Abstract: A method includes providing a highly linear front end in a Radio Frequency (RF) receiver, implementing a high Effective Number of Bits (ENOB) Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) circuit in the RF receiver, and sampling, through the high ENOB ADC circuit, at a frequency having harmonics that do not coincide with a desired signal component of an input signal of the RF receiver to eliminate spurs within a data bandwidth of the RF receiver. The input signal includes the desired signal component and an interference signal component. The interference signal component has a higher power level than the desired signal component. The method also includes simultaneously accommodating the desired signal component and the interference signal component in the RF receiver based on an increased dynamic range of the RF receiver and the high ENOB ADC circuit provided through the highly linear front end and the high ENOB ADC circuit.

Abstract: A method includes forming a power control circuit through coupling a gate switch array between a buffer stage at an input of the power control circuit and an amplifier array including N amplifier stages in parallel to each other, with N>1. The method also includes coupling each of the N amplifier stages to a corresponding gate switch of the gate switch array, and controlling an output power of the power control circuit by switching one or more appropriate gate switches of the gate switch array to apply an input signal from the buffer stage to a corresponding one or more amplifier stages coupled to the one or more appropriate gate switches such that a maximum output power is achieved when all of the N amplifier stages are turned on and a minimum output power is achieved when only one amplifier stage is turned on.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking moving objects in a scene is described. One embodiment acquires a digital video signal corresponding to the scene; identifies in the digital video signal one or more candidate moving objects; locates at least one candidate moving object in the digital video signal subsequent to identification of the at least one candidate moving object; tracks candidate moving objects that, for at least a predetermined period after they have been identified, continue to be located in the digital video signal; assigns a score to each tracked candidate moving object in accordance with how long after passage of the predetermined period the tracked candidate moving object has continued to be located in the digital video signal; combines the respective scores of the tracked candidate moving objects to obtain an overall score for the scene; and indicates to a user whether the overall score satisfies a predetermined criterion.

Abstract: A thermal infrared (IR) imaging system and associated calibration methods are described. In various illustrative embodiments, techniques are provided for the stabilization and radiometric calibration of a thermal IR imager without stabilization of the device's focal-plane-array (FPA) temperature. In one embodiment, a scene image is corrected for FPA temperature to produce a FPA-temperature-stabilized image, to which radiometric calibration can optionally be added through additional calculations and prior device characterization. In another embodiment, the internal shutter of the thermal IR imager is used as an equivalent external blackbody source to cancel the FPA-temperature-dependent offset from a scene image Radiometric calibration can be included through additional calculations and prior device characterization. In some embodiments, these techniques are combined to correct for dependence on FPA temperature of both the imager's responsivity and its zero-radiance-scene offset.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods using a temporal-frequency sensitive receiver to detect laser light that is scattered by an oscillating object, thereby allowing remote monitoring of the object's position and movement.

Abstract: A medical device for delivering a biologically active material into a body tissue, comprising struts and optionally the biologically active material. In an embodiment, the medical device comprises non-structural elements integral with the struts. A method for designing such medical device are also disclosed. Another embodiment is a medical device having an outer surface comprising a middle section and end sections. The end sections have a greater available surface area, greater affinity for or a greater amount of the biologically active material per unit length of the outer surface than the middle section. The middle section may be covered with a barrier layer. Another embodiment is a medical device comprising a rectangular portion having a greater capacity for carrying a biologically active material per unit length of the outer surface. A method for delivering a biologically active material to a body tissue is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods using a temporal-frequency sensitive receiver to detect laser light that is scattered by an oscillating object, thereby allowing remote monitoring of the object's position and movement.

Abstract: An electrochemical process for selectively stripping at least one coating from the surface of a substrate is disclosed. The substrate (often a turbine engine component) is immersed in a composition through which electrical current flows. The composition includes a halide salt, such as sodium chloride, ammonium chloride, and potassium chloride. In preferred embodiments, the electrical current is direct current (DC). The process is especially useful for selectively removing portions of diffusion aluminide coatings. For example, the additive layer can efficiently be removed, without substantially affecting the underlying diffusion layer or substrate. Related stripping compositions and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: An electrochemical process for selectively stripping at least one coating from the surface of a substrate is disclosed. The substrate (often a turbine engine component) is immersed in a composition through which electrical current flows. The composition includes a halide salt, such as sodium chloride, ammonium chloride, and potassium chloride. In preferred embodiments, the electrical current is direct current (DC). The process is especially useful for selectively removing portions of diffusion aluminide coatings. For example, the additive layer can efficiently be removed, without substantially affecting the underlying diffusion layer or substrate. Related stripping compositions and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A medical device for delivering a biologically active material into a body tissue, comprising struts and optionally the biologically active material. In an embodiment, the medical device comprises non-structural elements integral with the struts. A method for designing such medical device are also disclosed. Another embodiment is a medical device having an outer surface comprising a middle section and end sections. The end sections have a greater available surface area, greater affinity for or a greater amount of the biologically active material per unit length of the outer surface than the middle section. The middle section may be covered with a barrier layer. Another embodiment is a medical device comprising a rectangular portion having a greater capacity for carrying a biologically active material per unit length of the outer surface. A method for delivering a biologically active material to a body tissue is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for increasing the linearity of the phase and gain of an amplifier circuit (10, 22). The amplifier circuit (10, 22) maintains linearity of the amplified output signal by monitoring the power levels of the input signal, and adjusting the supply voltage level(s) of the amplifier (18), based upon the measured input power levels. By appropriately adjusting the supply voltage level(s) of the amplifier (18) an output signal having a consistent gain and phase can be realized. Preferably a delay circuit (26) will be used to delay receipt of the input signal by the amplifier (18), so as to synchronize receipt of the input signal with the corresponding source voltage adjustments. The value of the delay preferably corresponds to the time for the envelope detector (14) to measure the instantaneous input power levels and the time for the processing unit (16) to determine and apply the appropriate supply voltage level(s) to the amplifier (18).