Abstract: Elongated, ultra-high conductivity electrical conductors for use in advanced electronic components and vehicles, and methods for producing the same, are disclosed herein. The elongated electrical conductors include a conductor body that defines a longitudinal axis. The conductor body includes an isotropically conductive matrix material and a plurality of anisotropically conductive particles interspersed within the isotropically conductive matrix material. Each anisotropically conductive particle defines a respective axis of enhanced electrical conductivity that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the conductor body. The methods include providing a bulk matrix-particle composite that includes the isotropically conductive matrix material and the plurality of anisotropically conductive particles.

Abstract: A method of making a sheet metal component from a tailored blank includes altering an initial blank formed from a first material to form the tailored blank by at least one of (i) coupling additional material to a portion of the first material, and (ii) removing the first material from a portion of the initial blank. The method also includes forming the sheet metal component from the tailored blank by an incremental sheet forming process.

Abstract: Elongated, ultra-high conductivity electrical conductors for use in advanced electronic components and vehicles, and methods for producing the same, are disclosed herein. The elongated electrical conductors include a conductor body that defines a longitudinal axis. The conductor body includes an isotropically conductive matrix material and a plurality of anisotropically conductive particles interspersed within the isotropically conductive matrix material. Each anisotropically conductive particle defines a respective axis of enhanced electrical conductivity that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the conductor body. The methods include providing a bulk matrix-particle composite that includes the isotropically conductive matrix material and the plurality of anisotropically conductive particles.

Abstract: Elongated, ultra-high conductivity electrical conductors for use in advanced electronic components and vehicles, and methods for producing the same, are disclosed herein. The elongated electrical conductors include a conductor body that defines a longitudinal axis. The conductor body includes an isotropically conductive matrix material and a plurality of anisotropically conductive particles interspersed within the isotropically conductive matrix material. Each anisotropically conductive particle defines a respective axis of enhanced electrical conductivity that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the conductor body. The methods include providing a bulk matrix-particle composite that includes the isotropically conductive matrix material and the plurality of anisotropically conductive particles.

Abstract: Elongated, ultra-high conductivity electrical conductors for use in advanced electronic components and vehicles, and methods for producing the same, are disclosed herein. The elongated electrical conductors include a conductor body that defines a longitudinal axis. The conductor body includes an isotropically conductive matrix material and a plurality of anisotropically conductive particles interspersed within the isotropically conductive matrix material. Each anisotropically conductive particle defines a respective axis of enhanced electrical conductivity that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the conductor body. The methods include providing a bulk matrix-particle composite that includes the isotropically conductive matrix material and the plurality of anisotropically conductive particles.

Abstract: A method of making a sheet metal component from a tailored blank includes altering an initial blank formed from a first material to form the tailored blank by at least one of (i) coupling additional material to a portion of the first material, and (ii) removing the first material from a portion of the initial blank. The method also includes forming the sheet metal component from the tailored blank by an incremental sheet forming process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing light. An apparatus comprises a light collector and a wire. The light collector is configured to receive light and direct the light to a location. The wire is in the location and is configured to generate an electrical signal in response to a number of photons of the light absorbed by the wire. The electrical signal generated by the wire includes information about a frequency of the number of photons.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a signal generator and a wire. The signal generator is configured to generate an electrical signal having an amplitude. The wire is connected to the signal generator. The wire is configured to emit photons in response to receiving the electrical signal. The photons have a frequency based on the amplitude of the electrical signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a signal generator, an array of wires, and a controller. The signal generator is configured to generate electrical signals. The electrical signals have amplitudes and first phases. The array of wires is connected to the signal generator. The array of wires is configured to emit photons having phases in response to receiving the electrical signals. The photons have frequencies based on the amplitudes of the electrical signals and second phases based on the first phases of the electrical signals. The controller is connected to the signal generator. The controller is configured to control the first phases of the electrical signals such that a desired radiation pattern for the photons emitted by the array of wires moves in a desired direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a signal generator and wires. The signal generator is configured to generate electrical signals. The electrical signals have amplitudes and first phases. The wires are connected to the signal generator. The wires are configured to emit photons having phases in response to receiving the electrical signals. The photons have frequencies based on the amplitudes of the electrical signals and second phases based on the first phases of the electrical signals. The first phases of the electrical signals are selected such that the photons have a desired radiation pattern.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a signal generator and a wire. The signal generator is configured to generate an electrical signal having an amplitude. The wire is connected to the signal generator. The wire is configured to emit photons in response to receiving the electrical signal. The photons have a frequency based on the amplitude of the electrical signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a signal generator and wires. The signal generator is configured to generate electrical signals. The electrical signals have amplitudes and first phases. The wires are connected to the signal generator. The wires are configured to emit photons having phases in response to receiving the electrical signals. The photons have frequencies based on the amplitudes of the electrical signals and second phases based on the first phases of the electrical signals. The first phases of the electrical signals are selected such that the photons have a desired radiation pattern.

Abstract: A foreign object video detection system comprises a television camera for producing a digital color image of a work surface, a converter having direct memory access to a computer, color detection and color image processing software, logic for discriminating objects deemed to be a foreign object on the work surface or upon a layer of material on the work surface, logic for providing appropriate warning to the operator, and input controls for selecting the area of interest for detection and for optimizing the detection technique based upon the manufacturing situation.

Abstract: A strain sensor (50) combines an intrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (IFPI) (60) with an extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) (56, 62). The IFPI (60) is between two EFPIs (56,62) and shares its two air to glass minors (58, 62). The outside edges (54, 66) of the two EFPIs (56, 64) are connected to an optical fiber (52). The strain sensor (164) can be implemented on a semiconductor chip (150). A waveguide (156) on the semiconductor chip (150) is etched to form two blocks (158) with an island section (162) between them. The two blocks (158) form the EFPI and the center section (162) forms the IFPI. A strain measurement system (100) that takes advantage of the strain sensor (50) has a laser (102) coupled to a optical fiber (106) containing one or more strain sensors (108). A coupler (104) directs the reflected light from the sensors (108) to a tunable Fabry-Perot etalon (114). The output of the tunable Fabry-Perot etalon (114) is coupled to a photodetector (116).