Abstract: A method of and apparatus for beam steering. A feed horn is arranged so that the feed horn illuminates a tunable impedance surface comprising a plurality of individually tunable resonator cells, each resonator element having a reactance tunable by a tuning element associated therewith. The tuning elements associated with the tunable impedance surface are adjusted so that the resonances of the individually tunable resonator cells are varied in a sequence and the resonances of the individually tunable resonator cells are set to values which improve transmission of information via the tunable impedance surface and the feed horn.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) switch formed on a substrate, the switch comprising a transmission line formed on the substrate, a substrate electrostatic plate formed on the substrate, and an actuating portion. The actuating portion comprises a cantilever anchor formed on the substrate and a cantilevered actuator arm extending from the cantilever anchor. Attraction of the actuator arm toward the substrate brings an electrical contact into engagement with the portions of the transmission line separated by a gap, thus bridging the transmission line gap and closing the circuit. In order to maximize electrical isolation between the transmission line and the electrical contact in an OFF-state while maintaining a low actuation voltage, the actuator arm is bent such that the minimum separation distance between the transmission line and the electrical contact is equal to or greater than the maximum separation distance between the substrate electrostatic plate and arm electrostatic plate.

Abstract: A low-profile multi-band antenna module includes first and second antennas that transmit first and second radio frequency (RF) signals in a first and second RF band, respectively. A first RF multiplexer combines the first and second RF signals for transmission. The first antenna, second antenna, and first RF multiplexer are arranged on a panel. A transmission line communicates with the first RF multiplexer and transmits the first and second RF signals. A second RF multiplexer communicates with the transmission line and separates the first and second RF signals. At least one of the antennas communicates with an amplifier. The transmission line supplies direct current (DC) power to the amplifier. The first and second antenna are arranged on the panel in an orientation that minimizes electrical interference between the first and second antenna. A combination of the first and second antenna minimizes interference between the first and second RF band.

Abstract: A method of integrating a thin antenna module into a vehicle is disclosed. The thin antenna module comprises a high impedance surface with at least one antenna element disposed thereon. The method includes the steps of inserting the thin antenna module between a conductive layer and a dielectric layer located above a passenger compartment of said vehicle, and connecting at least one antenna element disposed on the high impedance surface to a receiver in said vehicle.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for beam steering. A feed horn is arranged so that the feed horn illuminates a tunable impedance surface comprising a plurality of individually tunable resonator cells, each resonator element having a reactance tunable by a tuning element associated therewith. The tuning elements associated with the tunable impedance surface are adjusted so that the resonances of the individually tunable resonator cells are varied in a sequence and the resonances of the individually tunable resonator cells are set to values which improve transmission of information via the tunable impedance surface and the feed horn.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for an intrusion detection system for secure fiber optic communication systems. A guard signal is transmitted over the optical fiber communication link and both the modal power and modal phase delay of this signal are monitored. Intrusions into the link for the purpose of intercepting information being transmitted, cause changes in the modal phase delay and power of the guard signal. These changes, when detected by the monitoring system, indicate the presence of an intruder. A fiber profile which is optimal for both transmission and intrusion detection purposes is described.

Abstract: A flexible antenna array comprises a plurality of layers of thin metal and a flexible insulating medium arranged as a sandwich of layers. Each layer of the sandwich is patterned as needed to define: (i) antenna segments patterned in one of the metal layers, (ii) an array of metallic top elements formed in a layer spaced from the the antenna segments, the array of metallic top elements being patterned in another metal layer, (iii) a metallic ground plane formed in a layer spaced from the array of metallic top elements, the metallic ground plane having been formed from still another metal layer, and (iv) inductive elements coupling each of the top elements in the array of metallic top elements with said ground plan. An array of remotely controlled switches are provided for coupling selected ones of said antenna segments together.

