Abstract: A method of producing a ceramic fiber/ceramic matrix composite having a precracked fiber coating includes depositing a metal coating or a metal nitride or metal carbide coating on each ceramic fiber in a preform of fibers, infiltrating the fiber preform with a ceramic matrix to form a ceramic fiber/ceramic matrix composite, after the formation of the composite is complete, oxidizing the coating so as to change the coating to an oxide thereof. This process forms microcracks throughout the oxidized coating because of the mismatch in characteristics between the precursor layer and the final oxidized layer. An alternative method of producing a ceramic fiber/ceramic matrix composite having a precracked fiber coating includes depositing an oxidation resistant oxide, carbide or nitride which undergoes a destructive phase transformation after the coating and matrix infiltration processes are complete by the use of thermal cycling.

Abstract: A backwired, three dimensional, electronic jig board assembly comprising a table top formed with a planar, rectangular surface having a plurality of apertures for the laying up of three dimensional wire harnesses thereupon; a plug board extending downwardly at right angles from one long edge of the table top, the plug board having upwardly extending slots from the free edge thereof opposite the edge coupled to the table top, with apertures formed as extensions of each slot for the receipt of connectors and the like; a safety plate extending downwardly from each short edge of the table top and spanning the plug board, each safety plate having a central aperture and a pivot rod fixedly secured thereto; support legs coupled to the pivot rods for the pivoting of the table top and plug board with respect thereto; apertures formed in each safety plate for the receipt of a pin passing through the support legs to secure each safety plate as well as the table top and plug board in any one of a plurality of angular ori

Abstract: A method of shaping, forming, consolidating and co-consolidating a workpiece of layers of thermoplastic or thermosetting composite material into a final composite product. The associated apparatus includes upper and lower sheets of Kapton, Upilex or equivalent film which are positioned between upper and lower supports, respectively, in facing relationship and adapted to receive therebetween a workpiece to be shaped and formed. Means are provided for applying high heat to opposite sides of the supports, the sheets and the workpiece. Means are also provided for applying high pressure to the upper sheet, a diaphragm, and one side of the workpiece and for applying vacuum pressure to the other sheet and the other side of the workpiece for shaping and forming the workpiece into the final composite product.

Abstract: An improved seal assembly positionable to cover a gap between aircraft panels. The seal assembly includes an umbrella seal and primary nodes extending therefrom into the gap. The seal assembly also includes secondary nodes in the gaps secured with respect to the panels and positioned between the primary nodes. The primary and secondary nodes having apertures aligned along a common axis. An elongated pin extends through the apertures of the primary and secondary nodes. The assembly further includes a cross seal positionable with its ends secured over ends of adjacent umbrella seals.

Abstract: A tool system for an integrated manufacturing and assembly system includes a plurality of profile boards which are connected together with connector boards. The profile board include a profile edge which define a mold line surface. Each of the profile boards includes a slot for each connector board which is connected to it. Each connector board includes a slot for each profile board which is connected to it. Each slot in both of the profile and the connector boards has opposing edges. One of these opposing edges serves as a locator edge for precisely and accurately positioning the respective profile boards to the connector boards and the respective connector boards to the profile boards. The other edge of the respective slots serves as a non-locator edge. Wedges fitting against the non-locator edges are used to fixedly maintaining the profile boards connected to the connector boards.

Abstract: A system for testing the properties of a material used in sealing gaps between aircraft panels. The system includes a first device having a pair of interior plates positionable on opposite sides of a first specimen, a pair of intermediate plates located on the sides of the interior plates remote from the first specimen, a pair of exterior plates located on the sides of the intermediate plates remote from the specimen, drive shafts coupled to the exterior plates, a first mechanism connected to the drive shafts for imparting motion thereto, and a first electrical device connected to the interior plates for testing the properties of the first specimen during the operation of the first mechanism.

