Abstract: A micro-electro-pyrotechnic energy-harvesting apparatus to harvest an incidental portion of a propellant energy utilized when a munition is fired freeing a magnet to strike an impact pin that strains a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element generates a collected voltage, which triggers a pyrotechnic initiator that, on activation, produces a straining force on a plurality of stacks of piezoelectric elements. The strained piezoelectric elements, in turn, generate a high voltage output sufficient to ignite the munition's explosive material. The apparatus may be quite small, for example, the cross-sectional size of a pen, which is about one centimeter, yet suitable for generating an electrical ignition of the explosive material.

Abstract: An initiator system includes a firing pin and a piezoelectric-based energy harvester that generates and stores electric energy when impacted by the firing pin. The electric energy is independently available at a first output and second output of the energy harvester. An electronic time delay is coupled to the second output for generation of an electric trigger signal using the electric energy available at the second output. The electric trigger signal is generated at a selected period of time after the electric energy is available at the second output. An initiation-energy generator is coupled to the first output for the storage of electric energy available thereof. The initiation-energy generator is also coupled to the electronic time delay to receive the electric trigger signal, and uses stored electric energy to generate an initiation explosion when the electric trigger signal is received.

Abstract: An apparatus used in a fuze device, which includes a MEMS micro-rotor. The micro-rotor of the apparatus may move an explosive material, for example, a fuze material, from an out-of-line position to an in-line position. The micro-rotor includes an integral cavity in which the material may be safely loaded and held in the out-of-line position. At an appropriate time, the fuze device of a fully assembled ordnance may be armed. When the apparatus is activated, the micro-rotor carefully moves the explosive material to the in-line position, where the ordnance is armed.

Abstract: A system and method for testing a set top box includes a test manager module in communication with the set top box having a test script including a bitstream. A bitstream player in communication with the test manager module receives the bitstream and communicates the bitstream to the set top box. The test manager module receives a screen image from the set top box that is generated in response to the bitstream. An optical character recognition module performs optical character recognition to obtain a test text string from the screen image. The test manager module compares the test text string with an expected text string. A report module generates a report in response to comparing.