Abstract: Exemplary practice of the present invention provides a magnetostrictive actuator characterized by linear force output and uniform magnetic biasing. A center bias magnet combined with a flux transfer tube produces a uniform magnetic bias down the length of a magnetostrictive component. Depending on the inventive embodiment, the magnetostrictive component may include one magnetostrictive element or a pair of collinear magnetostrictive elements. A center bias magnet, in combination with a flux transfer tube, drives magnetic flux through the magnetostrictive component (e.g., a series of magnetostrictive rods) in opposite directions, while surrounding drive coils apply flux in the same direction through the magnetostrictive component. The net response is substantially linear with respect to the drive coil current. The flux transfer tube applies distributed magnetic flux to the magnetostrictive component at a rate that ensures uniform magnetic flux density down the length of the magnetostrictive component.

Abstract: An insecticide composition designed for improved autodissemination. The insecticide may be used as a dry powder or a wet composition. The composition allows for better transfer of active ingredient to the target species, as well as improved stability of the active ingredient.

Abstract: An insecticide composition designed for improved autodissemination. The insecticide may be used as a dry powder or a wet composition. The composition allows for better transfer of active ingredient to the target species, as well as improved stability of the active ingredient.

Abstract: A pulse discharge laser is provided having a pair of electrodes disposed within a laser chamber pressurized with a high-pressure gas. A preionizer generator intermittently produces preionization energy to preionize the high pressure gas in the laser chamber. A pulse forming network intermittently supplies a ramping voltage to the pair of electrodes. When the high pressure gas in the laser chamber is not properly preionized by the preionization energy a damaging arc may occur and lasing will not occur by discharge of the ramping voltage on the electrodes. A passive electrode arc protector is provided connected across the pair of laser electrodes to discharge the ramping voltage across the electrodes when the high pressure gas is not properly preionized to protect the laser electrodes from a damaging arc between them.

Abstract: Method for improved photolithography using a laser induced metallization cess to produce a metal mask wherein a work piece surface is treated to have a predetermined pattern of at least two materials each having different electron band gaps, the treated work piece is positioned in a metallizing solution, and the workpiece is exposed to a laser beam having a wavelength corresponding to the electron gap of a selected one of the materials. The method can advantageously be used to produce ohmic contacts for microcircuit devices.

Abstract: An underwater acoustical projector has its barrel staves located radially tward of a piezoelectric ceramic driver. The barrel staves are in an hour glass arrangement. The cross-sectional arrangement of the barrel staves is circular at both the top and bottom of the hour glass forming elliptical cross-sections of varying eccentricity between said top and bottom of said staves. The cross-section of greatest eccentricity is located midway between the top and bottom of said staves. The cross-section of greatest eccentricity is located midway between the top and bottom of the barrel staves. This forms a projector with a varying radius of curvature in each of the four 90.degree. quadrants around the axis of the projector. This yields large changes in the resonant frequency.

Abstract: An explosive flux compression generator is coupled to a high resistance load by a pulse transformer. Chemical energy is converted to electromagnetic energy and is transferred by means of the transformer to the high resistance load. The transformer allows coupling to a higher resistive load than is achieved with a transformerless-generator system having a current gain greater than unity.

Abstract: A tapered optical fiber amplifier is designed to provide for long-distance, un-repeatered fiber optic communications. Two single-mode fiber portions are tapered to efficiently intensify and couple an information signal from a laser diode and a pump signal at a shorter wavelength into a fused, tapered single-mode fiber optic coupler. The concentrated information signal and concentrated pump signal are combined via the coupler which is coupled to a several-kilometer length of a relatively small core diametered single-mode fiber to create a nonlinear optical effect (stimulated Raman scattering) (SRS). The SRS causes Raman shift of the pump signal to amplify the information signal, resulting in amplified signals that are efficiently coupled out of the relatively small core diametered optical fiber with another single-mode optical fiber taper portion.

Abstract: A programmable phase-locked loop frequency synthesizer for a multi-channel onobuoy transmitter is disclosed. The phase-locked loop, including a counter/divider utilizing variable modulus prescaling techniques, is modulated at its voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) by an external signal which is preemphasized by a compensation network in order to correct for the roll-off characteristic response of the loop below its natural frequency.

Abstract: A shock-mounted, liquid cooled cold plate assembly for dissipating heat f electronic packages mounted on it. A U-shaped cold plate is cast about a tube to provide a passageway for carrying a turbulent flow of coolant along its length. The cold plate is mounted on a vehicle frame by shock-mounted isolator studs which are encapsulated in an elastomer and contained in a housing secured to the frame. An electronic package is mounted on the cold plate by a flange on the package which makes intimate contact with the surface of the cold plate for maximum heat transfer capability.

