Eastman-kodak Company

Other

Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.

Center for Innovative Technology

Oceanit Laboratories, Inc.

B6 Sigma, Inc.

Virginia Polytechnic and State University

Energy Control Development, Inc.

Energy Control and Development Co.

Robert E Swanson

George W Brock

Thomas D Carr

Mark J Cola

Vivek R Dave

Tomasz Marek Jagielinski

Jin-Min Kim

Jesse J Brown

Basil Henry Scott

Norman L Koren

Daniel A Hartman

Randy Wolfshagen

Tingkai Li

Deidre A Hirschfeld

Sheldon W Hower

Robert W Hendricks

Dean-Mo Liu

Steven Van Aken

Justin Eiler

Milton C Edlund

Yaping Yang

An event detection and classification system uses a new type of optical sensing component, a Position Sensing Detector Focal Plane Array (PSD-FPA). The PSD-FPA provides for high-speed operation that allows for accurate sensing of fast artifacts that are unique to weapons fire and enables precise location of optical phenomenon. The system detects and classifies events, particularly weapons fire, and rejects false alarms. An optical lens sub-system focuses light onto a PSD-FPA, which senses the photons and generates electrical signals associated with individual elements of the PSD-FPA. These signals are processed to identify and classify weapons-related or other events. Background subtraction, variable gain, time-intensity and time-location correlation, digital filtering, Fourier analysis, and wavelet analysis are all used to successfully classify the events while rejecting false alarms.

Position sensing detector focal plane array (PSD-FPA) event detection and classification system

The present inventions provide methods of manufacturing methods for case metallic materials for munitions that have high enthalpic energy release and controlled fragmentation and breakup enabling fragment speeds up to twice what is otherwise possible in explosively driven metal systems, and munitions made by such methods. Embodiments of the invention involve the thixotropic processing of energetic materials such as aluminum together with high density materials such as tantalum or tungsten to achieve material microstructures with a bulk density equivalent to steel, but with the energy release potential of materials such as finely dispersed aluminum powders. Such methods of mixing and blending of high energy and high density materials can provide a microstructure that has large density and shock impedance differences over length scales of 10-100 microns, resulting in enhanced materials fragmentation in the shock or brisant loading regime, incipient melting at the lower melting point constituents, and additional enhancement of fragmentation in the gas-dynamic expansion phase of munitions breakup. Additionally, the present inventions provide a range of surface and near-surface processing methods to enhance spall and ejecta from conventional munitions systems, enhancing munition breakup and reactivity as well.

Structurally sound reactive materials

A data recovery technique for jitter tolerant peak detected channels. The number of consecutive zeros between ones are reproduced in a run-length coded, peak detected channel. The interval (time, distance) is measured between peaks of a run-length encoded digital data signal wherein peaks represent ones and absence of peaks represent zeros. A look-up-table is provided having entries for all possible intervals between peaks for the run-length code used and corresponding entries for the number of zeros between ones. The measured interval is applied to the look-up-table to produce a string of zero bits between one bits.

Data recovery method and apparatus for jitter tolerant peak detected

An input string of binary data bits which is a random sequence of 0s and 1s is selectively spaced encoded into an output string of binary channel bits which is a sequence of 0s and 1s. An input string of binary data bits are recursively encoded according to run-length selection means having rate p/q where p is the number of input data bits that are encoded into q-channel bits. The channel bits obey constraints such that the encoding specifies an ordered n element list of integers that are the lengths of the selected runs of consecutive zeros, denoted b.sub.0 -1, b.sub.1 -1, . . . , b.sub.n-1 -1, and such that the element list of integers does not contain all the integers between the minimum element, b.sub.0, and the maximum element, b.sub.n-1.

Nonlinear run-length coding

A magnetic recording and/or reproducing head system particularly for use for writing and/or reading information on tracks in a magnetics-on-film (MOF) layer in the image area of photographic filmstrips, wherein the system provides for mounting of such magnetic heads on a suspension and translation system to move the magnetic heads from track to track of the MOF layer and longitudinally along a selected track. The filmstrip exhibits a lengthwise curvature of a predetermined sign and a cross-film curvature. The filmstrip is advanced to a stationary position in a curved transport path in the length dimension of the filmstrip, the curved transport path having a curvature radius of the same sign as the predetermined curvature sign of the filmstrip. The filmstrip edges are engaged in edge guides such that the transport path curvature and the edge guides negate cross-film curvature. The magnetic head is lengthwise translated along the selected track following the curvature radius on a head track selection assembly which includes a head track guide connected between first ends of a pair of positioning arms extending across the film edge guides for supporting the magnetic head for engagement and lengthwise translation with the filmstrip selected track by pivotal movement thereof. A head track motor drives the magnetic head along a head track selection assembly to a selected track position. The head track selection assembly includes a guide rod and a rotatable lead screw extending between free ends of the positioning arms and across the film transport path. Head mounting means for mounting the magnetic head in relation to the film transport path have a guide opening for engaging the guide rod for inhibiting rotation of the head mounting means about the lead screw on rotation of the lead screw and have a threaded bore for engaging the lead screw, whereby rotation of the lead screw effects translation of the head mounting means along the lead screw and guide rod and across the film transport path to a selected track.

