| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080245560 | Combined environmental-electromagnetic rotary seal - A combined environmental and electromagnetic rotary seal. The invention is adapted for use between two mutually rotating components of an electromagnetic energy transmission system and provides simultaneous protection against contamination from the environment and unwanted electromagnetic leakage. In the illustrative embodiment, a first set of grooves is cut into the exterior of a first conductive cylindrical component whose interior contains a portion of a millimeter-wave beam waveguide energy transmission system, the grooves comprising the electromagnetic portion of the seal and a second set of grooves is cut into the interior of the conductive housing enclosing the first conductive cylindrical component. The second set of grooves comprises the environmental portion of the seal when a set of standard environmental seals (such as elastomeric o-ring seals) are seated in each groove in the second set of grooves and each seal is compressed between the groove in which it is seated and the exterior of the first conductive cylindrical component. The environmental seals maintain a nearly uniform annular gap between the first conductive cylindrical component and the conductive housing such that the two conductors do not make physical contact. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080303716 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PHASED ARRAY - Methods and apparatus according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a phased array system. The phased array system may include an array structural frame defining an array of module-receiving mounting locations. The phased array system may further include multiple array modules. Each array module may be adapted to be mounted in one of the mounting locations, and may include an antenna and a power source. The power source may supply power to the array module during an array transmit operation. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080316101 | High power phased array antenna system and method with low power switching - A module having a first coupler for directing power from a source to first and second paths; a first amplifier disposed in the first path; a second amplifier disposed in the second path; and a second coupler for combining the outputs of the first and second amplifiers. In a more specific implementation, the module further includes a switch connected to the first coupler. The switch is a single-pole double throw switch. Each coupler is a 90-degree coupler that provides the combined energy output by each amplifier to a first or a second output port based on the position of the switch. The first coupler has first and second inputs, each input connected to a throw of the switch. The inclusion of a variable phase shifter allows for the module to be used to drive an element of a phased array antenna. For high power applications, multiple such inventive modules may be used to drive the elements of one or more phased arrays, pointed in different directions, to provide a desired coverage pattern. In this application, each module is adapted to switch energy at low power levels to drive one or more apertures at high power levels. The modules can also be configured as receive only or with circulators as transmit/receive modules. The inventive method provides a technique for switching power at high levels to and from phase array and other antennas and a technique for providing area coverage using multiple phase array antenna arrangements. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090073073 | Foldable Reflect Array - A foldable reflect array may include a plurality of geometrically-flat reflect antennas. Each of the reflect antennas may include a respective plurality of antenna elements to receive and retransmit an incident wavefront, and each of the plurality of reflect antennas may be foldably coupled to at least one other of the plurality of reflect antennas. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090119968 | WEAPON HAVING LETHAL AND NON-LETHAL DIRECTED ENERGY PORTIONS - A portable weapon comprises a non-lethal portion and a lethal portion. The lethal portion may comprise a rifle, and the non-lethal portion may comprise a millimeter-wave directed energy weapon. The non-lethal portion may comprise a kit to add non-lethal capability to a lethal weapon. The non-lethal portion may comprise an output antenna to generate a high-power millimeter-wave initial wavefront, a main reflector, and a sub-reflector to reflect the initial wavefront to the main reflector. The main reflector may direct the reflected wavefront in a bore-sighted direction toward a target. The wavefront directed by the main reflector may have a power density selected to deliver a non-lethal deterring effect on the target. In some embodiments, the non-lethal portion may include a replaceable energy-storage module. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090310308 | Integrated Replaceable Energy Storage and Coolant Module - There is disclosed a self-contained electronic apparatus containing at least some power-dissipating components which may require cooling. The self-contained electronic apparatus may also include a removable and replaceable energy storage module. The removable and replaceable energy storage module may include a power element to provide electrical energy for the self-contained electronic apparatus and a cooling element to cool at least a portion of the power dissipating components. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20100109776 | Millimeter Wave Monolithic Integrated Circuits - A millimeter wave amplifier constructed on a substrate and configured for use at a frequency of 75 GHz or higher, may include four amplifier stages. A first inter-stage filter, resonant at an operating frequency of the amplifier, may couple the output of the first stage to the input of the second stage. A second inter-stage filter, resonant at the operating frequency, may couple the output of the second stage to the input of the third stage. A third inter-stage filter, resonant at the operating frequency, may couple the output of the third stage to the input of the fourth stage. A plurality of bias supply leads that couple a gate bias voltage and a drain bias voltage to each of the amplifier stages. A plurality of bias line filters, resonant at the operating frequency, may be connected from at least some of the bias supply leads to a ground plane. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100109784 | MILLIMETER WAVE MONOLITHIC INTEGRATED CIRCUITS AND METHODS OF FORMING SUCH INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - A description is provided of a high-frequency, multi-stage, millimeter wave amplifier integrated circuit, and of a method for designing and constructing the circuit. The methods and structures have been created to enable the construction of an amplifier offering substantial gain at a relatively high power and high frequency, but occupying minimal area of an integrated circuit die. Various structures and methodologies are described which each contribute to the practical feasibility of constructing an amplifier with such performance in a relatively compact space. