Abstract:
A spacecraft (10) having a cryogenic cooler (24) that maintains different temperatures in thermally insulated and nested enclosures (26, 28, 12). In the coldest enclosure (26), which is maintained, for example, approximately 10.degree. K, low-temperature superconducting (LTS) processors (32, 34) perform bus and payload processing functions at very high speed. The next-coldest enclosure (28) is maintained at approximately 77.degree. K and houses high-temperature superconducting (HTS) electronic modules, such as for power regulation and distribution (40) and a payload sensor processing module (38). The third of the enclosures (12) is maintained at approximately 300.degree. K and houses other modules operating at room temperature, including a transponder (44), power control (46), energy storage (48), a propulsion subsystem (22), a downlink data processing module (49) and the cryogenic cooler (24) itself. Thermal functions of the spacecraft are effectively centralized in the cryogenic cooler (24) and the bus and payload functions of the spacecraft are provided very efficiently in a small, compact an potentially low-cost configuration.
Abstract:
A commercial vehicle fleet management system which integrates a vehicle on-board computer, a precise positioning system, and communication system to provide automated calculating and reporting of jurisdictional fuel taxes, road use taxes, vehicle registration fees, and the like. Also disclosed is an online mobile communication system and a system for monitoring carrier vehicle efficiency and vehicle and driver performance.
Abstract:
A feed network parallel superconductive tunnel junction circuit that acts as a doubly balanced mixer and can be utilized as a millimeter wave satellite communications link. A quadrature-fed mixer circuit relies on a network of 90 degree couplers to feed signal and local oscillator power to four identical SIS detectors where SIS is a superconductor-insulator-superconductor layer construction. Power applied to either port is split equally to each detector, and the relative phase relationship of the signal and the LO is preserved. By selecting the appropriate polarity of the dc junction bias, the detected IF output of the SIS detectors adds coherently.
Abstract:
A high frequency receiver detects and downconverts 50-1,000 GHz radio frequency signals using a receiver consisting of a lens and planar antenna, pre-amplifier, mixer, local oscillator, and IF-amplifier. The insulating dielectric lens is used to focus terahertz radio frequency signals onto the thin film antenna. The preamplifier amplifies these faint signals so that they can be downconverted into an intermediate frequency by the mixer and local oscillator. The mixer is a dual port device which provides isolation of the local oscillator and input signal to avoid saturation of the preamplifier. The IF amplifier boosts the amplitude of the downconverted IF signal produced by the mixer.
Abstract:
Safety enhanced device and method are disclosed for effecting application of a therapeutic agent. A removable and operationally non-volatile programmable element is used to control operation of a therapeutic agent delivery unit. A computer, operationally independent of the delivery unit, is utilized to establish coded information for programming of the programmable element while removed from the delivery unit. Operation of the delivery unit according to the program then established for the programmable element is simulated at the computer prior to actual programming of the programmable element to insure the integrity of subsequent delivery of the therapeutic agent to a patient by the delivery unit. The programmable element effects independent delivery of therapeutic agents in each of a plurality of channels under the control of the programmable element. The programmable element is programmed to establish a flow profile that is customized for a particular patient during each minute of each day, and patient demand for therapeutic agents can also be accommodated with safeguards being included to assure proper dispensing.