Abstract:
A method of fabricating a membrane structure for a diffractive phased array assembly is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a wafer having a body and at least a membrane layer and a backside layer disposed on opposite faces of the body, forming a grating pattern on a surface of the membrane layer, and forming a window through the wafer to expose a back surface of the membrane, thereby allowing light to pass through the membrane.
Abstract:
An aircraft device power supply is capable of connecting to either an AC or a DC power bus provided on an aircraft. When connected to an aircraft's AC power bus, an AC power signal is EMI-filtered, stepped down in voltage to the same voltage as that of the DC power bus, and then rectified. When connected to an aircraft's DC power bus, a DC power signal is EMI-filtered before it is merged with the rectified AC power signal via an AC/DC switchover subcircuit. The output of the AC/DC switchover subcircuit is input to a power factor correction subcircuit which outputs a boosted DC voltage, regardless of which of the AC or DC aircraft power buses is connected to the power supply. A step down converter reduces the boosted DC voltage to a lower, system voltage which may then be further reduced or modified, as appropriate for device to be powered.
Abstract:
A total air temperature probe includes an inlet through which airflow enters a primary airflow passage through the probe. A sensor flow passage is connected to the primary flow passage. Bleed ports extend between the primary airflow passage and a cross-port which extends laterally across the probe. An aspiration aperture in the cross-port couples the cross-port to an internal cavity of a strut of the probe. The aspiration aperture can be centered within the cross-port to provide symmetrical deicing heater error behavior of the probe during changes in angle of attack. An aspiration tube couples the internal cavity of the probe to a pressure source.
Abstract:
A metallization layer that consists of a tantalum layer located on the component, a tantalum silicide layer located on the tantalum layer, and a platinum silicide layer located on the tantalum silicide layer. In another embodiment the invention is a component having a metallization layer on the component. In another embodiment, the metallization layer has a post-annealing adhesive strength to silicon of at least about 100 MPa as measured by a mechanical shear test after exposure to a temperature of about 600°C for about 30 minutes, and the metallization layer remains structurally intact after exposure to a temperature of about 600°C for about 1000 hours. The metallization is useful for bonding with brazing alloys.
Abstract:
A wide field scanning laser obstacle awareness system (LOAS) for use on-board an aircraft (228) is provided. The LOAS serves for alerting an operator of obstacles (38,80,82,84,216) posing a risk of collision with said aircraft. The system comprising:
a light source (10,12) for generating a pulsed laser beam of light; a light detector (22); a plurality of optical elements (16) for directing said pulsed laser beam from said system with a predetermined pattern (74) scanned azimuthally over a wide field, said plurality of optical elements also for receiving reflections of said pulsed laser beam from at least one object along said predetermined pattern and directing said laser beam reflections to said light detector.
The predetermined pattern includes a variation in elevation of the directed pulsed laster beam in relation to an elevation of the aircraft. Additionally, the system has means (130) for determining substantially the azimuth position of the directed pulsed laser beam, means (114) for determining substantially the elevation of the directed pulsed laser beam, and a display apparatus (154) including an image screen for displaying a limited field of view, wherein the wide field of view of the system extends substantially beyond the field of view of the image screen. A processor means (88) is coupled to said light detector, display apparatus, azimuth position determining means and elevation determining means for determining the location of the at least one object in range, azimuth and elevation in relation to a flight path of the aircraft. The processor means drives the display apparatus to display an indication representing the at least one object in range, azimuth and elevation. The indication of the at least one object comprises an image of a bar. The bar image (218,220) is disposed vertically at the far left of the screen of the display apparatus when the object location is azimuthally outside the field of view of the display apparatus to the left, and the bar image is disposed vertically at the far right of the screen of the display apparatus when the object location is azimuthally outside the field of view of the display apparatus to the right.
Abstract:
A sensor for detecting icing conditions in an airstream includes a flow housing (12,80) mounted on an aircraft (10) and in which one or more probes (34,38,60,92) are mounted. At least one of the probes (34,92) is subjected to impingement of the airstream and liquid moisture droplets in such airstream. The heat removal, or cooling effect on the probe (34,92) in the airstream carrying liquid droplets is determined. A temperature signal indicating the airstream temperature is combined with signals from the at least one probe (34,92) for determining whether or not icing conditions are present.
Abstract:
A block arrangement of optical elements is provided for use as a transmitter/receiver for a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system. The block arrangement comprises:
a plurality of glass modules aligned together as a block to form a plurality of optical paths therein and secured together to maintain said alignment; a collimated light source secured to said block for generating a coherent beam of light over at least one optical path in said block which guides said coherent beam of light to an exit point of said block; and a light detector secured to said block.
The block serves for receiving a return coherent beam of light and is configured to conduct said return coherent beam of light to the light detector over at least one other optical path formed in said block.
Abstract:
A method of detecting a combustion chemical in a region and setting an alarm based on concentration levels of the combustion chemical comprises the steps of: monitoring the region for a combustion chemical with a sensor having a measurable parameter which changes in value proportional to concentration levels of the monitored combustion chemical, the measurable parameter being ambient temperature dependent; generating an ambient temperature measurement of the sensor; reading the measurable parameter and ambient temperature measurement; processing the measurable parameter and ambient temperature measurement readings to generate a temperature compensated concentration level of the monitored combustion chemical; and setting an alarm based on the generated temperature compensated concentration level. A fire detector unit for implementing the foregoing described method is also disclosed.