Abstract: An electronic scanning antenna system configured for beam scanning operation includes a plurality of antenna modules, each respective antenna module including: (a) a plurality of antenna elements arranged in a plurality of element sets, the plurality of element sets being arranged in a plurality of columns; (b) a plurality of beam forming network devices coupled with the plurality of antenna elements, each respective beam forming network device including at least one tunable dielectric phase shifter unit; and (c) at least one control unit coupled with the plurality of beam forming network devices, each control unit controlling the plurality of beam forming network devices to configure signals to operate the plurality of antenna elements to effect the beam scanning operation.

Abstract: A tunable electrical filter constructed pursuant to the teachings of the present invention includes: (a) a plurality of resonator units coupled between an input locus and an output locus; and (b) a plurality of tunable dielectric varactor units; respective individual varactor units of the plurality of varactor units being coupled between respective pairs of the plurality of resonator units, coupled between the plurality of resonator units and the input locus, and coupled between the plurality of resonator units and the output locus.

Abstract: An apparatus for situating a toroidal inductor having an inductor inner dimension, such as a ferrite bead, onto a rod having a diametral dimension. The apparatus comprises a flexible tubular supporter that has a first end, a second end, a support inner dimension substantially equal to the diametral dimension and a support outer dimension. The supporter flexes when installing the inductor to establish the support outer dimension at less than the inductor inner dimension to allow the inductor to surround the supporter and rod situated intermediate the first and second end with the supporter flexed to establish the support outer dimension at greater than the inductor inner dimension intermediate the inductor and the first and second end. Alternatively, the supporter may be a molded or snap-on cover substantially enclosing the inductor with apertures for frictionally fitting over a rod to secure the inductor in place.

Abstract: An electromagnetic antenna apparatus exhibits a generally continuous signal response between a first frequency and a second frequency, and further exhibits a deviation from the signal response in a frequency region centered substantially at a selected frequency between the first frequency and the second frequency. The apparatus includes: (a) an antenna transceiving element; (b) a feed structure coupled with the antenna receiving element for communicating transceiving signals with the antenna transceiving element; and (c) a discontinuity structure in the antenna transceiving element coupled with the feed structure. The discontinuity structure is configured for effecting return of selected transceiving signals to the feed structure as return signals. The return signals effect the deviation.

Abstract: A method for predicting stability of a closed loop apparatus is disclosed. The closed loop apparatus has an open loop impedance and at least one inherent internal gain. The method comprises the steps of: (a) identifying an impedance scaling factor associated with the closed loop apparatus that may be expressed in terms including the open loop impedance, the at least one inherent internal gain, a gain variable and a phase variable; (b) vectorally establishing a first scaling value for the impedance scaling factor as a function of frequency while maintaining a first variable of the gain variable and the phase variable at a first working value to record the first scaling value for a plurality of frequencies.

Abstract: A system for managing luggage handling includes: (a) a central information management appliance; (b) a plurality of portable impulse radio communication devices; and (c) at least one impulse radio transceiving instrument. The at least one impulse radio transceiving instrument, the plurality of communication devices and the central information management appliance are in communication. Selected portable impulse radio communication devices of the plurality of portable impulse radio communication devices are coded communication devices. Respective coded communication devices are attached with respective luggage items and communicate indication of at least one item relating to the respective luggage item.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting synchrony with a received transmitted signal in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The transmitted signal is encoded according to a predetermined coding scheme and arranged in a plurality of first frames in a first succession having a first period. The apparatus comprises: (a) a timing circuit for generating a trigger signal for effecting periodic sampling of the transmitted signal at a sampling node; the trigger signal and the transmitted signal cooperate at the sampling node to generate a detection indication signal; (b) a reference signal source for generating a reference signal for the timing circuit in a plurality of second frames in a second succession having a second period; an amount by which the first period and the second period differ establishes a base offset; (c) an offset generator device; the offset generator device is coupled with the sampling node and with the timing circuit; the offset generator device receives the detection indication signal.

