Abstract: Provided is a digital signal processing device, specifically a modular application specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”), having a programmable crosspoint switch for facilitating data transfer and processing within the circuit. A programmable matrix element is operable to perform advanced matrix operations (arithmetic operations) according to user provided commands. The crosspoint switch interconnects the programmable matrix element with various other processing or conditioning modules (i.e. down conversion, filter, pulse processing and demodulation modules) to ensure parallel processing at System Clock rates. The ASIC, which is reconfigurable at a top-level according to user requirements, facilitates design changes and bench testing.

Abstract: A solid-state electronic avionics display instrument includes one or more bar-graph-like displays mounted within a housing in a manner that emulates the manner in which prior electro-mechanical indicator mechanisms have been mounted in such housings so as to indicate a value along a vertically readable scale. An aircraft can be retrofitted with such instruments to replace existing electro-mechanical mechanism-based avionics instruments.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for compressed sensing. In some embodiments, the apparatus (10) generally includes a receiving element (12) operable to receive an input signal, an integrate/dump circuit (14), a sampling element (16), and a processor (18). The integrate/dump circuit (14) is operable to integrate at least a portion of the received signal to provide an integrated signal and the sampling element (16) is operable to sample the integrated signal at a first sampling rate which is less than the Nyquist rate for the input signal. The processor (18) is operable to form a compressed sensing matrix utilizing a first set of time indices corresponding to the first sampling rate, form a measurement vector utilizing at least a portion of the sampled signal, and reconstruct at least a portion of the input signal utilizing the compressed sensing matrix and the measurement vector.

Abstract: In an optical thin-film arrangement on a transparent optical substrate, such as a display screen, two or more conductive layers are stacked in an alternating fashion with one or more dielectric layers. The conductive layer can include, for example, indium-tin oxide (ITO), and the dielectric layer can include an index-matching material. The conductive layers can be in electrical contact with one another at their peripheries to provide EMI/RFI shielding. A structure having more than one conductive layer can be made to have the same net sheet resistance and thus provide the same degree of shielding as a conventional single-layer conductive coating but with lower reflectivity.

Abstract: A circuit for single or parallel digital fractional interpolation of data samples has a fractional interpolator filter, an oscillator for outputting timing signals to the fractional interpolator filter, and a detector loop with a strobe feedback from the oscillator for outputting a frequency adjustment to the oscillator. Three different approaches are shown to determine the frequency adjustment. One approach is to generate a pulse based on the symbol clock, and measure the differences between the pulse and the strobe and between the strobe and the pulse. The smaller is the frequency adjustment. Another approach is to adjust the strobe period to match the symbol clock period. A third approach is to add an oscillator-driven clock to the symbol clock and integrate the sum over a symbol clock period to generate the frequency adjustment.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for directing an antenna mounted in a restricted radome on an aircraft. The method can include the operation of determining whether the antenna is directed in a keyhole. A further operation can involve controlling the antenna using an elevation gimbal and an azimuth gimbal when it is determined the antenna is directed outside the keyhole. Another operation can include directing the antenna using an elevation, azimuth, and cross elevation gimbal when it is determined the antenna is pointing in the keyhole.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for compressed sensing. The method generally comprises forming a first compressed sensing matrix utilizing a first set of time indices corresponding to a first sampling rate, forming a second compressed sensing matrix utilizing a plurality of frequencies and a second set of time indices corresponding to a second sampling rate, forming a combined compressed sensing matrix from the first compressed sensing matrix and the second compressed sensing matrix, and reconstructing at least a portion of the input signal utilizing the combined compressed sensing matrix. The first and second sampling rates are each less than the Nyquist sampling rate for the input signal.

Abstract: A stereoscopic imaging assembly for converting true visual images of a real-life subject to a stereoscopic image includes a display and an analyzer. The display is preferably a liquid crystal display, which includes first image pixels, second image pixels, and a polarizer. The first image pixels are responsive to a first electronic image of a first true visual image and the second image pixels are responsive to a second electronic image of a second true visual image. The polarizer has a first polarization material, which enables transmission of light of a first polarity, while blocking light of a second polarity, thereby transmitting a first polarized image having a first polarity. A second polarization material enables transmission of light of the second polarity, while blocking light of the first polarity, thereby transmitting a second polarized image having a second polarity.

Abstract: A modular unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a fuselage, a nose cone, a left wing piece, a right wing piece, and a tail section. The tail section and nose cone each join to the fuselage through mating bulkhead structures that provide quick connection capability while being readily separated so as to enable the UAV to break apart at these connection points and thereby absorb or dissipate impact upon landing. The UAV is capable of rapid assembly in the field for two-man launch and data retrieval, as well as quick disassembly into these five component parts for transport and storage in a highly compact transport case that can be carried as a backpack.

Abstract: A system for despreading a spread spectrum signal includes at least one receiver for capturing a plurality of snapshots of the signal and a processing device for constructing a confidence vector from at least two of the plurality of snapshots. The processing device is operable to generate a first estimated spreading sequence of the signal, and to correlate the first estimated spreading sequence and the confidence vector to generate a second spreading sequence for despreading the signal.

