Abstract: A torsional gyroscope is provided that includes: a pickup tine and a drive tine of piezoelectric material, pickup electrodes disposed along the pickup tine, drive electrodes disposed along the drive tine, and a drive mass. The drive tine has a first end attached to the pickup tine and is transverse to the drive tine. The drive mass is attached to a second end of the drive tine opposite the first end of the drive tine. An electric field applied to the drive electrodes induces a rotational oscillation of the drive tine causing the drive tine to rotate about the first axis, inducing the drive mass to rotate about the first axis. Angular rotation of the drive mass along a third axis induces a torque in the pickup tine that induces an electric field in the pickup tine that induces an electrical charge to build up in the pickup electrodes.

Abstract: A system for determining a combined velocity rotation compensation and sculling compensation in an inertial navigation system includes: gyroscopes configured to provide a measured angular rotation rate with components from three orthogonal axes; accelerometers configured to provide a measured specific force with components from three orthogonal axes; and a processor configured to calculate a first combined velocity rotation compensation and sculling compensation at a single computational rate, the processor configured to: calculate a first cross product of an instantaneous angular rotation rate and a change in the measured specific force during a first interval; and sum the first cross product with a second cross product of a fraction of the change in the specific force during the second interval and the change in the measured angular rate during the first interval; where the first and second intervals are each one cycle of the single computational rate.

Abstract: A system for determining a combined velocity rotation compensation and sculling compensation in an inertial navigation system includes: gyroscopes configured to provide a measured angular rotation rate with components from three orthogonal axes; accelerometers configured to provide a measured specific force with components from three orthogonal axes; and a processor configured to calculate a first combined velocity rotation compensation and sculling compensation at a single computational rate, the processor configured to: calculate a first cross product of an instantaneous angular rotation rate and a change in the measured specific force during a first interval; and sum the first cross product with a second cross product of a fraction of the change in the specific force during the second interval and the change in the measured angular rate during the first interval; where the first and second intervals are each one cycle of the single computational rate.

Abstract: A closed loop sensor that utilizes a piezoelectric structure. In one embodiment, driven/non-control electrodes apply drive voltages to the piezoelectric structure and drive/control electrodes apply drive/control voltages to the piezoelectric structure to cause drive mode displacement of the piezoelectric structure and cancel motion induced pickup mode and quadrature displacements of the piezoelectric structure. In another embodiment, pickup/control electrodes detect a pickup signal from the piezoelectric structure corresponding to the motion induced pickup mode and quadrature displacements and apply a control signal to the piezoelectric structure so as to cancel these displacements. In still another embodiment of the invention, an optical sensing device optically senses the motion induced pickup mode and quadrature displacements and control electrodes apply a control signal to the piezoelectric structure so as to cancel them.

Abstract: Accelerometer and method in which parts such as the seismic mass and force sensors are all fabricated of a single material such as crystalline quartz and bonded together in a manner which reduces the possibility of creep between them. Damping plates and squeeze film gas damping dampen movement of the seismic mass, and the parts are oriented in a predetermined manner relative to the crystallographic axes of the wafers from which they are fabricated to control the character of breakaway tabs which hold the parts to the wafers during fabrication.

Abstract: A pressurized extinguishant release device with a rolling diaphragm includes a closed elongated sensor tube filled for example with 50% water and 50% ethylene glycol which terminates in an enclosure sealed by a circular head portion of the rolling diaphragm. On the other side of the head portion is a piston connected to a penetrator retained against the diaphragm by a shear pin. The penetrator is positioned above a brittle membrane which encloses a pressurized extinguishant. Heating of the liquid filled sensor tube to a certain temperature will cause a vapor pressure to push against the diaphragm head to cause the shear pin to fail propelling the penetrator into the membrane and thus allow the extinguishant to flow.

Abstract: A high-speed serrodyne digital frequency translator utilizes a digital phase-shifter, for example, of series coupled Schiffman type cells, which have reference and delay paths which are switched by three-terminal devices of the gallium arsenide FET type. No bias voltages are used and the FETS are driven by the output of a binary divider network which in turn is composed of GaAs FETS as active elements. Thus switching in the picosecond range results.

Abstract: A microwave integrated circuit for frequency translation includes a pair of mixers for receiving the input RF signal, mixing it with a pair of quadrature frequency modulation signals and by combining the output of the mixers in a quadrature coupler, suppressing all signals except for the input RF signal plus the modulation frequency. This is accomplished in an environment of high "g" forces, significant temperature variations and a need for high reliability and fast operation by a miniaturized microwave integrated circuit having microstrips on the top and bottom sides of a ceramic substrate. The mixers consist of quad diode chips which are compression welded to one side of the microstrip for good resistance to high "g" forces. Suitable balancing is provided by use of a ground plane on the opposite side with tapering. A quadrature coupler to suppress the lower sideband is in the form of a LANGE coupler which is effectively integrated on the top side of the substrate.

Abstract: A Class A high power amplifier having an operating frequency in the range of less than substantially 2 GHz and suitable for aircraft use, is all solid state in that gallium arsenide field effect transistors are utilized. These are mounted in a large copper heat sink which is air cooled to provide for overall cooling by conduction and convection. By the use of microstrip matching circuits, the relatively low impedance of the gallium arsenide FET units is matched to the required higher system impedance. At the same time a 40% band-width is provided due to the superior matching.

