantially the entire volume of electrically conductive membrane material in at least a portion of the current path contributes to conduction of current between the electrical contacts.

Abstract: A novel magnetron achieves increased power output at high frequencies by replacing a typical resonant cavity with a slow-wave waveguide structure. Waveguides built into the anode body sustain oscillations having phase change coefficients of 2*pi*n radians per section, where n is a positive integer. The magnetron is capable of supporting RF oscillations at frequency harmonics of the fundamental frequency, permitting it to operate at frequencies double or quadruple that of a similarly sized conventional magnetron.

Abstract: A system and method for imaging objects with a sparse detector array that includes fewer detectors than conventional x-ray scanning systems. The sparse detector array is positioned to receive x-ray radiation from the at least one x-ray source after passing through an inspection area. The sparse detector array includes a plurality of rows of detector elements, wherein at least some of the plurality of rows are separated by gaps such that the at least some of the plurality of rows are non-contiguous. An iterative reconstruction process is used to determine a volumetric image of the object from the radiation measurements recorded by the detectors in the sparse detector array.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying three dimensional images of runways and terrain, as well as additional information, on one or more screens of an avionics display system is provided. The system merges elevation information for terrain points and elevation information for runway points by grouping runways together that are within a threshold distance of each other. For each group, a plane is calculated. The calculated plane is then projected onto all of the runways within the group. The plane may also be projected onto a subset of neighboring terrain points. The adjusted elevation created by the projection of the plane are then used in creating the images for display on the synthetic vision display. The result is that all of the runways within a group, along with their neighboring terrain, are displayed as being coplanar.

Abstract: Techniques for generating an interloping beacon which can control the behavior of a target wireless device on a CDMA frequency channel without noticeably altering the behavior of non-target wireless devices which share the frequency channel of the target wireless device's live beacon. The interloping beacon is an override beacon which overrides the live beacon's pilot channel and a control message on a code channel on which control messages may be addressed to the target wireless device. The override beacon provides the overriding pilot and the overriding control message only as long as is required for the target wireless device to respond to the overriding control message. The period of time during which the overriding pilot and the overriding control message are generated for the override beacon is so short that only the target wireless device responds without noticeable effect on collateral wireless devices.

Abstract: A through-wall radar system includes a transceiver configured to receive and transmit multiple radar signals, each radar signal associated with a frequency that nominally passes through a barrier. The system includes a processor coupled to an electronic storage, the processor configured to sense a portion of a signal transmitted by the transceiver and analyze the sensed portion of the signal to determine a penetrability of a barrier. The system also includes an output configured to present a perceivable indicator related to the determined penetrability of the barrier.