Abstract: A device and method that creates linear motion or acceleration of fine particles and molecules are described. The device includes a plurality of ring electrodes arranged along an axis so that a cylindrical harmonic field is formed when electrical voltage is applied separately to each ring of the plurality of rings cylindrical harmonic field. A method of driving gaseous molecules and nanoparticles in linear motion by operating a device that includes a plurality of ring electrodes arranged along an axis. The method includes providing gaseous molecules or nanoparticles in a high vacuum environment, applying an electrical voltage to each ring of the plurality of rings to form a cylindrical harmonic field that includes a drift axis, and aligning and accelerating the gaseous molecules or nanoparticles along the drift axis for storage, pumping out, or separation of the gaseous molecules or nanoparticles.

Abstract: A tiny and portable micro-spectrometer deployable in a bullet-like form that is inexpensive to the point that it can even be disposable is described. The device is based on the micro-spectrometer that uses the Fresnel diffraction principle that allows a tiny implementation with a nanometer resolving power of spectral signal. A bullet-like micro-spectrometer has an integration of a super capacitor as a power source, a charging coil for the super capacitor, an LED or laser diode light source and driver, an analog to digital converter (ADC) circuit, and a telemetry system with antenna string. An LED or laser diode runs in a burst mode to generate deep or vacuum UV to excite target material. When the excited state of target material undergoes a singlet or triplet transition, this transition process yields fluorescence or luminescence which is a material-dependent. The micro-spectrometer senses and uses this spectral emission from material to identify the spectral signature of the targeted material.

Abstract: A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow control mechanism is described which substantially improves the existing processes in that smaller magnetic fields, requiring far less mass, may be placed away from the forebody of the spacecraft to produce Lorentz forces that augment the lift and the drag forces for guidance, navigation, and control of the spacecraft. The MHD flow control mechanism may also be configured to provide additional thermal protection of the electrodes therein.

Abstract: A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow control mechanism is described which substantially improves the existing processes in that smaller magnetic fields, requiring far less mass, are placed away from the forebody of the spacecraft to produce Lorentz forces that augment the lift and the drag forces for guidance, navigation, and control of the spacecraft.

Abstract: A cooling system and method for Nuclear Thermionic Avalanche Cells (NT A Cs) Through cooling channels disposed within layers of the NTAC. The NTAC uses gamma ray radiations and/or energetic electrons which are emanated from the decay processes of radioactive materials 5 and operates continuously. The cooling system and method maximizes energy output of current NTAC devices, alleviates thermal loading issues inside a NTAC. The cooling system and method may also include radiative means for dissipating thermal energy, or in other embodiments capture thermal energy from a NTAC in addition to electrical energy generated by NTACs. Cooling channels are disposed within the layers of a NTAC and joined to a fluid and/or gas flow control system through top and bottom structures which incorporate cooling channels and allow fluid and/or gas to flow through the layers of a NT AC.

Abstract: A photo-catalyst (Ep) is regarded as an alternate method to replace the plasma chemical process and as an additional catalytic processing scheme on top of a micro- or nano-structured catalyst (Ec) and electro-catalyst (Ev). The potential energy reduction that results from the effect of photo-enhanced electro-catalyst (PEEC) is significant.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system including a nuclear thermal rocket or a nuclear reactor, at least one nuclear electric thruster coupled to the nuclear thermal rocket or the nuclear reactor, and a Nuclear Thermionic Avalanche Cell (NTAC) configured to generate electrical power. The NTAC cell may be positioned around a nuclear reactor core of the nuclear thermal rocket or the nuclear reactor, and the nuclear electric thruster may be powered by the NTAC generated electrical power.

Abstract: A modified Nuclear Thermionic Avalanche Cell (NTAC) to reduce back-scatter losses of avalanche electrons emitted by a NTAC. The present invention provides a novel topological surface configuration for electron collector layers in NTAC devices. Sawtooth configurations of the surface configurations of electron collector layers allow for the recapture of back-scattered electrons, increasing the efficiency of NTAC devices as well as reducing thermal loading and increasing NTAC efficiency.

Abstract: A digitally-controlled analog gain circuit supports a plurality of gain settings in which gain changes are made from a first setting to a new setting in response to a clocking signal. Large changes in gain are interpolated in small gain steps or increments. The clocking signal can be generated by an oscillator, or as a sequence of pulses output by a zero crossing detector. The gain circuit can apply positive gain to the signal. Alternatively, the gain circuit can apply a negative gain (attenuation) to the signal. The clocking signal can be provided in a pseudo-randomized manner to minimize unwanted signal effects such as discernable sound transients.

Abstract: A digitally-controlled analog gain circuit supports at plurality of gain settings in which gain changes are made from a first setting to a new setting in response to a clocking signal of a non-uniform rate. The non-uniform rate clocking signal can be created pseudo randomly by applying a periodic sequence of clock pulses to a linear feedback shift register. Alternatively, the non-uniform rate clock signal can be created by applying a noise source to a phase detector input of a phase locked loop. The clocking signal can be generated by an oscillator, or as a sequence of pulses output by a zero crossing detector. Finally, the gain circuit can apply positive gain to the signal. Alternatively, the gain circuit can apply a negative gain (attenuation) to the signal.

