Abstract: A maximum likelihood CCK detector has a first subtractor which subtracts the contents of a pre-equalize register from a current symbol, and the output of this subtractor is coupled to a simple Fast Walsh Transform (FWT) with an iteration variable k. The output of the FWT is coupled to a second subtractor for subtracting a plurality of ICI corrections for all possible current symbols computed from the post-FWT domain value of the current CCK symbol and stored in post equalization registers. A post equalization register contains values computed from feedback filter coefficients determined during a packet preamble, where the feedback filter coefficients are provided to a reduced complexity post equalization value generator which populates the post equalization register using an iteration variable i.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for water purification has a stationary electrode opposing a movable electrode which are positioned about a passageway for the water to be purified. The stationary electrode and movable electrode form an arc gap, and the arc gap is fed with a voltage from a pulsatile power supply. The arc gap is reduced when the current is below a first threshold and increased when the current is above a second threshold, and the arc gap change is realized by controlling a motor attached to feeder rollers coupled to the movable electrode. The apparatus causes the formation of oxide nano-particles providing durable bactericidal action.

Abstract: A wireless signal processor for handling a plurality of wireless sessions comprises a plurality of baseband receivers, one for each session, each receiver producing a digital output, a multiplexer for multiplexing the plurality of digital outputs into a single data stream, a digital signal processor for converting the stream of multiplexed data into a media access controller format, and a media access controller for demultiplexing and framing the stream of data into a plurality of data buffers, one data buffer for each wireless session.

Abstract: A integrated system for generation of packet detection, symbol timing, and coarse frequency offset for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) receiver having a stream of input symbols applied comprises a first multiplier performing a multiplication on a delayed and conjugated stream of input symbols multiplied by the input symbol stream. The output of the first multiplier is summed over a symbol length. A second multiplier has an output formed from multiplying the delayed symbol stream by its conjugate, thereby providing a signal strength term Pn. The output of the second multiplier is summed over two symbol periods, and multiplied by a known threshold to form a threshold value. When the magnitude of cn term rises above the known threshold, this generates a packet detect output, and when the magnitude of Cn terms thereafter falls below the known threshold, this generates a symbol timing output.

Abstract: A quantizer has a plurality of decision blocks, each coupled from input to output, where each decision blocks output generates a binary value that is an unchanged decision block input if the decision block input is below the threshold input level divided by a power of 2, or the decision block subtracts a threshold divided by the power of 2 and passes this result as the decision block output. The quantizer output is formed from the bits of each comparison from each decision block. The threshold is developed from a channel noise variance which may be multiplied by a scale factor related to coding type and rate. In this manner, a large number of input bits to be quantized may be converted to a smaller number of quantizer output bits, while preserving the dynamic range information required to correctly decode signals passed through a communications channel having multi-path frequency selective fading.

Abstract: A baseband receiver having quadrature analog outputs and a plurality of analog control and status signals and a transmit modulator having analog quadrature inputs and a plurality of analog control and status signals are coupled to a transmit processor having a digital output and a plurality of digital control and status signals and to a receive processor having a digital input and a plurality of digital control and status signals by multiplexing analog to digital converters and digital to analog converters such that during a receive time the converters are used for a receive purpose and during a transmit time, the converters are used for a transmit purpose.

Abstract: A power combiner for the combining of symmetric and asymmetric traveling wave energy comprises a feed waveguide having an input port and a launching port, a reflector for reflecting launched wave energy, and a final waveguide for the collection and transport of launched wave energy. The power combiner has a launching port for symmetrical waves which comprises a cylindrical section coaxial to the feed waveguide, and a launching port for asymmetric waves which comprises a sawtooth rotated about a central axis.

Abstract: A multi-head actuator data storage device reads and writes data simultaneously to one of a plurality m of heads, the plurality of m heads mounted on each of n head actuators where the plurality of n head actuators are separated from each other by an angular separation distance of 360/n degrees. The data on the disk is organized into a plurality of logical sectors, each logical sector comprising n ordered physical sectors, where the plurality n of ordered physical sectors is separated by the same angular distance separating the head actuators. During a write operation, each head actuator independently seeks to a unique physical sector, and the order of the physical sectors is communicated to a data de-multiplexer which writes de-multiplexed data to the physical sectors in a predetermined order.

Abstract: Waveguide sensors having a side-polished coupling port at the waveguide cladding to sense a material based on material-specific optical attenuation by evanescent coupling at the coupling port.

Abstract: Optical devices having at least one whispering gallery mode cavity formed on a side-polished coupling port of a fiber or waveguide based on evanescent coupling are described.

Abstract: Fiber sensors formed on side-polished fiber coupling ports based on evanescent coupling. Such sensors may be configured to measure various materials and may be used to form multi-phase sensing devices.

