Abstract: A synthetic aperture radar system uses RF bandwidth and Doppler beam sharpening principles to develop fine altitude and along-track resolutions. To achieve accurate cross-track position measurements the system and method exploit a combination of modes based on a novel antenna pattern combination. The unique arrangement of the antenna patterns allows the radar to process terrain elevation measurements in three independent modes, namely, time-delay response (TDR), amplitude monopulse (AM) and phase monopulse (PM). The additional modes address the interfering scatter problem and the calibration issues required for practical and cost effective operation. The approach also maximizes the number of terrain measurements made per look, thereby reducing the impact of errors and noise through averaging and “voting” (i.e., the comparison of measurements and discarding of “outliers”).

Abstract: Coupled fiber-optic, evanescent-wave biosensors are improved through the use of configurations which adjust certain optical characteristics for enhanced sensitivity. In the preferred embodiment, this is carried out by inputting light into the coupler at either a different wavelength or multiple wavelengths simultaneously. In alternative embodiments, different modulation schemes and/or interferometric schemes are utilized. For example, at each of the inputs, different carrier frequencies may be used and modulated at lower frequencies, including prime-number frequencies. As the refractive index is changed in the vicinity of the coupling, a shift in the wavelength will induce a phase shift in the baseline signal such that, during data collection, the sensor is able to detect more refined changes. In general, through appropriate choice of input wavelength, fewer operational points will fall in an inefficient local maximum or minimum, thereby affording much greater sensitivity.

Abstract: An evanescent-wave optical biosensor includes a hollow optical waveguide, preferably in the form of a light-conductive capillary, surrounding a central waveguide preferably in the form of an optical fiber to create a sealed cavity. A source of optical energy as from a laser is directed into one or both of the light-input ends of the capillary and fiber, such that an evanescent field extends into the cavity from one or both of the inner surface of the capillary and the outer surface of the fiber. A first biomolecular constituent is attached to one or both of the inner wall of the hollow optical waveguide and the outer surface of the second optical waveguide, such that the first biomolecular binding partner is substantially within the evanescent field if present.

Abstract: A system and method for rapidly determining the source of an incoming projectile applies controlled, active RF energy source(s) to illuminate a target area/projectile, and exploits Doppler induced frequency shifts from multiple receivers to develop a vector solution. The preferred solution applies continuous wave (CW) RF illuminators to flood a local region with a controlled source of radio frequency energy and one or more displaced receiver elements. The system operates multi-statically and as an incoming projectile enters the illuminated region, reflected energy from one or more illuminators is detected by one or more displaced RF receivers. Doppler shifts imparted on the reflected signals are detected by the receivers as the projectile moves through the region. Appropriate processing of the receiver outputs generates Doppler time-frequency profiles that are used to derive an estimate of the projectile flight vector in 3-space (x,y,z).

Abstract: Single-mode and multi-mode fibers to achieve modal splitting and greater sensitivity in an optical fiber coupler for evanescent-wave biosensor applications. A source of light having multiple modes is coupled to the input to one of the multi-mode fibers, with the geometry of necked-down section being such that a limited number of modes may be carried by the multi-mode fiber as the light emerges from the coupler. At least one of the single-mode fibers is supported adjacent the multi-mode fiber to receive and carry one of the limited modes. A biomolecule enveloped by the evanescent field, exhibits a direct or indirect affinity to a binding partner, such that attachment of the binding partner is at least partially responsible for the limited number of modes carried by the multi-mode fiber as the light emerges from the coupler.

Abstract: The small field-of-view (FOV) limitation of current coherent beam combiner technology is overcome, enabling beam combining over significantly larger fields of view. The system includes an input to receive an input wavefront, a local oscillator to generate a reference wavefront, and an optical combiner such as a beam splitter to combine the input wavefront and the reference wavefront to produce an output wavefront which is received by a detector. According to the invention, an optical element is supported to receive the reference wavefront and generate, in effect, a plurality of local oscillator point sources which provide a set of wavefronts that cover the required wider FOV. In the preferred embodiment, the optical element is a diffuser, and may optionally include a mechanism for rotating the diffuser to reduce speckle. In an alternative embodiment the optical element is a lenslet array.

Abstract: The spectral content of the interference response at a sensor array is taken into account and used to advantage in remote sensing or imaging an object or scene. The phase relationship between sensor elements is preserved, enabling the natural interference spectrum to be processed to generate a particular spatial response of the aggregate beam pattern. The method applies to diverse forms of broadband illumination or emissions including acoustic and electromagnetic radiation, and provides remote sensing capabilities linked to the sensor elements appropriate to the wavelength band of interest (e.g., acoustic, RF or optical). Since the relative geometry between the source, scene and sensing array is responsible for the generation of a desirable interference response, the source of illumination need only maintain a small degree of coherence (some finite correlation length), and can operate in a pulsed or continuous (CW) mode.

Abstract: An along-track alignment and formatting system (ATAFS) formats synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data to align and format signals from scatterers in a scene to achieve an ideal data format in the along-track dimension in which such ideal data format leads to improved image quality of an image based on the SAR data and/or reduced computational burden for generating an image based on the SAR data. Two aspects of the ATAFS include: 1) the division of data stabilization into two distinct steps; and 2) the along-track (or slow-time) migration of signal support of scatterers as a function of their along-track location. A suite of SAR image formation algorithms use the ATAFS in conjunction with conventional signal processing stages to transform input coherent signal data into a complex image with image quality and geometric accuracy commensurate with the inherent information content of the input data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collection device for a substance, and methods related to collecting thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid binding polymer which has affinity for nucleic acid molecules such as DNA, RNA, or hybrids thereof. The polymer is comprised of a nucleic acid binding backbone linked to a nucleic acid binding agent, preferably by a linking moiety. The polymer can be used to isolate and purify nucleic acid molecules from a variety of sample types including but not limited to clinical and environmental.

Abstract: A substrate for collecting nucleic acids, for example, DNA, (and processes of making and using the same), comprising a surface; an aerogel coated on said surface; an active silane attached so said aerogel; and a nucleic acid binding agent attached to said silane.

Abstract: A deployable cellular structure providing impact energy absorption capability is disclosed. The structure may be packed when not in use and deployed automatically or manually to provide impact protection. The structure is useful in a variety of situations including vehicular protection of occupants, deployable highway safety barriers, and aviation emergency safety devices.

Abstract: A Tapped Optical-Fibers Processor (TOP) for correlation and autocorrelation facilitates the processing if radar and SAR (synthetic aperture radar) signals, allowing fine resolution to be obtained without fast front-end sampling while significantly reducing digital computational burdens. Particularly in conjunction with radar signal processing, the input signal may be composed of the sum of at least two or more signals, in which case the output may include the autocorrelations of both inputs as well as the generation of a cross-correlation of the two autocorrelations.

Abstract: An improved biosensor cell comprises a fluid-carrying chamber and a fixture configured to receive the chamber. The chamber includes one or more optical waveguides immersed in the fluid, each waveguide having an input end and an output end, both of which are optically accessible from outside the chamber. The fixture includes a first coupling or optical path for routing the source of light to one end of one of the optical waveguides, and a second coupling or optical path for routing the other end of the optical waveguide to the optical detector. The relationship between the fluid-carrying chamber and the fixture is such that the fluid-carrying chamber may be removed and replaced with the alignment of the ends of the waveguide and the optical coupling being physically maintained. The preferred embodiment uses a plurality of optical couplers, with partitions to establish a serpentine path around the couplers for comprehensive exposure to the fluid.