Abstract: The invention relates generally to a modular display panel for enclosing Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (“COTS”) display technologies. More particularly, the invention relates to a modular display panel for housing COTS light emitting or transmitting display subassemblies such as Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) for military and other severe environments. The modular display assembly can comprise a base plate, a first frame, a window, a second, a circuit located, and a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the circuit board. The COTS light emitting or transmitting display subassembly can be connected to the second frame.

Abstract: A method for processing light energy is provided that includes receiving a plurality of photons reflected by an object and generating sensor data that is based a portion of the plurality of photons received. The sensor data is processed in order to generate processed sensor data. A segment of the processed sensor data that directly corresponds to the portion of the plurality of photons is displayed such that the segment may be viewed.

Abstract: A ring laser gyroscope includes a first plasma shunt arranged to prevent the plasma from contacting a first mirror in the gain region and a second plasma shunt arranged to prevent the plasma from contacting a second mirror in the gain region. The first and second plasma shunts may comprise electrical conductors located in the respective mirror wells and arranged such that contact between the plasma and the electrical conductors quenches the plasma in the mirror wells and produces electrical currents that travels across the mirror wells. The electrical conductors may be formed as metallized strips arranged to extend across the mirror wells, or they may be formed from metal wires. The plasma shunts may alternatively comprise diversion passages formed in the frame and arranged such that the plasma fills the diversion passages and bypasses the mirrors.

Abstract: A method for processing light energy is provided that includes receiving a plurality of photons reflected by an object and generating sensor data that is based a portion of the plurality of photons received. The sensor data is processed in order to generate processed sensor data. A segment of the processed sensor data that directly corresponds to the portion of the plurality of photons is displayed such that the segment may be viewed.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing an optical acoustic sensor. In one embodiment, a method comprises winding a single-mode optical sensor fiber around at least one mandrel. The optical acoustic sensor fiber can comprise a core region having a diameter of about 2 ?m to about 8 ?m and a cladding region having an outer diameter of about 8 ?m to about 20 ?m. The method can also comprise interconnecting the at least one mandrel into an optical acoustic sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising at least one multilayer wafer which includes a device layer adjacent to a barrier layer, and the device layer includes at least two photoconductive regions separated by an etched channel extending through the device layer. In some instances the apparatus may be an accelerometer having two photodiodes formed on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer with the photodiodes defined by one or more etched channels extending through the device layer of the SOI wafer. Also disclosed are methods for forming such an apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising at least one multilayer wafer includes a device layer adjacent to a barrier layer, and the device layer includes at least two photoconductive regions separated by an etched channel extending through the device layer. In some instances the apparatus may be an accelerometer having two photodiodes formed on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer with the photodiodes defined by one or more etched channels extending through the device layer of the SOI wafer. Also disclosed are methods for forming such an apparatus.

Abstract: A night viewer (10) is adaptable to generate an enhanced image suitable for viewing through an optical scope (16). An input end (18) of the viewer (10) receives the image to be enhanced through an objective lens (20). An image enhancing unit (22) enhances the image. The enhanced image is optically transmitted from a display (28) to the ocular lens (24) of the scope (16). The display (28) is operably connected with the image enhancing unit (22) to display the enhanced image. A Risley prism (30) located in an image path (32) is used to controllably adjust and to maintain boresight alignment (36).

Abstract: A force balanced instrument system and method for mitigating errors is provided. The system and method mitigate errors in measurement readings caused by charge buildup in force balanced instruments that employ charge pulses to generate an electrostatic force to null an inertial proof mass disposed between opposing electrodes. The system and method mitigate charge buildup by applying positive charge pulses alternately to each opposing electrode for a given charge cycle time period followed by negative charge pulses alternately to each opposing electrode for a second given charge cycle time period. The negative charge pulses remove any residual charge on the electrodes caused by the positive charge pulses. As a result the net residual charge left on the electrodes is reduced on the average.

Abstract: A night viewer (10) is adaptable to generate an enhanced image suitable for viewing through an optical scope (16). An input end (18) of the viewer (10) receives the image to be enhanced through an objective lens (20). An image enhancing unit (22) enhances the image. The enhanced image is optically transmitted from a display (28) to the ocular lens (24) of the scope (16). The display (28) is operably connected with the image enhancing unit (22) to display the enhanced image. A Risley prism (30) located in an image path (32) is used to controllably adjust and to maintain boresight alignment (36).

Abstract: A direct detection method and apparatus for a fiber optic acoustic sensor array systems using an in-line Michelson sensor TDM array and an interferometric section having two acousto-optic modulators that produce optical pulses that are frequency shifted with respect to each other. Direct detection is accomplished according to the equation: I(t)=A+B cos [?1??2+2?(f1?f2)t], with the phase shift difference ?1??2 between two paths containing the acoustic phase information and the frequency f1?f2 being the difference between the RF frequencies for the two acousto-optic modulators.