Abstract: A system is for providing communication between a caller and a special number call answering facility including call answering positions. Calls are in a first call format including caller identification information or a second call format without identification information. The system includes: (a) A first switch coupled with a special number switch in a network. The first switch receives a first call in the first format, converts the first call to an interim call maintaining the identification information in the second call format and presents the interim call at an output. (B) A second switch coupled with the call answering facility, coupled with the first switch and coupled with an administrative number switch in the network. The second switch receives the second call in the second format and the interim call and distributes the calls among the call answering positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for establishing inductive coupling in an electrical circuit arranged on a plurality of dielectric substrates, the substrates being in a substantially abutting relationship and presenting a plurality of substantially parallel planar expanses, includes: (a) at least one first core segment situated in at least one first depression provided in a first planar expanse; (b) at least one second core segment situated in at least one second depression provided in a second planar expanse; (c) a selected second core segment is arranged for establishing magnetic flux coupling with a selected first core segment to establish a magnetic core structure; (d) a plurality of electrically conductive through-hole structures traverse at least one substrate; (e) a plurality of electrically conductive circuit traces are arrayed upon at least two of the planar expanses. The conductive traces and the through-hole structures cooperate to establish inductive coupling.

Abstract: A system for fixing two components together includes: (a) a boss integrally formed from one component about a boss axis; and (b) a latch integrally formed from the other component in a depending extension facilitating latch movement in an engaging plane and exerting a spring force urging the latch toward a first position. The latch is oriented about a latch axis in the engaging plane. The latch is in the first position when the components are situated in an initial position with the latch axis and the boss axis separated a first distance. The latch axis and the boss axis are separated a second distance less than the first distance when the components are urged together to an installed orientation with the latch held from the first position by the boss bearing against the latch with the engaging plane crossing the boss axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting electrical connection between a power source and equipment includes: (a) a first conductor having a first aperture; (b) a second conductor having a second aperture; (c) an insulator having a connecting bore coaxial with the first and second apertures to establish a bridging passage extending a bridging distance to traverse the first conductor, the insulator and the second conductor when assembled with the first conductor and the second conductor substantially parallel separated by the insulator; and (d) a bridge having an axial length at least equal with the bridging distance and a transaxial dimension less than the passage diameter and having a first engagement structure in the first aperture and a second engagement structure in the second aperture when the bridge is engaged; the bridge is removable from engagement to interrupt electrical connection between the power source and the equipment.

Abstract: An antenna apparatus includes: (a) A radial waveguide parallel with a reference plane and having a first conductive element in parallel spaced relation with a second conductive element. The radial waveguide has a first signal coupling locus for coupling signals with a host unit and a plurality of second signal coupling loci. The radial waveguide distributes signals between the first signal coupling locus and the second signal coupling loci. (b) Signal coupling elements, each presenting a respective signal coupling path for effecting signal coupling association with a respective second signal coupling locus. Each signal coupling path is perpendicular with the reference plane. (c) Antenna elements, each associated with a signal coupling element, each a polygonal element parallel with the reference plane. The radial waveguide element, the signal coupling elements and the antenna elements cooperate to transfer electromagnetic signals between the host unit and a medium adjacent to the antenna elements.

Abstract: An antenna array comprising a ground plane and a plurality of elements mounted thereon, said elements being capable of emitting and receiving ultra wideband emissions. Elements are arrayed on the ground plane in two parallel rows, a transmitting row, and a receiving row, such that a given element in the receiving row is aligned in at least one direction with a corresponding element in the transmitting row. Additionally, the elements are configured on the ground plane to elicit a symmetrical product response in the azimuthal plane, and to produce horizontally polarized signals. An alternative embodiment places the elements with unique inter-element spacing within the rows. An embodiment comprises a fence structure between rows. A method for use comprises the step of transmitting a signal via an element in the transmitting row and receiving said signal through an element in the receiving row, not aligned with the transmitting element.

