Abstract: The present invention is directed to a small aperture broadband localizing system, comprising one or more systems for ascertaining angle-of-arrival of an electromagnetic signal and a transmit tag. A system for ascertaining angle-of-arrival of an electromagnetic signal further comprises a compact antenna array and an evaluation apparatus, and an electromagnetic signal is preferentially a broadband or ultra-wideband (UWB) signal.

Abstract: An offset overlapping slot line comprises a first metallization on a first side of a dielectric substrate and a second metallization on a second side of a dielectric substrate cooperating to yield a transmission line. By overlapping the first and second metallizations, one may achieve much lower impedance than in traditional slot line transmission line structures. An offset overlapping slot line antenna apparatus incorporates an offset overlapping slot line in a feed region. This has the benefit of yielding a low input impedance. A low input impedance allows a transmit antenna to bed driven efficiently even by low voltage, high current drivers. Also a low input impedance can help reduce thermal noise in a received front-end. This technique is well suited for application to dipole, monopole, slot, and annular slot antennas, to name a few examples.

Abstract: A chiral polarization UWB slot antenna comprises a feed region and opposing tapered slot lines along an arcuate path of angle measure 360° or less. Opposing tapered slot lines may terminate in bulbous ends and may be characterized by an impedance profile such as an exponential or a Klopfenstein impedance profile. In alternate embodiments, an arcuate path has an arc length substantially equal to a half wavelength at a frequency of interest and an angle measure substantially equal to 180°. In still further alternate embodiments an arcuate path is substantially described by a radial variation with respect to angle of r(?)=R sin ? where R is a constant that in some embodiments is substantially equal to ½? times wavelength (R=?/(2?)) at a particular frequency of interest. In some embodiments, a frequency of interest lies substantially within the range defined by 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a small aperture broadband localizing system, comprising one or more systems for ascertaining angle-of-arrival of an electromagnetic signal and a transmit tag. A system for ascertaining angle-of-arrival of an electromagnetic signal further comprises a compact antenna array and an evaluation apparatus, and an electromagnetic signal is preferentially a broadband or ultra-wideband (UWB) signal.

Abstract: A tag-along microsensor device comprises a means for transmitting a signal, adhesion means, and sensing means. In a preferred embodiment, a means for transmitting a signal includes a nano-antenna apparatus. Adhesion means may include mechanical, magnetic, or static electric adhesion means. Mechanical adhesion means may include a hook or barb, or a chemical adhesion means such as glue or other sticky chemical adhesive. Sensing means may include sensing of audio signals, accelerometers, gyros, or other sensors. Alternatively, a tag-along microsensor method includes the steps of deploying a tag-along microsensor, transmitting a signal from a tag-along microsensor, receiving a signal, and acting on a signal.

Abstract: A nano-antenna apparatus (or equivalently a nano-antenna device) comprises a first conducting surface, a second conducting surface, a gap region between a first conducting surface and a second conducting surface and at least one discharge switch at least one discharge switch cooperates with first conducting surface, a second conducting surface to form a substantially continuous closed surface enclosing a volume. This volume may be substantially similar to a spheroid, a prolate spheroid, an oblate spheroid, a Cartesian rectangular solid or other shape. This volume may enclose at least one electric device. A dimension of the volume and a dielectric constant characterizing a dielectric layer may be chosen so as to yield a desired frequency response. Further, this volume may partition outside energy from inside energy, causing the former energy to radiate away. This invention further teaches a method for transmitting UWB impulse.

Abstract: A spectral control antenna apparatus includes a feed region or feed gap and a surrounding space or medium. A signal path between a feed region and a surrounding space or medium is characterized by a length dependent impedance with a plurality of extrema whereby the antenna apparatus exhibits a desired spectral response. The invention is well-suited for application to planar antennas, particularly planar antennas characterized by a slot type transmission line structure. If such a transmission line structure is an offset slot line, then by overlapping sections of the offset slot line relatively low impedances are possible, thus enabling the large variations in impedance necessary for effective filtering behavior.

Abstract: A system for ascertaining angle of arrival of an electromagnetic signal having at least one signal characteristic indicating a first state or a second state includes: (a) a plurality of n antenna elements intersecting a common axis and cooperating to establish 2n sectors; each respective sector being defined by two antenna elements and the axis; the signal characteristic indicating the first state on a first side of each antenna element and indicating the second state on a second side of each antenna element; combinations of the signal characteristics in each respective sector uniquely identifying the respective sector; and (b) an evaluation apparatus coupled with the antenna elements and employing the state of the signal characteristic sensed by each of the antenna elements to effect ascertaining angle of arrival to a resolution of at least one respective sector.

Abstract: A spectral control antenna apparatus includes a feed region or feed gap and a surrounding space or medium. A signal path between a feed region and a surrounding space or medium is characterized by a length dependent impedance with a plurality of extrema whereby the antenna apparatus exhibits a desired spectral response. The invention is well-suited for application to planar antennas, particularly planar antennas characterized by a slot type transmission line structure. If such a transmission line structure is an offset slot line, then by overlapping sections of the offset slot line relatively low impedances are possible, thus enabling the large variations in impedance necessary for effective filtering behavior.