Abstract: A structured light scanning system observes, interprets and provides structural feature size, position and movement data in automotive service equipment applications where such feature characteristics must be determined either preliminary to or ultimately for measurement of quantities affecting automotive performance, such as tire/rim assembly balance, runout and alignment or brake surface planarity and smoothness.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical rangefinding device which consists of two frequency-stabilized multi-mode lasers. Two modes of each laser are superimposed so that each laser generates its own respective amplitude-modulated beam; and each beam is used, alternately, as the measuring light beam. The amplitude-modulation frequencies are selected so that the electronic detection of the two amplitude-modulated light beams, followed by electronic mixing of the individually detected signals, generates an electronic pulse train having a difference frequency which is only a fraction of the two modulation frequencies. The emitted and reflected frequencies of each of these amplitude-modulated beams are phase-compared. Each of these phase comparisons and the difference between them are used to determine distance to the target.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the velocity of a fluid in which a double-exposure image of the speckle pattern or particle images of tracer particle in a fluid is irradiated with a collimated beam of coherent light, and is subjected to Fourier transformation to produce Young's fringes at its focal plane. A slit is rotated relatively with respect to the double-exposure image to produce changes in the amount of light transmitted by the slit and determine the direction of the fringes. To determine the spacing of the fringes, a variable-spacing grating filter is used which is complementary to the image of the fringes and has a transmission distribution function of sin.sup.2 or cos.sup.2. The thus obtained direction and spacing of the fringes are used to determine the velocity of the fluid.

Abstract: A method of transferring data from a plurality of remote terminals to a central location over a communication network is disclosed. First random numbers are respectively generated for each of the remote terminals. A mask value is then determined. The random numbers associated with the remote terminals are compared with the mask value to determine whether a respective terminal attempts to transfer data to the central location. In a disclosed embodiment the method is used to locate new terminals in a hotel or hospital system.

Abstract: A reference signal used for orienting an object has a beam of electromagnetic radiation with a first signal component that is a rotating component and also a second signalcomponent which is periodically generated when the first signal component is in a predetermined direction. The beam may be a linearly polarized laser light beam with a rotating plane of polarization, an unpolarized laser light beam with a rotating and shaped image of predetermined configuration, or a linearly polarized microwave beam with a rotating plane of polarization. The second signal component may be generated as a component of the beam bearing the first signal component or separately generated and propagated. Provisions are made for receiving and comparing the direction indicated by the reference signal with the direction of the object to be oriented and the information derived from the comparison is analyzed and processed to provide an output signal that useful in orienting the object.

Abstract: A control apparatus for selectively inhibiting looking/listening in CATV terminal equipment is provided in which an identity number may be inputted for allowing looking/listening even when a changeover switch is set in a looking/listening inhibited state. A comparator compares the inputted identity number with a predetermined number. An inhibition releasing means releases the looking/listening inhibited state set by the changeover switch when the comparator means decides that the two numbers are in accord with one another.

Abstract: In a weapon boresighting system for aircraft and other vehicles a pair of spaced apart, collimated laser beams oriented to a fixed reference line on the vehicle are transmitted to a receiver positioned at the weapon or other module to be boresighted, the receiver having a first section including a position sensitive cell for measuring pitch and yaw relative to a pitch and yaw reference surface and a second section including a position sensitive cell for measuring roll relative to a roll reference surface.

Abstract: A long, slender thread or filament of a slow-burning substance is metalli, by evaporation, cold-spraying, or the like, with aluminum, zinc or other similar substance. A short length at one end is not metallized but is provided with means for igniting the filament when the chaff is dispensed. A bundle of these filaments are then packed in an impermeable foil envelope and preferably filled with an inert atmosphere. When dispensed, the cloud of slow-burning filaments perform toward infrared search or tracking devices in a manner analogous to the clutter signal created in radars by conventional chaff. At the same time, the metallic coating on the filament acts as a conventional chaff, giving a capability to interfere with either infrared or microwave devices and devices with a combination of infrared and microwave capabilities.

Abstract: An adaptive optics system and method for providing wavefront aberration compensation with both phase reversal and amplitude preservation. Two operational modes, namely, a transmission mode and a compensated imaging mode, are available. Two spatial light modulators, preferably liquid crystal light valves (LCLVs) are operatively connected in tandem. Each LCLV has an associated feedback loop. One LCLV acts upon the phase aberrations in an input aberrated beam and the other LCLV acts upon the amplitude information in the aberrated beam. Alternative embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A plurality of lasers, each regulated to operate at a particular temperature, are supported by a manifold to direct coherent light into space. The regulation may be provided by producing pulses of a trickle current of a particular magnitude through the laser, measuring the voltage required to produce the trickle current and adjusting the characteristics of a thermoelectric member in accordance with the magnitude of such voltage to adjust the rate at which the thermoelectric member transfers heat from the laser. The lasers produce substantially parallel and thin beams of light in pairs. The light beams in each pair provide an optimum angle for the interception by such paired beams of particles having individual trajectories in space. These particles scatter the light to a receiving lens system disposed within the manifold. The received light then passes through masks which restrict the collected light to a spatial pattern corresponding to the pattern of the light beams from the lasers.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining the direction to a laser beam source includes detecting amplitude peaks in the light occurring when a pulsed laser beam generated by the laser beam source passes through an air space. The detection is carried out with at least one rotating receiver lobe which images the scattered light on an associated fixed detector. The detected amplitude peaks are compared in order to determine the greatest amplitude peak. The angle of rotation value of the receiver lobe, when the greatest amplitude peak is detected, is determined as belonging to a limited angle range within which the direction to the laser beam source is assumed to lie. The apparatus comprises a rotatable optics system, a fixed detector system which detects the magnitude of the light transmitted through the optics system to the fixed detector, and an evaluation part which compares detected amplitude peaks.

