Abstract: A method for dynamic electrical testing of head gimbal assemblies may include initiating an automated continuous process that includes selecting an unmounted head gimbal assembly; aligning the unmounted head gimbal assembly; loading the unmounted head gimbal assembly to a disc; and testing the unmounted head gimbal assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward systems for conducting laser range and enabling optical communication between a plurality of entities and to the application of such systems in a secure covert combat identification system. In one embodiment, the present invention uses a novel laser system that generates high pulse rates, as required for optical communications, while concurrently generating sufficiently high power levels, as required by laser range finding operations. One application of the present invention is in enabling secure covert communications between a plurality of parties. Another application of the present invention is in tracking and identifying the movement of objects.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward systems for conducting laser range and enabling optical communication between a plurality of entities and to the application of such systems in a secure covert combat identification system. In one embodiment, the present invention uses a novel laser system that generates high pulse rates, as required for optical communications, while concurrently generating sufficiently high power levels, as required by laser range finding operations. One application of the present invention is in enabling secure covert communications between a plurality of parties. Another application of the present invention is in tracking and identifying the movement of objects.

Abstract: A method of forming a gear comprising gripping a blank to be spun formed in a spin forming machine, spin forming a gear having helical teeth disposed on an inner surface, and ejecting the gear by simultaneous extension and rotation of an ejector member and thereby rotation of the gear being ejected.

Abstract: A modulating corner-cube retroreflector for remote communications is disclosed. The modulating corner-cube retroreflector includes a solid retroreflector with a front surface and three mutually perpendicular surfaces: a first surface, a second surface and a third surface. A first thin membrane is disposed relative to at least one of the three mutually perpendicular surfaces and covers at least a portion of the surface. A modulator is included that is adapted to cause the thin membrane to vibrate. The corner-cube retroreflector is configured to receive an incident beam of light from a source along a first path and is configured to return a reflected beam of light back towards the source along a second path that is substantially parallel to the first path. The first thin membrane is configured to substantially frustrate total internal reflection of the incident beam of light when the first thin membrane is moved relative to at least one surface of the retroreflector.

Abstract: A pulsed fiber laser and associated electronics contained in a miniature package is disclosed. The Pulsed Fiber Laser Source (PFLS) can be a single-stage high gain master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) type fiber laser source. The PFLS can include a distributed feedback (DFB) laser, a narrowband optical filter, a broad area high-power pump diode, and Erbium/Ytterbium (Er/Yb) double cladding doped fiber. Input electrical pulses drive the DFB laser diode to emit optical pulses that are then amplified by the optical amplifier. Active and passive cooling elements may be incorporated for continuous operation without rest time. Passive cooling for intermittent pulsed applications allows the laser source to be miniaturized by eliminating active cooling elements and associated power supplies and controllers. Low duty cycle relaxes drive requirements and further reduces the size.

Abstract: A multifunction sight is disclosed. The multifunction sight includes an body, a receiving aperture, an emitting aperture, a parabolic reflector, and an optical detector. The receiving aperture passes radiation in a first band and a second band into the body where the first band is different from the second band. The emitting aperture that passes the radiation in the first band out of the body. The parabolic reflector displays a point source such that the point source is visible from the emitting aperture. The point source appears aligned with where the multifunction sight is aimed irrespective of a visual alignment with the emitting aperture. The optical detector is affixed to the body and coupled to the radiation in the second band, and receives coded radiation with the second band.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for the perpetration of a variety of foods in Satay style. The apparatus comprises two manually positioned platens (upper and lower) and a plurality of food elongated retaining spikes or skewers. The foodstuff is held in the retaining protrusions on the upper and lower platens and spikes or skewering device are pushed into the guiding slots to secure the foodstuff on the spikes or skewers. This unique apparatus can be made of wood, stainless steel, aluminium, carbon fibre, plastic, or any material, which can be worked or machined into the correct configuration, that provide a textured or smooth surface, which can be cleaned and sanitized. The invention provides a quick and safe method of preparing Satay style food.

Abstract: The invention comprises a crankshaft damper having an integral pulse ring. The crankshaft damper comprises an inner hub and outer pulley with an elastomeric connecting member between each. The elastomeric ring dampens a crankshaft vibration. The integral pulse ring is manufactured as part of the inner hub by flow forming a sheet metal blank.

Abstract: The invention comprises a crankshaft damper having an integral pulse ring. The crankshaft damper comprises an inner hub and outer pulley with an elastomeric connecting member between each. The elastomeric ring dampens a crankshaft vibration. The integral pulse ring is manufactured as part of the inner hub by flow forming a sheet metal blank.

Abstract: A Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) capable of consistent performance over a wide temperature range. The PDLC includes electrodes connected to each of the resistive layers, such as ITO layers, of the PDLC. A FET switch couples each electrode to a corresponding capacitor. The capacitors are charged using a power source. The energy stored in the capacitors can be transferred to the resistive layers to heat the PDLC. A controller can pulse the FET switches to control the amount of energy transferred from the capacitors to the resistive layers.

Abstract: A pulsed fiber laser and associated electronics contained in a miniature package is disclosed. The Pulsed Fiber Laser Source (PFLS) can be a single-stage high gain master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) type fiber laser source. The PFLS can include a distributed feedback (DFB) laser, a narrowband optical filter, a broad area high-power pump diode, and Erbium/Ytterbium (Er/Yb) double cladding doped fiber. Input electrical pulses drive the DFB laser diode to emit optical pulses that are then amplified by the optical amplifier. Active and passive cooling elements may be incorporated for continuous operation without rest time. Passive cooling for intermittent pulsed applications allows the laser source to be miniaturized by eliminating active cooling elements and associated power supplies and controllers. Low duty cycle relaxes drive requirements and further reduces the size.

Abstract: An apparatus for communicating video frames from a source having a video input means to a destination having a visual display unit during the course of a telephone conversation. A first user can use a first computer communication means to make a first connection to a service provider. The service provider or first user then initiates a telephone call from the first to the second telephone via the service provider and the first and second communication paths. A second user can then use the second computer communication means to make a second connection to the service provider. Caller-id data is communicated between each of the first and second users and the service provider so that the service provider can correlate both the call and the first and second connections with each other. At least one video image is uploaded from the video input means to the service provider, and then downloaded to one of the computers.

Abstract: The invention comprises a crankshaft damper having an integral pulse ring. The crankshaft damper comprises an inner hub and outer pulley with an elastomeric connecting member between each. The elastomeric ring dampens a crankshaft vibration. The integral pulse ring is manufactured as part of the inner hub by flow forming a sheet metal blank.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for linearizing the performance of electrical transformers using negative feedback. Two circuits are disclosed which use an operational amplifier to compensate a three-winding transformer, yielding an improved low-end frequency response, reduced harmonic distortion, and substantially resistive input and output impedances.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for suppressing spurious audio frequency sounds in a system in which electrically represented audio frequency sounds are very significantly raised in frequency and are conformed to a video line signal format. A sufficient number of guard samples ("M") are included at the beginning of each line of electrically represented audio frequency sounds to allow the amplitude response of the video line signal to reach the specified value prior to the occurrence of the samples that are used. The additional guard samples are provided by RAM memory (3), which is controlled by state machine (4). Fewer additional guard samples ("K") may be provided at the end of a video line to enhance tolerance to small timing variations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimally processing television compressed audio signals by adaptively controlling the gain of the apparatus. The average value of the digitized signal is compared to a reference value to produce a gain control signal. A variable input video signal amplitude is automatically accommodated to a fixed analog to digital converter range.