Abstract: A plurality of power amplifiers are integrated into a semiconductor substrate and coupled to a corresponding first plurality of antennas on an adjacent first microwave substrate. A second microwave substrate carries a second plurality of antennas coupled to a combining network. The second microwave substrate is separated from the first microwave substrate to allow a free space combination of RF energy propagated by the first plurality of antennas.

Abstract: A tunneling accelerometer includes a proof mass that moves laterally with respect to a cap wafer. Either the proof mass or the cap wafer includes a plurality of tunneling tips such that the remaining one of proof mass and the cap wafer includes a corresponding plurality of counter electrodes. The tunneling current flowing between the tunneling tips and the counter electrodes will thus vary as the proof mass laterally displaces in response to an applied acceleration.

Abstract: A system includes a radar unit configured to provide raw data from scanning an exterior of a structure; and a signal processing and imaging module configured to: process the raw data into markers of interior locations of the structure; and display an image of interior structural features based on the markers. A method includes: scanning a building structure from the exterior of the structure using a radar unit to provide raw data; processing the raw data into markers of interior locations of the structure; estimating locations of interior structural features of the structure from the markers; and displaying an image of the interior structural features.

Abstract: The housing of a portable radar unit includes features for providing positioning of auxiliary handles between a first position and a second position, in which: the first position places the auxiliary handles in a position to act as handgrips in conjunction with integral handles and the second position places the auxiliary handles at an angle to the integral handles, so that the radar unit can be held with one hand and supported by a forearm of the same hand. Rotation of each auxiliary handle about a pivot moves the auxiliary handle between the first position and the second position; and a friction mechanism resists the rotation so that the auxiliary handle tends to stay in position until purposefully moved. The housing also includes internal space for housing a radar antenna, a reflector, and a mechanism for adjusting distance between the reflector and the antenna for tuning performance of the antenna.

Abstract: An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication system is adapted for radar ranging and imaging. A radar system includes an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) radio communications transmitter configured to transmit information bits using one or more payload symbols in a transmitted signal; and a receiver configured to: construct the payload symbols from the information bits provided by the transmitter; receive the payload symbols in the transmitted signal reflected from a target; apply a matched filter to the received payload symbols using the constructed payload symbols as a template; and process a magnitude response at an output of the matched filter for estimating location and imaging of the target.

Abstract: A wireless communications system includes a first multiplexer distribution network fed by a radio frequency input; a plurality of multi-stage power amplifiers fed by the first multiplexer distribution network, wherein each one of the multi-stage power amplifiers includes: a pre-distortion linearizer fed from the first distribution network; a first combiner receiving input from the pre-distortion linearizer; a second combiner; a plurality of power amplifier cells fed by the first combiner and feeding the second combiner; and a second multiplexer distribution network, wherein the second multiplexer distribution network is fed by the second combiner and feeds a radio frequency output.

Abstract: A system includes a radar unit configured to provide raw data from scanning an exterior of a structure; and a signal processing and imaging module configured to: process the raw data into markers of interior locations of the structure; and display an image of interior structural features based on the markers. A method includes: scanning a building structure from the exterior of the structure using a radar unit to provide raw data; processing the raw data into markers of interior locations of the structure; estimating locations of interior structural features of the structure from the markers; and displaying an image of the interior structural features.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an ultra wide band (UWB) radar includes: a substrate; a plurality of antennas adjacent the substrate, the plurality of antennas being arranged into a plurality of sub-arrays; an RF feed network adjacent the substrate, the RF feed network coupling to a distributed plurality of amplifiers integrated with the substrate, wherein the RF feed network and the distributed plurality of amplifiers are configured to form a resonant network such that if a timing signal is injected into an input port of the RF feed network, the resonant network oscillates to provide a globally-synchronized RF signal across the network; a plurality of pulse-shaping circuits corresponding to the plurality of sub-arrays, each pulse-shaping circuit being configured to receive the globally-synchronized RF signal from the network and process the globally-synchronized RF signal into pulses for transmission through the corresponding sub-array of antennas; and an actuator for mechanically scanning the UWB radar so that the pulse

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device is disclosed that includes: a first substrate, a plurality of antennas adjacent the first substrate; a plurality of oscillators integrated in the first substrate, each oscillator providing an output signal to drive a corresponding subset of the antennas; and a plurality of photodetectors corresponding to plurality of oscillators, each oscillator being adapted to injection lock its output signal to an electronic photodetector signal from the photodetector produced in response to an illumination of the photodetectors with a free-space optical signal modulated such that the photodetector signals are globally synchronized with each other, whereby the output signals driving the plurality antennas are also globally synchronized across the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of radar units configured to provide scan data to a network; a signal processing and imaging module connected to the network and configured to receive the scan data, identify a target, and determine a type of the target based on a radar profile of the target; and a display unit in communication with the signal processing and imaging module and configured to provide a tracking display of the target position and type. A method includes scanning an inhabitable area using a plurality of radar detector units to produce scan data; processing the scan data to construct a digitized representation of a target in the inhabitable area; using recovered information of the target to differentiate between a live person, an animal or an object as the target type; and displaying the target type and position on an image display.

