Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for deploying an inflatable antenna from a compressed storage position on the trailer bed of a transport vehicle. A support structure is provided having a pair of spaced apart actuating rails for engagement with the antenna during deployment and a storage compartment stored on the trailer bed of the transport vehicle. The storage compartment is formed of a base wall which is pivotally affixed to both the trailer bed and one end of the compressed antenna, and a deployment structure affixed to the opposing end of the compressed antenna. The deployment structure is partitioned lengthwise to form first and second shelter compartments which are hinged together at one end and pivotable with respect to one another between a closed storage position and an open A-frame position.

Abstract: Provided is a collapsible antenna formed of one or more generally planar and vertically inclined inflatable panels. According to the invention, each of the panels has a continuous outer wall, a continuous inner wall and a plurality of web partitions extending between the inner and outer walls to form a series of tubular members. The inner wall of the collapsible antenna is at least partially covered by a metallic material and a plurality of dipole elements are affixed to the web partitions and spaced from the inner wall in a predetermined relationship such that the antenna will operate at a preselected frequency when inflated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stabilizing the frequency at which a laser cavity oscillates comprising a passive system which provides a plurality or continuum of optical paths of differing lengths. The various paths correspond to differences in mode parameters in the cavity, and involve compensating changes in polarization, beam direction, beam divergence, and the like, in exchange for a constant optical path length in the laser cavity. The unchanging optical path length results in a stable frequency of oscillation despite physical changes in the cavity which might otherwise alter that path length.

Abstract: A neutron radiography system having a high energy neutron generator (100) of the type comprising an ion accelerator (106) and a tritium target (110) located downstream of the accelerator. The generator is disclosed in a housing (22) containing a moderator medium (140) adapted to absorb part of the energy of the neutrons, thereby creating thermal neutrons. A neutron flux booster (130) comprised of a high neutron cross section material, such as depleted uranium, is disposed between the target and the moderator medium such that collisions of high energy neutrons produced at the target will collide with the uranium to release additional high energy neutrons from the booster into the moderator medium. A collimator (40) is disposed in communication with the moderator material for discharging thermal neutrons from the moderator medium.

Abstract: The invention is an automatic skin taping machine for use in applying a protective coating to sheets of material, especially aluminum. The machine comprises a main frame, a transfer car movable within the main frame, an applicator that uniformly applies the coating to the sheet of material by moving over the surface of the sheet, a retainer that immobilizes the sheet of material while the applicator is applying the coating, and a vacuum lift system for transferring the sheet of material from an application position to a storage position. In a preferred embodiment, the application includes a floating roller and a squeegee device.

Abstract: A frequency control system is provided for controlling the radio frequency of a mechanically tuned coaxial magnetron under a wide variety of environmental conditions by initially tuning the magnetron according to resident tuning data and in response to a received frequency command signal, directly measuring the frequency of the magnetron output, comparing the frequency command signal with the actual frequency of each of a series of sampled output pulses, modifying a dynamically adapting calibration function according to any differences found during the comparison, retuning the magnetron according to the modified calibration function, and repeating the process to maintain the magnetron output frequency in agreement with frequency command signals. The coefficients of the calibration function converge to an optimum set of values within a few pulses.

Abstract: A material transfer system is provided having particular utility in cooperation with a liquid jet abrasive cutting system in which a continuous supply of abrasive, particulate material is required for abrasive cutting operations. Primary and secondary hoppers are provided for containing the abrasive particulate material, and the secondary hopper is suitably located at a position adjacent to the work station and remote from the primary hopper. The secondary hopper is provided with a first chamber and a second, lower chamber positioned beneath the first chamber.

Abstract: Provided is a modulator having two amplifying stages for supplying high-voltage pulses to the primary winding of a transformer connected to a microwave transmitter tube. The first stage uses field-effect transistors connected in a common source configuration to amplify input pulses to drive the second stage, which uses field-effect transistors connected in a common gate configuration to drive the transformer. The circuit configuration provides a large voltage swing across the transformer primary and a short transistor switching time.

Abstract: A method for packaging components in the primary circuit of a microwave tube modulator output transformer. Modules are assembled using parallel plates upon and around which transistors and other necessary components are mounted. In addition to providing mechanical support for the components, the plates act as conductors for circuits common to respective elements of paralleled transistors, thereby minimizing electrical resistance and inductance in the primary circuit. The modules are designed to mount to the output transformer such that two of the parallel plates are mechanically connected to the respective two ends of the transformer primary, and a number of modules can be mounted around and to one transformer according to the amount of energy required.

Abstract: A device for steering a wavefront of electromagnetic radiation comprising a pumping means for coherently pumping a plurality of phase conjugate mirrors with a monochromatic coherent beam having a wavelength substantially the same as the wavelength of the wavefront. The device further comprises an array of phase conjugate mirrors wherein the acceptance of each phase conjugate mirror, for conjugate reflection of the wavefront, is pointing in substantially the same direction, and the phase conjugate mirrors are composed of material responsive to the beam wavelength. The device further comprises a Fourier transform lens, a control reflector positioned such that the reflected beam from the reflector back to the lens is within the acceptance angle of the ray, and a beam splitter positioned between the array and the control reflector for extracting a steered beam. Each phase conjugate mirror may provide amplification of the wavefront, or amplifying lasers may be used.

