Abstract: A device for disabling vehicle controls includes one or more switches that control a function. This device also has a sensor to detect a vehicle event. When the sensor detects a vehicle event, a controller prevents the switches from controlling that function.

Abstract: In an infra-red imaging system, infra-red radiation from a scene is optically collected and directed to form an infra-red image of the scene on an array of bi-state diffraction grating elements. Each bi-state diffraction grating element has an activated state providing diffraction of incident infra-red radiation at a predetermined angle from the incident direction and an alternative inactivated state providing no such diffraction at the predetermined angle. Scanning apparatus sequentially activates the bi-state diffraction grating elements temporarily from their inactivated states to their activated states to produce a scanned infra-red image of the scene in IR radiation diffracted by the elements at the predetermined angle, which is collected and directed to an infra-red detector. The detector provides a coded electrical representation of the scanned infra-red image of the scene to further apparatus which generates therefrom a human-detectable signal.

Abstract: An imaging system provides a visible image of a scene enhanced by information from electromagnetic radiation from the scene at a non-visible wavelength without parallax-induced errors. First optical apparatus collects electromagnetic radiation from a scene and directs it onto an array of bi-state diffraction grating elements to form a combined image of the scene on the array at both visible and non-visible wavelengths. The bi-state diffraction grating elements of the array are sequentially and temporarily activated in a predetermined order to an activated state providing diffraction of incident electromagnetic radiation of the visible and non-visible wavelengths in a predetermined manner from an inactivated state in which such diffraction is not provided. The electromagnetic radiation so diffracted is collected and directed toward detector apparatus which provides coded electrical representation of scanned images of the scene in electromagnetic radiation of the visible and non-visible wavelengths.

Abstract: The durability and reliability of a polymer layer/metal layer sensor structure is improved by the incorporation of a metal oxide, e.g., tantalum oxide (Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5), layer between the polymer, e.g., polyimide, and the metal, e.g., platinum. sensor element.