Abstract: An optical communication system uses a radio frequency (RF) signal for communicating an analog communication signal. It comprises an optical transmitter and receiver. The optical transmitter comprises means for generating a first reference light beam, and means responsive to the analog communication signal to produce a communication light beam having phase modulation corresponding to the analog communication signal.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is used in a vehicle having a seat frame (20) for supporting a vehicle occupant and a floor pan (4) for supporting the seat frame (20) for movement relative to the floor pan (4). The apparatus (10) includes a deflection member (50), a sensor lever (70), and a sensor (79). The deflection member (50) connects to the seat frame (20) for movement with the seat frame (20). The deflection member (50) has a first deflection surface (51). The sensor lever (70) connects to the floor pan (4). The sensor lever (70) has a second deflection surface (71) for engaging the first deflection surface (51) of the deflection member (50) and for deflecting as the seat frame (20) moves relative to the floor pan (4). The amount of deflection of the sensor lever (70) changes as the seat frame (20) moves relative to the floor pan (4). The sensor (79) senses the deflection of the sensor lever (70) and provides an output signal indicative of the amount of deflection of the sensor lever (70).

Abstract: A reflective surface positioning apparatus (10) includes first locating device (21), second locating device (22), first utilizing device (51), and second utilizing device (52). The first locating device (21) locates part (32) of an occupant (30) of a vehicle (6) and produces a first location signal (41) indicative of the location of the part (32) of the vehicle occupant (30). The second locating device (22) locates an object (71) external to the vehicle (6) and produces a second location signal (42) indicative of the location of the external object (71). The first utilizing device (51) utilizes the first location signal (41) to cause positioning of a first reflective surface (61) to a first default position. The second utilizing device (52) utilizes the second location signal (42) to reposition the first reflective surface (61) to a first temporary position for providing a view of the external object (71) to the part (32) of the vehicle occupant (30) for a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: A waveguide-to-microstrip transition (30) for converting and directing electromagnetic wave signals to an electronic signal processing component (53). A waveguide (32) directs the signals to a waveguide input and is received by a probe (36). A bent microstrip line (40A) which is connected to the probe (36) directs the received signals from the probe (36) to the electronic signal processing component (53). An output port (43) provides a connection between the bent microstrip line (40A) and the electronic signal processing component (53). The output port (43) is not inline with respect to the probe (36), but the microstrip line (40A) includes a bend so as to direct the received signals from the probe (36) to the output port (43).

Abstract: A system (11) and method determine a vehicle occupant characteristic. A plurality of sensors (50) sense a parameter and output a parameter indicative signal. The sensors (50) are arranged in a plurality of groups (e.g., A-F), with each sensor of a group sensing a similar parameter value. A controller (16) utilizing only a portion of the sensors within each group to make a determination regarding the occupant characteristic.

Abstract: An assembly (20) is used with an anti-lock braking system (10) and is provided by an associated method. The assembly (20) includes a circuit board (30), a lead frame (40), and a plurality of solenoid coils (50). The lead frame (40) has a plurality of mechanical one-way connectors (42) for electrically connecting the circuit board (30) to the lead frame (40). The plurality of solenoid coils (50) is connected to the lead frame (50). Each of the plurality of solenoid coils (50) is electrically connected to the lead frame (40) such that each of the plurality of solenoid coils (50) is electrically connected to the circuit board (30).

Abstract: An apparatus (12) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) comprises an inflator housing (20). A gas generating material (18) is within the inflator housing (20). The gas generating material (18), when ignited, generates a gas for inflating the vehicle occupant protection device (14). An autoignition material (24) is provided for igniting the gas generating material (18). The autoignition material (24) comprises an additive that has a ratio of absorptivity of incident radiation to emissivity of internal energy by radiation of at least about 10.

Abstract: An electric power assisted steering system (10) for a vehicle comprises a steering gear (12) having a rack bar (26) and a housing (24). The rack bar (26) is movable linearly relative to the housing (24) for turning steerable wheels (34 and 36) of the vehicle. An electric motor (14) is coupled with the rack bar (26) of the steering gear (12). Energization of the electric motor (14) causes linear movement of the rack bar (26) relative to the housing (24). At least one vehicle condition sensor senses a vehicle condition and generates a signal indicative of the vehicle condition. A motor current sensor (22) senses an actual current of the electric motor (14) and generates a signal indicative of the actual motor current. A single integrated circuit (16) includes a main processor (64) and a monitoring processor (66). The main processor (64) controls the actual motor current delivered to the electric motor (14). The monitoring processor (66) determines if the main processor (64) is properly functioning.

Abstract: A remote convenience receiver unit (12), which is associated with a vehicle (16), receives a remote convenience signal (20) that conveys a remote convenience function request and causes performance of the requested function at the vehicle. The receiver unit (12) consumes a first amount of energy while awaiting reception of the remote convenience signal (20) at an ability to readily receive the remote convenience signal. A signal monitor and duty-cycle control (82) monitors duration of inactivity caused by a lack of receipt of a remote convenience signal (20), causes reduction of functional operation of the receiver unit (12) to consume a second, lesser amount of energy after a first duration of inactivity, and causes reduction of functional operation of the receiver unit to consume a third, lesser and different amount of energy after a second, different duration of inactivity.