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100149038 | Portable Millimeter-Wave Near Field Scanner - There is disclosed an apparatus to test an antenna. A transmitter generates a test signal radiated by the antenna under test. A near field scanner includes a field sampling probe to capture electromagnetic energy radiated by an antenna under test. An x-y positioning system including x and y positioning motors moves the field sampling probe over a measurement surface disposed proximate to the antenna under test. A quasi-optical beam transport system couples at least a portion of the captured electromagnetic energy from the field sampling probe to a scanner output port. A receiver is coupled to the scanner output port. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100210225 | MODULAR SOLID-STATE MILLIMETER WAVE (MMW) RF POWER SOURCE - A modular solid-state MMW power source based on a topology of the lens array amplifier provides both the flexibility to scale output power and effective thermal management. The modular power source includes a single submodule that uses one or more power dividers and one or more solid-state amplification stages to divide and amplify an RF input signal into R amplified RF signals. The submodule is mounted (suitably in the X-Y plane) on the surface of a heat sink, suitably coupled to a cold backplane, to remove heat. R 1:N low loss power dividers route the amplified RF signals to R*N radiating elements. Each of the 1:N power dividers suitably reside in the X-Z plane and are stacked in the Y direction to provide a planar output of the R*N radiating elements in the Y-Z plane. Placement of the amplifier chips on the single submodule decouples the number of amplifier chips, hence output power, from the number of radiating elements. Placement of the amplifier chips away from the radiating face provides a short path with large thermal cross-section through the heat sink to the backplane to remove heat. The topology can produce high output power combined with a high antenna gain to produce large power-aperture products previously only achievable with a Gyrotron. As amplifier chips become more powerful, the topology can be adapted to use fewer chips. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100263924 | Combined environmental-electromagnetic rotary seal - A combined environmental and electromagnetic rotary seal. The invention is adapted for use between two mutually rotating components of an electromagnetic energy transmission system and provides simultaneous protection against contamination from the environment and unwanted electromagnetic leakage. In the illustrative embodiment, a first set of grooves is cut into the exterior of a first conductive cylindrical component whose interior contains a portion of a millimeter-wave beam waveguide energy transmission system, the grooves comprising the electromagnetic portion of the seal and a second set of grooves is cut into the interior of the conductive housing enclosing the first conductive cylindrical component. The second set of grooves comprises the environmental portion of the seal when a set of standard environmental seals (such as elastomeric o-ring seals) are seated in each groove in the second set of grooves and each seal is compressed between the groove in which it is seated and the exterior of the first conductive cylindrical component. The environmental seals maintain a nearly uniform annular gap between the first conductive cylindrical component and the conductive housing such that the two conductors do not make physical contact. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100269674 | Safeguard System for Ensuring Device Operation in Conformance with Governing Laws - A safeguard system ensures device operation in conformance with governing laws for devices such as directed energy weapons or surveillance systems, whose misuse may discomfort, harm or otherwise violate the legal rights of a person. A legal protocol is defined by rules embodying the laws that govern the use of the device and requires as inputs an authorization to use the device and input condition(s) relating to at least one of a use of the device, an attribute of a human target of the device and an operational environment of the device and human target. The safeguard system applies the rules to the authorization and input condition(s) to generate a control signal that ensures the device is used in conformance with the legal protocol. A documentation system records the authorization, input condition(s) applied rules, and control signal. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100283657 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIVERTING A GUIDED MISSILE - The disclosed system, device, and method for diverting a guided missile generally includes a ground-based sensor array generating tracking data of a guided missile tracking a target. A control node in communication with the ground-based sensor array generates targeting data from the tracking data. A phased array directed-energy unit in communication with the control node radiates the guided missile with variable beam width microwave radiation based on the targeting data received from the control node, where the microwave radiation disrupts an electronic component of the guided missile such that the guided missile discontinues tracking the target. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20110025423 | MILLIMETER-WAVE MONOLITHIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT AMPLIFIER WITH OPPOSITE DIRECTION SIGNAL PATHS AND METHOD FOR AMPLIFYING MILLIMETER-WAVE SIGNALS - Embodiments of a high-frequency millimeter-wave amplifier are generally described herein. The high-frequency millimeter-wave amplifier may be constructed on a substrate to operate at a frequency of at least 75 GHz. In some embodiments, the millimeter-wave amplifier may include at least first, second, third and fourth amplifier stages coupled in series. A single drain bias bond pad provided on the substrate to provide a drain bias voltage to the drains of the first, second, third and fourth amplifier stages. Drain bias lines may be electrically coupled to the single drain bias bond pad and extend at least partially alongside and between some of the amplifier stages. A signal path through the second amplifier stage extends in a direction opposite of signal paths through the first and third amplifier stages. In some embodiments, a 95 GHz amplifier is provided and configured occupy an area on the substrate of no greater than approximately four square millimeters. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110102284 | Low Loss Broadband Planar Transmission Line To Waveguide Transition - A transition for coupling a microwave signal between a transmission line formed on a planar dielectric substrate and a hollow waveguide may include a half-notch antenna formed on a portion of the dielectric substrate extending into an open end of the hollow waveguide. | 05-05-2011 |
