Abstract: A fiber optic rotation sensor system having improved scale factor stability includes an optically pumped gain fiber arranged to provide optical signals to an integrated optics chip connected to a fiber optic sensing coil. An optical coupler receives optical signals from the gain fiber and provides the optical signals to an optical fiber. The optical fiber is arranged to guide optical signals from the optical coupler along an optical path toward the integrated optics chip such that optical signals from the gain fiber are input to the fiber optic sensing coil to form counter-propagating waves therein. The counter-propagating waves traverse the sensing coil and then combine in the integrated optics chip to form a gyro output signal. A depolarizer is placed in the optical path between the first optical coupler and the integrated optics chip to prevent random changes in the state of polarization of optical signals propagating between the gain fiber and the integrated optic chip.

Abstract: A system for measuring changes in an environmental parameter, such as velocity or pressure, includes an optical signal source for providing a pulsed, coherent light signal, and an interferometer having a first and second optical legs of unequal optical path lengths. The signal is split into first and second beams that are respectively directed into the first and second optical legs of the interferometer. A fixed mirror reflects the first beam received at the end of the first optical leg. An optical pick-off includes a movable mirror, positioned to reflect the second beam received from the end of the second optical leg. The movable mirror is movable in response to changes in the value of the parameter to be measured. An optical coupler combines the first and second beams after they have been reflected back into their respective optical legs, producing an interference signal, which is detected by an optical detector.

Abstract: A fiber guide for spooling glass fiber from an automatic coil winding machine onto a spool. The guide has a pay guide assembly with a receiving aperture. Two similar sections are held together with a slight gap between them. Left and right parallel strands of music wire are tightly stretched through the gap across the receiving aperture of the arc and are anchored at each end. A spool receives the left and right parallel strands or guides and is maintained very close to the last layer or surface of fiber laid down. A guide pulley is carried by the guide for guiding glass fiber between the left and right parallel strands and onto the spool. The parallel strands are tensioned by anchoring each wire in a respective standoff. In one embodiment, each end of a music wire wraps around a standoff. The wires extend through the cross drilled holes permitting adjustment by turning the standoff. In an alternative embodiment, a tensioner is formed by a pivotal plate, relative to the guide.

Abstract: A night vision device which applies a time-varying voltage to the photocathode of the device during periods of high average light intensity from a scene being viewed. The purpose of applying this time-varying voltage during periods of high average light intensity is to reduce the average current through the photocathode, thus increasing reliability for the night vision device while preserving image resolution.

Abstract: A holder for an electrical or electronic component includes a body formed of electrically non-conductive material having a recess to receive a component such as a fuse. At least two laterally spaced electrically conductive contacts are accommodated by the body. Each contact includes at least one aperture engaging section extending beyond a surface of the body to form a solderless low resistance electrical and mechanical connection with a plated through-hole in a printed circuit board or the like and a terminal section to contact a terminal of a component received by the body.

Abstract: A magnetron includes a cylindrically shaped cathode having an electron emitting surface and a filamentary heater adapted to raise the temperature of the emitting surface sufficient to permit thermionic electron emission therefrom. The filamentary heater comprises a first filament support member having an axial shaft coaxially disposed within the support sleeve and is coupled at an end thereof to a portion of the support sleeve. The first filament support member has a plurality of first tines extending from an opposite end of the axial shaft. A second filament support member has an axial shaft coaxially disposed within the support sleeve along a common axis with the axial shaft of the first filament support member. The second filament support member has a plurality of second tines extending from an end of the axial shaft in substantial alignment with the first tines.

Abstract: An electron gun provides multiple convergent beamlets in a rectilinear flow for use in multiple drift tubes of a multiple beam klystron. The electron gun comprises a cathode having a concave emitting surface and an anode having a concave surface defined by respective ends of a plurality of hollow drift tubes. The anode surface is spaced from the cathode surface and has a positive voltage potential applied thereto to define a series of equipotential contour surfaces between the cathode and the anode. A plurality of grids are located between the cathode and the anode, with each one of the grids being disposed coincident with a respective one of the equipotential contour surfaces with a first one of the grids located closely adjacent to the cathode surface. Each one of the grids further has a plurality of perforations extending therethrough in substantial registration with each other and with respective openings of the plurality of drift tubes.

