Abstract: A thermal radiation marker adapted to emit radiation within the thermal portion of the infrared spectrum. According to some embodiments of the invention, the thermal radiation marker may include an incandescent filament and a glass or quartz enclosure. The incandescent filament may be adapted to produce radiation at least within the thermal portion of the infrared spectrum. The glass or quartz enclosure may include at least a portion that is substantially thin, and may enclose pressurized inert gas and the incandescent filament surrounded by the inert gas. At least a portion of the glass or quartz enclosure may be sufficiently thin so as to enable good transmittance therethrough for thermal radiation approximately in the 3-5 ?m wavelength band. The pressurized inert gas enclosed within the glass or quartz enclosure and surrounding the incandescent filament may enable a regenerative cycle to take place within the enclosure.

Abstract: A number of apparatuses are provided, for sensing and/or emitting energy along one or more desired apparatus line of sights (LOS) with respect to the respective apparatus. In an embodiment, an apparatus includes an assembly that is rotatably mounted on a base with respect to a switching axis. The assembly has two or more sensing/emitting units, each having a respective sensing/emitting unit line of sight (ULOS). Each sensing/emitting unit has an operative state, wherein the respective unit ULOS is pointed along a LOS of the apparatus for sensing and/or emitting energy along the LOS, and a corresponding inoperative state, where the respective unit ULOS is pointed along a direction different from this LOS. A switching mechanism enables switching between the sensing/emitting units to selectively bring a desired sensing/emitting unit exclusively into its respective operative state while concurrently bringing a remainder of the sensing/emitting units each to a respective non-operative state.

Abstract: A controlled power supply comprising: a) an array of low voltage current sources; b) a plurality of switch power supplies coupled to each of the storage capacitors and respective ones of the pulse loads being coupled to each of the switch power supplies; c) each of the storage capacitors being configured for storing energy during an inactive portion of a load switching cycle of the respective switch power supply to which the corresponding storage capacitor is coupled when the pulse loads are inactive; d) a respective output capacitor in association with each of the switch power supplies for feeding voltage to the respective pulse loads during an active portion of the load switching cycle; and e) the respective storage capacitor being configured for supplying the stored energy via the respective to the respective switch power supply to which the storage capacitor is coupled to each of the pulse loads coupled to switch power supply during an active portion of the load switching cycle.