Abstract: A method of developing software comprises the steps of defining a plurality of component objects for receiving input data and producing output data, defining a plurality of connection objects for passing data between the component objects, and executing an initialization script to define a behavioral model for the system by defining relationships between the component objects and the connection objects. A software development system that performs the method is also provided.

Abstract: A high-power laser system includes a laser master oscillator, a plurality of fiber laser amplifiers producing intermediate output beamlets, a diffractive optical element for combining the intermediate beamlets into a combined output beam, and one or more error controllers for minimizing errors related to beam combination that may degrade the quality of the combined output beam. A piston error controller uses phase modulation to tag each non-reference intermediate beamlet with a unique dither signal harmonically unrelated to those used for the other beamlets. For each intermediate beamlet, the associated piston error is recovered using a synchronous detector, and an error control signal proportional to the piston error is supplied to a phase modulator to control the piston error for that beamlet. A tilt error controller uses amplitude modulation based on Hadamard code words to tag each non-reference intermediate beamlet with a unique code sequence orthogonal to those used for the other beamlets.

Abstract: A high-power laser system includes a laser master oscillator, a plurality of fiber laser amplifiers producing intermediate output beamlets, a diffractive optical element for combining the intermediate beamlets into a combined output beam, and one or more error controllers for minimizing errors related to beam combination that may degrade the quality of the combined output beam. A piston error controller uses phase modulation to tag each non-reference intermediate beamlet with a unique dither signal harmonically unrelated to those used for the other beamlets. For each intermediate beamlet, the associated piston error is recovered using a synchronous detector, and an error control signal proportional to the piston error is supplied to a phase modulator to control the piston error for that beamlet. A tilt error controller uses amplitude modulation based on Hadamard code words to tag each non-reference intermediate beamlet with a unique code sequence orthogonal to those used for the other beamlets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tray transfer system (TTS). This system is designed to automatically transfer trays of mail between dollies and conveyor belts. The TTS is an efficient method for shipping, moving, storing, loading, and unloading mail trays. It allows mail-processing centers to physically and temporally separate the process of sorting mail and the process of moving mail into automation compatible trays (ACT).

Abstract: An electrical power feed thru for thin-walled vessels such as aircraft fuselages is disclosed which allows high electrical current power lines, and their associated high operating temperatures, to transition from the inside to the outside of the aircraft. The feed thru includes sealing surfaces, anti-rotation features and safety covers. This low-profile configuration permits the attached cables to run close to the fuselage walls, permitting easier routing and clamping. The feed thru has a variable geometry which permits alternate spacing of the end terminations in reference to the fuselage while maintaining the same parts. Installation is simplified through a single fuselage wall mounting hole design that can be done with a standard punch. The feed thru exceeds the shock and vibration environments of various aircraft such as a military aircraft.

Abstract: A multi-channel, dual-band, radio frequency (RF) transmit/receive (T/R) module, for an active electronically scanned array, is provided. The module includes a compact, RF manifold connector and at least four T/R channels. Each of the T/R channels includes a notch radiator, a diplexer coupled to the notch radiator, a power amplifier, including at least one dual-band gain stage, coupled to the notch radiator, a low noise amplifier, including at least one lower-band gain stage and at least one upper-band gain stage, coupled to the diplexer, and a T/R cell, including a phase shifter, a signal attenuator and at least one dual-band gain stage, coupled to the power amplifier, the low noise amplifier and the manifold connector.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for on-site microwave consolidation of planetary regolith, soil and dust is disclosed. Such particulate materials may be converted into useful products such as roadways and other construction materials. In one embodiment, a portable microwave generator and waveguide system is used to generate and direct microwaves to a lunar surface containing fine iron-containing particles to sinter and/or melt the particles. The portable system may be provided in the form of a lunar paver with a single or multiple waveguides arranged to direct sufficient microwave energy to the lunar surface to heat, sinter, melt, or otherwise consolidate the lunar soil into a solid mass suitable for use as a road or path. Other applications of this in-situ microwave heating process include the release of solar-wind implanted gases, extraction of polar water-ice, and production of oxygen.

Abstract: A laser diode package according to the present invention is composed of CTE mismatched components soldered together. The laser diode package includes a laser diode bar, at least one heat sink, and at least one exothermic layer. Solder layers are adjacent the heat sink(s) and laser diode bar, respectively. The exothermic layer(s) are positioned between the solder layers. The exothermic layer(s) are exposed to an energy source which causes an exothermic reaction to propagate through the exothermic layer thereby melting the solder layers and solder layers. The exothermic layer(s) may be designed to provide sufficient heat to melt the solder layers and solder layers but provide only minimal heat to the laser diode bar and heat sink(s). Several packages can be stacked together to form a laser diode array.

Abstract: Superconducting single flux quantum circuits are disclosed herein, each having at least one Josephson junction which will flip when the current through it exceeds a critical current. Bias current for the Josephson junction is provided by a biasing transformer instead of a resistor. The lack of any bias resistors ensures that unwanted power dissipation is eliminated.

