Abstract: An infrared sensor system technique for fusing sensor outputs for display to a user, including sensor outputs from an internetted system.

Abstract: A hybrid microelectronic circuit formed from two or more chips of different electronic materials and having a preformed barrier layer having at least a nanostructured plastic/ceramic layer between the chips and preferably including a thin layer of an aerogel also.

Abstract: A nanoporous semiconductor material and fabrication technique for use as rmoelectric elements. Starting precursors are mixed in solution so as to thoroughly dissolve in solution which is then reduced. A second phase may be added in solution to provide nanoinclusions which may be subsequently removed. A nanoporous semiconductor is formed whereby lattice thermal conductivity is greatly reduced, due to enhanced phonon scattering on the order of 10 W/cm.multidot..degree.K. The nanoporous semiconductor material may be used as the n- and p- legs in a Peltier couple utilized for a thermoelectric cooler, a cryogenic cooler, thermoelectric power generator, or a thermoelectric heat pump.

Abstract: A technique for forming from staring precursors at the molecular level, a sultant thermoelectric material with a reduced thermal conductivity. All staring precursors are dissolved in solution, reduced to remove oxygen, and then combined into a single solution to yield specific stoichiometric ratios. A sol and then a gel is formed, which supercritical solvent extraction is performed upon so as to yield a material having two level porosity and a maximum of a factor of three reduction in thermal conductivity.

Abstract: An automotive air conditioning system utilizes environmentally safe gases as the working fluid for a Stirling cycle refrigeration unit. The Stirling cycle refrigeration unit includes a compressor housing and an expander housing. A first heat transfer fluid circulation system removes heat from the compressor housing and expels it to the ambient atmosphere. A second heat transfer fluid circulation system removes heat from the automotive interior and expels it to the expander housing. Each of the compressor housing and the expander housing contains an equal number of cylinders. Respective cylinders in the compressor housing and the expander housing are fluidically connected to one another; and the reciprocal movement of pistons disposed in these respective cylinders is maintained in a specified phase relationship.

Abstract: A nanoporous semiconductor material and fabrication technique for use as thermoelectric elements. Starting precursors are mixed in solution so as to thoroughly dissolve in solution which is then reduced. A second phase may be added in solution to provide nanoinclusions which may be subsequently removed. A nanoporous semiconductor is formed whereby lattice thermal conductivity is greatly reduced, due to enhanced phonon scattering on the order of 10 W/cm.multidot..degree.K. The nanoporous semiconductor material may be used as the n- and p- legs in a Peltier couple utilized for a thermoelectric cooler, a cryogenic cooler, thermoelectric power generator, or a thermoelectric heat pump.

Abstract: A cryogenic cooler system which allows continuous and uninterrupted cooling ithin the system with minimized moving parts. A compressor assembly is included with more than one compressor so that at any one time, one of the compressors is active so as to provide a working gas pressure modulated by piston action. An expander assembly includes an expander associated with each compressor where working gas pressure expansion from the active compressor is expanded within. A conduit line couples each compressor to each expander for working gas connection between each compressor and respective expander. Heat pipe is coupled at one end to each expander for the transfer a coolant fluid to a cooling plate which includes a temperature sensor. Thermal switches within each of the heat pipes control coolant fluid flow to allow the activation of another heat pipe and associated compressor when failure of the currently operating compressor occurs.

Abstract: An environmentally safe cooling system employing a non-freon base Stirling cycle cooler whereby a collant is cooled in a heat exchanger, circulated to a remote location to a set of refrigeration coils (over which air is circulated) and subsequently recirculated to the heat exchanger for removal of the coolant absorbed heat to repeat the cycle.

Abstract: An Aided Target Recognition System (ATR) is provided wherein the recognit abilities of two ATR sensor subsystems with mutually exclusive false alarm characteristics are fused by a decision circuit to provide an improved false alarm rate versus the probability of target detection. The sensors, which respond to different types of radiation, have different false alarm patterns for the same set of targets and a decision circuit which contains logical function elements to exploit the difference in these patterns.

Abstract: The invention provides adaptive modules which combine with an aided target ecognizer ATR to program or reprogram its circuitry while detecting existing targets. The signatures thus derived are more likely to produce accurate target classifications than the mathematically derived algorithms currently used. To insure accuracy during this programming a human observer is included in the network loops provided by the modules and provided with overriding decision capability.

Abstract: The disclosure is a dual controlled linear resonance cryogenic cooler and comprised of a remote cold finger and a compressor, both driven by linear motors. A motor control means is used with the linear motors to drive both motors with a phase delay of the cold finger motor from that of the compressor motor such that the compressor linear motor alternately drives a piston to produce alternating pressure waves in a light cooling gas in working relation with a regenerator-displacer in the remote cold finger and the cold finger linear motor has a delayed phase relationship with the compressor linear motor. The use of linear motors which are slightly out of phase with each other selectively provides flat top and bottom dead center with constant linear increases and decreases therebetween for the compressor piston to follow and to eliminate the normal side forces of the piston that cause excessive wear.

Abstract: A means for producing an optimized cooler expander waveform for a closed le cryogenic cooler. The cooler displacer is driven by magnetic and spring biasing means through four repeated phases of each cycle to produce four portions of the optimized cooler waveform in which each portion takes up about 25% of the total cycle. The portions are comprised of a constant velocity in opposite direction and dwell times with smoothed corner transitions between each portion. Control means for controlling the displacer movement to produce the specific waveform may be provided by a function generator applying the desired waveform into a displacer control drive circuit which has as a second input a sensory signal of the actual position of the displacer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal coupling assembly between the cold fin of a cryogenic cooler and a dewar enclosed detector for use at infrared and far infrared frequencies. The coupling provides excellent thermal coupling without solid or even liquid contact between the cold finger and the detector, so that no strain or vibration is transmitted therebetween.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal coupling assembly between the cold fin of a cryogenic cooler and a dewar enclosed detector for use at infrared and far infrared frequencies. The coupling provides excellent thermal coupling without solid or even liquid contact between the cold finger and the detector, so that no strain or vibration is transmitted therebetween.

Abstract: A Stirling Cooler with a three stage cold finger. The finger includes a sped displacer in a stepped cylinder. The cylinder is loosely surrounded by an outer shell, with regenerator material in the space between the outer shell and the cylinder. The displacer-cylinder define three swept expansion spaces each communicating with the regenerator space. Clearance seals exist between the displacer and the cylinder because of small diametrical clearance and long axial length with respect to the diametrical clearance.

Abstract: The invention provides an elastic interface between a cooler dewar and an electronic cold finger which utilizes multitudinous conduction paths consisting of specialized bent fibers.

Abstract: A low void volume regenerator for use in a Vuilleumier Cooler made by bong alternating thin layers of copper and teflon and cutting radial slots into the regenerator.