Abstract: A spray end effector for spray painting internal cavities of complex shapes comprising a first elongated arm having an inboard end with attachment means for coupling to a robot and also having an outboard end; a second elongated arm having an inboard end fixedly coupled to the outboard end of the first arm and also having an outboard end; a third elongated arm having an inboard end pivotally coupled to the outboard end of the second arm and also having an outboard end with a rod for supporting a spray gun rotationally coupled with respect thereto; a first air motor having a shaft rotatable about its axis located within the second arm for rotating a jack screw and longitudinally driving a threaded housing to effect the pivotal movement of the third arm with respect to the second arm; a second air motor having a shaft rotatable about its axis located within the third arm for rotating a speed reducer to effect the rotational movement of the rod with respect to the third arm; and means to effect the proper rotati

Abstract: An all-optical, continuous-time, recurrent neural network is disclosed which is capable of executing a broad class of energy-minimizing neural net algorithms. The network is a resonator which contains a saturable, two-beam amplifier; two volume holograms; and a linear, two-beam amplifier. The saturable amplifier permits, through the use of a spatially patterned signal beam, the realization of a two-dimensional optical neuron array; the two volume holograms provide adaptive, global network interconnectivity; and the linear amplifier supplies sufficient resonator gain to permit convergent operation of the network.

Abstract: A portable measuring system for making a series of thickness measurements of a material such as an aircraft skin and for determining therefrom the sizes and quantities of standard size fasteners required for fastening the material. For each measurement, a fixed probe is inserted through a hole in the material so as to engage an inner surface of the material, and a slidable probe engages an outer surface of the material to measure the material's thickness. Each measurement is compared to a table stored in associated data processing equipment to relate the measured thickness to the applicable standard fastener size. The sizes and numbers of standard fasteners required are accumulated over the series of measurements and displayed to the user.

Abstract: A process for forming refractory metal ohmic contacts comprises masking a group III-V semiconductor substrate and opening windows thereon. Metal ions are implanted through the window to a sufficient concentration to connect to electronic features in the substrate. Following implantation, a refractory metal ohmic contact is deposited in the same windows and is passivated. Next, the implanted ions are activated by annealing so the refractory metal ohmic contacts are electrically connected to the electrical features in the substrate.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining a backscatter radiation component of a ring laser. Electro-optic apparatus provides to a ring laser resonant cavity, during a first interval of time, a clockwise propagating radiation beam and also provides, during a second interval of time, a counter-clockwise propagating radiation beam. Other electro-optic apparatus measures, during the first interval of time, a magnitude of a backscatter radiation component resulting from the clockwise propagating radiation beam and also measures, during the second interval of time, a magnitude of a backscatter radiation component resulting from the counter-clockwise propagating radiation beam. The measured backscatter magnitudes are input to a processor for calculating a lock-in characteristic of the ring laser.

Abstract: A high voltage DC relay with arc suppression in which a MOSFET in parallel with the relay contacts is turned on during contact break mode by the controlled discharge of a capacitor between the MOSFET source and drain through a constant current diode to suppress arcing. A sensing coil positioned near the relay coil generates current used to charge the charging capacitor during the make contact mode to suppress arcing.

Abstract: Improved channel members positionable over and in the gaps between aircraft panels. Each channel member includes a gap filler including a horizontal portion extending across the gap and a vertical portion extending downwardly therefrom into a gap. The vertical portion has parts in frictional contact with the side walls of the gap to resist removal of the gap filler from the gap. The gap filler is formed of an electrically conductive material selected to preclude galvanic corrosion when in contact with the panels. The vertical portion is formed of a pair of downwardly extending legs integrally formed with the horizontal portion. A central extent of each vertical portion includes an outwardly directed bight in frictional contact with a side wall of an associate panel. The channel member further includes an upper horizontal component in contact with adjacent plates at their exterior surfaces. The upper horizontal component is fabricated of the same material as the panels.

