Abstract: A method for operating a wearable computer using a user interface system having a touch pad includes changing the behavior of the wearable computer in direct response to gestures received at the touch pad. The gestures are not used for graphical user interface selections and are not used for cursor operations but rather directly invoke communication, navigation, machinery operation, or other primary device features or operations.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) sensor is described. The IC sensor includes a pixel array and IC components. The pixel array has a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel includes an EMR absorption region including a detector material having a plurality of nanoparticles embedded in a matrix material and exhibiting a nano-plasmonic property. The IC components are arranged to provide amplification of a voltage signal from the EMR absorption region, and to select the voltage signal from the EMR absorption region.

Abstract: A nested hierarchical plurality of microcoded compute engines where each successive compute engine is coupled to a source bus and a sink bus of another microcoded computed engine at a different hierarchical level, where one microcoded compute engine may be a replacement of a scratchpad memory or FIFO from a pre-existing design. A communication scheme for communicating between and within various hierarchical layers of microcoded compute engines and a piano roll of bitmapped barrier objects for synchronizing activities of various microcomputer engines.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electronic vision system. The system implements at least 3 apertures. A first aperture is set at near focus, while second and third apertures (positioned to the left and right of the first aperture respectively) are set at far focus. The fields of view of the left and right apertures may be spaced apart relative to each other, thereby forming a blind spot in the overall field of view of the system. However, the field of vision of the center aperture overlaps the blind spot, thereby reducing the blind spot for the system. The system includes a computer configured for receiving electronic image data from the apertures and rendering display data derived from the received image data. The system includes a display mounted to a mounting structure (ex.—helmet) for receiving the display data and displaying visual images of the display data.

Abstract: A method for low-light imaging may include, but is not limited to: detecting one or more photons via the least one photon-counting sensor; determining an orientation of at least one photon-counting sensor; and correlating data associated with the at least one photon-counting sensor with the orientation of the at least one photon-counting sensor. A system for low-light imaging may include, but is not limited to: one or more photon-counting sensors configured for detecting one or more photons via the least one photon-counting sensor; one or more inertial sensors; and at least one processing unit configured for: determining an orientation of at least one photon-counting sensor and correlating data associated with the at least one photon-counting sensor with the orientation of the at least one photon-counting sensor.

Abstract: The present invention includes an image processing system with several data compression processing units connected together with a communication bus. Each data compression processing unit includes a wavelet transform processing unit, a shared register file and an address computation processing unit. The wavelet transform processing unit decomposes data from one or more segments of an image into wavelets using a discrete wavelet transform. The shared register stores the intermediate wavelet coefficient computations. The address computation processing unit identifies addresses of wavelets to be decomposed by subsequent operation of the wavelet transform processing unit. The system also includes storage where the resultant wavelet coefficients from each segment may be stored. The present invention also includes methods of compressing image data using multiple processors where each processor operates on a segment of the image data.

Abstract: The present invention includes a distributed, parallel processing optical helmet tracking system. The system includes at least one imaging sensor mounted to a helmet that outputs image data at a first helmet orientation and at a second helmet orientation. The system uses a plurality of processors, each of which receives from the imaging sensor, data representative of an independently viewable, complete and separate image subsection. A designated processor receives output data from each of the plurality of processors, and processes such output data to generate a signal which is representative of differences between the first helmet orientation and the second helmet orientation. The invention also includes methods for determining movement of a sensor.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method for increasing sensitivity of a video sensor which includes in one embodiment a distributed, parallel processing motion blur reduction system. The system includes at least one imaging sensor that outputs image data. The system uses a plurality of processors, each of which receives from the imaging sensor, data representative of an independently viewable, complete and separate image subsection. A designated processor receives output data from each of the plurality of processors, and processes such output data to generate a signal which is representative of blur causing motion. The invention also includes methods for removing motion blur.

Abstract: A method for colorizing a monochrome image is provided. The method includes the step of transforming the monochrome image to a luminance color domain and also transforming a color sample corresponding to the monochrome image to the luminance color domain. The method also includes the step of mapping the transformed color sample on to the transformed monochrome image and merging the transformed color sample with a lightness channel of the transformed monochrome image to yield a final image. A further step of the method involves transforming the final image to a color space.

Abstract: A computing system includes a processor and a partition management unit (PMU). The partition management unit allocates partitions of memory and processing time. The PMU can allocate a partition for at least one of the following: 1. a service attack monitor, 2. a virus monitor, 3. a spyware monitor, and 4. a deterministic routine, the deterministic routine being in a separate partition and from a non-deterministic routine. In an alternative, with transition of control between partitions, the computing system enforces 1. a power management mode change, and 2. a preload or change to at least, one of the cache data peripheral settings or FPGA content mode change.

Abstract: An imaging system may include: at least one photon sensing pixel; at least one digital counting circuit; and at least one processing core programmed to apply at least one image processing algorithm to at least one pixel sample of the at least one digital counting circuit.

