Abstract: The method of using the mouse pad cleaning apparatus is disclosed and claimed. The method comprises the steps of uncovering the mouse cleaning surface, applying the mouse and ball of the mouse to the cleaning surface, moving the mouse in a rotational pattern on the mouse cleaning surface, removing the mouse form the mouse cleaning surface, washing the cleaning surface, and covering the mouse cleaning surface. A mouse pad cleaning apparatus comprising a plurality of substrates, each said substrate having adhesive thereon, said plurality of substrates residing in and affixed to a receptacle. A single substrate having adhesive, which may be washable or non-washable, thereon may be employed. The washable adhesive may be an organopolysiloxane or gelatinous elastomer.

Abstract: An apparatus for launching an aircraft having a multiplicity of interconnected elongated tracks of rigid material forming a track system and wherein each elongated track has a predetermined elongated track cross-sectional design, a winch system connected to the track system wherein the winch system has a variable mechanical advantage, one or more elongated elastic members wherein one end of each of the one or more elongated elastic members is adjustably connected to the track system, and a carrier slidably mounted to the track system wherein the carrier is connected to the winch system and to the other end of each of the one or more elongated elastic members.

Abstract: A common source, bi-directional microwave amplifier is described. More particularly, the present invention is a microwave, common source, bi-directional amplifier that includes a first amplification path and a second amplification path wherein the signal directional flow is controlled through the selective biasing of the first amplification path and the second amplification path. Each amplification path is designed to optimize desired performance. For signal flow through the first amplification path, the first amplification path is biased-on and the second path is biased-off. For signal flow through the second amplification path, the second amplification path is biased-on and the first path is biased-off.

Abstract: A magnetic field response sensor comprises an inductor placed at a fixed separation distance from a conductive surface to address the low RF transmissivity of conductive surfaces. The minimum distance for separation is determined by the sensor response. The inductor should be separated from the conductive surface so that the response amplitude exceeds noise level by a recommended 10 dB. An embodiment for closed cavity measurements comprises a capacitor internal to said cavity and an inductor mounted external to the cavity and at a fixed distance from the cavity's wall. An additional embodiment includes a closed cavity configuration wherein multiple sensors and corresponding antenna are positioned inside the cavity, with the antenna and inductors maintained at a fixed distance from the cavity's wall.

Abstract: Method and system for controllably redirecting a light beam, having a central wavelength ?, from a first light-receiving site to a second light-receiving site. A diffraction grating is attached to or part of a piezoelectric substrate, which is connected to one or two controllable voltage difference sources. When a substrate voltage difference is changed and the diffraction grating length in each of one or two directions is thereby changed, at least one of the diffraction angle, the diffraction order and the central wavelength is controllably changed. A diffracted light beam component, having a given wavelength, diffraction angle and diffraction order, that is initially received at a first light receiving site (e.g., a detector or optical fiber) is thereby controllably shifted or altered and can be received at a second light receiving site. A polynomially stepped, chirped grating is used in one embodiment.

Abstract: An ignitor for use with the MC-1 rocket engine has a cartridge bounded by two end caps with rupture disc assemblies connected thereto. A piston assembly within the cartridge moves from one end of the cartridge during the ignition process. The inlet of the ignitor communicates with a supply taken from the discharge of the fuel pump. When the pump is initially started, the pressure differential bursts the first rupture disc to begin the movement of the piston assembly toward the discharge end. The pressurization of the cartridge causes the second rupture disc to rupture and hypergolic fluid contained within the cartridge is discharged out the ignitor outlet.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3-D) interactive display and method of forming the same, includes a transparent capaciflector (TC) camera formed on a transparent shield layer on the screen surface. A first dielectric layer is formed on the shield layer. A first wire layer is formed on the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed on the first wire layer. A second wire layer is formed on the second dielectric layer. Wires on the first wire layer and second wire layer are grouped into groups of parallel wires with a turnaround at one end of each group and a sensor pad at the opposite end. An operational amplifier is connected to each of the sensor pads and the shield pad biases the pads and receives a signal from connected sensor pads in response to intrusion of a probe. The signal is proportional to probe location with respect to the monitor screen.

Abstract: Methods of bulk manufacturing high temperature sensor sub-assembly packages are disclosed and claimed. Sensors are sandwiched between a top cover and a bottom cover so as to enable the peripheries of the top covers, sensors and bottom covers to be sealed and bound securely together are disclosed and claimed. Sensors are placed on the bottom covers leaving the periphery of the bottom cover exposed. Likewise, top covers are placed on the sensors leaving the periphery of the sensor exposed. Individual sensor sub-assemblies are inserted into final packaging elements which are also disclosed and claimed. Methods of directly attaching wires or pins to contact pads on the sensors are disclosed and claimed. Sensors, such as pressure sensors and accelerometers, and headers made out of silicon carbide and aluminum nitride are disclosed and claimed. Reference cavities are formed in some embodiments disclosed and claimed herein where top covers are not employed.

Abstract: Innovative new methods in connection with lighter-than-air (LTA) free floating platforms, of facilitating legal transmitter operation, platform flight termination when appropriate, environmentally acceptable landing, and recovery of these devices are provided. The new systems and methods relate to rise rate control, geo-location from a LTA platform including landed payload and ground-based vehicle locations, and steerable recovery systems.

