Abstract: A compact, deployable support structure arrangement includes a collapsible truss structure having tension cable members formed of specifically configured tension tapes. These tension tapes diagonally cross one another as they extend between respective pairs of longeron support truss members. The tension tapes are preformed to have two straight sections joined together by a plurality of loops. Because of the nature of the topological surface defined by such shapes, the tapes, when relaxed, will automatically refold into a stable, non-tangled condition. The hinge joints that pivotally interconnect successive longeron subsections employ a novel, effectively zero-backlash, taper latch hinge mechanism. As the portions of the hinge are rotated about a pivot axis, a locking pin is caused to contact an outer cam surface of a hinge contact plate face so as to be driven against the bias action of a spring, and to travel along the outer cam surface.

Abstract: An optical measurement technique enables optical signal processing apparatus to eliminate the effects of environmental noise during scanning of a workpiece, wherein successive optical slices through the workpiece are obtained. The image samples derived by the scanning optics may not properly line up with one another, where there is relative vibrational motion between the workpiece and the scanning optics. To overcome this problem a reference marker/correlation scheme effectively aligns each of the picture slices of the workpiece relative to a stored reference marker by correlation, so that the composite of the adjacent samples of the stem accurately represents a picture of the workpiece.

Abstract: A defocus compensation linkage arrangement automatically corrects for the defocussing of the converging viewing lens onto a photodetector in a rotational optical scanning system wherein the distance between the photodetector and the source of the image varies during the rotational scan. This is achieved by a mechanical feed forward arrangement that effectively tracks the rotational movement of the scanner and continuously adjusts the distance between the lens system and the photodetector array as rotational movement proceeds. The defocus compensation linkage comprises a rotational-to-linear translator arrangement that responds to the rotation of the scanning optics about a fixed axis of rotation and moves the lens by an amount proportional to the changing distance between the image source and the photodetector array.