Abstract: A system and method are presented for generating shearograms from raw specklegram images which may, for example, be collected from airborne or other mobile shearography equipment. The system and method is used to detect and characterize buried mines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and underground tunnels, bunkers, and other structures. Amongst other purposes, the system and method may also be used for rapid scanning of ship hulls and aircraft for hidden structural defects, rapid pipeline inspection, and non-contact acoustic sensing for in-water and underground sources.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying an individual based, at least in part, on their gait is presented. First, acceleration data is received from an accelerometer carried by a person. The acceleration data corresponds to a gait of the person. Rotational invariant values that are independent of a rotational position of the accelerometer are calculated based, at least in part, on the acceleration data. A gait dynamics image (GDI) is calculated based, at least in part, on the rotational invariant values. The GDI is matched to one of a set predetermined GDIs to identify the person.

Abstract: A mechanism for determining atmospheric conditions from an image is described. A mechanism for determining atmospheric conditions includes determining an intensity value for pixels above and below the horizon in an image, calculating a slope between the intensity values for the pixels above the horizon, and a slope between the intensity values for the pixels below the horizon, and determining a difference between the slopes to determine the atmospheric conditions.

Abstract: An uncooled high-resolution 12 micron pixel pitch 3D-stacked component thermal camera including an electronics board, a camera circuit card assembly (CCA) with an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), flash memory, a spacer, a wafer level packaged Focal Plane Array (FPA) wafer with a lens housing attach ring on the FPA, and a window.

Abstract: In a directed infrared countermeasure system, to assure parallelism between the line-of-sight to a target and the output beam, the input and output mirrors are fixedly attached to a uni-construction arm mounted to a rotatable azimuth platter to which internal mirrors are also fixedly attached. A system is provided for zeroing out alignment errors by developing an aim-point map for the gimbal that records initial alignment errors induced by manufacturing tolerances and uses the aim-point map error values to correct the output mirror orientation. The system also corrects for alignment errors induced by thermal gradients.

Abstract: A system and method of determining a pointing vector using two GPS antennas and a single GPS receiver is disclosed. Two stationary GPS antennas, with a separation preferably less than half of a wavelength (˜100 mm) may use a single receiver to determine the pointing vector of the system. Incorporation of a three axis angular rate measurement allows pointing determination during system rotation. Incorporation of three axis gyroscope system allows pointing determination while in motion. The system provides the ability to sense multipath and jamming. Also the system can potentially eliminate the impact and certainly alert the user that the measurement may not be reliable.

Abstract: A system and method provide for easy sharing of data between different software languages. A method begins by creating a definition defining a data structure with a domain specific language. The definition is then input to a code generator which generates data structures and algorithms in a first software language. The same generator software also creates equivalent data structures and algorithms in a second software language that is different than the first software language. The two output implementations provide compatible utilities for marshalling and de-marshalling data back and forth between the first software language and the second software language without requiring further manipulation of the two implementations.

Abstract: A mechanism for image recognition based on multiple factors is described. A method, system and computer-readable medium for multi-factor image recognition includes using environmental contextual attributes to create likelihood tiers in an image recognition database such that irrelevant entries are excluded from the search. The mechanism described here limits and sorts by contextual likelihood the number of entries to be searched, increasing both the speed and accuracy of the image recognition process.

Abstract: An optical bench assembly is disclosed. In one embodiment, the optical bench assembly includes a housing and a cantilever optical bench for holding optical components. Further, the cantilever optical bench includes a front flange coupled to the housing and an optical bench attached to the front flange such that the optical bench is not susceptible to movements of the housing due to varying ambient conditions and resulting loads.

Abstract: A system and method use tunnelizing for analyzing frequency spectrum. The method may include the steps of under sampling an input signal to take samples in one or more tunnels each with a tunnel bandwidth that is equal to or less than a total analysis bandwidth of the input signal; detecting one or more cyclostationary features of the input signal based on the samples; and determining one or more signal types of the one or more cyclostationary features based on the one or more cyclostationary features.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing the timing between two asynchronous clocks. The techniques are particularly well-suited for synchronizing the reference clock with the divided clock in a phase coherent DSM PLL application, but can be more broadly applied to any application that includes a need for synchronizing a data bus across a clock boundary. In one example embodiment, the techniques are implemented in a retime word circuit operatively coupled between a DSM and the divide-by-N integer divider of a PLL application. The retime word circuit receives the divide word from the DSM and generates a retimed divide word that can be applied to the divider. The retime word circuit maintains the reference clock frequency throughput, and forces the divide word seen by the divider to change only at end of a given divide cycle.

Abstract: Techniques and architecture are disclosed for providing an optical system having an on-axis, internally mounted inertial measurement unit (IMU). In some cases, an IMU may be mounted within an interior region/cavity of an inner housing, which intern is configured to rotate within an outer housing. In some instances, a mirror assembly may be operatively coupled with the inner housing and permitted to rotate simultaneously with the IMU. Rotation of the inner housing may be achieved, in some example cases, by use of a suitable motor. In some instances, positioning componentry may be operatively coupled with one or more of the IMU and/or mirror assembly. Improvements in mechanical stability, system dimensions, and/or protection from external/environmental hazards may be realized, in some example cases.