Magnetic head translation system for recording and reproducing on

A magnetic recorder includes multiple permanent magnetic elements having magnetic orientations that impart a sequence of magnetic transitions to magnetic media of a photographic filmstrip contained within a camera. The permanent magnetic elements are external to the camera. The sequence of magnetic transitions comprise information that can be subsequently retrieved and provided to the photographic processor and/or photographer. The information can include identification of locale or other information of interest to the photographer. The magnetic recorder requires no power supply and is easily operated by a photographer virtually without regard to weather conditions.

Passive data recording onto magnetic layers of photographic film

Magnetic record/reproduce apparatus for recording or reproducing information on a magnetic layer of a filmstrip in a camera, and more particularly, modular magnetic recording apparatus for optional attachment to photographic still cameras. Power and control signals supplied from within the module define the format and content of information recorded or reproduced from tracks in a substantially transparent magnetic layer. In one embodiment, the camera contains a record/reproduce head in the film transport path. In a further embodiment, the module contains the record/reproduce head, and the camera is adapted to receive the record/reproduced head in a record/reproduced aperture and position it in the film transport path on attachment of the module to the camera housing. In both embodiments, the magnetic head is preferably an elongated multi-head element array. Preferably the magnetic head aperture of the second embodiment is shaped to receive the elongated multi-head array as either a single elongated opening or a row of individual head receiving openings aligned in the cross-film direction, and a light tight flexible, opaque membrane is stretched over the magnetic head aperature so that the multi-head array may be inserted therein and physically bear against the membrane and the magnetic layer of the film strip adjacent to the membrane. A further external movable door or cover may be provided over the magnetic head aperture that is movable out of the way when the module attachment to the camera is made.

Magnetic record/reproduce module for camera

A programmable formatter for providing a data format in response to programmable commands comprises a memory for storing at least program instructions which define the data format; an instruction register for receiving and holding a current program instruction read out of the memory from a given address; a field state machine for indicating when the current program instruction has been completed; an instruction decoder for decoding the program instruction and for specifying information required by a decoded instruction; a repetition counter for counting a number of iterations specified by the current instruction; a data register for storing and outputting fixed patterns specified by the current program instruction; and a next state logic circuit for requesting a next program instruction from the memory when the current program instruction has been completed.

Hardware implemental field oriented bit stream formatter for generating

An apparatus for achieving increased fuel efficiency in a nuclear reactor wherein spectral shift is utilized to adjust for excess reactivity. This feature is achieved by stationary displacer rods within the fluid moderator of the reactor, with these stationary displacer rods decreasing ineffective volume during operation of the reactor whereby the effective volume of the fluid moderator increases as the nuclear fuel is burned. This decrease in effective volume is achieved by providing a sacrificial material in the displacer rods that is dissolved (or volatilized, etc.) by the fluid moderator. The composition of the sacrificial material can be varied along the length of the rod so as to achieve the desired reduction of volume despite a temperature gradient along the rod.

Apparatus for increasing fuel efficiency in nuclear reactors

Compositions having the general formula (Ca.sub.x Mg.sub.1-x)Zr.sub.4 (PO.sub.4).sub.6 where x is between 0.5 and 0.99 are produced by solid state and sol-gel processes. In a preferred embodiment, when x is between 0.5 and 0.8, the MgCZP materials have near-zero coefficients of thermal expansion. The MgCZPs of the present invention also show unusually low thermal conductivities, and are stable at high temperatures. Macrostructures formed from MgCZP are useful in a wide variety of high-temperature applications. In a preferred process, calcium, magnesium, and zirconium nitrate solutions have their pH adjusted to between 7 and 9 either before or after the addition of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate. After dehydration to a gel, and calcination at temperatures in excess of 850.degree. C. for approximately 16 hours, single phase crystalline MgCZP powders with particle sizes ranging from approximately 20 nm to 50 nm result. The MgCZP powders are then sintered at temperatures ranging from 1200.degree. C. to 1350.degree. C. to form solid macrostructures with near-zero bulk coefficients of thermal expansion and low thermal conductivities. Porous macrostructures of the MgCZP powders of the present invention are also formed by combination with a polymeric powder and a binding agent, and sintering at high temperatures. The porosity of the resulting macrostructures can be adjusted by varying the particle size of the polymeric powder used.

Ceramic materials with low thermal conductivity and low coefficients of

A method and apparatus for achieving increased fuel efficiency in a nuclear reactor wherein spectral shift is utilized to adjust for excess reactivity. This feature is achieved by stationary displacer rods within the fluid moderator of the reactor, with these stationary displacer rods decreasing in effective volume during operation of the reactor whereby the effective volume of the fluid moderator increases as the nuclear fuel is burned. This decrease in effective volume is achieved by providing a sacrificial material in the displacer rods that is dissolved (or volatilized, etc.) by the fluid moderator. The compositon of the sacrificial material can be varied along the length of the rod so as to achieve the desired reduction of volume despite a temperature gradient along the rod.

Method and apparatus for increasing fuel efficiency in nuclear reactors

A patient controlled traction device in which a mechanical advantage pulley system is used to multiply the traction applied by a weight and in which a mechanical advantage pulley system is used to enable the patient to relieve the force of the traction by the application of a relatively small force, substantially less than the weight utilized.

Patient controllable traction device

This highly portable, self-contained timing system includes photoelectronic start-stop gates which employ a pulsed invisible light beam as a means for communicating a condition of elapsed time and for aligning each gate.

Growing community of inventors

Del Mar, CA, United States of America

Robert E Swanson