Hughes Aircraft Company

Joseph P Smalanskas

Ronald I Wolfson

Ernest S Blazic

Irwin L Newberg

John J Wooldridge

William W Milroy

William D Farwell

Howard S Nussbaum

Louis E Gates, Jr

Jerome I Glaser

Michael D Thomas

Shane H Hunter

Lynn O Waters

Robert A Bueker

Donald B Mertens

Scott T Wood

Dale W Hopkins

Allen M Tran

A virtual image display management system using a head-up display that improves the ability of an operator of an automobile, or other equipment, to focus on primary functions, such as vehicle operation, while providing secondary information within the operator's primary visual field without requiring the operator to refocus. The present virtual image display management system integrates one or more secondary function displays into one reconfigurable virtual image head-up display. Several secondary functions are displayed sequentially using analog/digital symbology, icon representation, alphanumeric text or static/motion picture format. The operator may select secondary functions to be monitored, the display format, and the data acquisition intervals. A reconfigurable virtual image display processor accommodates more sophisticated sensor and communication functionality without penalizing efficiency and safety of the operator's primary functions. The present system integrates, interprets, selects and displays data derived from multiple sensors and communications systems at an optimum visual location within the operator's primary field of view. By displaying data in this fashion, an operator can vigilantly perform critical system functions while being kept well-informed of vehicle performance data, communication data and other useful functions and information.

Virtual image display management system with head-up display

A dielectric material having a dielectric constant which varies inversely with frequency, and preferably with the second power of frequency, fills the space between a radiator and a reflecting groundplane. The back-directed wave is reflected back to the radiator in phase with the directly radiated wave over a wide frequency band, increasing the radiator efficiency.

Radiator bandwidth enhancement using dielectrics with inverse frequency

An electronic device operating in the microwave frequency range having components disposed in a plurality of planes, wherein the planes are stacked vertically. The electronic device is a T/R module or element forming a part of a subarray used in an active array radar. The T/R module or element comprises a transmit chip, a receive chip, low noise amplifiers, a phase shifter, an attenuator, switches, dc power supply, interconnects that interconnect the foregoing components and logic circuits to control the foregoing components. The components when stacked in a 3-D package are disposed behind a radiator or antenna, which transmits and receives the microwave signals. Behind the T/R module or element is a manifold which provides input and output to and from the T/R module or element. The microwave chips of the T/R module are monolithic microwave integrated circuit chips and control logic, which are disposed in an aluminum nitride substrate and coated with a conformal hermetic coating. The 3-D chip package can optionally include micro channel cooling by adding additional layers. The integrated circuits also employ a flip chip design for mounting to the wafers. Optional photonic interconnects could be used for communication between levels in the 3-D package and can be used between subarrays as a manifold.

Small manufacturable array lattice layers

A multilayer flexible circuit for sensing physical properties of a structural surface 12 capable of surviving exposure in harsh environments through the use of isolation materials 70 disposed within the flexible circuit 10.

Conformal circuit with harsh environment isolation materials

A true time delay phased array is provided which includes a digital subarray interface in the transmit signal path. The digital transmit signal path interface includes a digital reference signal generation means and digital signal propagation means for supplying the digital reference signal to the subarray. Each subarray includes RF carrier signal generating means for generating an RF carrier signal phase coherent with the reference signal, a fiber optic true time delay circuit for applying an appropriate phase delay to the RF carrier and an appropriate true time delay to the modulation signal, and a waveform modulator for modulating the modulating signal onto the phase locked RF carrier signal to provide the transmit signal for the subarray. The present invention can be used in conjunction with existing digital interface technology for receive and control signal paths to provide an entirely digital subarray signal path interface.

Optoelectronic phased array with digital transmit signal interface

A strain, crack and acoustic emission conformal structural health monitoring circuit with integral preprocessor and provisions for connectorization to a central processing system includes a strain gauge (11) having crack sensing traces (21), (23), and (25) sandwiched between a bottom layer (13) and a top layer (39). Strain gauge (11) is attached to an aircraft structural surface (51) to be monitored. Successive alternating layers of interconnecting sheet layers (61) and dielectric layers (63) joined by successive layers of non-structural adhesive (65) are added sufficient to effectively attenuate any stress forces, and forces directly from the strain and cracks, from traveling upward from the aircraft structural surface (51). A metalization layer (47) tops the successive layers and supports an integrated circuit (43) which may be multi-chip hybrid package, discretely packaged components or conformally coated chip/circuit assemblies, and provides a means of interconnect to and protection from the ambient environment.

Conformal circuit for structural health monitoring and assessment

A structure integrity monitoring apparatus and method for use with certain structures such as air-frame structures. A meandering transmission line (22) or serpentine coaxial cable is adhered to a dielectric substrate (20). The dielectric substrate may be a composite panel of the air-frame structure. A microwave signal is introduced at one end of the transmission line (22) or coaxial cable and absorbed at the other end by an appropriate signal absorbing device. For use of the meandering transmission line (22), generally two conductors (22, 24) are affixed on opposite sides of the dielectric substrate (20). In this manner, an electric field created by the two conductors (22, 24) by the microwave signals propagating through them is confined within the dielectric substrate (20). As the signals travel down the transmission conductors (22, 24), they will be reflected at crossover points along the way creating a signature reflection wave. If the dielectric substrate is flawed, a perturbation in the electric field caused by the flaw will create a reflection of the microwave signal at the flaw area. When this reflection signal is compared with the signature signal, it can be determined where and if a flaw is present.

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Westchester, CA, United States of America

Joseph P Smalanskas