General Dynamics

About: General Dynamics is a company organization based out in Fairfax, Virginia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Signal & Propellant. The organization has 5722 authors who have published 5819 publications receiving 85768 citations. The organization is also known as: GD & General Dynamics Corporation.

Uniform plasma etching system

Abstract: A uniform plasma etching system includes a plasma reaction chamber with a source of reactive gas communicating therewith and an RF generator connected to individual electrodes located in the plasma chamber, the electrodes arranged for defining separate part cells and separate plasma generating chambers between the separate cells and means for individually and separately adjusting each of the cells.

Compensation circuitry for dual port phase-locked loops

Abstract: Phase port gain compensating circuitry is coupled to the phase modulation summing circuit and voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) gain compensating circuitry is coupled to the frequency control terminal of the VCO. Compensator control circuitry utilizes divider ratio control information to control the characteristics of the two compensators to compensate for otherwise undesirable effects on the phase-locked loop response parameters caused by changes in the divider ratio and in the VCO gain.

Roving geosynchronous orbit satellite maintenance system

Abstract: A satellite maintenance system for satellite stations orbiting in the geosynchronous corridor comprising a roving satellite maintenance vehicle capable of operating autonomously in the geosynchronous corridor and containing replacement hardware in modular form by which maintenance operation can be made on the satellite station by the exchange of one module for another thereby repairing or upgrading the hardware in the satellite station to prolong its useful life. The maintenance vehicle is capable of operating in the corridor for prolonged periods of time in a standby mode and capable of proceeding, on command, to the satellite station to perform the maintenance function automatically.

Device and method for optically correlating a pair of images

Abstract: A two-dimensional optical correlation apparatus includes a transmissive optical mask having a transmissivity pattern corresponding to a two-dimensional reference image and an input image buffer that stores a sequence of pixels corresponding to a raster-scanned input image. The input buffer includes a subimage frame corresponding to a particular segment of the raster-scanned format. As the pixels are serially shifted through the image buffer, every subimage in the input image appears at some time in the subimage frame. The subimage frame is connected to an array of optical emitters. As the input image pixels are serially shifted, the emitter array produces a succession of two-dimensional optical signals corresponding to the succession of input image subimages shafted through the subimage frame. The output of the emitter array is projected onto the transparent mask. Light transmitted through the transparent mask from the emitter array is collected on a single photodiode whose output represents the correlation of the reference image and the input image subimage instantaneously stored in the subimage frame.

Hinge for deployable structures self locking hinge

Abstract: A two-piece hinge which is spring biased in both its folded position and in its unfolded or deployed position to provide built-in deployment power for structural members and which is provided with trigger/locking mechanisms which are held in an unlocked position when the hinge and the structural members are in their folded position and which triggers and releases the locking mechanisms to lock the hinge in its unfolded or deployed position for positive locking capability. Two trigger-locking mechanisms are used for redundancy.