Abstract: A filter for decreasing sensor artifacts in an image frame as, for instance, sensor induced streaking in the image frame, has a frame buffer for temporary storing the picture elements of the image frame. A picture element mask is utilized to group related picture elements and statistics are collected with respect to these grouped picture elements. Correction parameters are determined utilizing these statistics and these are then utilized to correct the individual picture elements to remove the sensory induced artifacts. The statistics can be collected with respect to picture element gain and picture element offset with the correction parameters then determined utilizing the picture element gain and picture element offset.

Abstract: A bipolar transistor is constructed to include a substrate, a collector layer epitaxial grown on the substrate and a base layer ion implanted in the collector layer. Next a further epitaxial layer is grown on the collector layer over the ion implanted base layer. A base contact region is ion implanted in this further epitaxial layer between the surface of this further layer and the base layer. The base contact region surrounds and defines an emitter in the further layer. A base ohmic contact is formed on the surface of the further layer in a location overlaying and contacting the base contact region. An emitter ohmic contact is also formed on the surface of the further layer in contact with the emitter. Additionally a collector ohmic contact is also formed on this same surface in a position isolated from the emitter by the base contact region. The collector ohmic makes an electrical contact with the collector by utilizing the further layer as a contact pathway.

Abstract: A multichip electronic package uses a silicon substrate for chip mounting and interconnects, micro-machined inverted and non-inverted truncated vias for intrinsically hermetically sealed I/O connections, and an anodically bonded silicon cover, with support posts. Stacked, colocated and inverted vias are provided for increased chip and interconnect density within an intrinsically sealed, thermally matched package.

Abstract: A high speed wideband silicon photodetector is formed from a photosensitive junction in a relatively thin epitaxial layer of silicon grown on a sapphire substrate using SOS technology. The photodetector is backside illuminated, that is, illumination to be detected is cause to strike a receptor surface of the sapphire substrate so that it can reach the photosensitive junction in the silicon layer even with the shallower minimum penetration depths available at higher frequencies. A bias voltage may be applied to extend the depletion region from the photosensitive junction to the silicon sapphire interface. A magnesium fluoride anti-reflective coating may be used on the sapphire reflective surface.

Abstract: A tunable, integrated WDM optic couler for coupling optical energy to and from channel waveguides in response to the application of Surface Acoustic Waves (SAW's ), and a distributed processor computer control system utilizing the couplers. A first range of SAW's is used to couple optical energy of selected wavelengths from a channel waveguide driven by a LED to multiplex optical energy to a common optic loop and a second, non-overlapping range of SAW's is used to couple optical energy from the loop to a second channel waveguide. The second, receiving channel waveguide includes a Bragg deflector, planar waveguide and photodetector arrays to demultiplex the optical energy by focusing selected wavelengths of optical energy on selected portions of the photodetector arrays. Changes in the acoustic wavelengths and amplitudes permit tuning of the coupler and computer system by altering the portion and wavelengths, respectively, of optical energy coupled by each section of each coupler.

Abstract: The operation of an electronic neural computer is described. This electronic neural computer solves for the optimal path in a space of "cost functions" which are represented as delays at the nodes of a grid (in two, three, four, or more dimensions). Time gating by delays lets the optimal solution thread the maze of the network first. The neural computer starts to compute all possible paths through the cost function field and shuts down after the first (optimal solution) emerges at the target node. The cost function delays are set from outside the neural computer architecture.

Abstract: An improved target for use in an optical measurement system comprising an upper cylindrical housing portion and a lower cylindrical housing portion separably coupled at an intermediate location, the lower housing portion having a lower cylindrical region of a reduced diameter depending therefrom for receipt in a hole of the tooling to be sighted and an upper region having threads and an upwardly facing cylindrical recess, the upper cylindrical portion having threads at a lower region for separably coupling with threads of the lower portion and with the upper region having a downwardly facing cylindrical recess; illumination mechanisms positioned within the recesses and comprising a battery, a light emitting diode and potting material therebetween in a cylindrical configuration with electrical contacts extending from its lower face in contact with the battery and from one side surface in contact with the housing for establishing electrical contact between the battery and the light emitting diode; and a viewer