Abstract: A digitally-controlled analog gain circuit supports a plurality of gain settings in which gain changes are made from a first setting to a new setting in response to a clocking signal. Large changes in gain are interpolated in small gain steps or increments. The clocking signal can be generated by an oscillator, or as a sequence of pulses output by a zero crossing detector. The gain circuit can apply positive gain to the signal. Alternatively, the gain circuit can apply a negative gain (attenuation) to the signal. The clocking signal can be provided in a pseudo-randomized manner to minimize unwanted signal effects such as discernable sound transients.

Abstract: A digitally-controlled analog gain circuit supports at plurality of gain settings in which gain changes are made from a first setting to a new setting in response to a clocking signal of a non-uniform rate. The non-uniform rate clocking signal can be created pseudo randomly by applying a periodic sequence of clock pulses to a linear feedback shift register. Alternatively, the non-uniform rate clock signal can be created by applying a noise source to a phase detector input of a phase locked loop. The clocking signal can be generated by an oscillator, or as a sequence of pulses output by a zero crossing detector. Finally, the gain circuit can apply positive gain to the signal. Alternatively, the gain circuit can apply a negative gain (attenuation) to the signal.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for monitoring performance capacity of a piezoelectric material that may form part of an actuator or sensor device. A switch is used to selectively electrically couple an inductor to the piezoelectric material to form an inductor-capacitor circuit. Resonance is induced in the inductor-capacitor circuit when the switch is operated to create the circuit. The resonance of the inductor-capacitor circuit is monitored with the frequency of the resonance being indicative of performance capacity of the device's piezoelectric material.

Abstract: The foregoing problems are solved and a technical advance is achieved by a computer-implemented system for providing a digital watermark in an audio signal. In a preferred embodiment, a audio file, such as a .WAV file, representing an audio signal to be watermarked is preprocessed using an algorithm of the present invention herein referred to as the “PAWS algorithm” to determine and log the location and number of opportunities that exist for inserting a watermark into the audio signal such that it will be masked by the audio signal. The user can adjust certain parameters of the PAWS algorithm before the audio file is processed. A/B/X testing between the original and watermarked files is also supported to allow the user to undo or re-encode the watermark, if desired.

Abstract: A signal processing system comprises inputs for an analog audio signal and a digital data signal. The digital data signal is modulated to an analog data signal in an inaudible frequency band. Filters are used to ensure that the audio signal is restricted to audible frequencies and that the analog data signal is restricted to inaudible frequencies. The two analog signals are then combined into a composite analog signal. The composite signal is stored on a medium such as a compact disc. Filters are used to extract and separate the two analog signals from the composite signal stored on the medium. The analog data signal is demodulated to retrieve the original digital data signal.

Abstract: A direct power output digital to analog conversion of digital audio signals operates to directly convert digital audio signals into an analog power audio output signal capable of driving a speaker, such that there is no need for further amplification or modification of the audio output signal after the direct power output digital to analog conversion of the digital audio signals. The direct power output digital to analog conversion incorporates a digital-to-analog converter within the same feedback circuit as a current-to-voltage power amplifier by using a single resistive feedback network to supply the feedback signal from the output terminal of the current-to-voltage power amplifier to the summing junction of the same current-to-voltage power amplifier.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for a digital audio system to reconstruct a digital audio signal using time domain interpolation and direct power digital-to-analog conversion. A signal processor performs the time domain interpolation on an original digital audio signal to allow for the proper recreation of the original audio signal and a direct power output digital-to-analog converter generates an analog power audio output signal from the interpolated digital audio signal that can directly drive a speaker to produce the sound waves represented by the audio output signal. The signal processor and direct power output digital-to-analog converter allow a digital audio system to more precisely reconstruct an analog power output audio signal from a digital audio signal such that there is no need for further amplification of the audio output signal and such that there will be no perceptible difference between the reconstructed digital signal and the original analog signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for the domain interpolation of digital audio signals includes a signal processor apparatus to reconstruct the digital audio signal. The signal processor apparatus includes a receiver for receiving a digital audio signal, a decoder for demodulating the signal, a central processing unit for performing a time domain interpolation on the decoded signal to produce an interpolated data signal having an increased sampling rate over the digital audio signal, and a digital-to-analog converter for converting the interpolated data signal into an analog output signal that may be transmitted to an amplifier for output through a speaker. The signal processor apparatus achieves an oversampling rate and digital to analog conversion that will allow a digital audio system to more precisely reconstruct an analog audio signal from a digital audio signal such that there will be no perceptible difference between the reconstructed digital signal and the original analog signal.

Abstract: A valve cleaning machine consisting of a cabinet in which are mounted a plurality of jet nozzles adapted to eject compressed air jets containing granular abrasive material, each adapted to clean a given peripheral portion of an automotive engine valve. The valves to be cleaned are mounted in a rotating carousel so that each valve is presented sequentially to each of the nozzles, and the valves are rotated in the carousel to insure that the entire periphery of each valve is presented to each nozzle. The nozzles may be operated simultaneously if sufficient compressed air capacity is available, or one at a time in sequence if only a lesser compressed air capacity is available. The polished bearing surfaces of the valve stems are protected from the abrasive air blasts, and provision is made for alternative use of the device for cleaning single hand-held objects when desired.