The Boeing Company

Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation

Mark David Rogers

Loyal Bruce Shawgo

Daniel W Konz

John M Haake

Daniel Nelson Harres

Jeffery Thomas Murphy

Kevin G Kintz

Robert L Calkins

Ricky Lance Haney

A method involves determining multiple temperatures of an object from spectral data collected from the object. The spectral data covers a plurality of wavelengths. The method comprises using a computer to (a) assign an initial value for residual radiation; (b) identify a black body profile that best fits the spectral data over the plurality of wavelengths; (c) remove radiation corresponding to the identified profile from the residual radiation; and (d) return to (b) until the residual radiation reaches a termination criterion.

Non-contact measurement of multi-temperature profile of an object

Systems and methods are provided for measuring spectral hemispherical reflectance. One embodiment is a system that includes a laser that emits a beam of light, and an optical chopper disposed between the laser and a sample. The chopper blocks the beam while the chopper is at a first angle of rotation, redirects the beam along a reference path while the chopper is at a second angle of rotation, and permits the beam to follow a sample path through the chopper and strike the sample while the chopper is at a third angle of rotation. The system also includes a hollow sphere that defines a slot through which the sample path and reference path enter the sphere. The hollow sphere includes a spectral hemispherical reflectance detector, a mount that receives the sample at the sphere, and an actuator that rotates the sphere about an axis that intersects the sample.

Apparatus for measuring spectral hemispherical reflectance of samples at grazing angles

An apparatus for determining a temperature of an object without contacting the object. An etalon filter may be used to receive spectral radiation of the object over a plurality of wavelengths and to generate a spectral output signal. A linear array detector may be used that is responsive to the spectral output signal from the etalon filter and adapted to generate an output indicative of the spectral radiation at each of one of the plurality of wavelengths. An actuator may be used that controls movement of one element of the etalon filter to assist in generating the output. A processor may be used which is responsive to the output of the linear array detector and which analyzes a known characteristic of a black body at a plurality of test temperatures, against the output of the linear array detector, to determine a specific temperature of the object.

Emissivity independent non-contact high temperature measurement system and method

A system and method for determining the temperature of an object without physically contacting the object. The method involves reading a spectral radiation of the object over a plurality of wavelengths to obtain a set of radiation data related to a temperature of the object. A known characteristic of a black body is determined at a plurality of predetermined, different test temperatures. The spectral data and the characteristic of the black body at the various test temperatures are used to calculate a temperature of the object.

A network system includes a network having a network bus, such as unshielded differential twisted-pair wires, electrically connected to a plurality of remote devices, and a network controller for digitally directing transmissions with the remote devices via the network bus. The network system also includes a plurality of network device interface elements adapted to interconnect the network controller with respective remote devices via the network bus. Each network device interface element is capable of transmitting and receiving messages via the network bus. And to at least partially limit electromagnetic emissions from the respective network device interface element and/or the respective remote device, each network device interface element includes a suppression assembly. Additionally, each network device interface element can include a transceiver and a processing element, with the suppression assembly electrically connected between the transceiver and the network bus.

System and associated suppression assembly for limiting electromagnetic emissions in network devices communicating via a network bus

A network system includes a network having a network bus, such as unshielded differential twisted-pair wires, electrically connected to a plurality of remote devices, and a network controller for digitally directing transmissions with the remote devices via the network bus. The network system also includes a plurality of network device interface elements adapted to interconnect the network controller with respective remote devices via the network bus. Each network device interface element includes a local oscillator, and is capable of transmitting and receiving messages via the network bus. To at least partially limit electromagnetic emissions from the local oscillator, each network device interface element further includes a spread-spectrum clock. And to further aid in limiting electromagnetic emissions, each network device interface element can further include a suppression assembly.

System having a spread-spectrum clock for further suppression of electromagnetic emissions in network devices communicating via a network bus

A fiber optic connector and an associated fabrication method where the connector has a connector housing having a base side, a and pair of sidewalls upstanding from the base side that are spaced apart in relation to each other, and each of the housing sidewalls define at least one aperture through which optical signals can be transmitted into and out of the housing by an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber, respectively, located in fixed positions outside the housing, and a unitary optical lens element is contained within the housing and is located between the housing apertures, wherein the optical lens is comprised of two segments optically bonded along confronting respective lens segment surfaces at an oblique angle effective to be able to transmit collimated light from the input fiber to the output fiber and reflect transmitted light reflected back from the output fiber to a photodetector integrally attached to the lens element and positioned to receive light reflected from the confronting respective lens segment surfaces. The light transmitted through the lens element is precisely aligned with respective optical fibers within submicron tolerances using an internally-housed micro-aligner. As a result, the fiber optic connector of the present invention can provide efficient coupling between optical fibers, such as optical fibers in two spliced composite parts.

Fiber optic connector with micro-alignable lens having autofocus feature and associated fabrication method

A method for preventing laser jamming of night vision goggles having a gated image intensifier device and a display for displaying an intensified image of a scene. The method includes the steps of detecting laser pulses from a jamming laser source and producing respective electrical pulses in response thereto, and gating off the gated image intensifier device in synchronism with the electrical pulses in order to thereby prevent the laser pulses from affecting the intensified image of the scene displayed by the display. The step of gating off the gated image intensifier device is preferably carried out by using a phase locked loop to produce a PLL output signal synchronized with the laser pulses, conditioning the PLL output signal to produce a conditioned PLL output signal, comparing the conditioned PLL output signal with a prescribed reference voltage to generate a comparator output signal having a first level when the PLL output signal is greater than a prescribed reference voltage, and a second level when the PLL output signal is not greater than the prescribed reference voltage, generating a pulse train in response to the comparator output signal, and applying the pulse train to the gated intensifier device. The step of detecting laser pulses from the jamming laser source is preferably carried out by using a photodetector device to detect the laser pulses and to produce rounded electrical pulses corresponding to the detected laser pulses, and squaring the rounded electrical pulses to produce the electrical pulses, wherein the electrical pulses comprise square electrical pulses. Also disclosed is a circuit for implementing the above-described method for preventing laser jamming of night vision goggles.

Growing community of inventors

Ballwin, MO, United States of America

Mark David Rogers