Abstract: A polarization reconfigurable patch antenna is disclosed. The antenna includes a feed element, a patch antenna element electrically connected to the feed element, and at least one microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator, with a partial connection to the patch antenna element along an edge of the patch antenna element. The polarization of the antenna can be switched between circular polarization and linear polarization through action of the at least one MEMS actuator.

Abstract: An antenna system is disclosed including a GPS antenna which is driven by an articulator in an opposite direction to aircraft roll. Aircraft roll is sensed by an onboard navigation system and translation module sends a signal to a processor which provides a drive signal to the articulator. As the aircraft rolls in one direction, the antenna is driven oppositely to maintain the vertical orientation of the antenna.

Abstract: The invention relates to a material with high fracture toughness based on a vinyl ester resin and/or on an epoxide resin and to its process of manufacture. This material comprises at least one polymerized resin chosen from vinyl ester resins and epoxide resins which can be polymerized at a temperature of less than 70° C. and their blends, and a thermoplastic adjuvant present in this resin in the form of particles, and exhibits a fracture toughness (KIc) of greater than or equal to 1.2 MPa.m½ as determined according to Standard ISO 13586:2000. It also relates to a composite material comprising a matrix composed of said material and a reinforcement. Applications: automobile, railway, ship-building, aeronautical, aerospatial and other industries.

Abstract: Polyimides displaying low color in thin films, atomic oxygen resistance, vacuum ultraviolet radiation resistance, solubility in organic solvents in the imide form, high glass transition (Tg) temperatures, and high thermal stability are provided. The poly(amide acid)s, copoly(amide acid)s, polyimides and copolyimides are prepared by the reaction of stoichiometric ratios of an aromatic dianhydride with diamines which contain phenylphosphine oxide groups in polar aprotic solvents.

Abstract: A system for mounting a member such as a rail to a support surface such as a floor, made of a precast concrete material, without penetrating the floor. The rail mounting system includes a base plate secured to the upper surface of the floor via an adhesive, with one or more connectors extending upwardly from the base plate. An anchor plate is secured to the rail, and adjustment screws are interconnected with the rail for adjusting the elevation of the rail relative to the base plate. When the desired elevation of the rail is attained, engagement members such as nuts are secured to the threaded connectors extending upwardly from the base plate, to fix the height of the anchor plate, and thereby the rail. A grout layer is then applied between the base plate and the anchor plate. After the grout layer is set, the leveling screws are removed and a topping layer of concrete is applied over the components of the mounting system so as to encapsulate the base plate, the anchor plate and the engagement members.

Abstract: A resonant wingbeat tuning circuit automatically tunes the frequency of an actuating input to the resonant frequency of a flexible wing structure. Through the use of feedback control, the circuit produces the maximum flapping amplitude of a mechanical ornithoptic system, tracking the resonant frequency of the vibratory flapping apparatus as it varies in response to change in flight condition, ambient pressure, or incurred wing damage.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of processing a digital image that is initially represented by digital data indexed to represent positions on a display. The digital data is indicative of an intensity value Ii(x,y) for each position (x,y) in each i-th spectral band. The intensity value for each position in each i-th spectral band is adjusted to generate an adjusted intensity value for each position in each i-th spectral band in accordance with ? n = 1 N ? W n ? ( log ? ? ? I i ? ( x , y ) - log ? ? [ I i ? ( x , y ) * F n ? ( x , y ) ] ) , i = 1 , … ? ? , S where Wn is a weighting factor, “*” is the convolution operator and S is the total number of unique spectral bands. For each n, the function Fn(x,y) is a unique surround function applied to each position (x,y) and N is the total number of unique surround functions. Each unique surround function is scaled to improve some aspect of the digital image, e.g.

Abstract: A resonant wingbeat tuning circuit automatically tunes the frequency of an actuating input to the resonant frequency of a flexible wing structure. Through the use of feedback control, the circuit produces the maximum flapping amplitude of a mechanical ornithoptic system, tracking the resonant frequency of the vibratory flapping apparatus as it varies in response to changes in flight condition, ambient pressure, or incurred wing damage.

Abstract: Passive and active methods for anticipating problems with electrical wiring are provided. An insulative material in contact with an electrical conductor has at least one impurity that is impregnated in the insulative material and/or disposed thereon. An environment around the electrical conductor is monitored for the presence or the level of the impurity(ies) emanating from the insulative material in the form of a gaseous effluent. An alarm signal is generated when a predetermined level of the gaseous effluent is detected.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for the employment of free space transmission systems for interruption-proof links between individual satellites of satellite communications systems by utilizing optical terminals. The communication link between two satellites is established in a reliable manner despite the presence of microvibrations.

Abstract: A method of forming an environmental resistant thermal barrier coating on a copper alloy is disclosed. The steps include cleansing a surface of a copper alloy, depositing a bond coat on the cleansed surface of the copper alloy, depositing a NiAl top coat on the bond coat and consolidating the bond coat and the NiAl top coat to form the thermal barrier coating. The bond coat may be a nickel layer or a layer composed of at least one of copper and chromium-copper alloy and either the bond coat or the NiAl top coat or both may be deposited using a low pressure or vacuum plasma spray.