The Boeing Company

Hughes Electronics Corporation

Hughes Aircraft Company

Aegis Industries, Inc.

James H Lee

Gary E Georgeson

Morteza Safai

Scott Wesley Lea

Anita Mehta

Kenneth J Stethem

Gary W Coleman

Stephen J Hulsey

Terry L Smith

Bruno D V Marino

Scott W Franz

Kevin L Nash

Warner B Vanaken

Joseph Peter Reilley

Julius J Schaan

Viet Thinh Pho

Robert Randolph Bernard

Casey Hathcock

Karl Edward Nelson

John E Eng

Martin L Freet

Kuei-Ru Chien

Mortenza Safai

Donald J Mirrione

Dale H Claxton

Brian J Behler

Disclosed are apparatus and methods determining a center offset distance for computed tomography (CT) imaging. A specimen is positioned between an emission source for outputting radiation towards the specimen while the specimen rotates with respect to a detector for receiving radiation that has passed through the specimen. A center calibration indicator (CCI) is also positioned near the specimen so that at least a portion of the radiation passes through the CCI onto the detector. Projection data is collected from emissions received at the detector for multiple rotational positions of the specimen relative to the detector. A sinogram image is generated based on the projection data. Two alignment points corresponding to the CCI are located in the sinogram and used to determine the center offset distance for the sinogram. A specimen image is reconstructed by back projecting the sinogram using the determined center offset distance.

Geometry correction for computed tomography

Disclosed are apparatus and methods determining a center offset distance for computed tomography imaging. A specimen is positioned between an emission source for outputting radiation towards the specimen while the specimen rotates with respect to a detector for receiving radiation that has passed through the specimen. Projection data is collected from emissions received at the detector for multiple rotational positions of the specimen. A sinogram image is generated based on the projection data. The sinogram image is divided into image portions, which are superimposed and iteratively moved relative to each other by a relative offset so that a superimposed image peak in such superimposed image portions has a maximized height. A center offset distance for the sinogram image is defined as a relative offset between the superimposed image portions that results in the maximized height. If the center offset distance is zero, the superimposed image portions will be superimposed so that their edges are aligned to result in the maximized height. A specimen image is reconstructed using the determined center offset distance.

Incapacitation of a mammalian subject results from the application of a pulsed, low-power electric waveform. The waveform is applied to the subject at a frequency and over a time period sufficient to induce involuntary muscular contraction. Additionally, the contraction causes limited lactic acid production and is non- or minimally-injurious to the subject's tissues. A device utilizing such a waveform is designed to control or otherwise subdue an individual.

Electromuscular incapacitation device and methods

Methods and systems are disclosed for drilling counter sink fastener holes in composite materials with conductive foil lightning strike protection systems. Initially a non-destructive depth detector is scanned over a prospective fastener hole location. Then the depth of a conductive foil below a surface is detected. When the detected depth is less than a predetermined depth, a signal that indicates that a countersink fastener hole may be drilled is output. When the detected depth is greater than a predetermined depth, a signal that indicates that a countersink fastener hole may not be drilled is output.

Rapid inspection of lightning strike protection systems prior to installing fastener

A method and apparatus for nondestructive inspection of interwoven wire fabric components. The apparatus comprises a probe, a power source, and a display system. The probe is capable of creating a magnetic field for a plurality of wires in an interwoven wire fabric component such that disturbances of the magnetic field caused by the plurality of wires can be detected. The power is a source connected to the probe and is capable of sending an alternating current through the probe to generate the magnetic field for the wire. The display system is connected to the probe and is capable of displaying results from detecting the magnetic field and disturbances of the magnetic field.

Method and apparatus for nondestructive inspection of interwoven wire fabrics

Optical metrology methods, apparatuses, and systems for detecting seal integrity. These comprise changing an air pressure inside a chamber to an excitation pressure level when the chamber is placed over a segment of a surface of a structure having one or more seal features and determining whether the integrity of any of the one or more seal features has been compromised by determining, using an optical system, whether any of the one or more seal features have been deformed by the changing of the air pressure.

Determining seal feature integrity by testing for deformation upon air pressure excitation

Embodiments of techniques to verify the interference fit of fasteners are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes aligning a probe proximate a fastener, the fastener being disposed within a material. A dynamic stress signal is generated from the probe using a low frequency transducer, and the dynamic stress signal is interrogated after it passes between the fastener and the material. An interference fit is then determined based on the interrogated dynamic stress signal.

Ultrasonic method to verify the interference fit of fasteners

A self-aligning probe assembly has one or more ultrasonic transducers adapted to transmit an ultrasonic shear wave into the inside surface of the hollow structure such as an aircraft fuse pin and to receive the shear wave emerging from the inside surface of the hollow structure. The nature of the received shear wave indicates the presence of flaws or damage in the inspected part. The probe assembly can be used to inspect fuse pins on aircraft without having to remove the aircraft engines.

Ultrasonic probe for hollow fuse pin inspection

A power system for a satellite includes a high power amplifier that has a control input. The high power amplifier has a minimum effective isotropic radiated power. A controller is coupled to the control input. The controller generates a control signal to adjust a saturated power output of the high power amplifier to the minimum effective isotropic radiated power.

On orbit variable power high power amplifiers for a satellite communications system

A method of manufacturing a structural assembly is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing first and second structural members having preselected shapes and dimensions. The first structural member defines a first raised portion and the second structural member defines a second raised portion. According to one embodiment, the providing step includes forming the first and second structural members into preselected shapes and dimensions. The first and second structural members can comprise plates, T-stiffeners or tubular members. The first raised portion of the first structural member is positioned adjacent to the second raised portion of the second structural member following the providing step to thereby define an interface therebetween and wherein the first and second raised portions define a substantially consumable weld land. Thereafter, the first and second structural members are irradiated with a high-energy source along the interface to thereby substantially consume the weld land and join the first and second structural members to form a structural assembly. The first high-energy source preferably comprises an electron beam or a laser.

Joining of structural members by welding

An anode control circuit for at least two traveling wave tubes powered by a common electronic power conditioner. The anode control circuit has separate anode drive circuits for the traveling wave tubes that are referenced to a voltage that is higher than the cathode voltage being supplied by the electronic power conditioner. A relay between the anode drive circuit and the anode of the traveling wave tube being driven opens or closes a path between the traveling wave tube and the cathode voltage supplied by the electronic power conditioner. The anode drive circuits are referenced to one of the collector voltages that is closest to the anode operating voltage and such that the anode voltage is more positive than the reference voltage.

Electronic power conditioner anode voltage control

A control circuit for a power supply for at least one Traveling Wave Tube (TWT) that uses the cathode voltage as a reference point allowing independent, variable control of each TWT. The cathode current is varied by varying the anode voltage. Therefore, it is not necessary to operate the TWT below maximum power at full cathode current. The result is improved operating efficiency for the TWT. A single power supply is capable of powering several TWT's resulting in a significant weight and cost savings for space applications.

Anode controller circuit for a traveling wave tube

A current controlled voltage boost circuit for a high voltage converter. The voltage boost circuit includes a boost converter connected to receive an input voltage and a control signal, and output an increased output voltage to the high voltage converter as a function of a control signal. The circuit further includes a current sensing circuit providing an output voltage proportional to the sensed input current to the high voltage converter. The output voltage from the current sense circuit varies a reference voltage that is compared to the boost converter output voltage by an error amplifier. The error amplifier, in turn, outputs a control signal to the boost converter such that the control signal controls the boost converter output voltage as a function of the input current to the high voltage converter.

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Ravensdale, WA, United States of America

James H Lee