Abstract: Laser-warning method and a laser-warning arrangement, which laser-warning arrangement is intended to warn of laser light from a laser beam source which is used for guiding projectiles, missiles and the like, for example laser light from a pulsed laser beam which is directed towards a target area. The time for the laser beam to reach the laser-warning arrangement, the so-called impact time, is calculated from a first amplitude value, measured at a first point in time, of the scattered light from the laser beam and a second amplitude value, measured at a second point in time, of the scattered light from the laser beam, and the measured time difference between the said first and second points in time on the basis that the amplitude raised to a constant is proportional to the distance to the laser beam according to the equation D=K.multidot.A.sup.n, where K and n are constants, D is the perpendicular distance to the laser beam and A is a measured amplitude value.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the distance between one's car and the car ahead, together with the angle between the axes of the two cars. The apparatus has a pair of driving optical systems disposed at a predetermined distance from each other, each driving optical system comprising an optical system having a light projector which projects pulse light having a specific code toward the car which is ahead of the one's car and a light receiver which receives the reflected pulse light from the car ahead, the light projector and receiver being disposed in so close proximity to each other that the respective optical axes can be considered to be on substantially the same axis, and a driving system for adjusting the angle of projection of the light projector on the basis of a signal from the light receiver.

Abstract: A tape cassette which locks up to prevent more than one play through of the information carrying portion of the cassette has a label with an encrypted unlocking combination for the cassette along with a memory address for a key code needed to decrypt the combination. A locked up cassette may be inserted in an unlock terminal which reads the information on the label and looks in memory at the address on the label for a key code. The returned key code is used to decrypt the unlocking combination read from the label and the unlocking combination is applied to unlock the cassette. A host may intermittently communicate with the unlock terminal in order to update the memory of the unlock terminal.

Abstract: A connecting apparatus for two tubular members including an adapter sleeve extending over the end portion of one of the members in a coaxial relationship therewith and adapted to abutt the end of the other member. A threaded nut means extends over the adapter sleeve in engagement therewith, and is adapted to threadedly engage the outer surface of the corresponding end portion of the other member to connect the members together. The adapter sleeve increases in cross-section in a direction towards the end of the one member to decrease the stress on the latter member accordingly.

Abstract: Various samples of energetic materials are placed in multiple disposable culture tubes to simultaneously monitor and deterine their stability, reactivity, and compatibility. Each tube is evacuated and heated to accelerate aging of the samples, while a pressure transducer provides pressure readings inside the tube for computer analysis.

Abstract: A vehicular drive train includes a torque converter having a bladed impeller element, a bladed turbine element, and a bladed reactor element defining a toroidal chamber within an engine-driven rotating housing. The impeller element is relatively inaccessible because it is contained within the rotating housing, yet it is desirable to monitor its speed in order to better control the operation of the drive train. A speed sensor apparatus is therefore provided which includes a ring magnet connected to rotate with the impeller element, a sensor unit connected to a stationary carrier assembly close to the ring magnet, an external electrical connector, and a wiring harness interconnecting the sensor unit and the electrical connector. Preferably, the sensor unit delivers two digital pulse signals to an associated microprocessor for precise control of the input clutch assembly. The ring magnet and the sensor unit are located radially inwardly of the toroidal chamber such that no additional space is required.

Abstract: Differential amplifier having multiple stages, each stage having the gain thereof set by digital control. The gain of each stage is individually controlled, thereby allowing wide dynamic range and gain. Each stage has a differential pair with multiple sets of gain-setting resistors in the emitters of the pair. By selecting which resistor set, or combination of resistor sets, is used, the gain of the stage is controlled. The result is a 4 stage, 0-45 dB gain amplifier for RF or IF applications, with the gain adjustable in 3 dB increments.

Abstract: This invention reduces the weight and bulk of shipboard-mounted microwave antenna systems by achieving horizontally and vertically polarized radar return signals without the need for a rotary joint.

Abstract: A high speed serial data transmission multiplexing circuit, which is operable to accurately transmit data over long distances (up to 3 Km), and to multiplex, select and continuously display real time analog signals in a bandwidth from DC to 100 Khz. The circuit is made fault tolerant by use of a programmable flywheel algorithm, which enables the circuit to tolerate one transmission error before losing synchronization of the transmitted frames of data. A method of encoding and framing captured and transmitted data is used which has a low overhead and prevents some particular transmitted data patterns from locking an included detector/decoder circuit.