USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Orgal T Holland

Vaughn P McDowell

Wendy L Poston

Christina G Wilkerson

A method of measuring surface roughness is provided in which a video image f a surface area is formed and partitioned into a set of regions that cover the video image. Each region is of equal size. A fractal dimension value is calculated for each region. The fractal dimension values for the regions are averaged to form an average fractal dimension value associated with the particular region size. The steps of partitioning, calculating and averaging are repeated for additional set(s) of regions with each region from an additional set being of an equal and unique size. When all average fractal dimension values are plotted as a function of region size, a best-fit straight line is defined. A combination of the slope and y-intercept of the straight line is indicative of surface roughness of the surface area.

Method and system for measuring surface roughness using fractal

A digital laser range finder emulator receives N-bits of range-to-target a in a parallel format and generates N-bits of serial data representative of the range-to-target data and an external synchronization pulse whose presence is indicative of valid serial data. First and second clock pulses are generated such that the second clock pulse is delayed with respect to the first clock pulse. Control logic, responsive to the first clock pulse, generates validity logic while control logic, responsive to the second clock pulse, generates transmit logic. The parallel format range-to-target data is converted into the serial data in response to the first clock pulse. The serial data is then output in response to the transmit logic. A gate, responsive to the second clock pulse and the validity logic, generates the synchronization pulse when the second clock pulse and validity logic occupy a common logic state.

Digital laser range finder emulator

A tachometer for measuring speed and armature position of a motor is disced whereby the counter electromotive force present in spikes on the power terminals are shaped, analyzed and displayed as tachometer information. The spikes occur as commutation takes place allowing a coarse angular armature shaft position to also be derived.

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Fredericksburg, VA, United States of America

Orgal T Holland