Abstract: A solid-state amplifier architecture is disclosed. In some embodiments, the disclosed architecture may include first and second channel chipsets configured to amplify either the entire instantaneous frequency band of a radio frequency (RF) input signal or, respectively, sub-bands thereof, which may be divided proportionally between the two chipsets. In some cases, the chipsets may be configured to amplify frequencies in excess of the entire K-band and Ka-band frequencies simultaneously. In some cases, the architecture may be configured to address a signal received, for instance, from an electronic warfare (EW) system to a log amplifier stage configured to output a signal to the EW system, in response to which the EW system may generate a RF signal for amplification by the architecture for transmission. To facilitate heat dissipation, the architecture may be coupled, in part or in whole, with a thermally conductive carrier, optionally with an intervening diamond heat spreader layer.

Abstract: Techniques and architecture are disclosed for stabilizing optical/imaging componentry over a broad range of environmental conditions and stressors. A flexure-based focus mechanism provided using the disclosed techniques may help to minimize or otherwise reduce the effects of a wide variety of stressors (e.g., vibration, torque, thermal expansion/contraction, etc.), thus assisting with achieving and/or maintaining fine focus with an optical/imaging component. In some cases, such a mechanism can be: (1) operatively coupled with a given optical/imaging system component; and/or (2) integrated therewith. In some instances, an optional drive assembly may be implemented in conjunction with such a mechanism to assist with achieving and/or maintaining fine focus.

Abstract: Solutions for object tracking problems are presented by gathering images using one or more cameras, processing the gathered images to generate a directed acyclic graph, using the directed acyclic graph to determine a path cover that achieves maximum weight and satisfies one or more positive or negative constraints, and using the path cover to solve the object tracking problem. A first set of solutions utilizes trellis graphs, a second set of solutions employs a greedy approach, and a third set of solutions uses search algorithms.

Abstract: A digital filter correlation engine, wherein the correlation engine combines N arbitrary digital filter states based on the weights and along with a threshold generate a network incident. This network incident in turn can be feedback to another digital filter. This multi-layering capability allows the creation of higher level event detections that are time-based for a cyber security analyst to analyze, thereby reducing the amount of manual work the analyst has to do in inspecting behaviors within the network.

Abstract: A novel bulk GaAs with an increased carrier lifetime of at least 10 microseconds has been produced. This novel GaAs has many uses to improve optical and electrical devices. The method of producing the GaAs crystal involves using a technique called low pressure hydride vapor phase epitaxy (LP-HVPE). In this technique, a gas containing Ga (typically GaCl) is reacted with a gas containing As (typically AsH3) at the surface of a GaAs substrate. When grown under the proper conditions, the epitaxial, vapor grown GaAs crystal has ultra-long free carrier lifetimes of at least one order of magnitude greater than that of the previous art of 1 microsecond. This very long free carrier lifetime GaAs will be particularly useful as a semiconductor radiation detector material and is also expected to be useful for many other applications than include medical imaging, solar cells, diode lasers, and optical limiters and other applications.

Abstract: A method for fabricating crystalline dielectric material on top of metal layers to produce an apparatus for non-mechanical steering of an input laser beam is provided. The apparatus may include a plurality of stacked parallel dielectric waveguides, each waveguide of which is fabricated by separating layers of dielectric material from a donor wafer and bonding the separated layers of dielectric material to a receiving wafer. A plurality of voltages is applied across the stacked parallel dielectric waveguides. Each of the stacked parallel dielectric waveguides is electrically phase modulated to deflect an output beam in a predictable manner.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting the trajectory of a projectile is presented. One system includes a flash detection sensor, an acoustic sensor, an optical sensor and a processor logic mounted on a vehicle. The flash detection sensor detects a flash of a projectile being launched. The acoustic sensor detects when a blast wave associated with the firing of the projectile reaches the vehicle. The optical sensor takes two or more images of the same projectile. The images are typically not in the visible light spectrum. The processor logic calculates a trajectory of the projectile based on the images and data collected by the acoustic sensor associated with the blast wave. The processor logic may generate a warning signal to warn an operator of the vehicle about the projectile.

Abstract: An extended field heterodyne detection apparatus comprises a local signal oscillator, a micro-lens array set in optical relation to the local signal oscillator to multiplex a beam from the local signal oscillator, a local oscillator injection lens in the optical path of the local oscillator and the micro-lens array, a semi-reflective beam splitter at the telecentric stop of the local oscillator injection lens to reflect the beam of the local oscillator in parallel to a signal beam passing through the semi-reflective beam splitter, an objective lens, with a stop, located at the semi-reflective beam splitter, and a focal plane array, situated to receive the source beam. The extended field heterodyne detection apparatus solves the problem of creating a local oscillator beam that is mode-matched for an incoming signal beam, for the eventual process of mixing both the signal beam and the local oscillator using a conventional, square-law detector.