Abstract: An optical sensing system includes a transmitter assembly for generating a generated signal having a frequency in an optical wavelength. An optical sensing fiber is coupled to the transmitter assembly for receiving the generated signal and producing a reflected signal from backscattering of the generated signal. The system also includes a receiver assembly coupled to the optical sensing fiber for receiving the reflected signal. The system further includes a controller in communication with the receiver assembly for determining environmental effects imposed on the optical sensing fiber based on characteristics of the reflected signal.

Abstract: A locking refrigerant line cap includes an outer housing body, an inner housing body disposed within the outer housing body, and a key. The inner housing body includes a key recess, and the key is disposed within the key recess of the inner housing body. The key resides in a normally unlocked position where the outer housing body freely rotates about the inner housing body. However, placement of a magnet adjacent the outer housing body moves the key from its normally unlocked position to a locked position where the key engages both the key recess of the inner housing body and the outer housing body such that the inner housing body rotates with the outer housing body.

Abstract: An optical sensing system includes a transmitter assembly for generating a generated signal having a frequency in an optical wavelength. An optical sensing fiber is coupled to the transmitter assembly for receiving the generated signal and producing a reflected signal from backscattering of the generated signal. The system also includes a receiver assembly coupled to the optical sensing fiber for receiving the reflected signal. The system further includes a controller in communication with the receiver assembly for determining environmental effects imposed on the optical sensing fiber based on characteristics of the reflected signal.

Abstract: A channel in a telemetry system is described. The channel includes a sample-and-hold circuit, a variable resistor circuit, and a control element. The sample-and-hold circuit is configured to hold a sample of a signal. The variable resistor circuit is communicatively coupled to the sample-and-hold circuit, and is configured to present a variable impedance to one or more signal lines during a time period designated for the channel. The variable impedance is representative of the sample held by the sample-and-hold circuit. The control element is configured to control the variable resistor circuit to present to the one or more signal lines an open circuit equivalent impedance during times other than the time period designated for the channel.

Abstract: A telemetry system is described in which a plurality of channels are coupled to a bus. A control subsystem controls the channels so that one of the channels presents to the bus during its designated time period a channel characteristic. The control subsystem interrogates in the analog domain each of the channels during its designated time period, and forms a signal representative of the channel characteristic. The control subsystem may combine one or more of the signals into a digital packet, and transmit the same via transceiver over a wireless network. The channels may be contained within a submersible enclosure and displaced at intervals along the bus, thereby forming an array for monitoring waterborne threats. The array may lie along an ocean floor, may be towed by a marine vehicle, or may suspended from a deployable buoy containing the control subsystem, transceiver, and a remote power source. The array may further comprise a defensive countermeasure deployable responsive to detecting a threat.

Abstract: A telemetry system is described in which a plurality of channels are coupled to a bus. A control subsystem controls the channels so that one of the channels presents to the bus during its designated time period a channel characteristic. The control subsystem interrogates in the analog domain each of the channels during its designated time period, and forms a signal representative of the channel characteristic. The control subsystem may combine one or more of the signals into a digital packet, and transmit the same over a network. Each channel in the telemetry system can include a sample-and-hold circuit, a variable resistor circuit, and a control element. The sample-and-hold circuit is configured to hold a sample of a signal. The variable resistor circuit is configured to present a variable impedance to one or more signal lines during a time period designated for the channel an impedance representative of the sample held by the sample-and-hold circuit.

Abstract: A telemetry system is described in which a plurality of channels are coupled to a bus. A control subsystem controls the channels so that one of the channels presents to the bus during its designated time period a channel characteristic. The control subsystem interrogates in the analog domain each of the channels during its designated time period, and forms a signal representative of the channel characteristic. The control subsystem may combine one or more of the signals into a digital packet, and transmit the same over a network.

Abstract: A telemetry system is described in which a plurality of channels are coupled to a bus. A control subsystem controls the channels so that one of the channels presents to the bus during its designated time period a channel characteristic. The control subsystem interrogates in the analog domain each of the channels during its designated time period, and forms a signal representative of the channel characteristic. The control subsystem may combine one or more of the signals into a digital packet, and transmit the same via transceiver over a wireless network. The channels may be contained within a submersible enclosure and displaced at intervals along the bus, thereby forming an array for monitoring waterborne threats. The array may lie along an ocean floor, may be towed by a marine vehicle, or may suspended from a deployable buoy containing the control subsystem, transceiver, and a remote power source. The array may further comprise a defensive countermeasure deployable responsive to detecting a threat.

Abstract: A telemetry system is described in which a plurality of channels are coupled to a bus. A control subsystem controls the channels so that one of the channels presents to the bus during its designated time period a channel characteristic. The control subsystem interrogates in the analog domain each of the channels during its designated time period, and forms a signal representative of the channel characteristic. The control subsystem may combine one or more of the signals into a digital packet, and transmit the same via transceiver over a wireless network. The channels may be contained within a submersible enclosure and displaced at intervals along the bus, thereby forming an array for monitoring waterborne threats. The array may lie along an ocean floor, may be towed by a marine vehicle, or may suspended from a deployable buoy containing the control subsystem, transceiver, and a remote power source. The array may further comprise a defensive countermeasure deployable responsive to detecting a threat.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining the positioning of volumetric detection array lines. In the case of a sonar array, ultrasonic frequencies are used. Transmitter subsystems including ceramic transducers, and sensors such as hydrophones, are deployed on the lines of the array and code division multiple access (CDMA) type pseudo-random numbers are used to identify each transmitter. Transit times between transducers and sensors, as determined by detector electronics, are sent to a ship-board receiver in any of various formats, so that array line position can be determined.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for discriminating digital data received from a plurality of spatially distinct acoustic sensing nodes of a distributed undersea optical surveillance system. The present invention advantageously employs Code Division Multiplexing (CDM), which is a synchronous variation of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), to communicate a plurality of digital data bit-streams from the nodes to a common location remote therefrom. The inventive system generates at the remote location a pseudo-random reference signal that functions as a carrier for communicating sensed acoustic data from the nodes to the remote location. Using the known spatial relationship between the nodes and the remote location and the pseudo-random reference signal, the present invention operatively synchronizes correlators at the remote location to receive and differentiate data from the various individual nodes.