Abstract: A pulsable infrared radiation (IR) source which can be used in nondispersive infrared gas analyzers. The pulsable IR source includes a narrow strip of thin metallic foil vertically mounted to the opposite sides of pins of a small transistor type (TO-5) header at the base of a large diameter deep reflector. Infrared radiation from both sides of the heated foil is directly reflected to form a highly efficient source. The foil can be oxidized or otherwise coated under controlled conditions to maximize its emissivity at operating temperatures up to approximately 1200 degrees K. The package is resistance welded with a cap and hermetically sealed window of a suitable material and filter as required to transmit the desired infrared spectrum. An appropriate inert backfill gas prevents further oxidation and enhances the pulsing capability.

Abstract: An alignment pattern of the present invention includes a resolution analysis pattern that is formed on the central portion of the alignment pattern for the resolution analysis of a scanning system. A pair of horizontal alignment patterns that cosists of a black zone and a white zone are formed adjacent to the terminations of the resolution analysis pattern for horizontal and boundary alignments. The pattern arrangement of the pair horizontal alignment patterns is not only upside down but also a mirror image with each other. The black zone includes a shallow indented portion adjacent to the resolution analysis pattern in the black zone and on the border of the black zone, white zone. A white rectangular figure is exactly formed over or under the shallow indented portion in the black zone and parallel to the shallow indented portion. The area between the shallow indented portion and the white rectangular figure is used to serve as a horizontal fine alignment for the scanning system.

Abstract: A laser tracking system steers a beam of laser energy which is dithered in two directions to scan the surface of a moving object. A laser energy detector detects laser energy reflected from the target. Reflected energy is filtered to distinguish dither frequencies for signals in both directions, which signals are independently analyzed to determine the location of the target in relation to the laser beam. A bias signal is generated which causes the beam of laser energy to be steered toward a surface radius to be steered toward a surface with the sharpest radius of curvature within the trackers' field-of-regard, to the target, to the tracked location on-target, or modified signals steer a portion of the beam to an optimum track location on target while offsetting most of the beam's energy to a second engagement location on target. Also, a track testing system is capable of monitoring a laser beam focused on a missile and determining the effective laser engagement on a spinning target.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for detection of radiation directed through an object. A phosphor converter disposed to receive the radiation pattern generates visible light representative of the radiation pattern. A plurality of light sensors are disposed to define a sensor array for receiving the visible light and generating a pixel signal pattern representative of the radiation pattern. A plurality of reflectors are disposed at locations for reflecting a portion of the visible light radiating in a direction to avoid being received in the plurality of light sensors. The light is reflected back into the phosphor converter where a diffuse reflection of the reflected light redirects the light back towards the sensors.

Abstract: When a third transistor receives first photoelectric currents outputted from a sensing photodiode, the third transistor provides second photoelectric currents to bases of a first transistor and a second transistor, then the first transistor turns on and carries the first photoelectric currents, so first currents corresponding to the first photoelectric currents flow to a first terminal. Thus, the first photoelectric currents can be directly outputted from the first terminal. On the other hand, the second transistor also turns on and carries second currents corresponding to amplified first photoelectric currents, so the second currents flow to a third terminal. Thus, the amplified first photoelectric currents can be outputted from the third terminal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of a thin film such as a photoresist film on a semiconductor wafer or other substrate. Only when a film is present does the surface reflectance (reflective power) of light incident on the wafer surface vary sinusoidally when the incidence angle of the light is varied. This sinusoidal variation in the reflected optical power is due to interference occurring between the film surface and wafer surface reflections. This method and apparatus allows determining whether an undeveloped photoresist layer is present on a wafer; this is not possible using merely visual inspection especially when an underlying pattern is present. The present method and apparatus may also be used to determine the thickness of a particular thin film.

Abstract: A system to correct and adjust horizontal-direction pincushion and barrel distortions of scanning lines caused at upper and lower portions of a picture screen of a cathode-ray tube includes a pair of coils provided at a neck portion of the cathode-ray tube. An orbit of an electron beam made incident on a deflection center is shifted in the upper and lower directions by a magnetic field generated by the coils, thereby correcting distortion of scanning lines at upper and lower portions of a display screen of the cathode-ray tube.

Abstract: A combined near-zone electromagnetic field and topography probe based on a scanning-probe microscope (SPM). One or a plurality of sub-wavelength electromagnetic antennas and waveguides are integrated with tip-cantilever assemblies commonly used in scanning probe microscopy, combining the contact- or non-contact-mode tip-sample distance control and topography-sensing capacity of the SPM with the ability to measure or excite local electromagnetic fields on the sample. A wide range of topography-sensing forces acting on the tip-cantilever assembly can be employed, such as capillary, van der Waals, electrostatic and magnetic. Simultaneous measurement and/or excitation of electromagnetic fields in the frequency range from near zero to tens of THz can be performed, limited only by the design and ability of the antenna and waveguide material(s) to localize and guide the electromagnetic energy, and by suitable means for energy detection and/or generation connected to the waveguide.

Abstract: A blanking circuit generates a blanking signal by using a vertical fly-back pulse and/or an output signal of a vertical IC. The blanking signal is superimposed on a grid control signal obtained from a fly-back transformer and then provided to a grid control terminal of a CRT. The blanking circuit has an output signal stabilization part to generate a stable signal by restricting a peak value of a signal generated from the vertical IC within a predetermined limit, a pulse width extension part to widen a pulse width of a vertical fly-back pulse generated from the vertical IC and having a constant amplitude and a constant pulse width, and a blanking signal generating part to generate a blanking signal from the signal superimposing the stable signal on the vertical fly-back pulse having a wide pulse width. The blanking signal is superimposed on an output signal of a fly-back transformer and provided to a grid control terminal of the cathode ray tube.