Abstract: A system includes a multi-system approach to detecting concealed weapons and person borne improvised explosive devices (PBIED). A first and second radar system operate at different center frequencies to provide, respectively, isolation of a target of interest from clutter and fine detail information on the target, such as whether the target is a living person, whether a concealed object may be present, material composition of the object, and shape, size, and position of the target relative to the system. Circular polarized radar beam may be used to distinguish a suspect object from within a crowd of people. Radar image of the object may be overlaid on visual image of a person carrying the object. Radar tracking of the object is coordinated with visual tracking of the target provided by a camera system, with visual display and tracking of the target overlaid with the radar information.

Abstract: Systems and methods include up-converting a UWB frequency pulse from a UWB radar unit to a V band frequency pulse; transmitting the V band frequency pulse via an active array antenna; receiving a V band echo pulse via the active array antenna; down-converting the V band echo pulse from the active array antenna to a UWB pulse; and feeding the UWB pulse to the UWB radar unit for processing by the UWB radar unit. A V band antenna system includes: an antenna board that defines an antenna plane being the plane of the board and comprising a plurality of antenna elements; a mother board providing a corporate combining feed to the antenna board; and a power management board to which the antenna board and mother board are mounted perpendicularly to the antenna plane, wherein the antenna elements provide a beam forming antenna for ultra wide band pulses at V band frequencies.

Abstract: A pulse generator is provided that includes: a current source, a source follower whose output controls the gate of a FET and a differential stage whose input voltage consists of inverting square waves and its output voltage consists of extremely narrow pulses widths, for example, of 30 to 40 ps and amplitude of 1.5 Volts.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a switching power amplifier is provided that includes: a power switch coupled between a power supply node and ground, wherein the power switch is configured to be cycled on and off responsive to an input signal voltage; and a matching network coupled between a terminal of the power switch and an output node, wherein the matching network includes: a first capacitor coupled between the terminal of the power switch and ground; a second capacitor having a first terminal and an opposing second terminal, the second terminal being coupled to ground, the second capacitor having a greater capacitance than the first capacitor; and a second switch coupled between the first terminal of the second capacitor and the terminal of the power switch, the second switch being configured to be cycled on and off responsive to a switching signal voltage such that the second switch is turned on before the power switch is turned off and such that the second switch is turned off after a current through the power swit

Abstract: In one embodiment, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) is provided that includes: a plurality of differential inverter stages coupled to form a loop, each differential inverter stage having including a switched capacitor circuit configured to control a signal delay through the differential inverter stage responsive to a control circuit, whereby an output frequency for the VCO is inherently compensated against changes in semiconductor process variations and thermal variations.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit antenna array includes: a substrate, a plurality of first antennas adjacent a first side of the substrate; and an RF network adjacent a second side of the substrate, the RF feed network coupling to a distributed plurality of amplifiers integrated with the substrate and to a distributed plurality of phase-shifters also integrated with the substrate, each phase shifter being associated with a receptor to receive a beam-forming command, wherein each receptor is configured to receive the beam-forming command through either a near-field coupling or a far-field coupling.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated phase shifter includes: a plurality of stages, wherein each stage comprises: a transistor amplifier configured to amplify a voltage signal received at an input node into an amplified voltage signal at an output node according to a gain, wherein the transistor amplifier is configured such that the gain is proportional to a bias signal; an integrated inductor loading the output node, wherein the gain of the transistor amplifier is also proportional to an inductance of the integrated inductor; and a varactor diode loading the output node, wherein the varactor diode has a variable capacitance responsive to a control voltage.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a radar is provided that is configured to construct an image of a target within or adjacent to a substrate according to scan points associated with a surface of the substrate while the radar is scanned in a first direction.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a voltage-controlled oscillator is provided having an output signal whose frequency is responsive to a tuning signal and is independent of amplitude of oscillation. The voltage-controlled oscillator includes: a plurality of differential inverter stages coupled to form a loop, each differential inverter stage having a differential pair of transistors configured to steer a tail current from a current source, the current source sourcing the tail current responsive to a feedback signal; and a control circuit configured to generate the feedback signal responsive to a reference signal such that an amplitude of the output signal is independent of the tuning signal and depends on the reference signal, and the frequency of oscillation is decoupled from the amplitude of oscillation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a switching power amplifier is provided that includes: a power switch coupled between a power supply node and ground, wherein the power switch is configured to be cycled on and off responsive to an input signal voltage; and a matching network coupled between a terminal of the power switch and an output node, wherein the matching network includes: a first capacitor coupled between the terminal of the power switch and ground; a second capacitor having a first terminal and an opposing second terminal, the second terminal being coupled to ground, the second capacitor having a greater capacitance than the first capacitor; and a second switch coupled between the first terminal of the second capacitor and the terminal of the power switch, the second switch being configured to be cycled on and off responsive to a switching signal voltage such that the second switch is turned on before the power switch is turned off and such that the second switch is turned off after a current through the power swit