Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for detecting foreign objects. In one aspect an apparatus for detecting a presence of an object is provided. The apparatus includes a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency. The resonant circuit includes a sense circuit including an electrically conductive structure. The apparatus further includes a coupling circuit coupled to the sense circuit. The apparatus further includes a detection circuit coupled to the sense circuit via the coupling circuit. The detection circuit is configured to detect the presence of the object in response to detecting a difference between a measured characteristic that depends on a frequency at which the resonant circuit is resonating and a corresponding characteristic that depends on the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit. The coupling circuit is configured to reduce a variation of the resonant frequency by the detection circuit in the absence of the object.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved method and apparatus for analyzing the surface of materials using sub-micron laser desorption gas phase analysis. The method uses a combination of Near-field Optical Microscopy and Time-of Flight Mass Spectroscopy.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cutting and dispensing of adversarial interaction countermeasures, as for example chaff dipole elements for the self-protection of aerial vehicles against radar-guided missiles, providing substantially instantaneous in-flight cutting and dispensing of chaff dipole elements into the airstream along the flight path of aircraft, helicopters, and other aerial vehicles. The device comprises a drive motor assembly having a flywheel providing a motor inertia enabling the motor to maintain a substantially constant rotational speed when a load is applied for cutting of the material to be dispensed. Countermeasure articles that may be advantageously be cut and dispensed into an adversarial interaction area by the means and method of the invention include dipole elements which are interactive with radiation of varying character, e.g., infrared, microwave, ultraviolet, millimeter wave, etc., as well as less-than-lethal (LTL) adversarial interaction countermeasures.

Abstract: A method for the self-protection of an aircraft or the like against radar-guided missiles and a self-protection device for use in aircraft and the like against radar-guided missiles, which enables in-flight cutting and dispensing of chaff dipoles of a preselected length into the airstream along the flight path of the aircraft. The device comprises a housing enclosing a motor having a flywheel providing a motor inertia that enables the motor to maintain a substantially constant rotational speed when a load is applied, a magnetic clutch, gearing for rotating a platen roller and a cutter roller, as well as means for controlling the operation of the device, and an exit opening with a spoiler for dispensing the cut dipoles into the airstream.