Abstract: A tunable electromagnetic transmission structure for effecting coupling of electromagnetic signals having a frequency includes: (a) a dielectric substrate having an opposing first side and second side; (b) at least one first conductive land occupying a first area on the first side; (c) at least two second conductive lands on the second side separated by at least one substantially linear channel; the at least one channel having a width established by the frequency; the at least two second conductive lands and the at least one channel occupying a second area generally in register with the first area; and (d) a tunable dielectric material at least substantially filling the at least one channel; the tunable dielectric layer being electrically coupled with at least two second conductive lands of the at least two second conductive lands.

Abstract: A waveguide apparatus for bidirectional distribution of signals includes: (a) a first conductive element parallel with a reference plane; (b) a second conductive element in spaced parallel relation with the first element; (c) a first coupling locus situated in the first element; and (d) second coupling loci arrayed in the second element. Each second coupling locus includes an aperture traversing the second element at a lineal distance from the first coupling locus in a lineal plane perpendicular with the reference plane and containing a line from the first coupling locus. Each aperture has a major and a minor axis. The major axis establishes an installation attitude with respect to the lineal plane. The lineal distance and the installation attitude for each aperture are selected to distribute electromagnetic signals having substantially equal power.

Abstract: An apparatus for coupling a signal supply with an antenna including first and second elements. The signal supply delivers a signal to the antenna at a connection locus. The first element has a first edge and the second element has a second edge; the connection locus includes part of the first and second edges. The apparatus includes a first and second feed structure. The first feed structure extends a feed distance from the signal supply to the second edge and divides the first element into two lands in spaced relation with the first feed structure to establish a separation distance intermediate the first feed structure and the two lands. The second feed structure couples the signal supply with the first proximal edge. The separation distance establishes a signal transmission structure between the two lands and the first feed structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for coupling electromagnetic signals from a signal transfer locus for electromagnetic transfer with a proximal medium includes: (a) An antenna element presenting elements in a spaced parallel relation with an antenna plane on a first dielectric substrate. (b) A transmission structure including a second dielectric substrate parallel with a transmission plane perpendicular with the antenna plane and including a slot line structure and a ground plane. The slot line structure has a first end proximal with the signal transfer locus and a second end within electromagnetic coupling range of the antenna element. The ground plane cooperates with the slot line structure and the second dielectric substrate to effect transmission of electromagnetic signals between the first end and the second end. (c) A coupling aperture traverses a respective antenna element adjacent each respective second end in register with the respective second end.

Abstract: An electromagnetic apparatus having an adjusting effective core gap includes: (a) an electrical winding; and (b) a ferrous core situated proximal with the electrical winding. The core has a first terminus and a second terminus arranged in spaced relation to establish a gap distance between the termini in a region in substantial register with the termini. The winding and the core cooperate to establish an inductance related with an electrical current applied to the winding. At least one terminus of the termini has a configuration responsive to varying the current by effecting selective local saturation of successive portions of the at least one terminus for successive values of the current. The selective local saturation establishes successive new effective gap distances. Each respective new effective gap distance is appropriate for establishing a successive new optimum inductance for the current value then extant.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying electromagnetic energy intermediate a host device and a medium substantially adjacent to the apparatus includes: (a) a transceiver for transmitting the energy to and receiving the energy from the medium; (b) a transmission structure for conveying signals to or from the host device; and (c) a feed structure coupling the transceiver with the transmission structure. The transceiver includes a planar metal layer arrayed upon a dielectric substrate. The metal layer is bounded by a first edge and a second edge. The first and second edges cooperate to form a bight having a first and a second arm establishing a metal-free area intermediate the first and second arms. The first arm presents a first terminal locus and the second arm presents a second terminal locus. The feed structure is coupled with the first and second terminal loci to effect the coupling.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting a preload operation of an electrical converter device that includes a primary circuit section inductively coupled with at least one secondary circuit section presenting at least one output voltage at at least one output locus includes: (a) a load coupled with at least one selected output locus of the at least one output locus; (b) a switch device electrically coupling the load within the at least one secondary circuit section; and (c) a timer device coupled with the switch device. The timer device orients the switch device to electrically disconnect the load from the at least one secondary circuit section after a predetermined time interval elapses.