Briefs: Physical Sciences

Microwave-Heating Technique for Batch Processing

A microwave-heating technique provides for batch processing of multiple, identically sized and shaped samples of the same material. The technique involves (1) excitation of a symmetrical...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

"Smart" Optoelectronic Sensor System for Recognizing Targets

The Viewing Imager/Gimballed Instrumentation Laboratory and Analog Neural Three-Dimensional Processing Experiment (VIGILANTE) is a "smart" optoelectronic sensor system that...

Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control

Doped ZnTe: a Developmental Photorefractive Material

Zinc telluride is a semiconductive material that has been found to become photorefractive when it is suitably doped with vanadium or with manganese and vanadium. The combination of...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

A Polymeric Optical Correlator for Security Verification

Rapid technological progress, especially in computers, CCD technology, color printers and scanners makes forgery and counterfeit of identification documents such as credit cards, or...

Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control

Snakelike Robots Would Maneuver in Tight Spaces

Robots with multiple-link arms that could reach through narrow openings into hidden cavities are undergoing development. Called "multifunction dexterous boro-robots" (MDBRs), these robots...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Laser Doppler Velocimeter System for Use on Gas Turbines

A laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) system has been developed for use on practical gas-turbine engines. The system has been used to measure inlet and exhaust velocities on an F-100 EMD...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Coherent Gradient Sensing for Measuring Curvature

Coherent gradient sensing (CGS) is a diffraction-based, noncontact optical technique for measuring the slight curvature of a nearly flat thin film or specimen surface. CGS is especially...

Briefs: Materials

LaNi₅₋ₓGeₓ Electrodes for Ni/MH Electrochemical Cells

Experiments have shown that improved hydride-forming negative electrodes for rechargeable nickel/metal hydride (Ni/MH) electrochemical cells can be made by substituting Ge for...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Voltage-Tunable Surface-Plasmon Band-Pass Optical Filters

Voltage-tunable optical band-pass filters based on surface plasmon waves have been proposed. These filters would function at both visible and infrared wavelengths. Whereas...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Heteroepitaxy with Large Lattice Mismatch

A process for the growth of single-crystal (epitaxial) multilayer films has been developed at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division. This process is predicated on the preparation of a...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Methods of Manufacturing Fiber Optic Components

The methods described are used with existing fiber optic technologies, and are based on several patents and on disclosures now before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The patents are No....

Briefs: Physical Sciences

Miniature Electron Microscopes Without Vacuum Pumps

The proposed electron microscope would function without the need for external vacuum pumps and thus have a significant reduction in size, mass, and power consumption, as compared to...

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Subliming Solid Microthrusters

Devices are proposed that would sublime solid propellants to generate small thrusts for maneuvering spacecraft with masses of no more than 15 kg. With solids rather than gases in propellant tanks, there would...

Briefs: Materials

LaNi₅₋ₓSnₓ Electrodes for Ni/MH Electrochemical Cells

Experiments have shown that improved hydride-forming negative electrodes for rechargeable nickel/metal hydride (Ni/MH) electrochemical cells can be made by substituting Sn for...

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Trefoil Rotary Flexure

The figure illustrates a device that flexes to allow rotation about a single axis through a total range of ±12°. This device was designed to offer the following advantages over commercial flexural pivots:

Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control

Jewellike Bearings for Blood Pumps

Jewellike bearings have been devised to enhance the performance and safety of small rotary pumps that are used to increase or sustain flows of blood in cardiac patients. A pump of this type includes a...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Fiber Laser Amplifiers with Broad Applications

The Boeing Company has developed fiber-laser-amplifier technology representing the latest in diode-laser-pumped systems, providing high output power, high brightness, tunability,...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

TRL Fixture for Cryogenic Testing of Microwave Components

A single-block fixture enables the rapid and accurate electrical characterization of planar microwave electronic components, by use of the through-reflect-line (TRL) technique, in...

Briefs: Physical Sciences

Easy-to-Use High-Temperature Strain-Sensor Systems

Easy-to-use high-temperature strain-sensor systems based on strain gauges made from Pd/Cr-alloy wires have been developed. These systems include strain-gauge units comprising Pd/Cr wires...

Briefs: Materials

Improved Bond-Coat Layers for Thermal-Barrier Coatings

Current production thermal-barrier coatings (TBCs) have been shown to be capable of reducing the average temperatures of metallic components by 50 to 80 °C and hot-spot temperature by...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Stable Breakdown Obtained in Silicon Carbide Rectifiers

Experiments have revealed that stable breakdown-voltage characteristics can be achieved in silicon carbide rectifiers. Stable breakdown-voltage characteristics are essential to the...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Semimonolithic Cavities for Optical Frequency Conversion

Semimonolithic resonant structures external to lasers have been proposed for use in optical frequency-conversion applications - for example, doubling the frequencies of laser beams....

Briefs: Materials

Trading Risk Versus Cost of a Composite-Material Structure

A probabilistic method has been developed for use in designing a composite-material structure to achieve a balance between maximum reliability and minimum cost. This method accounts...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Photochromic Image-Plane Filter Extends Dynamic Range of CCD

A simple technique for extending the dynamic range of a charge-coupled-device (CCD) video camera involves the use of photochromic material — the same material used in...