Abstract: 1. A vessel detecting apparatus comprising means responsive to the time ving negative pressure signal produced by the passage of a vessel in proximity to the detecting apparatus for producing an electrical signal having a time varying amplitude correlative with the square root of pressure signal, means for integrating said electrical signal over the interval of the negative pressure signal duration, and utilization means responsive to the time integral of said electrical signal.

Abstract: An optical notch filter having a suspension of small absorbing particles which blocks a narrow band of frequencies. The small absorbent particles are suspended as a colloidal system which can have either a solid, liquid or gas as host material. The absorbing particles can be incorporated in a solid matrix as a transmission filter or used on the surface of a mirror as a reflection filter. The filter can be tuned by an externally applied electric field or by applying hydrostatic pressure.

Abstract: A warhead containing an hourglass-shaped explosive charge. At either or b ends of the charge an expandable rod structure or rod fragments are placed and arranged at any desired angle to the longitudinal axis of the charge. The charge is initiated at the center of its length and because of its shape creates a concentrated pancake configured shock wave and gas cloud expanding radially outward from the center of the missile. Because of the large amount of explosive between the initiation point and the rod structure the rods are imparted with a higher velocity than in conventional rod warheads of comparable mass.

Abstract: A diagonally fed electric microstrip dipole antenna consisting of a thin ctrically conducting, rectangular-shaped element formed on one surface of a dielectric substrate, the ground plane being on the opposite surface. The length of the element determines the resonant frequency. The feed point is located along the diagonal with respect to the antenna length and width, and the input impedance can be varied to match any source impedance by moving the feed point along the diagonal line of the antenna without affecting the radiation pattern. The antenna bandwidth increases with the width of the element and spacing between the element and ground plane. Singularly fed circular polarization is easily obtained with this antenna.

Abstract: A custom fitted pilot's helmet includes a liner attached within the confi of a helmet shell having numerous pressure relief holes over its entire surface. The liner includes a flexible sheet on one side of which is formed a plurality of elastic cell pairs separated by permanent heat seals or partitions overlaid with air tubes. The cells within a cell pair are separated from each other by a removable partition or severable heat seal. One cell of the cell pair contains one component of a foamable mixture and the other cell of the cell pair contains the second component of the foamable mixture. The liner-shell combination is positioned on the pilot's heat and the removable cell partitions are all virtually simultaneously removed. Thereafter, the foaming components within the cells admix and foam in situ to form a custom fitted helmet liner.

Abstract: An oil-water separating device utilizing the wall attachment effect for srating oil from an oil-water mixture in a continuous manner. The device is comprised of an oil-water mixture inlet nozzle delivering the mixture into a bounded region inside the separator to form a mixture jet which attaches to one wall creating a separation bubble in the bounded region. The bounded region is provided by a cavity formed by two or more plates joined together with an oil collecting chamber provided on top of the bounded region by an additional plate. The oil is captured in the bounded region by the separation bubble and flows into the oil collecting chamber through connecting holes. The oil in the collecting chamber is transferred by an oil outlet, either by siphoning or by means of a metering pump to an oil storage tank. A multiple stage oil-water separator can be provided by forming a plurality of series-connected, bounded regions between the two plates.

Abstract: The proposed command controller responds to the true or desired command d pattern and its complement which are outputted from the computer interlaced in time and checks these true-complement patterns to determine if a command format error exists. Moreover, the command pattern is checked for timing errors by comparing it against preselected minimum and maximum delay intervals corresponding to the permissible minimum and maximum time intervals for a command signal output. If the command format or its timing is incorrect, an error flag is fed back to the computer to initiate an interrupt and/or to trigger a back-up mode. The invention facilitates the use of high speed general purpose computer machines as real time, hands off, control devices for certain applications such as onboard a spacecraft or within medical electronics systems, for example.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a latch for detachably securing electron cards along orthogonal loading axes. A planar fixed gate is rigidly securable to an external supporting structure and is provided with at least one elongated protrusion extending above one of the planar surfaces. A planar movable gate is rigidly securable to an external electronics mountable structure wherein said movable gate is provided with at least one elongated groove on a planar surface. The planar fixed gate and the planar movable gate are abuttingly engageable to each other with the protrusion matingly fitted within the corresponding groove. The orientation of the protrusion and groove are orthogonal to an axis of a first loading force applicable to the moving gate. A fastener such as a threaded bolt rigidly maintains the planar surfaces of the fixed gate in engagement with the movable gate for rigid support along a second loading axis orthogonal to the first loading axis.