Abstract:
Techniques enabling electronic control of propagation constant associated with meanderline loaded antennas and phased arrays are disclosed. An activation layer can be electronically stimulated to change its characteristics (e.g., capacitance or shape) so as to enable the control independent of antenna operating frequency.
Abstract:
A method of operating a multi-level security system including the steps of providing a plurality of processors (54, 60, 68, 69). At least some of said processors (54, 60) are equipped with a data card (56, 62) which permits simultaneous processing of different classification levels (58, 64) of information and the dynamic reallocation of processors to different classification levels.
Abstract:
A dual mode seeker for intercepting a reentry vehicle or other target is disclosed. In one embodiment, the seeker is configured with an onboard 3D ladar system (120) coordinated with an onboard IR detection system (125), where both systems utilize a common aperture (105). The IR and ladar systems cooperate with a ground based reentry vehicle detection/tracking system (1005) for defining a primary target area coordinate and focusing the IR FOV thereon. The IR system obtains IR image data in the IR FOV. The ladar system initially transmits with a smaller laser FOV to illuminate possible targets, rapidly interrogating the IR FOV (Fig. 4c). The ladar system obtains data on each possible target to perform primary discrimination assessments. Data fusion is employed to resolve the possible targets as between decoys/clutter and a reentry vehicle. The laser FOV is expandable to the IR FOV (Fig. 4c). Robust and reliable discrimination is obtained at high altitudes.
Abstract:
A dual mode seeker for intercepting a reentry vehicle or other target is disclosed. In one embodiment, the seeker is configured with an onboard 3D ladar system coordinated with an onboard IR detection system, where both systems utilize a common aperture. The IR and ladar systems cooperate with a ground based reentry vehicle detection/tracking system for defining a primary target area coordinate and focusing the IR FOV thereon. The IR system obtains IR image data in the IR FOV. The ladar system initially transmits with a smaller laser FOV to illuminate possible targets, rapidly interrogating the IR FOV. The ladar system obtains data on each possible target to perform primary discrimination assessments. Data fusion is employed to resolve the possible targets as between decoys/clutter and a reentry vehicle. The laser FOV is expandable to the IR FOV. Robust and reliable discrimination is obtained at high altitudes.
Abstract:
A reconfigurable digital system for space includes the utilization of FPGA (fig. 2-3) ultilizing a hardware concentric approach to reconfigure software processors in a space vehicle (fig. 1) through the reprogramming of multiple FGPAs (fig. 2-3) such that one obtains power/performance characteristic for signal processing tasks that cannot be simply achieved through the use of off-the-self processors.
Abstract:
One aspect of the invention relates to a laser ranging system. In this version of the invention, a guided missile (10) is provided with laser (not shown) that directs laser radiation in the general direction of a target that is subsequently reflected from the target back to the missile. A receiving lens (101-104 or 616) is mounted on the missile that receives the reflected laser radiation. A ferrule (111-114) containing optical fibers divided into a plurality of pixels that receive the reflected laser radiation form the receiving lens, wherein each pixels that receive the reflected laser radiation from the receiving lens, wherein each pixel in the plurality of pixels is provided a different pointing angle by arranging the fibers within the pixel such that the centroid of the field of view of the fibers is different from the centroids of the field of views of the other fibers in the other pixels. A plurality of optical sensors (121A-D) coupled to the optical fibers, each optical sensor being dedicated to a separate pointing angle and adapted to generate an electrical signal whose amplitude is responsive to the amplitude of the reflected radiation for the pointing angle that the optical sensor is dedicated to.
Abstract:
A code enhanced, multi-user detection, reduced algorithm receiver in a multiuser communication system reduces the signal processing requirements by limiting the number of searches between consecutive symbol cycles using information from an encoder state diagram. The receiver makes use of a convolutional encoder's state machine properties to mark possible transitions as invalid based on the current state of the multiple users' encoders, thus removing them from the search tree. The reduced algorithm receiver (14) comprise a signal sampler (18) for converting a single composite waveform signal (Rx) to digitized composite signal (DRx), a parameter estimator for determining waveform characteristics of each of the multiple users, a memory for storing predetermined training sequences for each of the users, a next state predictor (24) that reduces the amount of symbols being checked during a current cycle, a waveform approximator that receives the user waveform characteristics data and a set of possible bits from the next state predictor (24) and attempts to simulate modulation of the individual user signal, a demodulator for comparing the set of possible composite waveforms ( ∼ Tx) from the waveforms approximator to the digitized composite waveforms (DRx) and determining the best match waveform, and a convolutional decoder (26) for receiving the best match symbols and decoding them for each of the users.
Abstract:
An integrated piezoelectric ultrasound array structure configured to minimize the effects of differential thermal expansion between the array and the integrated circuit and to improve the mechanical and acoustical integrity of the array. The transducer array may have an interposed thinned supporting substrate and is matched to the integrated circuit substrate for thermal expansion so as to retain mechanical integrity of the array/IC bond within the working temperature range. Transducer elements are laterally isolated acoustically and as to thermal expansion by air or other acoustically attenuating medium of lower elastic modulus material between the elements. Acoustical effects are vertically acoustically isolated with capacitive coupling and small area solder bumps relative to wavelength, and further laterally acoustically isolated by thin supporting substrates relative to wavelength, including thinned semiconductor integrated circuit substrates.
Abstract:
A transducer probe (300) has a fully populated, integrated, matrix array of acoustical transducers for ultrasound imaging, switchable in real time between two orthogonal 1.5D (84) or 1.75D (86) transducers arrays, consisting of tiled subarrays of transducers which may be switched in real time between vertical and horizontal strip arrays by integrated circuits directly attached to the subarrays, for performing a first level of transmit and receive beam forming functionality with either horizontal or vertical scanning. The integrated circuits include a summer circuit for reducing the output signals of each subarray to a single line, reducing the number of lines required in the cable or connection medium. An interface box (324) mates to a host system (270) and facilitates the switching and control function. Impedance matching in the integrated circuits between transducers and cable lines improves signal transmission in cables. Applications include medical imaging, materials testing and sonar systems.
Abstract:
A direct digital synthesizer (DDS) circuit. The circuit includes a first input to receive a first fixed frequency clock signal having a first frequency, a second input to receive a second fixed frequency clock signal having a second frequency lower than the first frequency, and an output to provide an output frequency that is based at least in part on a frequency control word (FCW). The DDS circuit may include a frequency correction circuit having a first input to receive the first clock signal, a second input to receive the second clock signal, and a third input to receive the FCW, and an output to provide a frequency error of the first clock signal, the frequency error determined using the second clock signal and FCW. Alternatively, or in addition to, the DDS circuit may include an all-digital phase lock loop to correct for frequency wander of the first clock signal.