Abstract: A blast-hardened electrical connector for securing and maintaining electrical conductors in electrical contact. The device includes a housing having a chamber positioned near its mid portion. A plurality of conduits extend between the exterior of the housing and the chamber, each pair of conduits forming a passage within which an electrical conductor is slideably secured. Each passage passes through the chamber so that electrical conductors are brought into contact within the chamber. The chamber is configurated such that the conductors are maintained in electrical contact, even during conditions when the conductors are caused to slide axially within their respective passageways. The exterior of the connector and the conductor insulation adjacent to the exterior of the connector, are potted with an epoxy material to fix the position of insulation with respect to the connnector, and to increase structural integrity for the connector assembly.

Abstract: A novel underground guided wave antenna system and method. The system comprises at least one substantially linear, electrically insulated radiating element which is buried in the earth so as to lie no more than approximately one skin depth below the earth's surface. The effective electrical length of each radiating element is equal to at least one-third of the wavelength, as measured in the earth, of the electromagnetic signals being propagated; and the effective electrical length of a radiating element may be made greater than its actual physical length, if desired, by providing tree terminations at the ends of such radiating element.The efficiency of the system can be increased, particularly when operating at high frequencies, by surrounding the radiating elements with a low loss dielectric substance, such as, for example, crushed rock.

Abstract: A wireless communication system and method for employing underground or low profile surface deployed current drivers for inducing ground currents in the earth which define loop antennas for sending and receiving electromagnetic signals propagated through the atmosphere over a wide bandwidth. The system uses a current driver whose impedance is adjusted so that it matches the impedance of a transmitter/receiver connected thereto. The current driver is capacitively coupled to the surrounding ground so that the current driver and the earth effectively function together as a vertical plane polarized antenna which propagates a vertically polarized electromagnetic signal. The system can be operated using either a single current driver or, where increased signal gain is desired, using an array of current drivers that are spaced in parallel. A undirectional vertically polarized signal may be produced by shortening the length of one current driver conductor with respect to the other arm.

Abstract: A broad band impedance matching system and method for use with low-profile antennas. The system comprises an antenna formed by a pair of radiating elements positioned on or in proximity to the earth's surface. The antenna has an effective electrical length equal to one half wavelength in a given medium at the lowest frequency in a desired operating range of electromagnetic signal frequencies. Each antenna is preferably electrically insulated throughout its length. Each radiating element of the antenna system is connected to a transmission line so as to match the average magnitude of the impedance of the antenna over the desired operating range of electromagnetic signal frequencies to the impedance of the transmission line. Broad band antenna system performance may be further enhanced by configuring each radiating element such that it has two conductive arms which are joined at one end so as to be parallel or so as to form an acute angle of approximately ten degrees or less.

Abstract: An impact-hardened coupling device and method for matching the impedance of two or more separate electrical elements such as found in an antenna assembly, and for securing and maintaining the electrical elements in impact-hardened electrical contact. Electrical conductors are mounted in a terminal in slideably electrical contact. The electrical conductors are configurated so that their effective impedance substantially matches the line-to-line impedance of a transmission line in turn connected to a transceiver or like equipment. An electrical surge arrester is provided to protect the conductors and the interconnected electrical elements from high loading situations occurring in response to exposure to electromagnetic pulse radiation. The terminals are potted with a resinous material to provide impact protection to the components of the device while continuing to maintain electrical contact between the conductors.

Abstract: A novel broadband antenna system which is both portable and easily deployed. The system comprises a power splitter, one or more element feed units, and one or more conductive antenna cables, each cable being wound around a reel.Each reel is releasably secured on an end of an element feed unit. Each element feed unit comprises an impedance matching network, and the element feed units also include a novel clip. The clip functions both to releasably retain a reel on an end of the element feed unit during transportation and storage and to electrically and mechanically connect a conductive antenna cable to the element feed unit when the antenna system is being used.In use, the element feed units are connected to the power splitter, and the power splitter is connected to a transmitter/receiver device. One or more conductive antenna cables are then connected to the element feed units using the novel clips.

Abstract: A portable roll-out antenna system which forms a compact, transportable assembly when not being used. The roll-out antenna system is provided with flexible antenna elements which are individually wound onto reels for storage and transportation, and rolled out for use as an efficient antenna system. Each pair of antenna elements is connected to a balun for proper connection to unbalanced connecting cables. The baluns are housed in an end-cap assembly upon which are mounted the antenna element reels when the antenna system is not being used. A power splitter allows more than one connecting cable to be electrically coupled to a remote transmitter/receiver by way of a transmission line. The power splitter is housed in a center reel assembly which is provided with a component to lockably receive part of the end-cap assembly upon which is mounted the antenna-element reels, thus holding the antenna-element reels together and forming a compact, transportable assembly.