Abstract:
An inertial delay mechanism for use in an explosive projectile is provided. The delay mechanism consists of an inertial delay fuse that is precise, doesn't require sensitive primary explosives and doesn't utilize electronic circuitry. The inertial delay fuse includes a free sliding charge element that strikes an anvil located opposite to the sliding charge element. A delay gap is provided between the sliding charge element and the anvil. Upon impact, the sliding charge element slides forward and impacts the anvil, thereby inducing a shock wave in an initiator charge that subsequently results in detonation of main charges. The design is mechanically simple and robust enough to withstand severe g-loading forces that occur during firing and penetration of a projectile.
Abstract:
A system and method for selecting an optimal frequency channel to communicate on in a wireless network is disclosed. The optimal frequency is selected from a predefined set of frequencies for all nodes to communicate on based on an exposure calculation. All underlay nodes collect initial SNR information from initial detection of other nodes and adjust their transmit power for an intended receiver such that the signal is received at the lowest allowable underlay-to-overlay power ratio, thus minimizing exposure. The desired underlay-to-overlay ratio is set based on how much we are capable of cancelling the overlay signal and the SINR at which a signal can be recovered such that the data can be successfully received from the underlay node. The optimal channel selected by this algorithm is the one with the least area of undesired exposure, or least probability of interfering with the primary user. The performance increases as a function of number of nodes, or data points.
Abstract:
An apparatus for optical spectrometry utilizes a simplified construction, reducing the number of independent optical elements needed while providing a sizeable dispersed spectrum. The apparatus provides a spectral intensity distribution of an input source wherein individual spectral components in the source can be measured and, in some embodiments, can be manipulated or filtered.
Abstract:
An error correction decoding (ECC) processing scheme is disclosed that reduces computational complexity normally associated with multiuser detection (e.g., TurboMUD) solutions, without causing degradation in quality of service or decreasing the total throughput. Error correction decoding algorithms are applied only to portions of the estimates that were affected by the immediately previous MUD update process. Even though the MUD and/or ECC updating is targeted so as to reduce complexity of each iteration, all of the estimates are maintained and remain candidates for future updates. As such, there is no negative impact real-time or future performance. This targeting approach can be used in conjunction with many variations of MUD, including full-complexity or reduced complexity, and may include MUD with confidence ordering or voting, and other techniques for facilitating efficient and effective MUD processing.
Abstract:
A QWIP structure is disclosed that is configured with enhanced optical coupling to improve absorption capability and efficiency. A waffle-type light-coupling grating having a pattern of etched holes operates to improve absorption by preventing photons from bouncing out of the detector sensing areas. A post-type light coupling grating can also be used. Parameters of the grating, including its orientation, pitch, and etch depth, can be adjusted to optimize specific color detection. The grating can include a hybrid metal layer including both ohmic and reflective qualities to further improve quantum and conversion efficiency. A nullphoton-in-a-boxnull configuration is also disclosed, where sides of the QWIP sensing areas are coated with reflective metal to further inhibit the escaping of photons. The material design and number of quantum wells per QWIP can be selected so as to exploit the avalanche effect, thereby increasing device responsivity.
Abstract:
A single-event upset immune frequency divider circuit is disclosed. The single-event upset immune frequency divider circuit includes a dual-path shift register, a dual-path multiplexor, and a summing circuit. The dual-path shift register has a clock input, one signal input pair and multiple signal output pairs. The dual-path multiplexor has multiple signal input pairs and one output pair. The signal input pairs of the dual-path multiplexor are respectively connected to the signal output pairs of the dual-input shift register. The dual-path multiplexor selects one of the signal output pairs of the dual-path shift register for feeding back into the signal input pair of the dual-path shift register. The summing circuit then sums the signal input pair of the dual-path shift register to generate an output clock signal that is a fraction of the frequency of an input clock signal at the clock input of the dual-path shift register.
Abstract:
An integrated resistor includes a resistor body region and a resistor contact region that is aligned with the body region. Because the resistor includes an aligned body and contact, it often occupies a smaller area than prior integrated resistors having a similar resistance value. A method for forming such a resistor is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A sample and hold amplifier output buffer with the low leakage of metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFET) combined with the linearity and dynamic range of silicon-germanium (SiGe) bipolar junction transistors (BJT). In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a sample and hold amplifier output buffer placing a MOSFET input device between the base and emitter of a high linearity SiGe BJT.
Abstract:
A secure system includes a data port, a network on chip (NoC) module, a processor communicatively coupled to the NoC module, a communication interface operatively coupled to the processor and to the data port, an electronic field-programmable gate array (eFPGA) configuration module operatively coupled to the NoC module, and a clock operatively coupled to the NoC module. In a first modality, the communication interface is at least partially disabled. In a second modality, the communication interface is at least partially disabled, boundary scan operations are disabled, a RESET signal is held in a constant state, and/or redacted code is rendered inoperable. In a third modality, the communication interface is at least partially enabled to send and receive commands and data via the data port, the boundary scan operations are enabled, the RESET signal is not held in the constant state, and/or the redacted code is operable.
Abstract:
A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal authentication methodology includes receiving, by one or more processors, a first digital signal and a second digital signal, the first digital signal and the second digital signal each representative of a GNSS satellite signal received from a GNSS satellite and including a ranging code that uniquely identifies the GNSS satellite, the first and second GNSS satellite signals transmitted contemporaneously from physically separate antennas onboard the GNSS satellite. The methodology continues with computing, by the one or more processors, a digital fingerprint based on the first digital signal and the second digital signal, and determining, by the one or more processors, that the first GNSS satellite signal and the second GNSS satellite signal are authentic (or not) based on the digital fingerprint. If the first and/or second GNSS satellite signals are found to not be authentic, remedial action may be taken.