Abstract: A multisensor includes direct rotor coupling. A pair of rotors is mechanically coupled by a torsion bar whose stiffness largely determines the resonant frequency of the counteroscillating rotor pair. The axis of the torsion bar is coincident with the common axis of rotation of the rotors. Piezo bimorphs are fixed to opposed surfaces of radial vanes of the rotors which suspend the torsionally-coupled rotor pair with the case, isolating it from external angular vibration that could interfere with the resonant frequency of the rotor pair subassembly. The bimorphs receive signals for driving the oscillations of the rotors. Taken together, the stiffnesses of the vanes and the torsion bar substantially determine the common resonant frequency of the counteroscillating pair of rotors.

Abstract: The optical interconnection apparatus includes one or more terminator blocks which hold a plurality of jacketed optical fibers and a flexible matrix which encloses the jacketed optical fibers and partially surrounds the terminator blocks so as to anchor the terminator blocks within the matrix. Each terminator block comprises a jacket holder and a jacket clamp. The jacket holder has a surface with a plurality of grooves for receiving a plurality of jacketed optical fibers. The jacket clamp clamps a plurality of jacketed optical fibers in the plurality of grooves of a jacket holder. The terminator blocks are used with a mold having one or more guide structures for use in guiding each of the terminator blocks into the mold, a terminator block having one or more guide followers which engage and follow the guide structures of the mold when the terminator block is inserted into the mold.

Abstract: A multisensor of the type that employs counteroscillating rotor-mounted accelerometers to measure both linear and Coriolis accelerations operates open loop to sense linear acceleration and closed loop to sense the Coriolis acceleration from angular rate inputs. Accelerometers mounted to arms of the counteroscillating rotors are designed so that the natural frequency of the proofmass with respect to the accelerometer frame closely approximates the resonant frequency .omega..sub.D of the driven rotor pair. A robust hinge design permits open loop operation for low frequency linear acceleration inputs without saturation. Low voltage closed-loop operation is made possible by the highly compliant nature of the resonant structure in responding to the much higher frequency Coriolis accelerations generated by angular rate inputs.

Abstract: A pressure sensing system employs a plurality of pulsed, single-wavelength optical signal sources, each emitting a distinct wavelength, whereby a multiplexed incident beam is generated. The incident beam is split into a first portion directed to first photodetector means that generate a reference signal for each wavelength, and a second portion that interrogates one or more Fabry-Perot pressure sensors. The interrogation beam portion is phase-modulated by gap width variations in the sensor(s), and is transmitted to second photodetector means that generate a measured intensity signal for each wavelength. For each wavelength, the ratio of the measured intensity signal to the reference intensity signal is taken, and yields two terms, one of which is an interference term that is proportional to the cosine of the Fabry-Perot phase shift angle .phi., which is a function of the gap width.

Abstract: Attenuation of an optical signal at the end of an optical fiber is achieved by positioning a high absorption region at the end of the fiber. A first embodiment teaches a highly doped annulus within a tapered end of the fiber. The highly doped annulus about the light transmitting core serves to absorb light at the end of the fiber. The light transmitting core of the fiber is reduced in diameter due to the tapering, causing the field of light to expand beyond the core. The highly doped annulus is in proximity to the core due to the tapering. The annulus, which is preferably heavily doped with a rare earth such as erbium, absorbs the escaping light in sufficient quantities, both in the initial pass through the tapered region and again upon reflection of the light at the end of the tapered region, such that the attenuation of the reflected light is within acceptable limits without regard to the condition of the fiber's end surface.