Abstract: An improved architecture is disclosed of a crypto engine, such as a Janus Crypto Engine (JCE) having a Programmable Cryptographic Channel (PCC) using a Programmable Cryptographic Processor (PCP). The architecture of the crypto engine does not require zeroizing between messages received by the PCC. Consequently, using the new architecture of the present invention, the crypto engine can allocate PCC resources based on throughput and algorithm needs, reducing latency, and employing fewer PCCs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for custom efficient optical distortion reduction where an image is pre-distorted based on the characterization of an optical system, so that when projected onto a curved optical surface the viewer sees a non distorted image. The approach involves characterizing an optical system with an optical distortion polynomial and then segmenting the field of view into smaller segments. Each segment is characterized with a lower order polynomial. The image is segmented and a computer processor applies distortion correction to each image segment based on the polynomial determined for the associated smaller segment. Alternately, two or more of the image segments may be processed simultaneously using a plurality of microprocessors. The data associated with each image segment is then stitched together to recreate a pre-distorted version of the original image.

Abstract: A high dynamic range sensor assembly includes a plurality of sensing sets that are organized into a sensing array. Each of the sensing sets includes a set of sensing elements for sensing physical phenomena. Each set of sensing elements has a locally selectable integration time. An analog-to-digital (A/D) converter operatively connected to the set of sensing elements acquires and converts an analog signal from each of the sensing elements into a digital signal. A processor operatively connected to the A/D converter and to the set of sensing elements manages the selectable integration time for the set of sensing elements and analyzes the digital signals from each of the sensing elements in the set of sensing elements. The digital signals from each of the sensing elements are measured by the processor and an integration scaling factor for the set of sensing elements is computed and controlled by the processor to adjust the integration time.

Abstract: A high dynamic range sensor assembly includes a plurality of sensing sets that are organized into a sensing array. Each of the sensing sets includes a set of sensing elements for sensing physical phenomena. Each set of sensing elements has a locally selectable integration time. An analog-to-digital (A/D) converter operatively connected to the set of sensing elements acquires and converts an analog signal from each of the sensing elements into a digital signal. A processor operatively connected to the A/D converter and to the set of sensing elements manages the selectable integration time for the set of sensing elements and analyzes the digital signals from each of the sensing elements in the set of sensing elements. The digital signals from each of the sensing elements are measured by the processor and an integration scaling factor for the set of sensing elements is computed and controlled by the processor to adjust the integration time.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for the manufacture of composite lattice structures comprising a weaving mechanism 104 configured to position fibers in a lattice structure, the weaving mechanism 104 comprising one or more bobbins 304, each one or more bobbin 304 configured to carry fiber and a plurality of horn gears 302 configured to move the one or more bobbins 304 across the face of the weaving mechanism 104 to control the position of the fiber carried by the one or more bobbins 304 in the lattice structure, and a shape retention structure 108 configured to hold the fibers in lattice structure. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would automate the process of manufacturing composite lattice structures and reduce the costs associated with the existing methods for manufacturing such structures.

Abstract: A prognostic processor for predicting machine failure in avionics electronics comprises prognostic capabilities in a single integrated circuit, with a processor, volatile and non-volatile memory, clock, on-chip and off-chip sensors and transducers, A/D converters, a common I/O interface adapted to be employed in a network of similar prognostic processors, and predictive Failure Analysis (FA) model software, which may be distributed throughout the network. The FA software employs a log file history, with the log file history storing data collected by the prognostic processor, real-time execution of a predictive model, with the ability to update the FA model with data from field failures. The prognostic processor network supports hierarchical processing to work with multiple prognostic processors. The prognostic processor system is applicable to FA monitoring of a wide range of avionics electronic equipment, in particular, Line Replacement Units (LRUs).

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for transmitting data between two objects via a free space optical data link. In an exemplary aspect of the present invention, the method may start with a step in which a laser beam modulated with data is transmitted to the vicinity of an optical collector. The laser beam may be transmitted by a modulated laser transmitter. The laser beam may cause atmospheric nitrogen in the vicinity of the optical collector to fluoresce and emit a set of characteristic line spectra. The set of characteristic line spectra may be received by the optical collector, and at least one characteristic spectral line may be obtained with an optical filter. Preferably, a wavelength of the at least one characteristic spectral line is selected from a group consisting of 3995.00 angstroms, 4630.54 angstroms, 5005.15 angstroms, and 5679.56 angstroms, which have high relative amplitude.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating a complex, three-dimensional structure (12), such as a truss, from composite fiber/resin includes pulling a plurality of continuous fibers (50) from a feed source (62) along a processing path (58) about a longitudinal axis (14). At least some of the fibers are wound around the longitudinal axis in opposite directions (70,72) by rotational elements to form helical and reverse helical components (30, 34) that intersect at nodes (26,28). Select nodes are engaged by engagement members (84) and are maintained radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis by a support frame (80) to create sequential discrete segments (22) in the helical and reverse helical components. The select nodes can be engaged and maintained from outside the helical and reverse helical components. Resin can be applied to the fibers by resin applicator (90) and cured.