Abstract: A trinary inverter for a digital logic circuit of the type having relatively positive, negative and zero signal voltage values is implemented with CMOS transistors and has the advantages of low power dissipation and low output impedance in the zero signal state. The inverter comprises first, second and third inverter branches, where each branch is formed of a pair of complementary MOS field effect transistors. The inverted output signals from each branch are used to produce a device output signal having the desired voltage transfer characteristics.

Abstract: A printed circuit for mounting and connecting a plurality of semiconductor devices is disclosed and includes a planar insulating substrate having multiple conductive layers disposed in overlying relationship within the planar substrate. A plurality of parallel rows of apertures for wire wrap, quick connect or stitch wire contacts are provided for mounting integrated circuit. One side of the printed circuit board includes a plurality of power and ground connections disposed between each pair of parallel rows of apertures so that filter capacitors may be mounted under each integrated circuit, thereby conserving printed circuit board space. In a preferred mode of the present invention, alternate ones of the conductive layers are coupled to a source of electrical power while all remaining conductive layers are gounded. At least two adjacent conductive layers are then utilized to minimize parasitic capacitance by completely surrounding each aperture with a portion of conductive material.

Abstract: An erasable optical read/write data storage system is disclosed. The data storage system utilizes a temperature sensitive data storage disk which includes an optical tuning film and a film of thermochromic phase change material which will change from a first phase to a second phase at temperatures in excess of an upper temperature and back to the first phase at temperatures below a lower temperature. An environmentally controlled chamber is provided to maintain the data storage disk at a selected bias temperature between the lower and upper temperatures to ensure that no unintentional phase change will occur. A thermally controlled support member is utilized to temporarily lower the temperature of the disk to a point below the lower temperature, thereby initializing the disk. A modulated laser beam is then focused on the disk to temporarily heat particular portions of the disk to a temperature in excess of the upper temperature, causing a phase change.

Abstract: A radiographic imaging system (10) includes first and second housing segments (10a, 10b) with the second housing segment (11b) having a low-light-sensitivity television camera (13) mounted therein. The first housing segment (11a) has a radioluminescent screen structure (20) fitted within an opening (16). A workpiece (24) is positioned adjacent the radioluminescent screen (20) and between the screen and a source of radiation (25a, 25b). The screen structure includes means for producing a scintillation shadowgraph pattern in response to impingement on the screen of radiation directed through the object. The camera (13) has its optical input section directed toward the radioluminescent screen for receiving the scintillation shadowgraph pattern and has a target means for forming charge patterns corresponding to the scintillation patterns produced on the radioluminescent screen and scanning means for scanning the target means to generate an optical signal corresponding to the charge pattern formed on the target.

Abstract: A structure capable of being expanded and retracted. The structure includes a pair of cells each including a plurality of leg elements which are pivotally joined at one end to form an apex point and which are pivotally joined at their opposite ends from the apex point connection to the corresponding leg element from the other cell to form a plurality of common base points. The structure also includes a plurality of hinged elements connected between adjacent common base points to thereby form a common base and the hinged elements each have a pair of sections that are connected at a hinge point approximately midway between the adjacent common base points to which the other end of each section is connected.

Abstract: In an optical radar system a coherent signal is transmitted at a variable position and the return signal, that is, the reflected portion of the coherent signal is received and coherently detected. The transmitter utilizes a scanning laser having an electron beam that impinges upon a variable reflectance mirror that terminates one end of an optical cavity. An oscillating mode is generated within the resonant cavity when the electron beam locally heats the surface of the variable reflectance mirror to create a pixel that reflects light in a diffracted pattern. The receiver utilizes a stable single mode laser to illuminate a variable reflectance surface. A receiver electron beam generates a plurality of receiver pixels at various positions. The diffracted light from each pixel generates a plurality of variable angle local oscillator beams that are summed with the return signal at a beamsplitter. The output of the beamsplitter is applied to the surface of a detector array.

Abstract: Composite protective coatings for protecting carbonaceous substrates from degrading in oxygen containing environments are provided. The composite protective coatings include a first coating layer applied to the surface of the substrate. The first coating layer is a silicon carbide type coating. The second coating layer is applied to the surface of a first coating layer and is a sputter deposited phase stabilized zirconium oxide having a columnar microstructure. Carbonaceous substrates having the composite protective coatings are able to withstand temperatures of about 4100.degree. F. in oxygen containing environments.

Abstract: A material and process for preparing corrosion resistant reflective material. The process in the preferred embodiment comprises abrading a metal substrate, anodizing the metal substrate, depositing a thin film of substantially pure metal on the anodized substrate, and covering the reflective metal with a protective organic coating. The material produced is a metallic substrate having an anodized layer with a relatively thin film of reflective metal covered by a protective organic coating.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method and apparatus for stabilizing images in the reference frame of a forward or down looking infrared receiver moving relative to the scene. An infrared modulator (14) is disposed in the image plane of the receiver for imaging infrared energy from the scene. The modulator (14), normally nonreflecting of infrared energy incident thereon, is capable of having reflective spots written on selected locations thereon to reflect infrared energy incident at those locations. Detectors (24) positioned to detect infrared energy reflected from the modulator provide an output signal representing the radiance values of the sampled scene element. A microprocessor (30) is connected to the detector, responsive to the detected output signal, to detect image motion caused by relative motion between the receiver and the scene from the detected information.