Abstract: The present invention relates to shaker doors with solid cores and methods for making the same. The shaker doors contain different core materials at the recessed panel than the raise peripheral region to provide dimensional stability and reduced distortion when the doors are exposed to high humidity. The devices and methods also provide for easy assembly of solid core shaker doors, including fire rated doors.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for a user interface (UI) enabling a user to identity and modify previously transmitted electronic message from a first device to a second device; and, responsive to a modification of the previously transmitted outgoing message from the first device, generating a modification message, transmitting the modification message to the second device and, responsive to receiving the modification message on the second device, correlating the modification message to a previously received incoming message on the second device and modifying the previously received incoming message in accordance with information transmitted in conjunction with the modification message to generate a modified message.

Abstract: An energy recovery and storage apparatus especially well adapted for use with flight control surfaces on airborne mobile platforms, such as aircraft. In one form the apparatus includes a ram-like element coupled to a portion of a flight control surface. An accumulator holds a flexible container having a compressible medium contained within the flexible container. The accumulator is in fluid communication with a housing of the ram-like element. When the flight control surface is moved from a deployed to a retracted position, the energy acting on the surface is recovered and stored in the compressible medium as the ram-like element forces fluid from its housing into the accumulator. When the flight control surface is to be deployed again in a subsequent cycle, the stored energy in the compressible medium is used to urge the ram-like element into an extended position, thus assisting in deploying the flight control surface.

Abstract: Detecting a pulse of a signal includes receiving the signal and a light beam. The signal drives a spatial light modulator to modulate the light beam, where the complex amplitude of the modulated light beam is proportional to the signal current. The modulated light beam passes through an optical system and is detected by an optical detector array. A processor identifies a portion of the signal comprising the pulse.

Abstract: An optical/analog/digital pulse detector receives an input signal and drives a Bragg cell illuminated by a collimated light beam. The Bragg cell spatially modulates the collimated light beam and upon exiting the Bragg cell is imaged by lenses of an optics network to the plane of an opaque plate. A binary optical plate replicates the image of the Bragg cell on the opaque plate. The opaque plate contains slits of various lengths located where the images of the Bragg cell are replicated. To obtain the power spectrum of each of the images on the opaque plate an anamorphic lens is positioned in the path of light passing through the opaque plate. Light passing through the anamorphic lens is sensed by a detector array having outputs coupled to a focal plane processor that processes the analog outputs from the detector array into initial tuning commands for detection and characterization of pulses in the input signal.

Abstract: A method of modeling and enhancing the print quality of digital printing, including both electrophographic printing and photofinishing. Pixels are printed with a device such as a DMD, whose pixels provide a steep-sided intensity versus displacement curve of each light spot on the image plane. Holes placed in the pixel can be used to place a dip in the top of the curve, a feature especially useful for electrophotographic printing. The effect of this hole on the image plane can also be flattened, a feature than may be especially useful for photofinishing. The steep-sided intensity curve facilitates the ability to model and predict pixel size.

Abstract: A reflected laser pulse (23) is received by a detector (34) which is a single component of a detector array (30). The reflected laser pulse is then amplified by an amplifier (36) and sent through a matched filter (38) to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio. A data sampler (40) takes samples of the reflected laser pulse (23) and stores the data samples within a temporary data storage (42). A comparator (44) compares each data sample in the temporary data storage (42) to a predetermined threshold constant to determine if the threshold constant has been exceeded. When the threshold constant is exceeded, the data from the temporary data storage (42) is sent to a buffer (48) where it is held while an analog-to-digital converter (50) digitizes the samples for use by a computer (26) in identifying an object and determining the location of the detected object. The identity and location of the detected object are displayed on a display device (32).