Abstract: Fiber sensors formed on side-polished fiber coupling ports based on evanescent coupling are described. Such sensors may be configured to measure various materials and may be used to form multi-phase sensing devices. A Bragg grating may be implemented in such sensors to form reflective fiber sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a vacuum arc plasma source device using a low mass, compact inductive energy storage circuit powered by a low voltage DC supply acts as a vacuum arc plasma thruster. An inductor is charged through a switch, subsequently the switch is opened and a voltage spike of Ldi/dt is produced initiating plasma across a resistive path separating anode and cathode. The plasma is subsequently maintained by energy stored in the inductor. Plasma is produced from cathode material, which allows for any electrically conductive material to be used. A planar structure, a tubular structure, and a coaxial structure allow for consumption of cathode material feed and thereby long lifetime of the thruster for long durations of time.

Abstract: A power supply consumes mains power and has first outputs which produce an operational voltage for controlling a CPU and a primary link interface. The primary link interface is capable of sending a mains fail message through the primary link using only power from one of the first outputs. The power supply also produces second outputs for powering circuitry not related to the transmission of this power fail message. The power supply detects loss of mains power and signals this by pulling the second outputs to a signal voltage which may be near ground during a first output holdup time. The equipment powered by this supply detects the second output changing from an operational voltage to a signaling voltage, and sends this information to the CPU, which sends a power fail message across the primary link interface during the first output holdup time.

Abstract: A slow wave structure for coupling RF energy with an electron beam comprises a co-propagating RF section including a plurality of pins having a uniform separation from the plane of an electron beam axis. An output aperture is positioned a half wavelength from a reflection section comprising a change in depth of the pintles, such that RF energy reflected by the change in pintle depth is added to the RF energy traveling with the electron beam. One or more rows of pintles are removed in the region of the output aperture to enhance coupling to the output aperture. The device may include a beam shaper for shaping the electron beam to surround the pintles, and the beam shaper and pintles may share common channels which are longitudinal to the electron beam axis. The slow wave structure may operate in forward and backward wave modes, and may be used in conjunction with other structures to form amplifiers and oscillators.

Abstract: A high speed communications interface divides data into a plurality of lanes, each lane encoded with clocking information, serialized, and sent to an interface. During cycles when there is no available data to send, IDLE_EVEN and IDLE_ODD cells are sent on alternating cycles. Data is transmitted by sending a header which spans all lanes and includes a START symbol. The final data transaction includes a Frame Check Sequence (FCS) which operates over the entire header and data. The packet is terminated by an END symbol, which is sent after the final data, and the remainder of the lanes are padded with IDLE_EVEN, IDLE_ODD, IDLE_EVEN_BUSY, or IDLE_ODD_BUSY cycles. The interface has a variable clock rate.

Abstract: A traveling wave device for the combining or splitting of symmetric and asymmetric traveling wave energy includes a feed waveguide for traveling wave energy, the feed waveguide having an input port and a launching port, a reflector for coupling wave energy between the feed waveguide and a final waveguide for the collection and transport of wave energy to or from the reflector. The power combiner has a launching port for symmetrical waves which includes a cylindrical section coaxial to the feed waveguide, and a launching port for asymmetric waves which includes a sawtooth rotated about a central axis.

Abstract: A fiber optic sensor comprises two independent fibers having Bragg gratings which are coupled to commutating broadband optical sources through splitters and wavelength discriminators. The ratio of detected optical energy in each of two detectors examining the wave intensity returned to a wavelength discriminator coupled with the characteristic of the wavelength discriminator determines the wavelength returned by the grating. In another embodiment, tunable filters are utilized to detect minimum returned wave energy to extract a sensor wavelength Reference to the original grating wavelength indicates the application of either temperature or strain to the grating. In another embodiment, a plurality of Bragg grating sensor elements is coupled to sources and controllers wherein a dimensional change in a fiber having a Bragg grating is detected using a measurement system comprising broad-band sources, optical power splitters, a high-sensitivity wavelength discriminator, optical detectors, and a controller.

Abstract: An RF device comprising a plurality of drift tubes, each drift tube having a plurality of gaps defining resonant cavities, is immersed in an axial magnetic field. RF energy is introduced at an input RF port at one of these resonant cavities and collected at an output RF port at a different RF cavity. A plurality of electron beams passes through these drift tubes, and each electron beam has an individual magnetic shaping applied which enables confined beam transport through the drift tubes.

Abstract: A depressed collector for recovery of spent beam energy from electromagnetic sources emitting sheet or large aspect ration annular electron beams operating aver a broad range of beam voltages and currents. The collector incorporates a trap for capturing and preventing the return of reflected and secondary electrons.