Abstract: A multi-wavelength optical source includes a broadband optical source providing a broadband optical signal, and a modification module optically coupled to the broadband optical source. The modification module splits the broadband optical signal into a first output signal and a second output signal. The first output signal and second output signal each comprise a plurality of frequency separated frequency slices of the broadband optical signal. Also, a method of providing a pair of related multi-wavelength signals using one or more broadband sources includes: (a) routing a broadband signal into a plurality of Bragg gratings in a manner that causes the Bragg gratings to reflect portions of the broadband signal and to transmit portions of the broadband signal; (b) routing the reflected portions to a first output as a first output signal; and (c) routing the non-reflected portions to a second output as a second output signal.

Abstract: The number of sensors that can be used by an SSA system including a single source can be increased by using a multi wavelength source to send different wavelength pulses to each of a plurality of different sensor array ladders, particularly Sagnac sensor array (SSA) ladders. More particularly, each broadband pulse from a broadband source is wavelength divided into a plurality of narrower pulses with each narrower pulse being used in a separate sensor array ladder.

Abstract: A method for processing light energy is provided that includes receiving a plurality of photons reflected by an object and generating sensor data that is based a portion of the plurality of photons received. The sensor data is processed in order to generate processed sensor data. A segment of the processed sensor data that directly corresponds to the portion of the plurality of photons is displayed such that the segment may be viewed.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods to control the frequency of a plurality of gyroscopes are disclosed. The gyroscopes are configured such that each individual gyroscope operates independently of one another and at the same pre-determined frequency. To accomplish this, the natural frequency of each gyroscope is determined, and a reference signal is added to the output signal of its respective gyroscope such that the sum of the natural frequency and the reference signal frequency equals the pre-determined frequency. Thus, each individual gyroscope, though it may include its own individual natural frequency, operates autonomously at the pre-determined frequency.

Abstract: This disclosure describes fiber optic gyroscopes that have integrated power measurement capabilities, and related methods and apparatus. More particularly, it describes determining the optical power of a fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) by temporarily adjusting the phase difference between two counter-propagating light beams, measuring the change in light intensity caused by the phase difference adjustment, and using the measured change in light intensity along with known characteristics of the FOG to compute an optical power value. The temporary adjustment in phase difference is preferably done in such a manner not to disturb the normal operation of the FOG.

Abstract: A method and system for fusing image data includes an electronic circuit (L) for synchronizing image frames. An adaptive lookup table unit (302a, 302b) receives the image frame data sets and applies correction factors to individual pixels. The size of an image is then scaled or otherwise manipulated as desired by data formatting processors (312a and 312b). Multiple images communicated within parallel circuit branches (P1 and P2) are aligned and registered together with sub-pixel resolution.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an integrated optics encryption device. The preferred embodiment of the invention is an integrated optics encryption device comprising a coherent light source connected to a multi-functional integrated optics chip (MIOC). The MIOC comprises two divergent paths with mirrored ends. The MIOC also has an encrypted message output. One path is connected to a message signal input that can alter the refractive index of the path. The other path is connected to a key signal input that can alter the refractive index of the other path.

Abstract: A system (M) for removably mounting a device (D) that is viewable by a user (U) to an essentially rigid headgear (H) includes a removable strap assembly (10) extending about the headgear (H). The strap assembly (10) includes a strap (18) with a first end (20) having a first securing means (24) to engage a first edge (26) of the head gear (H.) A second securing means (28) secures the strap (18) to a second edge (20). A mounting assembly (32) extends from the strap assembly (10) in proximity to a first end (14) of the strap assembly (10) for controllably positioning the device (D) in an ocular axis (34) of the user (U). The mounting assembly (32) controllably adjusts the device (D) along a forward and backward axis (A1), a vertical axis (A4), and a horizontal axis (A2) of the viewer (U).

Abstract: A printed circuit board (20) includes a sub-assembly having dielectric (22) and conductive layers (24). A hole (26) extends into the sub-assembly. Metal plating (32) is applied on a barrel (27) of the hole (26). A conductive layer (32) and an etch resist (34) are applied to a first photoresist (30) on the hole barrel (27). The first photoresist (30) is removed and a second photoresist (36) is applied leaving areas to be controlled depth etched exposed. The exposed areas (38) are chemically etched. The second layer of photoresist (36) is removed and a second chemical etch operation is performed to define previously plated features (40) on the sub-assembly (20). The etch resist (34) is then removed.