Abstract: A multilayer passive circuit topology is disclosed. In one embodiment, a multilayer circuit is provided. The multilayer circuit comprises a multilayer inductor comprising a first set of parallel conductive traces formed on a first layer, a second set of parallel conductive traces formed on a second layer spaced apart from the first layer; and a plurality of vias that connect respective parallel conductive traces from the first and second layer to form inductor windings. The multilayer circuit further comprises a multilayer capacitor connected to an end of the inductor by a coupling via, the capacitor comprising a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate being spaced apart from one another and being formed on different layers.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a method and apparatus for providing high-speed, low signal power amplification. In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method for providing a wideband amplification of a signal by forming a first transmission line in parallel with a second transmission line, each of the first transmission line and the second transmission line having a plurality of superconducting transmission elements, each transmission line having a transmission line delay; interposing a plurality of amplification stages between the first transmission line and the second transmission line, each amplification stage having an resonant circuit with a resonant circuit delay; and substantially matching the resonant circuit delay for at least one of the plurality of amplification stages with the transmission line delay of at least one of the superconducting transmission lines.

Abstract: A normally-off cascode power switch circuit is disclosed fabricated in wide bandgap semiconductor material such as silicon carbide or gallium nitride and which is capable of conducting current in the forward and reverse direction under the influence of a positive gate bias. The switch includes cascoded junction field effect transistors (JFETs) that enable increased gain, and hence blocking voltage, while minimizing specific on-resistance.

Abstract: A quantum logic gate is formed from multiple qubits coupled to a common resonator, wherein quantum states in the qubits are transferred to the resonator by transitioning a classical control parameter between control points at a selected one of slow and fast transition speeds, relative to the characteristic energy of the coupling, whereby a slow transition speed exchanges energy states of a qubit and the resonator, and a fast transition speed preserves the energy states of a qubit and the resonator.

Abstract: A carbon nanotube field effect transistor includes a substrate, a source electrode, a drain electrode and a carbon nanotube. The carbon nanotube forms a channel between the source electrode and the drain electrode. The carbon nanotube field effect transistor also includes a gate dielectric and a gate electrode. The gate electrode is separated from the carbon nanotube by the gate dielectric, and an input radio frequency voltage is applied to the gate electrode.

Abstract: Novel applications of nanocoil technology and novel methods of fabricating nanocoils for use in such applications and others. Such applications include inductors or traveling wave tubes fabricated from spiral nanocoils. Such applications includes inductors or traveling wave tubes fabricated from a method for fabricating nanocoils with a desired pitch. Such a method includes determining a desired pitch for fabricated nanocoil, selecting coiling arm orientation in which coiling arm orientation is arm angle between coiling arm an crystalline orientation of underlying substrate, whereby coiling arm orientation affects pitch of fabricated nanocoil, patterning coiling arm structure with selected coiling arm orientation, and, releasing coiling arm, whereby fabricated nanocoil is formed.

Abstract: A chemical detection system is disclosed. The chemical detection system includes an atmospheric pressure ionization (API) source that produces an API stream, a sample delivery system that delivers a liquid sample in a continuous manner to the API stream, an ion detector capable of detecting a molecule of interest and a control device. Also disclosed is a method for detecting a chemical of interest in a liquid sample.

Abstract: An optical port apparatus includes a housing having oppositely disposed first and second housing surfaces and a housing body extending therebetween. A housing aperture extends about a central axis of the housing body. A groove surrounds the housing aperture. The groove extends partially through the housing body and has a bottom groove surface spaced from the second housing surface by a groove side wall. A shelf is located between the groove and the housing aperture. A gasket is located in the groove adjacent the bottom groove surface. The gasket surrounds the housing aperture. A window is located across the housing aperture in contact with the shelf. An elastomeric adhesive is located in the groove between the groove side wall and at least one of the window and the gasket. A bezel is fastened to the second housing surface adjacent the groove.

Abstract: A method for mounting a dielectric substrate to a semiconductor substrate, such as mounting a dielectric antenna substrate to an MMIC semiconductor substrate. The method includes providing a thin dielectric antenna substrate having metallized layers on opposing sides. In one embodiment, carrier wafers are used to handle and maintain the dielectric substrate in a flat configuration as the metallized layers are patterned. The dielectric substrate is sealed to the semiconductor substrate using a low temperature bonding process. In an alternate embodiment, the metallized layers on the dielectric substrate are patterned simultaneously so as to prevent the substrate from curling.

Abstract: A method, and a corresponding apparatus, provide for real-time network-based recovery from information warfare (IW) attacks on a network that includes subnets, with each subnet including one or more nodes. The method includes executing a pre-IW attack routine to identify IW attack recovery information, in response to an IW attack, executing an IW attack response routine, and executing a real-time network-based recovery routine. The pre-IW attack routine includes monitoring conditions on the network and at each of the subnets and nodes. When an IW attack occurs at an entity in the network, a condition flags are set to indicate the specific entity or entities being attacked. A condition flag set to 0 implies full operational capability of the entity, a condition flag set to 1 implies recent IW attack or IW attack in progress at the entity, and a condition flag set to 2 implies recovery of the entity from the IW attack.

Abstract: A method and system use a biometric personal identity verification (BioPIV) system to provide a fingerprint enabled wireless add-on for personal identification number (PIN) accessible smartcards. The BioPIV system may function as a trusted biometric reader and a smartcard reader with full remote functionality for both logical and physical access.