Abstract: An illumination system (10) having an automated calibration system (62) for adjusting the light intensity of individual elements (14) of an array of light emitting elements (12). An optical sensor (30) can be positioned in several locations (A,B,C) to sense incident light from a spatial light modulator (20) as the modulator is sequentially actuated one zone (50) at a time. The light output from each zone (50) of the spatial light modulator is characterized and compared to a golden standard, and the light emitting elements of the array associated with illuminating the zones that are deficient in light are ascertained. Adjustment circuitry (62) responsively adjusts and increases the drive current to the associated light emitting elements (14) that are deficient in light output. A look-up table is utilized to determine which LEDs (14) need adjustment to their drive currents to insure uniform illumination in the process and cross-process direction at an image plane.

Abstract: A dithered offset correction method wherein, according to a first embodiment, updates are made of the offset correction during each iteration and, after four iterations, the offset for each pixel or detector element is updated from all of its neighbors to provide faster convergence than is obtainable by the prior art. In accordance with a second embodiment, the offset for each detector element is updated for every iteration and, for each update, the update is made with information from an entire row or an entire column of data. After four iterations, each offset has been updated with information from every detector element in the focal plane array. This provides even more rapid convergence compared to the prior art.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a unique foldable winglet assembly adaptable for use with an aircraft for maximizing the wing span of the aircraft during cruise operation while reducing wing bending moment during extreme flight maneuvers. A foldable winglet is pivotally joined to the aircraft wing and is rotatable during flight between a retracted position and a fully extended position. An actuator is mounted on the aircraft wing and attached to the foldable winglet. When the aircraft reaches cruise operation, the actuator can be manually or automatically energized to pivot the winglet from a substantially vertical, retracted position to a fully extended position wherein the winglet becomes an extension of the wing. During cruise, the wing and winglet form an enlarged wing that serves to maximize lift of the aircraft.

Abstract: An illumination system (10,30,100,130,150,180,200) for hard copy applications including an elongated array (32) of light emitting elements (34) in combination with a light mixing element (42,46) for mixing the light from the individual elements in the lateral or cross-process direction. A curved array (32) or linear array (102) of light emitting elements with an aspheric lens (108) may be utilized, with a cylindrical lens (36,106) compressing the beam of light in the vertical or process direction. The light mixing elements (42,46) are preferably comprised of holographic diffusers. Sufficient mixing of the light from the array is achieved in the cross-process direction whereby a reduction in light output of one light emitting element does not generate a significant localized reduction in intensity at the elongated spatial light modulator.

Abstract: A system 10 for independently illuminating a plurality of areas on an object 26 such as a printer drum is disclosed herein. The system 10 includes a light source 12 such as an LED or a plurality of LEDs. A spatial light modulator 14, which may be a movable mirror device, for receives light from the light source 12 and reflects selected portions of the light. The spatial light modulator 14 includes at least n rows of independently modulated pixels wherein a mask prevents more than 1/nth of each the rows from receiving and reflecting light at any point in time. The light from the spatial light modulator 14 is imaged (e.g., with imaging lens 24) onto rows and columns of the object 26 to be illuminated. The object 26 is illuminated in a way that each column is illuminated by a corresponding row of pixels.

Abstract: A plate projecting in an aft direction from the blunt trailing edge of a wing. The plate extends across the span of the trailing edge, and may be either planar or curved in the spanwise direction. The plate is canted to form an acute depression angle with respect to a collinear extension of the chord line of each chordwise cross section of the wing. The depression angle may vary across the span of the trailing edge. The height location of the plate relative to the trailing edge thickness may also vary in a spanwise direction. The length of the plate may be anywhere from 0.5 to 2.0 times the thickness of the trailing edge.

Abstract: A fast light interconnected processor device for image processing includes an image sensor for producing a line scan signal, a one-dimensional line display for producing a light having an intensity representative of the scan signal and an array of light detectors for producing a two-dimensional convolution of the image with a blurring function performed simultaneously with the scanning of the image scene. The image sensor is, for example, a thermal imager (forward looking infrared system) which outputs electrical signals representative of thermal energy emanating from a scene. The one-dimensional line display is, for example, a one-dimensional array of light emitting diodes which converts the electrical signals of the thermal image to a light image.

