Abstract: A semiconductor device. The device includes a substrate and an integrated circuit chip. The device also includes an electrically or thermally reactive layer located between a top surface of the substrate and a bottom surface of the integrated circuit chip, wherein the reactive layer is positioned such that detection of tampering causes the reactive layer to be electrically or thermally energized such that the semiconductor device is at least partially destroyed.

Abstract: An electromechanical switch may be actuated in a plurality of modes. A base portion of the electromechanical switch includes first and second electrical ports adapted to be electrically coupled in a plurality of modes. A first electromagnetic coil defines a longitudinal axis and is adapted to receive a first energizing current. A second electromagnetic coil extends along the longitudinal axis in spaced apart relationship with the first electromagnetic coil. The second electromagnetic coil is adapted to receive a second energizing current. The first and second ports are selectively coupled in any one of open-terminated mode, attenuation mode, and a short circuit mode based on the energy state of the first and second electromagnetic coils.

Abstract: A battery assembly for use in an aircraft. The battery assembly may include a battery and a circuit configured to monitor the battery in situ. The circuit may include at least one sensor positioned to sense at least one property of the battery and a processor in communication with the sensor. The battery assembly may also include a battery housing, wherein the battery and the circuit are positioned within the battery housing. A method for evaluating a battery in an electric device. The method may include collecting operational information from the battery. The operational information may be collected without removing the battery from the electric device. The method may also include comparing the operational information to a degradation routine describing a property of the battery and calculating a capacity of the battery.

Abstract: A method and system for acquiring aircraft parameters that includes sampling an aircraft parameter during a first sampling period, recording the full value of the aircraft parameter sampled during the first sampling period, then sampling the aircraft parameter during a fixed number of subsequent consecutive sampling periods, and recording the change between the value of the aircraft parameter sampled in the subsequent sampling periods and the value of the aircraft parameter sampled in the prior sampling period. A method and system for constructing a data stream that includes merging a voluntary data stream and the mandatory parameters and storing the merged data stream in a flight data recorder while maintaining the certification of the flight data recorder.

Abstract: A turbine engine particularly suited for VTOL aircraft is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the core of the turbine engine includes two spools—a low pressure (LP) spool and a high pressure (HP) spool—where the LP spool is independently mounted remote to the HP spool. The engine may be modulated for operation by a modulation diverter valve assembly and through the fuel flow to the engine. The power output from the engine can be modulated from high levels to low levels and vice versa through control of the air flow through the engine using the modulation diverter valve assembly. In lift mode operation both the LP and HP spools may be operational, while during the forward flight cruise mode of operation the HP spool is operational and the LP spool may or may not be operational depending upon the power required for the flight condition. For HP spool only operation, the LP spool may be shut down using the modulation diverter valve assembly and an inlet flow diverter valve assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring an optical property of a fluid. The apparatus may comprise a light source for projecting a beam of optical energy through the fluid and a reflector positioned opposite the fluid from the light source. The apparatus may also comprise receiver optics defining a receiver aperture. The reflector may be selected to under-fill the receiver aperture by a factor of at least 2.5. According to various embodiments, the apparatus may also comprise a reflector purge nozzle positioned at least partially between the reflector and the fluid. In addition to, or instead of the under-fill factor described above, the reflector may be selected to have a diameter less than a diameter of the reflector purge nozzle by a factor of at least 6.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip includes a first integrated circuit chip and a depression substrate attached to the integrated circuit chip, wherein the integrated circuit chip and the depression substrate define a cavity therebetween. The semiconductor chip also includes a stress sensitive material located in the cavity and a chemical located in the cavity, wherein detection of tampering causes a reaction by the chemical such that the semiconductor chip is at least partially destroyed.

Abstract: A pre-calibrated gas sensor is disclosed. The gas sensor includes a cathode and an anode for outputting a current signal responsive to a sensed oxygen concentration and a signal processing module in communication with the cathode and the anode and configured to receive the current signal and to output a pre-calibrated signal representative of the sensed gas concentration based on a value of the received current signal.

Abstract: A method of forming an anti-tamper mesh on an electronic device. The method includes forming at least one terminal on the electronic device and forming a conductive mesh on at least one surface of the electronic device, wherein the conductive mesh is in electrical contact with the terminal, and wherein the terminal facilitates electrical conduction between the conductive mesh and an electrical detection circuit.

Abstract: An electromechanical switch may be actuated in a plurality of modes. A base portion of the electromechanical switch includes first and second electrical ports adapted to be electrically coupled in a plurality of modes. A first electromagnetic coil defines a longitudinal axis and is adapted to receive a first energizing current. A second electromagnetic coil extends along the longitudinal axis in spaced apart relationship with the first electromagnetic coil. The second electromagnetic coil is adapted to receive a second energizing current. The first and second ports are selectively coupled in any one of open-terminated mode, attenuation mode, and a short circuit mode based on the energy state of the first and second electromagnetic coils.

