Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing contiguous spot beam communications coverage on the Earth's surface are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an antenna system including two wide scan antennas and two narrow scan antennas. The two wide scan antennas are disposed substantially opposite each other, and the two narrow scan antennas are disposed substantially opposite each other and substantially normal to the wide scan antennas. The first wide scan antenna, second wide scan antenna, and first narrow scan antenna produce a first beam pattern on a planetary surface and the first wide scan antenna, second wide scan antenna, and second narrow scan antenna produce a second beam pattern on the planetary surface.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided with synthesized transmit focus. Several beams are transmitted, each with a different transmit focus. Echoes received from the differently focused beams are combined to form a scanline with an extended focus. The echoes are preferably weighted and/or phase adjusted prior to being combined. Combining is performed in the r.f. domain before nonlinear processing of the signals such as amplitude detection. The resultant extended focus scanline exhibits the property of dynamic transmit focusing.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method are provided for producing r.f. interpolated image lines with reduced susceptibility to motion artifacts. A multiline beamformer receives multiple scanlines in response to each transmitted beam. Image lines are produced by r.f. interpolation of these multiline scanlines in a temporally consistent manner. In an illustrated embodiment, each image line is produced by tle interpolation of scanlines produced in response to at least two transmitted beams. In a preferred embodiment the interpolated image lines are produced by a [1 2 1] lateral filter.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of and a device for adjusting the concavity of a springback antenna reflector. The method and device of the present invention can be used to adjust the concavity of the springback reflector prior to stowage within a satellite to correct actual or anticipated variations in the desired shape of reflector that are caused by storage of the reflector, fabrication of the reflector, thermal effects on the reflector, and moisture absorption by the material from which the reflector is fabricated. By adjusting the concavity of the reflector to correct the variations in the shape of the reflector, degradation of the performance of the reflector due to distortions in the shape of the reflector may be greatly reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for interpolating image lines from ultrasonically obtained scanlines of an image region. The interpolated lines are preferably formed one-quarter and three-quarters of the distance between each pair of received scanlines by combining weighted samples of the adjacent scanlines in proportion to their distances from the interpolated lines. The received scanlines are preferably formed by a beamformer which samples the received lines at quadrature phases of the scanhead center frequency and filters the samples by combining successive samples of a related phase. The image lines are scan converted by computing a grid of weighted values between each pair of image lines, and using the closest value for each pixel in the ultrasound image.

Abstract: Discrete carrier and lattice structures are bonded together to form a lightweight rigid solar panel. The carrier includes a pair of electrically inert face sheets bonded on opposite sides of a thin thermoconductive honeycomb core. The face sheets provide an electrically inert surface for receiving a solar cell array and the honeycomb core forms a heat sink for conducting heat away from the solar cell array. The lattice includes a pair of patterned face sheets having a high elastic modulus bonded on opposite sides of a lattice base. The patterned face sheets provide axial stiffness and the lattice base separates them to provide bending stiffness. By splitting the solar panel into discrete carrier and lattice components, the present invention reduces the weight of existing solar panels by approximately 40% and increases power efficiency by approximately 10%.

Abstract: A method for stowing a unitary flexible antenna reflector 10 in a confining envelope and deploying the reflector from the envelope. In a most general sense, the invention includes the steps of: a) applying a deforming force to diametrically opposed positions 16 and 18 near an edge of the reflector 10 to place the reflector in a deformed state; b) maintaining the reflector 10 in the deformed state until deployment; and c) releasing the reflector 10 from the deformed state. In a specific embodiment, the step of maintaining the reflector 10 in a deformed state includes the step of attaching a restraining element between the diametrically opposed positions on the edge of the reflector which is released on deployment.

Abstract: A laminated curtain wall panel is prepared by continuously disposing foam boards onto adhesively coated gypsum sheathing followed by a third layer consisting of a reinforcing mesh and a cementitious binder, as the product progresses on a conveyor. The laminated product is erected by screws which are forced through the panel by a screw gun which disposes the screw head firmly against the gypsum sheathing.

Abstract: A laminated curtain wall panel is prepared by continuously disposing foam boards onto adhesively coated gypsum sheathing followed by a third layer consisting of a reinforcing mesh and a cementitious binder, as the product progresses on a conveyor. The laminated product is erected by screws which are forced through the panel by a screw gun which disposes the screw head firmly against the gypsum sheathing.

Abstract: A spacecraft specifically adapted for launch from the space shuttle by means of a cradle having locking and ejection mechanisms mounted therein. The cradle fastens into the payload bay of the space shuttle and returns therewith for reuse in subsequent launches. The spacecraft mounts at three points to the cradle, and the cradle mounts at three points to the shuttle such that a plane through the attachment points passes through the roll axis of the spacecraft at approximately the center of mass thereof. The cradle utilizes the truss structure of the spacecraft to produce the required stiffness by providing a structural tie between the two ends and the bottom of the cradle. At launch, the spacecraft is ejected with both linear and angular momentum, the spin providing gyroscopic stability. The locking mechanisms in the cradle can be remotely controlled to relock the spacecraft to the cradle in the event of an unsuccessful deployment attempt.