Abstract: A technique for boresighting an antenna mounted on a moving platform is described. The technique uses a concurrently moving calibration target. Target navigation data and platform navigation data are used to compensate for movement of the target and the platform. The antenna pointing direction is biased in a direction which provides a best signal quality, and the bias used to determine antenna boresight calibration factors. The boresight correction factors can be used for open loop pointing.

Abstract: An interpolation circuit (10) generates a plurality of intermediate amplitude values linearly related to two consecutive signal amplitude values using a system of adders and memory elements. A first stage (64) of the interpolation circuit calculates a one-half amplitude value; a second stage (66) calculates one-fourth and three-fourths amplitude values, and a third stage (68) calculates one-eighth, three-eighths, five-eighths, and seven-eighths amplitude values. A comparator (14) receives a threshold value (32) and compares each of the intermediate amplitude values to the threshold value. A decoder (16) generates a time of arrival adjustment value that is subtracted from a low resolution time of arrival to generate a high resolution time of arrival.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for directing an antenna mounted in a restricted radome on an aircraft. The method can include the operation of determining whether the antenna is directed in a keyhole. A further operation can involve controlling the antenna using an elevation gimbal and an azimuth gimbal when it is determined the antenna is directed outside the keyhole. Another operation can include directing the antenna using an elevation, azimuth, and cross elevation gimbal when it is determined the antenna is pointing in the keyhole.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronizing the PN phase of a pseudo-noise (PN) coded signal with a phase of a master PN decade-code is provided. The method includes the steps of associating the master PN decade-code initialization t0 with a first time zone reference date and time and determining an elapsed time t1. The next steps equate the elapsed time t1 to a corresponding phase of the master PN code and synchronize the phase of the PN coded signal with the corresponding phase of the master PN decade-code.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a synchronous space division multiple access, code division multiple access communications system. The method operates, within a coverage area of a base station (BS) or radio base unit (RBU) having a multi-element antenna array, for estimating a SSV for individual ones of a plurality of active subscriber stations (SSs) and assigns a spreading code to a subscriber station (SS) that minimizes the similarity of the determined SSVs of the SSs in a spreading code set. A metric used to measure the similarity of the spatial signature vectors of the SSs comprises the squared sum of the inner products of same code SSs' SSV with a current SS's SSV. The step of assigning includes calculating the magnitude of the squared inner product of the SSVs of all pairs of active SSs; using the calculated values for determining ?n(c) for each spreading code that is not already used some specified maximum number of times; and assigning to a SS the spreading code with a minimum ?n(c).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a synchronous space division multiple access, code division multiple access communications system. The method operates, within a coverage area of a base station (BS) or radio base unit (RBU) having a multi-element antenna array, to assign spreading codes to users. The method estimates a spatial signature vector (SSV) for a current subscriber station; uses the estimated SSV as a weight vector when determining the output power that is correlated with each of a plurality of spreading code sequences and assigns a spreading code to the current subscriber station that is determined to have the minimum output power. The step of determining the output power includes steering a beamformer toward the current subscriber station by setting the weight vector equal to the SSV, and also determines the average squared value of the antenna array output that has been despread using a code i.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus and method for providing protection from electrostatic discharge (ESD) for electrically conducting members, such as conductive display panels, including display panels used in avionics. The ESD apparatus includes an electrical conductor, a first adhesive element adhered to a first or top surface of the electrical conductor, and a second adhesive element adhered to a generally opposing second or bottom surface of the electrical conductor. Portions of the electrical conductor protrude through the first adhesive element and the second adhesive element to make electrical contact with the electrically conducting members when the ESD apparatus is interfaced therebetween. Thus, the ESD apparatus provides an electrostatic discharge path from a display panel to its support frame through the electrical conductor portion of the ESD apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for diminishing display transients and jitter. The method and system disclosed utilizes prior illumination and position histories in displaying and illuminating representations, and elements comprising the representations, on the display. Recognizing repeated representations, finding their prior and current positions, and determining if the difference in position is over a threshold value, diminishes the jitter by displaying the representation in the new position if over the threshold value, or, if it is not over the threshold value, then displaying it in the prior location. The illumination of an element at an intensity, which is based on prior illuminations and/or intensities of the element, diminishes the transients by avoiding flashing or flicker of transient illuminations.

Abstract: An aircraft radio antenna assembly including a mast; an omni-directional antenna connected to a first end of the mast; and a pivot and movable latch connection system at a second end of the mast. When the pivot and latch connection system is attached to an aircraft, the mast can be located at a stowed position or pivoted up to a deployed position and latched into the deployed position. The assembly can also include a break-away system to allow part of the antenna assembly to detach without significantly damaging the antenna assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining an operational mode of a far-end modem are disclosed. Where the multimode modem is a call initiator, a method according to the invention includes transmitting a V.8 ANSam tone to the far-end modem, receiving a response signal from the far-end modem, and determining from the response signal whether the far-end modem is a commercial modem or a secure modem. Where the multimode modem is a call responder, a method according to the invention includes transmitting to the far-end modem a P1800 Hz tone with phase reversals, receiving a response signal from the far-end modem, and determining from the response signal whether the far-end modem is a commercial modem or a secure modem.