Abstract: A shielded through-via that reduces the effect of parasitic capacitance between the through-via and surrounding wafer while providing high isolation from neighboring signals. A shield electrode is formed in the insulating region and spaced apart from the through-via. A coupling element couples at least the time-varying portion of the signal carried on the through-via to the shield electrode. This reduces the effect of any parasitic capacitance between the through-via and the shield electrode, hence the surrounding wafer.

Abstract: A hardware-efficient mapping circuit uses a base decoder to decode the control signal (the most significant bits “MSBs” of the phase angle) to provide a base value. A controller maps the control signal to a segment number to down select signed shift values from the control signal. Shifter blocks shift the data signal (the least significant bits “LSBs” of the phase angle) by the respective shift values. The shifted data signals are added/subtracted from the base value to approximate a sinusoidal amplitude for the phase angle. Down selection by a controller allows the shifter blocks to be implemented with narrow band multiplexers, which conserves both chip space and power.

Abstract: A semiconductor device. The device includes a substrate and an integrated circuit chip. The device also includes an electrically or thermally reactive layer located between a top surface of the substrate and a bottom surface of the integrated circuit chip, wherein the reactive layer is positioned such that detection of tampering causes the reactive layer to be electrically or thermally energized such that the semiconductor device is at least partially destroyed.

Abstract: A method of deterministically generating maximal nonlinear block substitution tables for a predetermined block size is disclosed. The method includes selecting a first generating function and selecting a second generating function. The method also includes selecting first and second sets of complete linearly independent numbers, and calculating first and second linear orthomorphisms from the generating functions and the sets of linearly independent numbers. The method further includes creating maximal nonlinear block substitution tables by combining the linear orthomorphisms. The block substitution tables are for use in encrypting clear text messages.

Abstract: A passive magnetic latch is disclosed. The latch includes, according to various embodiments, a magnetically-actuated switch and a hard, non-linear biasing magnet. The switch may include components that, when polarized, cause the switch to transition from a first state to a second state. The biasing magnet is positioned proximate to the switch such that when the magnetization of the biasing magnet is changed by an external effect to thereby induce a modified magnetic field from the biasing magnet, the modified magnetic field polarizes the components of the switch such that the switch transitions from the first state to the second state and remains in the second state after the external effect is removed. A second external effect may be used to again change the magnetization of the biasing magnet such that the components of the switch depolarize and the switch transitions back the first state. As such, the magnetic latch may act like a remote ON/OFF switch.

Abstract: A device for measuring near forward scatter caused by particulate matter in a fluid is disclosed. The device comprises, according to various embodiments, a transceiver and a reflector. The transceiver includes a light source and a detector. The reflector is positioned opposite the transceiver so that at least a portion of the fluid is present between the transceiver and the reflector. The reflector includes a front portion facing the transceiver. Optical energy from the light source incident upon the reflector is reflected towards the transceiver as a return beam of optical energy, wherein the detector senses primarily optical energy of the return beam that is scattered over a range of near forward angles by particulate matter in the fluid.

Abstract: There is described, for example, a generally cylindrical generator of energetic electrons that releases electrons from a vacuum enclosure into a surrounding space including into the atmosphere where the electrons may be used for a variety of applications including clean up of a flowing gas stream. Described is an efficient electron generator that emits more beam power than past structures in this class of devices and does so in connection with the treatment of gases or surfaces requiring treatment.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the frequency synthesizer includes a phase locked loop (PLL) having an analog mixer phase detector and an auxiliary digital frequency detector coupled to the phase locked loop. The PLL may include a programmable divider having an input terminal responsive to an output signal of the frequency synthesizer and having an output terminal coupled to an input terminal of the analog mixer phase detector, a loop filter having an input terminal coupled to an output terminal of the analog mixer phase detector, and a voltage controlled oscillator having a control terminal coupled to an output terminal of the loop filter. The programmable divider may include a direct digital synthesizer.

Abstract: An interconnect device for electrically interconnecting two components is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the interconnect device includes a frame having a upper side and a lower side, a first plurality of beam contacts on the upper side for connection to contacts of the first component, and a second plurality of contacts on the lower side of the frame for connection to contacts of the second component. The beam contacts on the upper side of the frame are arranged so that the sum of the sideways wipe forces caused by compression of the beam contacts on the upper side due to connection of the first component to the interconnect device approximately equals zero.