Abstract: The level of bias current (12) required by a superconductor integrated circuit (2 & 4) is lowered by separating the circuit into portions having separate ground planes and supplying the bias current to the circuit portion (2) in one ground plane in series (10) with that for the circuit portion (4) in another ground plane. To maintain DC isolation between those circuit portions, SFQ pulses inputted (SFQ IN) move across the separate ground planes through a pair of inductively coupled SQUIDS (3 & 5) that define a DC transformer; and a combiner (7) reconstitutes and outputs the SFQ pulses. To provide inductive coupling the DC transformer includes a primary (25) and isolated secondary (5) winding.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (16) and a inflator (12) for providing inflation fluid to inflate the vehicle occupant protection device (16). A non-azide gas generating material is in the inflator (12). The non-azide gas generating material when combusted produces inflation fluid, which comprises carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). A catalyst system, which contacts the inflation fluid, is also in the inflator. The catalyst system is reactive with the carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the inflation fluid. The catalyst system comprises a zeolite and a catalytic material. The catalytic material is supported by the zeolite.

Abstract: A switch (10) for controlling operation of vehicle lamps (e.g., 16) comprises a base (30) and a manually engageable assembly (50) rotatable about an axis (32) relative to the base for controlling operation of the lamps. The assembly (50) comprises a magnetic member (56) that rotates with the assembly about the axis (32). The base (30) comprises at least one magnetic sensor (e.g., 40-44) and control circuitry connecting the sensor with the vehicle lamps (e.g., 16). The magnetic member (56) is rotatable about the axis (32) into a plurality of different rotational positions relative to the sensor (e.g., 40-44) to provide an output signal at the control circuitry (70) that is indicative of the relative rotational position of the assembly (50). The magnetic member (56) is spaced apart from the base (30) to provide contactless operation of the switch (10).

Abstract: A spacecraft, such as a satellite, comprises a panel array including a plurality of panels that are rotatably coupled to one another. The panel array is movable between a folded state and an extended state. In the folded state, the panels are stacked atop one another. In the extended state, the panels are positioned such that active surfaces of the panels are aligned within a common plane. A plurality of hinge mechanisms preferably rotatably couple the panels to one another. The hinge mechanisms are configured to move the panel array from the folded state to the extended state without interfering with the active surfaces of the panels when the panel array is extended.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new family of surface acoustic wave single-phase unidirectional transducers (SPUDTs) by using M uniform width, uniformly spaced, single-level interdigitated electrodes lying on a uniform grid of a piezoelectric substrate where unidirectionality is achieved by selectively etching reflective structures into the substrate either in the spaces located between adjacent electrodes or under selected electrodes of the transducer. A SAW filter, resonator or delay line can also be formed by fabricating two such transducers on a single substrate, each having surface acoustic waves radiating towards the other.

Abstract: The invention relates to an extreme ultraviolet lithography system that utilizes thin film protective coatings to protect a plurality of hardware components, located near a laser-produced light source, from the erosive effects of energetic particles emitted by the laser-produced light source.

Abstract: A multispectral imaging system (1) and method utilize an optical processor (3) for simultaneously comparing an input wavelength spectrum observed in a single spatial pixel in a scene image from a multispectral imager (2) with a plurality of template wavelength spectra to find a correlation. The optical processor exploits the three-dimensional attributes of optical correlation to perform massively parallel correlation processing by modulating (4) respective ones of a plurality of spectral bands of the input wavelength spectrum of an incident light beam (6) with modulating elements (5) to alter at least one property of the incident light beam by a value corresponding to the observed intensity of the input spectrum in the respective spectral band. In a disclosed embodiment, the modulated beam is expanded and transited through a spatial light modulator (7) having a two-dimensional array of modulating elements.

Abstract: A position sensor determines relative changes in position of a first member and a second member. A first conductor is movable with one of the members and a second conductor is energized in response to a first electrical signal coupled to the first conductor across a gap. The coupling induces a current in the first conductor having a current value which varies in response to relative changes in the position of the first and second members. A power supply furnishes a predetermined supply voltage and a pulse generator generates output pulses at a predetermined repetition rate. A resonant circuit has a center resonant frequency within a range of resonant frequencies that include the repetition rate of the pulse generator. The resonant circuit generates the first signal with a voltage greater than the supply voltage so that the induced current value is sufficiently large to facilitate further processing.

Abstract: A rack and pinion steering gear (10) comprises a housing (12) having an longitudinally extending passage (14). A yoke bore (22) extends perpendicular to the longitudinally extending passage (14) and connects with the longitudinally extending passage (14) within the housing (12). A pinion gear (20) is rotatably mounted in the housing (12). A rack bar (16) extends through the longitudinally extending passage (14) of the housing (12) and is movable relative to the pinion gear (20). The rack bar (16) has teeth in meshing engagement with the teeth (34) of the pinion gear (20). A yoke assembly (36) is located in the yoke bore (22) for at least partially supporting and guiding movement of the rack bar (16) relative to the pinion gear (20). The yoke assembly (36) includes a yoke (38), a yoke plug (42), and an elastomeric spring (40). The yoke (38) is axially spaced from the yoke plug (42) by the elastomeric spring (40).

Abstract: An apparatus (22) for controlling an actuatable side restraining device (24, 26) of a vehicle (20) includes crash sensors (28, 50, 52) sensing a vehicle crash condition and providing associated crash sensor signals (60, 62, 42) indicative thereof. An actuator controller (70) enables actuation of the actuatable side restraining device (24, 26) in response to enhanced discrimination and safing determinations.

Abstract: A method for controlling the sheet resistance of thin film resistors. The sheet resistance can be inexpensively controlled within a tight tolerance by determining a desired final value for the sheet resistance of thin film resistor material to be deposited on a substrate, depositing the resistor material on the substrate using a deposition process which is consistent enough to achieve a target sheet resistance within a first specified tolerance, the resistor material being deposited to achieve a target sheet resistance which is equal to the desired final value minus the first specified tolerance, and removing a small amount of material from the surface of the deposited thin film resistor material by etching or ion bombardment to raise the sheet resistance to the desired final value within a second specified tolerance characteristic of the removing process where the second specified tolerance is less than the first specified tolerance.