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At least 163 records · Page 9

A ram-air-spoiler roll stabilization device for forward control cruciform missiles

An experimental investigation has been made at supersonic Mach numbers to determine the feasibility of using a ram-air-spoiler roll control device on a typical canard control missile configuration. As a basis for roll control comparisons, conventional aileron controls on the tail fins were also tested. Results are presented which indicate that the addition of nacelles on the missile tail fins resulted in satisfactory roll control effectiveness and only small changes in basic missile stability. The ram-air-spoiler roll control effectiveness is relatively constant over the range of vehicle attitudes and Mach numbers investigated.

Blair, A. B., Jr.↗

Controlled release device prevents damage from dynamic stresses

Controlled release device that retards motion by extruding or drawing a tapered ductile pin through a die will control launch vehicle motion at liftoff. The device prevents the damaging dynamic stresses that are imposed on the vehicle when it is instantaneously released at full thrust.

Burcham, T. W.↗

Vortex control for rotor blade devices

To control vortices originating at the tips of a rotor's blades rotating through the air at a revolution frequency f, separation control device(s) are actuated to periodically introduce perturbations into the airflow moving over the blades. The periodic introduction of perturbations is controlled in accordance with a periodic modulating frequency of introduction f.sub.0 while the frequency of the perturbations so-introduced is designated as f.sub.e. Vortex control is achieved when the periodic modulating frequency of introduction f.sub.0 satisfies the relationship nf.ltoreq.f.sub.0.ltoreq.f.sub.e where n is the number of blades.

Greenblatt, David↗

An Investigation in the Ames 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel of a YT-56A Turboprop Engine Incorporating a Decoupler and a Controlled-Feathering Device

An investigation of a decoupler and a controlled-feathering device incorporated with the YT-56A turboprop engine has been made to determine the effectiveness of these devices in reducing the high negative thrust (drag) which accompanies power failure of this type of engine. Power failures were simulated by fuel cut-off, both without either device free to operate, and with each device free to operate singly. The investigation was made through an airspeed range from 50 to 230 mph. It was found that with neither device free to operate, the drag levels realized after power failures at airspeeds above 170 mph would impose vertical tail loads higher than those allowable for the YC-130, the airplane for which the test power package was designed. These levels were reached in approximately one second. The maximum drag realized after power failure was not appreciably altered by the use of the decoupler although the decoupler did put a limit on the duration of the peak drag. The controlled-feathering device maintained a level of essentially zero drag after power failure. The use of the decoupler in the YT-56A engine complicates windmilling air-starting procedures and makes it necessary to place operating restrictions on the engine to assure safe flight at low-power conditions,

Rogallo, Vernon L.↗

The Application of a Cylindrical-spherical Floating Ring Bearing as a Device to Control Stability of Turbogenerators

The development of a new device to control stability of turbogenerators is described. The device comprises a floating ring installed between the journal and bearing housing of a fluid film bearing. The journal and the inner surface of the ring are cylindrical while the outer surface of the ring and bearing surface are spherical providing axial location of the ring and self-alignment of the bearing. The employment of this device would lead to a consistent machine performance. System stability may be controlled by changing a number of bearing and floating ring parameters. This device also offers an additional advantage of having a very low frictional characteristic. A feasibility study was carried out to investigate the suitability of the new device to turbogenerator applications. Both theoretical analysis and experimental observations were carried out. Initial results suggest that the new floating ring device is a competitive alternative to other conventional arrangements.

