Abstract: A horn-reflector antenna for tracking the location of in-flight aircraft is provided. The antenna includes an upwardly-opening horn having a reflector attached thereto. The horn may have an asymmetric rectangular cross-section and comprise at least one upwardly and outwardly extending side wall. The reflector includes a reflecting surface that may have a generally hyperbolic paraboloid shape or saddle shape. The horn and reflector may be constructed from a polymer material in an injection molding process. The reflecting surface of the reflector and the inner surfaces of the horn may be coated with a reflective or conductive material, for example, a paint comprising sliver-plated copper particles. In use, the horn-reflector antenna may be adapted to rotate around the longitudinal axis of a stationary waveguide feed. As such, the antenna of the present invention can be adapted for operation without the use of a rotary joint or a slip ring.

Abstract: A phase shifting component of a waveguide comparator subsystem can effect a relative phase shift that advances an input signal A relative to an input signal B. A comparator component can then split those signals such that a first part of signal A and a second part of signal B are combined at a difference port, and a first part of signal B and a second part of signal A are combined at a sum port. The comparator can delay the phase of the second parts of the signals such that, with the relative phase shift of the phase shifting component, the first part of signal A and the second part of signal B are one-hundred eighty degrees (180°) out of phase at the difference port, and the second part of signal A and the first part of signal B are in phase at the sum port.

Abstract: A cluster of communications platforms can comprise a master platform and support platforms. The master platform can partition a data block into data partitions and transmit the data partitions via a short range transmitter to the support platforms. Each support platform can include a high power storage device for powering long range burst transmissions of a subset of the data partitions to a distant receiver. Burst transmissions of data partitions by the same support platform can be separated by a charging time period that allows a high power storage device in the support platform to charge from a relatively low average power Pa a relatively high power burst PB that is sufficient to transmit one of the data partitions to a distant receiver.

Abstract: A cluster of communications platforms can comprise a master platform and support platforms. The master platform can partition a data block into data partitions and transmit the data partitions via a short range transmitter to the support platforms. Each support platform can include a high power storage device for powering long range burst transmissions of a subset of the data partitions to a distant receiver. Burst transmissions of data partitions by the same support platform can be separated by a charging time period that allows a high power storage device in the support platform to charge from a relatively low average power Pa a relatively high power burst PB that is sufficient to transmit one of the data partitions to a distant receiver.

Abstract: Stepped radio frequency (RF) reflector antennas are disclosed in which an inner RF reflector is disposed in a central opening of at one or more annular RF reflectors. The RF reflecting surface of the inner RF reflector and the RF reflecting surface(s) of the one or more annular RF reflectors can be shaped and positioned relative to each other to have different focal lengths but nevertheless reflect an RF signal to the same focal plane. The depth of the inventive reflector antenna system can be less than the depth of prior art reflector antennas with a comparable RF aperture.

Abstract: A conformal lens-reflector antenna system in which a radio frequency (RF) reflector is disposed in a depression in a raised portion of a dielectrical RF lens. The RF reflector can be shaped to reflect RF signals between an RF feed path to the lens and a body of the lens that extends generally laterally away from the raised portion. RF signals having a frequency within a resonant frequency range of the lens can be directed along the RF feed path to the reflector, which can reflect the RF signals into the body of the lens from which the RF signals can radiate. Similarly, RF signals in the resonant frequency range of the lens in space near the lens can resonate in the lens, and the reflector can reflect those signals down the RF feed path.