Abstract: A membrane receives an incident energy signal at a first surface of the membrane. An actuating electrode, located adjacent to the membrane on a side opposite the first surface, applies an actuating pressure to the membrane if an actuating potential is applied between the actuating electrode and the membrane. A restoring electrode, located adjacent to the first surface of the membrane, applies a restoring pressure to the membrane if a restoring potential is applied between the restoring electrode and the membrane. The restoring electrode has an outer surface defining an aperture that enables the incident energy signal to pass, for example, without significant obstruction and without significant attenuation, through the restoring electrode to impinge upon the membrane, and the length of the restoring electrode is at least as great as the smallest width of the aperture.

Abstract: A free space optical communication system is disclosed whereby a transmit telescope and a receive telescope are aligned such that the point of maximum power of the received light beam is incident upon the optical fiber located at a specific point on the focal plane of the receive telescope. Such incidence is achieved by causing the transmitted beam to diverge by moving the transmit optical fiber to a point in front of the focal plane of the transmit telescope until at least a portion of the beam is incident upon the receive optical fiber. The transmit telescope and/or the receive telescope (or, alternatively, only the respective optical fibers of those telescopes) are then moved such that the point of maximum received power for that degree of divergence is incident upon the receive optical fiber.

Abstract: A free space optical communication system is disclosed whereby the received power at the receive optical fiber is reduced by adjusting the transmitted light beam and/or the receive optical fiber with respect to each other when a specified power threshold is exceeded. This reduction in received power is achieved by either increasing the cross section of the transmitted beam relative to the receive telescope or, alternatively, moving the receive optical fiber and thereby enlarge the cross section of the received beam incident upon the receive optical fiber.

Abstract: A system (16) for tracking a missile (22) in flight, the missile (22) having an optical beacon generator (32) that outputs a modulated signal (26) having a predetermined frequency, including an optical system (50, 52, 54) for transmitting image data along an optical path (68) onto an array of detectors (55), such that each detector in the array (55) receives substantially simultaneously the image data from the optical system (50, 52, 54). The system (16) further includes means for processing (46) the image data transmitted onto the array of detectors (55) in order to locate the optical beacon (32).

Abstract: A system (16) for tracking a missile (22) in flight, the missile (22) having an optical beacon generator (32) that outputs a modulated signal (26) having a predetermined frequency, including an optical system (50, 52, 54) for transmitting image data along an optical path (68) onto an array of detectors (55), such that each detector in the array (55) receives substantially simultaneously the image data from the optical system (50, 52, 54). The system (16) further includes means for processing (46) the image data transmitted onto the array of detectors (55) in order to locate the optical beacon (32).

Abstract: A free-space wireless optical communication system is disclosed that utilizes a telescope design having aspherical mirrors, such as a Ritchey-Chretien (RC) telescope. RC telescopes are characterized by a concave primary mirror and a convex secondary mirror each having a hyperbolic shape. The disclosed mirror configuration provides a larger focal plane that allows for automatic alignment between a transmitter and receiver with a stationary or fixed mirror design, further contributing to a lower fabrication cost. Among other benefits, the larger focal plane permits an n×n fiber array to be positioned in the focal plane of the RC optical telescope, thereby enabling point-to-multipoint communications with a single optical telescope. Each fiber in the n×n fiber array of a transmitting telescope can be focused on a different receiving telescope in a wireless optical communication system.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting topographic variations on an object such as a finger includes an array of sensing elements disposed on a substrate which each have a parasitic capacitance. An insulating receiving surface is disposed over the array of sensing elements and is adapted to receive the object such that a sensing element and a portion of the object located thereabove creates a measurable change in capacitance with respect to the parasitic capacitance. An electronic circuit is coupled to the array of sensing elements for measuring the measurable change in capacitance.

Abstract: An error detector apparatus (42) producing a signal used in the computation of a missile guidance signal in an aircraft-based missile guidance and tracking system. The error detector apparatus (42) incorporates means (146), (148), (150), (152), and (154) for producing a first envelope signal from a tracking signal emitted by a missile. The envelope signal is then converted, along with a reference signal, to a digital signal by an analog to digital converter (158). A microcontroller (168) calculates an error correction signal from the digital signals. A digital to analog converter (160) converts the digital error correction signal to an analog error correction signal and outputs the analog error correction signal to the system for use in computing a missile guidance signal.

Abstract: A method for measuring boresight and parallax misalignment between multiple missile track links and for compensating guidance of a missile to a selected target. The method is applicable to any missile tracking system employing multiple track links. A missile is projected toward a target along a line of sight and tracked by multiple tracking sensors. Instantaneous output signals of any two tracking sensors are compared to determine instantaneous errors in boresight, parallax, or random errors. The error information is used to compute boresight and parallax correction terms. The correction terms are fed into conventional missile guidance algorithms to correct errors between the tracking sensor's line of sight and an operator's line of sight. Misalignment is measured during missile flight and the missile is used as a reference source in measuring the misalignments. The method is useful in tracking systems mounted on moving vehicles where accurate alignment of track links is difficult.