Abstract: In a rail track system having transition points, a locomotive having a navigation system (such as a combined inertial/GPS location system) moves along an initially known track and enters the “halo” surrounding a track transition to begin data collection/logging to accumulate successive position information data points as the locomotive moves into, progresses through, and exits the “halo.” The collected data for movement within the “halo” is then subject to a best fit assessment relative to the data pre-stored in the track database.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new set of algorithmic solutions to accommodate track inaccuracy information in track databases. Navigation and measurement aiding processes are defined by a stochastic mode relative to a moving rail frame defined so that it is aligned with the heading of the compensated track database at the current along track-position. Filtering generates long and short wavelength track alignment disturbances commensurate with track grade to compensate for track database errors; a stochastic error model is defined as the difference between the deterministic implementation and the actual stochastic processes Bayesian estimation of the error variables is implemented via a digital Kalman filter with the navigation, database, and measurement errors removed by subtracting the filter estimates.

Abstract: A method for distributing an invention disclosure includes the steps of creating and submitting the invention disclosure over the intranet, with the invention disclosure being submitted by an inventor to at least one evaluator via e-mail with a hyperlink to the invention disclosure. Evaluation comments of the invention disclosure are transmitted by the evaluator via e-mail. The e-mail messages are easily transmitted and received between users within the intranet for providing notification and status of the invention disclosure. The hyperlinks embedded within selected e-mail messages allows a user to access the invention disclosure to provide a user friendly and efficient method of distributing an invention disclosure within an organization or company.

Abstract: A system and method for loading mail objects. The system includes a bucket assembly which holds variable sized mail holding containers. An actuator system moves the bucket assembly between at least an upright position, an intermediate tilt position and a fully tilt position. At least one sensor detects whether any of the variable sized mail holding containers has reached a fill capacity at each of the upright position, the intermediate tilt position and the fully tilt position. A feedback control system controls an indexing of the bucket assembly, via the actuator system, between the upright position, the intermediate tilt position and the fully tilt position. In the intermediate position, packages or other mail objects are permitted to settle within any of the variable sized mail holding containers such that additional packages or other mail objects can be introduced into the any of the variable sized mail holding containers in the intermediate position.

Abstract: A launch and recovery system for use by host vessel in launching and recovering a sub-ordinate vessel includes a ramp structure that is connected to a host vessel and movable so that at least its remote or distal end can be placed in the water, preferably at the stern of the host vessel. The ramp includes interior portions thereof that can be selectively flooded to control the buoyancy of the ramp at least its distal or remote end thereof to thus effect some measure of control of the inclination of the ramp. Additionally, one or more types of flow structures can be provided that effect control of the ramp as a function of water flow through and/or across the ramp. In one form, the flow structures can take the form of one or more thru-flow passages in the ramp so that water from the forward or leading side of the ramp can pass therethrough to the rearward or trailing side thereof.

Abstract: An accelerometer and rate sensor package to aid gravity gradiometers is provided. The accelerometer and rate sensor package is mounted directly on or within a gravity gradiometer instrument (GGI). Outputs from the sensors can be used to reduce unwanted noise due to angular rotational rates, angular accelerations and linear accelerations that may be coupled to the GGI. Since the sensor assembly is directly mounted on or within the GGI, the sensor assembly is coupled to the GGI and senses the acceleration and angular rates as seen by the GGI. Thus, outputs from the GGI can be corrected more effectively using the sensor assembly's outputs.

Abstract: An airship retrieval system comprises a plurality of aerodynamic pods releasably mounted in suitable locations about the external surface of the airship. Within the pod is a handling or a tether line that is attached at one end to the airship and at the other end to the pod. When a suitable control signal is sent to the pod, the pod is released and the handling line and pod falls toward the ground to enable retrieval of the airship.

Abstract: An optical tracking device, includes an azimuth sub-assembly providing a 360-degree range of motion and a transducer sensing the azimuth position within this range of motion; and an elevation sub-assembly coupled to the azimuth sub-assembly and providing at least a ?30-degree to +100-degree range of motion and a transducer sensing the elevation position. A cross-elevation sub-assembly is coupled to the elevation sub-assembly and provides at least a ±14-degree optical range of motion and a transducer sensing the cross-elevation position. An elevation gyroscope is affixed to the elevation sub-assembly and generates an elevation rate signal; and a cross-elevation gyroscope is affixed to the elevation sub-assembly and generates a cross-elevation rate signal. A controller receives the azimuth, elevation, and cross-elevation position signals, and the elevation and cross-elevation rate signals and sends command signals to the sub-assemblies to initiate movement to allow inertially stabilized tracking of an object.

Abstract: A conduit gland that is adapted to engage at least one conduit that passes through an aperture in a housing. The conduit gland includes a bracket adapted to engage the housing; and a resilient member that has a portion retained by the bracket and the housing. The conduit gland also includes a clamp surface that, together with the resilient member, at least partially covers the aperture and engages the conduit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an antenna segment system for communicating between fixed antenna segments and wireless mobile devices. The antenna segments may be embedded in lighting fixtures distributed in a building. Each lighting fixture may emanate a visible light pattern related to an antenna pattern of an antenna segment embedded in the respective lighting fixture. The system includes a computer that can automatically assign addresses to the distributed antenna segments based on time domain reflection signals returned over a wire path between a controller and the segments.