Abstract: An input optical fiber (22), an output optical fiber (24, 26) and a waveguide (14) in an integrated optic chip (IOC) (12) intermediate the fibers are coupled together using service and alignment robots (42; 48, 50, 52). The service robot (42) establishes the three dimensional position of the waveguide. The alignment robots (48, 50, 52) three dimensionally and angularly align the input and output fibers respectively to the input and output legs (16; 18, 20) of the waveguide. An adhesive applying tool (46) coupled with the service robot adheres the input and output fibers respectively to their waveguide input and output legs.

Abstract: A laser diode pumped laser has a laser diode wavelength sensing and control apparatus. A laser medium is mounted in a laser cavity and has a laser diode pump having a laser diode or laser diode array having an output of a predetermined wavelength for exciting the laser medium. An optical radiation detector is coupled to the output of the laser medium to receive and measure the radiation from the laser diode transmitted through the laser medium and a detector bias and signal measurement circuit is coupled to the optical radiation detector to receive signals therefrom and generate an output signal responsive to the optical radiation detector signals and to apply the generated signals to the laser diode power supply (or to diode heaters) to vary the power supply output to vary the laser diode wavelength to maintain the laser diode wavelength at the absorption peak of the laser medium.

Abstract: A female power contact which is energized only upon insertion of a male plug. The contact includes a plunger which is biased toward a position which blocks accidental finger insertion into the contact. The plunger also contains sharp points on its outer edge to further prevent accidental finger insertion into the contact. However, insertion of the male plug into the female power contact, against the spring bias, causes the plunger to depress the spring in order to produce an electrical connection between the male plug and female contact.

Abstract: Leakage optical signals injected into a time division multiplexed sensor system are modulated during off periods in the duty cycle in the sensor interrogation signal. The leakage light is modulated such that its unwanted contributions to the sensor output signals are displaced in frequency from the base band frequency. This frequency displacement greatly reduces unwanted noise power in the received signals.

Abstract: Apparatus for mixing two gasses, at least one of which contains oxygen, to a desired concentration of oxygen, comprising a mixing plenum, an inlet valve, for admitting one of the two gasses into the mixing plenum, an oxygen sensor for detecting oxygen concentration of mixed gasses in the mixing plenum and in response generating an output signal representative thereof, and a controller for receiving the output signal and a user input representing the desired concentration of oxygen, comparing the oxygen concentration of the mixed gasses represented by the output signal to the desired concentration of oxygen, and in response controlling the inlet valve to regulate flow of respective ones of the two gasses into the mixing plenum and thereby maintain the desired concentration of oxygen.

Abstract: A method for determining the geolocation--i.e., the latitude, longitude, and altitude--of a stationary emitter emitting an RF signal. The method employs at least one moving observer to measure electrical phase change of the emitter over two or more successive dwell intervals, and at least two observers, moving or stationary and of known position, to determine the pulse time of arrival of the emitter signal. The phase change measurements are taken using a long baseline interferometer (LBI), and the pulse time of arrival measurements are calculated using short baseline interferometers (SBI). Circles of position are generated from bearing change measurements ascertained from the LBI phase change measurements, and hyperbolic lines of position are generated based on the SBI measurements. The position of the emitter is then determined from the intersection of the circles and lines of position.

Abstract: A package (10, 110, 210, 310) comprises a planar heat exchanger (14, 114, 314) with an air inlet (16, 116, 316) and an air outlet (18, 118, 318) thermally coupled to an electronic module (12). A flexible diaphragm operated pump (20, 120, 220, 320) with one-way valves (132, 134; 232, 234; 332, 334) are disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet. The diaphragm is oscillable to pump air through the heat exchanger from the inlet and out through the outlet. One or more piezo-electric transducers (138, 138; 232, 238; 338) are mounted on a diaphragm (136, 236, 336) and a power source and oscillator (140) are coupled to the transducer(s) to cause the diaphragm to rapidly flex and pump the air. The heat exchanger includes an internal structure (142, 342) defining a multitude of continuous air conducting passages.