A format for representing floating point numbers reduces the overhead typically associated with parsing floating point numbers and thereby provides for significantly improved processing speeds, particularly for bit-serial processors. According to an exemplary single-precision embodiment, numbers are represented using a 36-bit data format. Extra bits in the representation according to the invention allow certain conditions, such as overflow/underflow and the zero-ness of a number, to be detected ...

A modular spacecraft and fabrication method for producing a spacecraft of the kind that forms an enclosure and framework for installation of the external and internal subsystems of the spacecraft. The primary structure of the spacecraft is formed as a split shell enclosure including composite formed upper and lower shell portions. The spacecraft, with the shells open, provides an extremely high degree of access during the assembly, installation and test of the spacecraft. A self-aligning tapered...

Input data is partitioned and organized by building a sequence of predefined data structures corresponding to respective data models, each having a different organization and including pointers for propagating input data or data from a preceding data structure therethrough. Each data structure also includes fields for data values which may be input by a user or computed from other data stored therein and pointers referencing instances in a previous data structure in the sequence of data structur...

Interconnections are made through a planar circuit by a monolithic short-circuited transmission path which extends from a circuit portion of the planar circuit to the opposite side. The opposite side is ground sufficiently to remove the short-circuiting plate, thereby separating the previously monolithic conductors, and exposing ends of the separated conductors of the transmission path. Connection is made between the exposed conductors of the transmission path and the registered contacts of a se...

A cover for sealing a munition within a canister has an inner layer of tempered glass bonded by an adhesive to an outer layer of structural foam having at least one score mark thereon. Upon launch of the munition, the inner layer of tempered glass breaks into numerous fragments which remain bonded to the outer layer of scored foam by the adhesive layer. The outer layer of foam then breaks along its score marks into two or more pieces that have pieces of the inner layer of glass bonded thereto. T...

A dynamic and adaptive communication network for monitoring broadcast messages issued by a population of mobile broadcasting devices and for forwarding broadcast messages to a central station is disclosed. The communication network comprises a grid of monitors for receiving and transmitting messages; and a main monitor of the grid in direct communication the central station; wherein each monitor of the grid receives and stores broadcast messages from broadcast devices within range thereof and mo...

A method and apparatus for electrically generating sets of binary spreading-code sequences for use in a multi-node communication network. Also, a method for assigning disjoint sets of binary spreading-code sequences to different nodes of such a network. Each set of binary spreading-code sequences consists of multiple sequences, which are generated using two binary shift registers. The sequences can be generated simultaneously, or sequence segments can be generated sequentially. To generate seque...

A penetrator having a plurality of stacked penetrator segments is disclosed. One or more of the segments contains an explosive element Each segment has a nose portion and a rear portion. The rear portion of each segment has a rearwardly opening cavity therein and a plurality of fins pivotally mounted thereon. The segments are stacked such that the cavity of the forwardmost segment contains the nose portion of the following segment, and the following segments are similarly positioned such that th...

This disclosure describes a payment and disbursement system, wherein an initiator authorizes a payment and disbursement to a collector and the collector processes the payment and disbursement through an accumulator agency. The accumulator agency processes the payment as a debit-based transaction and processes the disbursement as an addendum-based transaction. The processing of a debit-based transaction generally occurs by electronic funds transfer (EFT) or by financial electronic data interchang...

A pulse detonation engine has a pulse ignition system, a plurality of detonation chambers (15), an oxygen source (33), and a fuel source (35). The oxygen source and the fuel source supply oxygen and fuel, respectively, to both the pulse ignition system and to the detonation chambers. The pulse ignition system creates detonation waves by igniting a first series of fuel mixtures inside a plurality of igniter tubes (39) equal to the number of detonation chambers (15). One detonation wave is deliver...