Leung, P. S.↗

En Route Air Traffic Control Input Devices for the Next Generation

The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of different input device configurations when trial planning new routes for aircraft in an advanced simulation of the en route workstation. The task of trial planning is one of the futuristic tools that is performed by the graphical manipulation of an aircraft's trajectory to reroute the aircraft without voice communication. In this study with two input devices, the FAA's current trackball and a basic optical computer mouse were evaluated with "pick" button in a click-and-hold state and a click-and-release state while the participant dragged the trial plan line. The trial plan was used for three different conflict types: Aircraft Conflicts, Weather Conflicts, and Aircraft + Weather Conflicts. Speed and accuracy were the primary dependent variables. Results indicate that the mouse conditions were significantly faster than the trackball conditions overall with no significant loss of accuracy. Several performance ratings and preference ratings were analyzed from post-run and post-simulation questionnaires. The release conditions were significantly more useful and likable than the hold conditions. The results suggest that the mouse in the release button state was the fastest and most well liked device configuration for trial planning in the en route workstation. Keywords-input devices, en route, controller, workstation, mouse, trackball, NextGen

Mainini, Matthew J.↗

Device provides controlled gas leaks

Modified palladium leak device provides a controlled release /leak/ of very small quantities of gas at low or medium pressures. It has no moving parts, requires less than 5 watts to operate, and is capable of releasing the gas either continuously or in pulses at adjustable flow rates.

Kami, S. K.↗

Optically controlled microwave devices and circuits: Emerging applications in space communications systems

Optical control of microwave devices and circuits by an optical fiber has the potential to simplify signal distribution networks in high frequency communications systems. The optical response of two terminal and three terminal (GaAs MESFET, HEMT, PBT) microwave devices are compared and several schemes for controlling such devices by modulated optical signals examined. Monolithic integration of optical and microwave functions on a single semiconductor substrate is considered to provide low power, low loss, and reliable digital and analog optical links for signal distribution.

Bhasin, Kul B.↗

Electronic system for high power load control

Parallel current paths are divided into two groups, with control devices in the current paths of one group each having a current limiting resistor, and the control devices in the other group each having no limiting resistor, so that when the control devices of the second group are turned fully on, a short circuit is achieved by the arrangement of parallel current paths. Separate but coordinated control signals are provided to turn on the control devices of the first group and increase their conduction toward saturation as a function of control input, and when fully on, or shortly before, to turn on the control devices of the second group and increase their conduction toward saturation as a function of the control input as that input continues to increase. Electronic means may be used to generate signals. The system may be used for 1-V characteristic measurements of solar arrays as well as for other load control purposes.

Miller, E. L.↗

Effects Of Vibrations On Grasp Control

Vibration powerful and specific stimulus to low-level reflex behavior. Report describes experiments on interactions between human operators and hand control device for control of extent of opening and gripping force of remote gripper. Major purpose of study to determine effects of vibrations in device upon ability of operators to control gripping force. Used beneficially in design of controls to provide warning signals preventing operators from commanding excessive, or perhaps insufficient forces.

Hannaford, Blake↗

Temperature controller for hyperthermia devices

Temperature controller monitors and controls temperature in local region of tumor. Medical grade thermocouples are inserted in or near tumor, controller pulse modulates radio frequency diathermy power source to maintain temperature within 0.2 C. System may be extended to control diathermy of more than one tumor or patient.

Couch, R. H.↗

Method and device for maximizing memory system bandwidth by accessing data in a dynamically determined order

A data processing system is disclosed which comprises a data processor and memory control device for controlling the access of information from the memory. The memory control device includes temporary storage and decision ability for determining what order to execute the memory accesses. The compiler detects the requirements of the data processor and selects the data to stream to the memory control device which determines a memory access order. The order in which to access said information is selected based on the location of information stored in the memory. The information is repeatedly accessed from memory and stored in the temporary storage until all streamed information is accessed. The information is stored until required by the data processor. The selection of the order in which to access information maximizes bandwidth and decreases the retrieval time.

