Briefs: Materials

Coating SiC Fiber Tows With Polymer/Silicon Slurries

The figure schematically illustrates an apparatus and process in which a continuous tow of silicon carbide fibers is coated and infiltrated with a polymer/silicon slurry. A compact of such...

Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Removable Fillers for VPS Fabrication of Closed Channels

An improved process has been devised for making closed channels (e.g., coolant channels) in a heat-exchanger liner or a similar metal object. The process involves the following steps:...

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Latch-Release Pin Puller With Shape-Memory-Alloy Actuator

The figure illustrates one of several related pin-puller mechanisms that harness the recovery characteristics of a shape-memory alloy (SMA). Like some other SMA-actuated mechanisms...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Coplanar-Stripline Transition and Band-Stop Filters

Three coplanar-stripline circuits have been designed to perform coupling and filtering functions in microwave systems. These circuits could be incorporated into feed networks for microwave...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Transmitting Data Signals via Fiber-Optic Power Lines

Data signals can be transmitted via the same optical fibers that are used to transmit power from base stations to remote stations containing sensors and associated circuitry. [A prototype...

Briefs: Physical Sciences

Oscillating-Flow Heat-Transfer and Pressure-Drop Test Rig

The figure illustrates an apparatus for measuring heat-transfer and pressure-drop characteristics of porous plug specimens in oscillating flows. The apparatus is built around an...

Briefs: Medical

Compact, Noncontact Fiber-Optic Probe for Diagnosis of Eye Diseases

A compact fiber-optic probe has been found to be useful for noncontact diagnosis of interior parts of eyes. The probe was originally developed for performing...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Multicolor Transceiver for Optoelectronic Communication

A great increase in the effectiveness of fiber optic systems is possible with a device that allows for simultaneous two-way signalling of multiple data streams on a single optical...

Briefs: Physical Sciences

Generalized Mathematical Model of Pyrolysis of Biomass

A generalized mathematical model has been devised for use in analyzing the pyrolysis of arbitrarily specified (but typical) biomass feedstocks at atmospheric pressure. The model...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Antiovershoot Position Control for Motors Run at Full Speed

An improved motor controller provides a circuit that will allow a motor to run at full speed while traveling from point A to point B, and still be able to obtain the desired damping...

Briefs: Motion Control

Precision Actuator Positions Laser Grating

The tunable external cavity diode laser is an important new tool used to evaluate and test the latest fiber-optic components and building blocks of modern telecommunications systems. A key factor...

Briefs: Materials

Highly Selective Gas-Phase Etching of Silicon

A technique of gentle, highly selective gas-phase etching of silicon has been devised to enable the fabrication of microelectromechanical devices integrated with electronic circuits. For...

Briefs: Materials

High-Performance Thermal Insulation for a Racing Car

Thermal-insulation blankets developed for use aboard the space shuttle can be adapted to a racing car to protect the driver against excessive cockpit heating. [Also see an earlier article...

Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control

Manipulator System for a Robotic Vehicle

A prototype manipulator system that includes two different arms has been tentatively selected for use on a semiautonomous robotic vehicle called Rocky 7 (see figure). [A previous version of this...

Briefs: Physical Sciences

Automated Window Inspection Device

The Automated Window Inspection Device (AWID) is a prototype apparatus for computer-controlled, noncontact inspection of windows, with reproducible positioning and electronic recording of data on the...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Multimode Optical Fiber as Imaging Probe

A proposed electro-optical image-processing system would enable remote viewing of an object through a multimode optical fiber, as though the fiber were a conventional image-transmitting optic like a...

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

High-Wind Masts for Meteorological Instruments

Rigid, guyed masts of a proposed type for supporting meteorological instruments would be designed to withstand considerably stronger winds than those conventionally used. The proposed fairings...

Briefs: Physical Sciences

Mathematical Model of Pyrolysis of Biomass Particles

A mathematical model of a special class of solid/fluid chemical reactions has been developed for use in analyzing the pyrolysis of particles of cellulose, wood, and similar biomass...

Briefs: Physical Sciences

Mathematical Model of a Direct-Contact Pyrolysis Reactor

A mathematical model has been developed for use in assessing the performances of direct-contact pyrolysis reactors used to convert particles of raw biomass materials (usually small...

Briefs: Motion Control

Protecting a Micromachined Accelerometer During Handling

A highly sensitive micromachined accelerometer that is intended to be exposed to very small accelerations during operation incorporates features for protection against much larger...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Multimedia Operator Interface for a Health-Care Robot

An operator interface is undergoing development along with other subsystems of a robot that would assist in caring for elderly and disabled patients. This development has been initiated...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Hybrid Superconductor/Semiconductor Planar Oscillators

Hybrid high-temperature-superconductor (HTS)/semiconductor planar oscillator circuits that operate at a frequency of 8.4 GHz have been developed. In the original intended application,...