Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for generating a parameter value to be used as a parameter for a random number generator. A random value is generated and the random value is mapped to a prime number. The parameter value is generated by multiplying the prime number by previously selected prime numbers. Each parameter value is then used as one of a plurality of parameters for the random number generator.

Abstract: Automatic flight control systems and methods are disclosed. Low duty cycle motors, such as trim actuators may be driven with pulse width modulation signals. The pulse width modulation signals are structured such that the duty cycles of the low duty cycle motors are not exceeded. The low duty cycle motors are attached to and move flight control surfaces to implement automatic flight control commands.

Abstract: Reducing multiple access interference in the radio frequency communications path between the network base station and UE. The preferred methods include interleaving STAP and MUD in a plurality of stages in a base station receiver. Specific embodiments accomplish this by selecting certain UE connections for MUD processing by stage. Then, in two or more stages, demodulating the UE connections selected for MUD processing using STAP, and MUD canceling UE connections selected for MUD processing. Within the latency requirements of the network, preferred embodiments of the present invention also command a transmit power for each UE connections in order to exploit the effect of interleaved STAP and MUD processing.

Abstract: A method of sensing an environmental agent, comprising obtaining a sample from the environment and transferring the sample into the working fluid for dispensation to a detection module. The sample and working fluid mixture is filtered through a porous polymer Bragg grating. By comparing the refractive index of the grating with the mixture to the refractive index of a grating without the sample, a difference in the refractive index aids in the identification of a hazardous agent in the environment. The sensor also acts as a chemical filter by trapping specific target agents by a highly specific reaction with a conjugate molecule. Recirculation of the working fluid throughout the system provides a sensor that is “always on.

Abstract: Described herein are the materials, mechanisms and procedures for optimizing various performance parameters of HPDLC optical devices in order to meet differing performance requirements. These optimization tailoring techniques include control and independent optimization of switchable HPDLC optical devices to meet the demanding requirements of anticipated applications for, inter alia, the telecommunications and display industries. These techniques include optimization of diffraction efficiency, i.e., index modulation, polarization dependence control, haze, cosmetic quality, control of response and relaxation time, voltage driving for on and off switching, and material uniformity. This control and independent optimization tailors properties of switchable HPDLC optical devices according to the specific requirements of the application of the switchable HPDLC optical device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for characterizing targets, e.g., trucks, pallets, trains, cars, and the like, using digital target imaging. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide, at base: a) image segmentation and filtering to identify surrounding white space, interior walls, floor, and ceiling of the container; morphology routines to identify and classify objects found inside the container; and decision routines to report status of container as empty or non-empty with a confidence factor from 1-100.

Abstract: A system for the stand-off detection of trace amounts of analyte materials such as explosives, chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, and the like includes an ion source that is operably connected to an ion collection means and to a sensor. The ion source employs a first gas that is passed through an electrical discharge to produce metastable gas molecules as well as charged particles of various kinds. Ions and other charged particles are removed from the first gas which is then reacted with a second gas having a lower ionization potential to obtain reactant ions of relatively uniform energy. The reactant ions are focused and accelerated into a beam that is directed upon a surface, such as luggage or clothing that is being interrogated, to produce analyte ions which are collected and passed into the sensor that is preferably a differential mobility spectrometer.

Abstract: Transmission and reflection type holograms may be formed utilizing a novel polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) material and its unique switching characteristics to form optical elements. Applications for these switchable holograms include communications switches and switchable transmission, and reflection red, green, and blue lenses. The PDLC material offers all of the features of holographic photopolymers with the added advantage that the hologram can be switched on and off with the application of an electric field. The material is a mixture of a polymerizable monomer and liquid crystal, along with other ingredients, including a photoinitiator dye. Upon irradiation, the liquid crystal separates as a distinct phase of nanometer-size droplets aligned in periodic channels forming the hologram. The material is called a holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC).

Abstract: A system for the non-contact detection of analyte chemicals, including explosives, chemical warfare agents and the like, employs a non-equilibrium plasma that is maintained at a temperature sufficiently low so as to avoid thermal damage to a surface, such as clothing or skin, that is being examined to thereby produce analyte ions and other charged particles. The ions are collected and passed into a sensor for detection and identification.

Abstract: The present invention provides microwave attenuating, filled composite materials which contain a polymer or ceramic matrix and metallic tubules and processes for making the same and devices which contain such materials.

