Abstract: An avionics unit assembly for an aircraft can include an avionics unit (e.g., an underwater locator device, “ULD”), and a battery to power the avionics unit. The avionics unit assembly can further include a housing that encases the avionics unit and the battery. The housing includes a vent port for exhausting an emission from the housing during a failure of the avionics unit. The avionics unit assembly can further include one or more of a suppressor that filters the emission, a shield element that is resistant to chemical and/or thermal effects of the emission, and a bracket for mounting the avionics unit to a surface. A method integrating the avionics unit assembly onto a forward aircraft bulkhead at a mount location under an aircraft radome and for manufacturing the avionics unit, and an aircraft including the avionics unit are also described.

Abstract: A relationship data structure associated with a source resource enables methods to discover and describe relationships between the source resource and a plurality of target resources. The relationships are stored in a format independent of the encoding of the source resource. Each relationship between the source resource and the plurality of target resources is stored in a content-neutral format, and the relationship data structure stores, a location of each target resource, a type of relationship with each target resource and an identifier to uniquely identify each relationship between the source resource and each target resource. Accordingly, the relationship data structure allows a decoder to directly discover the relationships between the source resource and the plurality of target resources without decoding the source resource or target resources.

Abstract: Methods and systems provide for breaking a computer-generated document into a number of components where the components have explicit relationships with each other. A relationship representation is generated for the components of the document. A user may then navigate the relationships between the components to quickly understand the nature of the document and its components and to locate particular portions of the document that are important to the user. In addition, the user may open, edit and reuse particular components of the document apart from the rest of the document and without having to open or edit the document.

Abstract: Self-describing portions of text or data are provided for associating with or inserting in a computer-generated document. Portions of a document, such as individual paragraphs or groups of paragraphs or fragments of text, are provided self-describing properties, such as file format type associated with the portion, style, font, list type, and the like. If such a portion of a document is subsequently linked to or copied or moved to a second document or to a different location in a first document, the self-describing properties provided for the portion travel with the portion to the second document or to the different location in the first document. An application receiving the content portion may consume and display the portion according to the properties provided for the portion.

Abstract: A method for categorizing information regarding a failure in an application program module. The failure may be a crash, a set-up failure or an assert. For a crash, a name of an executable module where the crash occurred in the application program module, a version number of the executable module, a name of a module containing an instruction causing the crash, a version number of the module and an offset into the module with the crashing instruction are determined. This bucket information is then transmitted to a repository for storage in a database. The database may be examined to determine fixes for the bug that caused the crash.

Abstract: A method for categorizing information regarding a failure in an application program module. The failure may be a crash, a set-up failure or an assert. For a crash, a name of an executable module where the crash occurred in the application program module, a version number of the executable module, a name of a module containing an instruction causing the crash, a version number of the module and an offset into the module with the crashing instruction are determined. This bucket information is then transmitted to a repository for storage in a database. The database may be examined to determine fixes for the bug that caused the crash.

Abstract: A method for categorizing information regarding a failure in an application program module. The failure may be a crash, a set-up failure or an assert. For a crash, a name of an executable module where the crash occurred in the application program module, a version number of the executable module, a name of a module containing an instruction causing the crash, a version number of the module and an offset into the module with the crashing instruction are determined. This bucket information is then transmitted to a repository for storage in a database. The database may be examined to determine fixes for the bug that caused the crash.

Abstract: A pulse width modulator is provided with circuitry to eliminate high frequency noise spikes in its output. This circuitry is effective to slow down the switching time of the MOSFET switching transistor, increase the rise time of the voltage across the catch diode and improve the high frequency characteristics of the output filter. These benefits are achieved by only a few number of components.

Abstract: Circuitry is provided to eliminate high frequency noise spikes in the output of a pulse width modulator and inverters employing pulse width modulators. This circuitry provides a precision noise spike elimination circuit based on a discovery that the switching of a MOSFET has two distinct regions: one in which only the drain current changes, and the other in which only the drain to source voltage changes. The precision noise spike elimination circuit includes a pair of back-to-back Zener diodes connected in parallel with the first current generator and direct feedback of the rate of change of voltage across the catch diode, thereby eliminating the effect of non-linear capacitance of the MOSFET in the feedback path. The back-to-back Zener diodes provide very precise control of the rate of change of the MOSFET current and catch-diode voltage. The more linear switching of the MOSFET due to the improved feedback results in a reduction in losses in the MOSFET for the same degree of noise reduction.

Abstract: A dual current source MOSFET turn-on/off circuit includes a high gain PNP transistor as a turn-off current source and a high gain NPN transistor as a turn-on current source for a P-channel MOSFET. A switch in the base circuit of the NPN transistor turns on the NPN transistor current source which overpowers the PNP transistor current source. The net current charges the MOSFET gate-to-source capacitance which, upon reaching a threshold voltage, turns the MOSFET on. When the switch is opened, the PNP transistor current source discharges the gate-to-source capacitance, turning off the MOSFET. The circuit provides almost constant power dissipation independent of input voltage and a constant turn-on/off time independent of input voltage.