Wulf, William A.↗

Complementary Paired G4FETs as Voltage-Controlled NDR Device

It is possible to synthesize a voltage-controlled negative-differential-resistance (NDR) device or circuit by use of a pair of complementary G4FETs (four-gate field-effect transistors). [For more information about G4FETs, please see the immediately preceding article]. As shown in Figure 1, the present voltage-controlled NDR device or circuit is an updated version of a prior NDR device or circuit, known as a lambda diode, that contains a pair of complementary junction field-effect transistors (JFETs). (The lambda diode is so named because its current-versus- voltage plot bears some resemblance to an upper-case lambda.) The present version can be derived from the prior version by substituting G4FETs for the JFETs and connecting both JFET gates of each G4FET together. The front gate terminals of the G4FETs constitute additional terminals (that is, terminals not available in the older JFET version) to which one can apply control voltages VN and VP. Circuits in which NDR devices have been used include (1) Schmitt triggers and (2) oscillators containing inductance/ capacitance (LC) resonant circuits. Figure 2 depicts such circuits containing G4FET NDR devices like that of Figure 1. In the Schmitt trigger shown here, the G4FET NDR is loaded with an ordinary inversion-mode, p-channel, metal oxide/semiconductor field-effect transistor (inversion-mode PMOSFET), the VN terminal of the G4FET NDR device is used as an input terminal, and the input terminals of the PMOSFET and the G4FET NDR device are connected. VP can be used as an extra control voltage (that is, a control voltage not available in a typical prior Schmitt trigger) for adjusting the pinch-off voltage of the p-channel G4FET and thereby adjusting the trigger-voltage window. In the oscillator, a G4FET NDR device is loaded with a conventional LC tank circuit. As in other LC NDR oscillators, oscillation occurs because the NDR counteracts the resistance in the tank circuit. The advantage of this G4FET-NDR LC oscillator over a conventional LC NDR oscillator is that one can apply a time-varying signal to one of the extra control input terminals (VN or VP) to modulate the conductance of the NDR device and thereby amplitude-modulate the output signal.

Mojarradi, Mohammad↗

Methods of Measurement for Semiconductor Materials, Process Control, and Devices

The development of methods of measurement for semiconductor materials, process control, and devices is reported. Significant accomplishments include: (1) Completion of an initial identification of the more important problems in process control for integrated circuit fabrication and assembly; (2) preparations for making silicon bulk resistivity wafer standards available to the industry; and (3) establishment of the relationship between carrier mobility and impurity density in silicon. Work is continuing on measurement of resistivity of semiconductor crystals; characterization of generation-recombination-trapping centers, including gold, in silicon; evaluation of wire bonds and die attachment; study of scanning electron microscopy for wafer inspection and test; measurement of thermal properties of semiconductor devices; determination of S-parameters and delay time in junction devices; and characterization of noise and conversion loss of microwave detector diodes.

Bullis, W. M.↗

Aeroelastic Trim Drag Optimization of Mach 0.8 Transonic Truss-Braced Wing Aircraft using High-Lift Devices and Control Surfaces

This paper presents an aeroelastic trim drag optimization study of the Mach 0.8 Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) aircraft using the High-lift devices and control surfaces. An aero-structural analysis solver VSPAERO with transonic small disturbance, integral boundary-layer, and wing-strut interference corrections coupled to mode shapes computed by NASTRAN using the Galerkin method is developed to provide a rapid aircraft aeroelastic performance evaluation. Three different flight conditions corresponding to Mach 0.8 are selected for the aeroelastic trim drag optimization at the design and off-design cruise lift coefficients. The preliminary optimization results show that the TTBW aircraft with the optimized deflection of the high-lift devices and control surfaces achieves a drag reduction of about 8.2 counts, 6.5 counts, and 9.7 counts corresponding to the lift coefficients 0.661, 0.695, and 0.729, respectively. A high-fidelity CFD solver FUN3D is used to verify the aeroelastic trim drag optimization.

TTBW↗

Methods of measurement for semiconductor materials, process control, and devices

The development of methods of measurement for semiconductor materials, process control, and devices is discussed. The following subjects are also presented: (1) demonstration of the high sensitivity of the infrared response technique by the identification of gold in a germanium diode, (2) verification that transient thermal response is significantly more sensitive to the presence of voids in die attachment than steady-state thermal resistance, and (3) development of equipment for determining susceptibility of transistors to hot spot formation by the current-gain technique.

Bullis, W. M.↗