Abstract: An improved ion source and means for collecting and focusing dispersed gas-phase ions from a remote reagent chemical ionization source (R2CIS) at atmospheric or intermediate pressure is described. The R2CIS is under electronic control and can produce positive, negative, or positive and negative reagent ions simultaneously. This remote source of reagent ions is separated from a low-field sample ionization region by a stratified array of elements, each element populated with a plurality of openings, wherein DC potentials are applied to each element necessary for transferring reagent ions from the R2CIS into the low-field sample ionization region where the reagent ions react with neutral and/or ionic sample forming sample ionic species. The resulting sample ionic species are then introduced into a mass spectrometer, ion mobility spectrometer or other sensor capable of detecting the sample ions.

Abstract: A sorbent-filled sample tube is mounted to an aspirating source using a sample tube holder that includes a compression fitting having a fitting body, a cap, and a ferrule. The fitting cap is extended as a torque tube that surrounds the sample tube and has a length approximately equal to that of the sample tube to thereby protect the sample tube from damage. The free end of the torque tube is formed as a thumb wheel for ease in inserting and removing the sample tube without the use of a wrench or other tool.

Abstract: Described herein are the materials, mechanisms and procedures for optimizing various performance parameters of HPDLC optical devices in order to meet differing performance requirements. These optimization tailoring techniques include control and independent optimization of switchable HPDLC optical devices to meet the demanding requirements of anticipated applications for, inter alia, the telecommunications and display industries. These techniques include optimization of diffraction efficiency, i.e., index modulation, polarization dependence control, haze, cosmetic quality, control of response and relaxation time, voltage driving for on and off switching, and material uniformity. This control and independent optimization tailors properties of switchable HPDLC optical devices according to the specific requirements of the application of the switchable HPDLC optical device.

Abstract: Described herein are the materials, mechanisms and procedures for optimizing various performance parameters of HPDLC optical devices in order to meet differing performance requirements. These optimization tailoring techniques include control and independent optimization of switchable HPDLC optical devices to meet the demanding requirements of anticipated applications for, inter alia, the telecommunications and display industries. These techniques include optimization of diffraction efficiency, i.e., index modulation, polarization dependence control, haze, cosmetic quality, control of response and relaxation time, voltage driving for on and off switching, and material uniformity. This control and independent optimization tailors properties of switchable HPDLC optical devices according to the specific requirements of the application of the switchable HPDLC optical device.

Abstract: The present system can perform machine learning of prototypical descriptions of data elements for extraction from machine-readable documents. Document templates are created from sets of training documents that can be used to extract data from form documents, such as: fill-in forms used for taxes; flex-form documents having many variants, such as bills of lading or insurance notifications; and some context-form documents having a description or graphic indicator in proximity to a data element. In response to training documents, the system performs an inductive reasoning process to generalize a document template so that the location of data elements can be predicted for the training examples. The automatically generated document template can then be used to extract data elements from a wide variety of form documents.

Abstract: The present invention provides microwave attenuating, filled composite materials which contain a polymer or ceramic matrix and metallic tubules and processes for making the same and devices which contain such materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for extending the coverage area and communication capacity of a spread-spectrum based wireless network. The system comprises a unique dual-scale, asymmetrical cellular architecture for a wireless network, wherein the communication uplink is based on a macro-cellular system, and the communication downlink is based on a micro-cellular system. Through the user of remote downlink transmitters in the micro-cellular system, the present invention provides a cost effective solution for increasing communication capacity, extending coverage area, and providing high-speed communication downlink.

Abstract: The present invention provides microwave attenuating, filled composite materials which contain a polymer or ceramic matrix and metallic tubules and processes for making the same and devices which contain such materials.

Abstract: A system and method for calibrating a radiation imaging system include a dual use variable thickness radiation filter having a slit in one part thereof such that in a first position a radiation beam passing through is not attenuated and in a second position the radiation beam is attenuated according to the total filter thickness in the path of the radiation beam. The filter may be formed of multiple movable plates or a single piece of stepped high density material.

Abstract: Described herein is an implementation of the IRAMS processing based upon a multi-delay-resolution framework applied to SAR image data measured at different aspect angles. The power of this new embodiment of IRAMS is that it produces a good separation of immediate response scatterer and delayed response scatterer data for the case of anisotropic scattering events, i.e., those in which the scattering intensity depends upon the aspect angle. Two sources of delayed response scattering include multiple reflection scattering events and delayed responses arising from the physical material composition of the scatterer. That is, this multi-delay-resolution IRAMS processing separates immediate response and delayed response scattering for cases in which there exist delayed response scattering data in the original SAR image data at some aspect angles, but the intensity of these delayed response scattering data is weak or non-existent at different aspect angles.