Abstract: A microscope includes a light source, an objective lens for converging light emitted from the light source onto a sample, and an optical detector for detecting either light from the sample via a confocal point diaphragm or light from the sample which does not pass through the confocal point diaphragm. A range of a focusing point is detected in accordance with the light which does not pass through the confocal diaphragm, and the focusing point is then detected in accordance with the light detected via the confocal point diaphragm in the detected range of the focusing point.

Abstract: A measurement and control system for controlling system functions as a function of rotational parameters of a rotating device includes a plurality of interval markers distributed around the periphery of the rotating device and fixed relative to the device support. The measurement and control system also includes a plurality of sensors attached to the periphery of the rotating device, fixed relative to the rotating device so as to be in close proximity to the interval markers. Measurements from sensors attached to different locations on the rotating device are combined so as to mitigate variations in angular speed of the device. Measured rotational parameters are used to predict, via linear interpolation, angular positions of the device between those positions measured by the sensors.

Abstract: The position of an edge of a web or sheet is measured using a photoelectric measuring device. Any edge anomalies will generate extreme edge position values. These extreme values are used together with other, more representative values, to determine an initial position of the web edge. These extreme values are then eliminated since they exceed a tolerance threshold. A revised determination of the edge location is made using the remaining position values.

Abstract: A reduced field of view collimator for a nuclear imaging gamma camera is described. In one form, the collimator includes a gamma ray attenuating plate, several core plates, and a ramp member. The gamma ray attenuating plate is sized to substantially cover a scintillation crystal face, and includes an opening. The core plates extend from the attenuating plate at a periphery of the plate opening and define an outer periphery of a collimator core. The ramp member includes a ramp having a sloped surface, and is formed of gamma ray attenuating material. The ramp member is secured adjacent to at least one of the core plates so that the sloped surface extends substantially angularly with respect to the attenuating plate and the core plate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for imaging objects based upon the polarization or depolarization of light. According to one embodiment, there is provided a method for imaging the surface of a turbid medium, the method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating the surface of the turbid medium with light, whereby light is backscattered from the illuminated surface of the turbid medium; (b) detecting a pair of complementary polarization components of the backscattered light; and (c) forming an image of the illuminated surface using the pair of complementary polarization components. Preferably, the illuminating light is polarized (e.g., linearly polarized, circularly polarized, elliptically polarized).

Abstract: A Moire clear circuit of a display device includes a vertical center regulating terminal connected to a vertical deflection coil of a vertical output circuit and determining the direction of a current flowing in the vertical deflection coil to regulate the vertical center of an image displayed, and a moire clear regulating terminal connected to the vertical center regulating terminal to trigger a vertical synchronization signal received and turning on/off the signal applied to the vertical center regulating terminal according to a vertical period to move the vertical center up and down.

Abstract: A high temperature gas stream optical flame sensor for flame detection in gas turbine engines, and method for fabricating same is provided. The sensor generally comprises a silicon carbide photodiode and silicon carbide based amplification hardware for generating a signal indicative of the presence of the flame. In a preferred embodiment, the photodiode and amplification hardware are disposed within a sensor housing and the photodiode is situated within a fuel/air premixer.

Abstract: An ultra-low noise, high gain interface circuit for single-photon readout of known photodetectors from the x-ray to long IR bands at video frame rates. The detector current modulate's a load FET's gate-to-source voltage, which in turn modulates the gate-to-source voltage of a gain FET thereby producing a signal current that is an amplified facsimile of the detector current. The load FET's gate-to-source voltage is connected in the negative feedback loop of a low noise, high gain amplifier. This effectively reduces the resistance seen by the photodetector by the gain of the amplifier thereby reducing the interface circuit's RC time constant by the same amount. Because the amplifier pins the load FET's gate voltage for a given flux level, the load FET's 1/f noise is transferred to the amplifier thereby enabling single-photon readout sensitivity.

Abstract: A thin-film, flat panel, pixelated detector array serving as a real-time digital imager and dosimeter for diagnostic or mega-voltage X rays or gamma rays, including a plurality of photodiodes (30) made of hydrogenated amorphous silicon arrayed in columns and rows upon a glass substrate (12). Each photodiode (30) is connected to a thin film field effect transistor (52) also located upon the glass or quartz substrate (12). Upper and lower metal contacts (38, 22) are located below and above the photodiodes (30) to provide the photodiodes (30) with a reverse bias. The capacitance of each photodiode (30) when multiplied by the resistance of the field effect transistor (52) to which it is connected yields an RC time constant sufficiently small to allow fluoroscopic or radiographic imaging in real time.

Abstract: A coupled opto-electronic oscillator that directly couples a laser oscillation with an electronic oscillation to simultaneously achieve a stable RF oscillation at a high frequency and ultra-short optical pulsation by mode locking with a high repetition rate and stability. Single-mode selection can be achieved even with a very long opto-electronic loop. A multimode laser can be used to pump the electronic oscillation, resulting in a high operation efficiency. The optical and the RF oscillations are correlated to each other.

Abstract: An optical tracker system comprises an optical sensor 1 and associated signal processing circuitry 12, 24 for conditioning signals output from the sensor and rejecting signal indicative of false sensor information. A signal rejection circuit 24 comprises a guard time monostable 28 arranged to generate a guard time pulse defining a guard time when a pulse is input from the sensor 1, an output monostable 35 arranged to generate an output pulse in response to the guard time pulse, and an output suppress monostable 30 arranged to suppress the output monostable 35 when a false signal condition occurs during the guard time.