Abstract: An object detector uses product feedback in order to eliminate false indications of the presence of an object due to a change in operating frequency and/or transmitter coil current. The alternating current in the transmitter coil is measured with a capacitor, resistor and operational amplifier and rectified to develop a voltage which is compared with a reference voltage producing a constant voltage in the pickup coil. Additionally, combination feedback may be provided whereby nearly constant pickup coil voltage is maintained where a transmitting coil inductance change is associated with a geometrical change in the spacing between the transmitting coil and the pickup coil.

Abstract: An automatic overvoltage protection circuit is provided for an electrical power supply of the type comprising a variable speed three phase alternator (50) having a permanent magnet rotor and three stator output windings (51, 52 and 53), a gated three phase rectifier bridge (60) connected to the three stator output windings and producing a d.c. output voltage, and a control circuit (120) for supplying gating signals at controlled firing angles to the gated three phase rectifier bridge. The control circuit includes first, second and third reference circuits (73, 74 and 75) each including a resonant LRC circuit and connected to a respective one of the three stator output windings, a gating logic circuit (135) connected to the first, second and third reference circuits and providing six outputs, feedback means (122) connected to receive the d.c.

Abstract: A following voltage/current regulator includes a field effect transistor (FET) (48) connected in series between an unregulated voltage source (44) and a load, such as a motor bridge circuit (50). The conduction of the FET is controlled by a control circuit (56) which measures the input voltage to the FET source, the output voltage from the FET drain and the current drawn by the load. Initially, when power is turned on, the inrush current to the load is limited until a predetermined voltage differential between the input and output voltages is achieved at steady state. Then, the voltage regulator maintains the predetermined voltage differential to provide a well regulated output voltage to the load despite fluctuations in supply voltage. This "following" action limits the heat disipation and protects the FET. Because the voltage regulator uses no inductors or transformers, there are no saturation problems and the circuit may be compactly packaged.

Abstract: An inductive device composed of a bead of magnetic material, such as ferrite, has an aperture through which an electrical conductor is adapted to pass. The bead is formed unsymmetrically about at least one axis. The asymmetry of the bead alters the magnetic characteristic of the bead so as to increase its ability to absorb volt-seconds on the conductor and thereby prevent destructively high currents. The inductive device is advantageously used in the d.c. supply to the power transistors of an inverter to protect the transistors from current surges due to the simultaneous conduction of the transistors.

Abstract: A permanent magnet rotor type electrical alternator-SCR power supply having a unique series resonant LC circuit connected to the alternator and resonant close to the lowest expected frequency of the alternator.

Abstract: An inductive device composed of a bead (10) of magnetic material, such as ferrite, has an aperture through which an electrical conductor (13) is adapted to pass and a reset winding (14) wound thereon and connected to a source of constant current. The constant reset current resets the bead of magnetic material so that the maximum volt-second absorbtion capability of the bead is available for preventing destructively high current spikes from flowing through the electrical conductor. The inductive device is advantageously used in the d.c. supply of the power transistors (101 and 102) of an inverter (100) to protect the transistors from current surges due to the simultaneous conduction of the transistors.

Abstract: A single electromagnetic structure comprising a pair of assembled oppositely positioned pot cores, first and second winding means around each of the pedestals of the cores, and a flat magnetically permeable washer-like member positioned between the windings and spaced from the pedestals and the outer annular rim portions of the pot cores to define a pair of air gaps, whereby the apparatus functions like a transformer and an inductor in series with a winding of the transformer.

Abstract: An inverter for producing A.C. from a source of D.C. electric power. The power circuit includes a power transformer with the current flow through the two halves of the primary winding 16 being controlled by a pair of power MOSFETs. A gate driver circuit which includes a driver transformer produces control signals which are substantially 180.degree. out of phase across the center tapped secondary winding of the driver transformer. A pair of fast-off, slow-on coupling circuits consisting of a diode connected in parallel with a resistor couples gate control signals to the gates of the power MOSFETs. Each coupling circuit is effectively in series with one of a pair of current limiting off-time setting resistors, the latter being connected in series with the two halves of the primary winding of the gate driver circuit control transformer.

Abstract: An inverter circuit having an output power transformer if provided with a replica driver transformer which is a miniature "clone" of the power transformer. The replica driver transformer uses the same core material as the power transformer and is designed to saturate before the power transformer thereby shutting off the drive to the power switching transistors and saving them from burn out which might otherwise be caused by power transformer saturation. Reset circuits can be included as part of the circuit to assure successful start up preventing first-half-cycle-instant-burnout-syndrome occurrence.