Abstract: A pneumatic pressure detector for use in an overheat or fire alarm system utilizes a known capillary type sensor tube which has absorbed in it a gas. Overheat or fire condition causes the gas to expand which then actuates an associated deformable diaphragm to close an electrical switch. To insure that the system pressure is maintained and no fault condition exists, the compact detector also uses a deformable diaphragm associated with an integrity switch which opens if the pressure falls below normal. Both of these diaphragms are juxtaposed to form the plenum to which the sensor tube is attached thereby saving weight and space.

Abstract: A linear fire extinguisher includes a high strength metal elongated tube containing a pressurized fire extinguishant such as Halon 1301. A pair of these tubes are mounted opposite each other with a pair of opposed shaped charges placed along exterior walls opposite each other so that when actuated they provide cutting lines which release the extinguishant in opposed directions so that reaction forces balance out. Concurrently the unwrapping of each container is counteracted and interfered with by the adjacent container to minimize the spread of container fragments. Appropriate intermediate retention of portions of the container is provided to also minimize fragments.

Abstract: A velocity deception apparatus utilizes a serrodynable digital phase shifter of the Schiffman type where each cell of the phase shifter is driven by an output of a multi-bit counter whose clock input in turn is driven by a voltage-to-frequency converter which has a pulse train output which responds substantially instantaneously to the analog value of a linear or second order function which produces the desired frequency translation. In practice, this performs as a velocity gate stealer which produces slowly changing false doppler frequencies.

Abstract: A linear fire extinguisher of the type containing superpressurized Halon in a cylindrical container which is cut by an explosive linear shaped charge is contained in an overall housing which, in addition to preventing fragments from escaping, diverts the outflow of extinguishant to provide an equal and opposite reaction force to the momentum force of the outflow. In addition, the diversion occurs through apertures in the housing to opposed paths in directions substantially perpendicular to the reaction forces to again, nullify any forces due to this perpendicular outflow. The invention is also applicable to other container configurations where a high impulse force might occur.

Abstract: An accelerometer based power control apparatus for use in an aircraft subsystem (where the subsystem may be a fire extinguishing system) utilizes an independent battery source. The battery is connected to the aircraft subsystem only during the flight of the aircraft by a positive indication of an associated accelerometer which closes a switch connecting the battery to the aircraft subsystem.

Abstract: The velocity deception apparatus utilizes a serrodyne technique to produce various deception jamming modes. The modes are all controllable by parameters which are digitally stored and in addition, the modes may be selectively actuated by a remote control panel located in the aircraft on which the apparatus is installed. All of the foregoing is accomplished with low cost, reliability, simplicity and with flexibility of operation in being able to digitally reprogram the apparatus on an ongoing basis.

Abstract: A DSB-SC signal is demodulated using an up/down counter, the count direction of which is alternately switched in synchronism with the polarity of a reference carrier signal for the DSB-SC signal. The converter includes an integrator, a comparator and a charge-rebalancing current source to reset the integrator. Correction of the court value of the up/down counter is obtained by tracking and storing a partial-bit analog signal. The partial-bit analog signal corresponds to and is obtained from the output of the integrator just prior to the pahse transition of the reference carrier signal. A capacitor samples the partial-bit analog signal information and subsequently transfers that information to the integrator input. The transfer of a charge of twice the magnitude and opposite polarity to the integrator compensates for the partial bit analog signal as it is detected by the up/down counter. A digital system for converting the partial-bit analog signal to a binary code word is provided.

Abstract: An analog baseband signal modulates a reference-frequency carrier signal to provide a double-sideband, suppressed-carrier DSB-SC signal. The DSB-SC signal is converted in a voltage-to-frequency converter to a series of pulses, which are demodulated to produce a digitally formatted version of the baseband signal. A notch filter for rejecting an undesired analog signal includes a voltage-to-frequency converter and a selective feedback path which demodulates the undesired signal from a frequency-encoded domain back to the analog domain for a cancellation in a summer preceding the voltage-to-frequency converter.

Abstract: A linear fire extinguisher includes a high strength elongated tube containing a pressurized fire extinguishant such as HALON 1301. A pair of opposed shaped charges is placed along the exterior or interior of the tube and when actuated provides cutting lines which cause a directed distribution of the fire extinguishant along the lines in an opposed manner to provide a net reaction force of substantially zero on the tube. A helical geometry is also provided which provides a substantial reduction in reactive forces.

Abstract: A light scatter smoke detector includes an infrared light source and light sensor in a smoke chamber, the chamber including an adjustable screw which serves as a scatter reflector to provide an operating voltage used both in normal operation and for testing. A dual channel is also provided by a splitting off some light from the light source into a separate reference channel which is also used for threshold detection or proper ratioing.

Abstract: A method of detecting fires utilizing its flicker frequency spectrum provides a standard theoretical flicker frequency spectrum which is compared to the real time spectrum over a 2 second time period. The comparison includes whether or not the real time fire spectrum deviates from the idealized fire spectrum by a minimum amount and has further discrimination against false fire signals, including the extent of time of the real time spectrum is outside a predetermined window and a limit on maximum deviations.