Abstract:
A system and method for increasing the fiber coupling efficiency of diode lasers is disclosed. The diode laser has a diode pump source for generating a force to pump a laser and a double clad fiber directly coupled to the diode pump source instead of coupling to the multimode fiber. The pumped laser is transmitted directly through the double clad fiber thereby increasing the coupling efficiency of the diode pump source. At least one connector is utilized for connecting the double clad fiber and the diode pump source. The connector has at least one adhesive placed in contact with an acrylate coating and not in contact with a glass cladding of the double clad fiber to avoid cladding stripper and fiber splice thereby increasing the fiber coupling efficiency.
Abstract:
An athermal locking mechanism apparatus for large optic mounts is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one locking nut, at least one flexurized spring collet attached to a rigid base structure, a pivot shaft engaged with an optical yolk on a rotational axis of symmetry and a plurality of threads that joins the locking nuts with the flexurized spring collet The threads provide an increased level of a radial clamping force onto the pivot shaft, The interference generated between the locking nut and the spring collet causes all flexures to squeeze down onto the shaft, applying a purely symmetric radial force during the locking process. This eliminates any induced rotational torque and prevents the optical element from moving during the locking process after being properly aligned.
Abstract:
An imaging sensor using a novel bit line processing circuit, that circuit, and the method of processing the pixel outputs from an image sensor using that processing circuit are disclosed. The image sensor includes an array of pixel sensors, a signal digitizing circuit, and a digitizing controller. Each pixel sensor generates a voltage signal that is a function of a charge on the photodetector in that pixel sensor, and couples that voltage signal to a bit line in response to a first signal. The signal digitizing circuit is connected to the bit line, the digitizing circuit converting the voltage signal to a plurality of output digital values, the output digital values having selectable levels of digitization noise. The digitizing controller generates the level of noise based on the voltage signal. The signal digitizing circuit includes a variable gain amplifier and an ADC having a fixed number of bits.
Abstract:
An image sensor that includes a first imaging array and a FPGA processor that processes images captured by the imaging array to provide information about the scene projected on the first imaging array is disclosed. The FPGA processor is connected to the first imaging array and includes an interface for receiving images from the first imaging array and an interface to an image storage memory that stores a plurality of images. The FPGA implements a plurality of image processing functions in the gates of the FPGA. The image processing functions processing one of the images stored in the image storage memory to extract a quantity related to the one of the images. The FPGA also includes an I/O interface used by the FPGA to output the quantity to a device external to the image sensor.
Abstract:
A sample and hold circuit and a method for sampling a. signal are disclosed. The sample and hold circuit includes first and second switches, first, second, and third capacitors, and an amplifier. The amplifier receives a signal to be sampled on a first input. The first capacitor is characterized by a first capacitance and has a first terminal connected to an output of the amplifier by the first switch. The second capacitor is characterized by a second capacitance and has a second terminal connected to the output, of the amplifier by the second switch. The third capacitor connects the first and second terminals. The amplifier is configured to form a capacittve transimpedance amplifier having the third capacitor as a feedback circuit when the first switch is in a non-conducting state and the second switch is in a conducting state.
Abstract:
The present invention involves the use of nanoporous carbons derived from partially or fully demetalized metal carbides in personal protection equipment for the irreversible absorption / adsorption of both broad and specific targeted gases. These materials have been specifically processed to provide enhanced effective loadings against specific harmful volatile organic compounds.
Abstract:
A computerized method for a distributed assured network system includes a plurality distributed monitoring nodes for sequential feeding the content of respective information sources to a detection agent. The detection agent uses an SPRT-based distributed sequential misbehavior detection scheme to process each MN observation with the probability of a false alarm PFA and probability of a miss detection PMD until a reliable decision can be made that either there is no malicious or faulty behavior detected, or that malicious or faulty behavior is detected. A cognitive reputation agent is provided within a DBG framework processes the output or detection metric from the detection agent relative to past behavior of the information sources to provide a reputation metric to a trust indication that provides an output representing the trustworthiness of information sources.
Abstract:
A Multi-Cycle Digital High Power Microwave (MCD-HPM) source includes a microwave transmission line (MTL) to which a plurality electrically charged thin film transmission lines (TFTL's) are connected by switches. The switches are activated in sequence to generate a square wave at a microwave output frequency. The activation signal is controlled by a free space time delay, which can vary the timing and/or routing of the activation signal by modifying at least one free space element, thereby adjusting the switch activation timing and varying the output frequency. In embodiments, the switches are photo-conducting switches, the activation signal is a laser beam, and the switch timing is varied by reorienting and/or repositioning mirrors and/or other elements in the free space time delay. The elements can be manually adjusted, or mounted on motorized stages and automatically controlled. Optical amplifiers can be included to compensate for losses in the time delay elements.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for laser beam splitting and shaping is disclosed wherein two beam splitters are used to split one input laser beam into four beams in a generally rectangular pattern. Half-wave plates are used to adjust the power of the input laser beam between the four laser beams. A variable power optical telescope comprising negative and positive lens pairs for the four laser beams is used to adjust the divergence of the four beams, and pointing control prism wedges are used to point or steer the four beams to be parallel to each other and to adjust their relative spacing to create a flat top profile.
Abstract:
A combined large mode area, fiber cable amplifier and laser beam transport fiber cable is disclosed that transports laser beams output from a compact, high power, solid state laser to remote locations while improving the beam quality and amplifying the beam to compensate for losses in the fiber cable. The fiber cable is clad and is cladding pumped to compensate for the losses in the fiber cable.