Abstract: A method of measuring the temperature of a remote body which comprises determining the frequency range to be covered and the portion of that range or frequency band to be covered by each detector of a detector array or by a single detector via a filter for applying different frequency bands to the single detector. The required detector or detectors are then provided and sense the energy radiated by the remote body whose temperature is to be measured. The detector or detectors then provide an output of the amount of energy measured in each unique frequency band and sends these measured outputs to a processor. The processor receives the measured outputs from the detector(s) and determines therefrom in accordance with an algorithm thereat the measured temperature. The processor then provides an output indicative of the measured temperature.

Abstract: A FLIR imager is modified to include a hybrid optical/electronic processor for automatic local area dynamic range normalization. FLIR imagers have an objective lens for focusing IR energy emanating from a scene on a detector array. The detector array generates electrical signals representative of the scene. LEDs generate a visible picture of the thermal image of the scene for a video processor for formatting the signals for a particular type display (TV). The hybrid optical/electronic processor is inserted between the LEDs and the video processor; it includes a beamsplitter for directing the image to a pair of CCD cameras. The image at one camera is set in sharp focus to preserve all of the spatial frequency content (allpass) through the image reconstruction optics. While the image at the second camera is slightly defocused for averaging image information over small local regions the size of the defocused point spread function (spatial lowpass filtered).

Abstract: An infrared tracker for tracking a carrier in clutter comprises a pyrotechnically heated emitter, a beam concentrator, and a blanking means all of which are mounted on the carrier, and a command link, a thermal detector, a display signal storage means, a display, and a comparator all of which are located remotely to the carrier, said command link operative to provide an emitter start-up signal and a blanking command signal, said emitter and blanking means operative in response to the command signals sent to the carrier when there is clutter present that might be confused with the carrier, respectively, to actuate the emitter and blanking means, said display storage means operative to store a first video frame of the carrier while the emitter is blanked out, and said comparator for comparing the first video frame without the emitter to a subsequent video frame including the emitter to distinguish between the clutter and the carrier.

Abstract: A system for detecting, tracking and guiding a missile to a target is disclosed. The missile has a beacon which emits infrared signals. A night sight, which has a reticled infrared receiver for sighting a target, detects the infrared signals of the missile relative to the center of the reticle and converts the infrared signals to electrical signals representative of the impinging infrared energy. The IR receiver output is connected to a computerized beacon tracking unit. The tracking unit determines when beacon signals are detected by the receiver, tracks and guides the missile to its destination by computing missile position pitch and yaw guidance signals to align the missile with the target.

Abstract: A laser beam rider guidance system having a launcher based electro-optical subsystem illuminating a light receiver subsystem on board a moving carrier is disclosed. A launcher based laser beam transmitter assembly transmits a synchronization beam, an x scan beam, and a y scan beam to the laser beam receiver subsystem along a line of sight established by a sighting means. The synchronization beam, x scan beam, and y scan beam when received by the receiver subsystem are used in a timing mechanism to measure the x and y scan times from the missile's position to the line of sight; each of these times are multiplied by the scan rate in a microprocessor to determine x and y coordinate direction correction signals necessary to position the carrier on the line of sight to target.

Abstract: An infrared tracker for tracking a carrier in clutter comprises a pyrotechnically heated emitter, a beam concentrator, and a blanking means all of which are mounted on the carrier, and a command link, a thermal detector, a display signal storage means, a display, and a comparator all of which are located remotely to the carrier, said command link operative to provide an emitter start-up signal and a blanking command signal, said emitter and blanking means operative in response to the command signals sent to the carrier when there is clutter present that might be confused with the carrier, respectively, to actuate the emitter and blanking means, said display storage means operative to store a first video frame of the carrier while the emitter is blanked out, and said comparator for comparing the first video frame without the emitter to a subsequent video frame including the emitter to distinguish between the clutter and the carrier.