Abstract: A locomotive location system and method utilizes inertial measurement inputs, including orthogonal acceleration inputs and turn rate information, in combination with wheel-mounted tachometer information and GPS/DGPS position fixes to provide processed outputs indicative of track occupancy, position, direction of travel, velocity, etc. Various navigation solutions are combined together to provide the desired information outputs using an optimal estimator designed specifically for rail applications and subjected to motion constraints reflecting the physical motion limitations of a locomotive. The system utilizes geo-reconciliation to minimize errors and solutions that identify track occupancy when traveling through a turnout.

Abstract: A UAV arresting hook is disclosed. The arresting hook facilitates the capture of a UAV via a UAV recovery system. In the illustrative embodiment, the arresting hook has a rotation block, an arm, and a plurality of latches that are disposed on the arm. The arm is coupled to the UAV via the rotation block, which provides two rotational degrees of freedom to the arm. In a stowed position, the arm is flush against the surface of the UAV. To deploy the arm, a free end of the arm is rotated away from the surface of the UAV. The arm is additionally biased to rotate about its longitudinal axis as it rotates away from the surface of the UAV. This rotation positions the latches to capture an arresting line that is part of a UAV recovery system.

Abstract: A penetrator includes a fore body comprising a pin and having a center of aerodynamic pressure forward of a center of gravity and a stabilizing portion comprising a material of lower density than that of the fore body and a plurality of outwardly extending fins for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile and defining a bore in which the pin is received for removably attaching the fore body thereto such that, when attached to the fore body, a center of gravity for the penetrator is forward of a center of aerodynamic pressure for the penetrator.

Abstract: Improved digital projection systems and methods are disclosed. Exemplary systems and methods embody a digital data source and a white light source. Light output of the white light source is coupled to a two-position digital micro-mirror device that separates black and colored pixels. The reflected color pixels output of the two-position digital micro-mirror device are coupled to a diffraction micro-lens array that diffracts the colored pixels to produce partial spectrum color bands. The diffracted partial spectrum color bands output of the diffraction micro-lens array is coupled to a three-position digital micro-mirror device that produces hue of each pixel. Micro-mirrors of the two- and three-position digital micro-mirror devices are controlled by the digital output of the digital data source. The output of the three-position digital micro-mirror device is coupled to projection optics that combines the partial spectrum color bands and projects an image.

Abstract: A modular Galois-field subfield-power integrated inverter-multiplier circuit that may be used to perform Galois-field division over GF(245). The integrated inverter-multiplier circuit combines subfield-power and parallel multiplication and inversion operations performed therein. The circuit is modular, has a relatively low gate count, and is easily pipelined because it does not use random logic. The circuit implements mathematical calculations known as “Galois-field arithmetic” that are required for a variety of digital signaling and processing applications such as Reed-Solomon and Bose-Chaudhuri-Hochquenghem (BCH) error-correction coding systems. Galois-field division is particularly difficult, typically requiring either a great deal of time or highly complex circuits, or both. The circuit uses a unique combination of subfield and power inversion techniques to carry out multiplicative inversion.

Abstract: A transmitter comprising a programmable optical vector modulator and method for coherent optical signal communication. The transmitter includes a transmitter laser whose output is coupled by way of an optical fiber to an amplitude modulator. The output of the amplitude modulator is coupled by way of a length of optical fiber to a phase modulator. The phase modulator generates a modulated light output from the transmitter. Amplitude modulation is achieved by inputting data and a data clock signal to amplitude symbol mapping logic whose outputs are selectively weighted, summed, amplified and input to the amplitude modulator to amplitude modulate the output of the transmitter laser.

Abstract: A charge coupled device (CCD) circuit employing substrate electrical bounce compensation circuitry that is particularly useful in a cinematography digital image capture cameras. An exemplary CCD circuit comprises a CCD array having a substrate that is coupled to an output node. The output of the CCD array (substrate) is coupled to a gate input of a reset field effect transistor (FET). The output node is coupled to a source input of the reset FET. The output of the CCD array is coupled to the substrate bounce compensation circuit which provides a video pedestal reference signal for the reset FET. The substrate bounce compensation circuit includes a capacitor that capacitively coupled the output of the CCD array to the drain of the reset FET, and a resistor that resistively couples the drain of the reset FET to a reset drain bias capacitor.

Abstract: A method of determining changes in the boundary interface in a sub-surface oil reservoir between the to-be-recovered oil and a driveout fluid, such as steam, uses time-displaced gravity gradient measurements to provide an indication of the changes in the gravity gradient over time. The measured data are subject to simulated annealing optimization to find the global minimum that best represents the observed values within the solution space. The optimization process includes establishing an appropriately constrained model of the oil reservoir and a quantized set of mathematically related parameters that define the model. Successive models are perturbed and evaluated from a figure of merit standpoint until a global minimum that best describes the measured time-lapse data is found.

Abstract: An all-optical, asynchronous binary storage cell implemented by optically induced total internal reflection cross-junction waveguide switches. The term “all-optical” refers to directing of optical data signals as a result of optical control signal inputs without the need for conversion between optical and electrical domains. The binary cell is a building block for a programmable all-optical random access memory (AORAM) device. The AORAM device enables circuits and networks that require optical buffers.

Abstract: A system and method for maintaining privacy in transmission of a high bandwidth analog signal. A preferred system and method breaks an input signal into bands and then uses Walsh codes to overlay many signals on top of each other with a set of phase modulators to establish scrambling of the input signal. The scrambled signal is then transmitted. The received scrambled signal has the phase modulation removed and an inverse Walsh transform recovers the original bands. The recovered bands are added together to recover the original signal. The system and method use techniques that establish synchronization and phase coherency complete the process.