Abstract: A combination RF and optical beam steerer comprising an optically transparent substrate having first and second major surfaces, the first surface having disposed thereon an array of conductive elements associated with a radio frequency beam steerer and the second surface thereof having an array of elements disposed thereon associated with an optical beam steerer. The spacing of the elements in the RF beam steerer are at least ten times the wavelength of the optical energy to be steered by the device so that the RF beam steerer appears to be essentially optically transparent to the optical energy whereas as the array associated with the optical beam steerer is sufficiently closely spaced so as to function as a ground plane for the RF beam steerer.

Abstract: A method of integrating a thin antenna module into a vehicle is disclosed. The thin antenna module comprises a high impedance surface with at least one antenna element disposed thereon. The method includes the steps of inserting the thin antenna module between a conductive layer and a dielectric layer located above a passenger compartment of said vehicle, and connecting at least one antenna element disposed on the high impedance surface to a receiver in said vehicle.

Abstract: An antenna system for receiving both circularly polarized electromagnetic signals and linearly polarized electromagnetic signals, the circularly polarize signals arriving at the antenna system from a direction normal or oblique to a major surface of the antenna system and the linearly polarized signals arriving at the planar antenna system from a direction acute to said major surface. The antenna system includes a high impedance surface and a plurality of antenna elements disposed on said high impedance surface, the plurality antenna elements arranged in a pattern on said surface such first selected ones of said antenna elements are responsive to circular polarization and second selected ones of said antenna elements are responsive to linear polarization.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) switch formed on a substrate, the switch comprising a transmission line formed on the substrate, a substrate electrostatic plate formed on the substrate, and an actuating portion. The actuating portion comprises a cantilever anchor formed on the substrate and a cantilevered actuator arm extending from the cantilever anchor. Attraction of the actuator arm toward the substrate brings an electrical contact into engagement with the portions of the transmission line separated by a gap, thus bridging the transmission line gap and closing the circuit. In order to maximize electrical isolation between the transmission line and the electrical contact in an OFF-state while maintaining a low actuation voltage, the actuator arm is bent such that the minimum separation distance between the transmission line and the electrical contact is equal to or greater than the maximum separation distance between the substrate electrostatic plate and arm electrostatic plate.

Abstract: An antenna system for receiving both circularly polarized electromagnetic signals and linearly polarized electromagnetic signals, the circularly polarize signals arriving at the antenna system from a direction normal or oblique to a major surface of the antenna system and the linearly polarized signals arriving at the planar antenna system from a direction acute to said major surface. The antenna system includes a high impedance surface and a plurality of antenna elements disposed on said high impedance surface, the plurality antenna elements arranged in a pattern on said surface such first selected ones of said antenna elements are responsive to circular polarization and second selected ones of said antenna elements are responsive to linear polarization.

Abstract: A flexible antenna array comprises a plurality of layers of thin metal and a flexible insulating medium arranged as a sandwich of layers. Each layer of the sandwich is patterned as needed to define: (i) antenna segments patterned in one of the metal layers, (ii) an array of metallic top elements formed in a layer spaced from the the antenna segments, the array of metallic top elements being patterned in another metal layer, (iii) a metallic ground plane formed in a layer spaced from the array of metallic top elements, the metallic ground plane having been formed from still another metal layer, and (iv) inductive elements coupling each of the top elements in the array of metallic top elements with said ground plan. An array of remotely controlled switches are provided for coupling selected ones of said antenna segments together.

Abstract: A combination RF and optical beam steerer comprising an optically transparent substrate having first and second major surfaces, the first surface having disposed thereon an array of conductive elements associated with a radio frequency beam steerer and the second surface thereof having an array of elements disposed thereon associated with an optical beam steerer. The spacing of the elements in the RF beam steerer are at least ten times the wavelength of the optical energy to be steered by the device so that the RF beam steerer appears to be essentially optically transparent to the optical energy whereas as the array associated with the optical beam steerer is sufficiently closely spaced so as to function as a ground plane for the RF beam steerer.

Abstract: A hybrid wireless link 100 of the present invention provides a gateway between two wired data systems 102, such as backbone fiber networks, and comprises a laser portion 104, a radio frequency portion 106, and a controller 108. The laser portion 104 and the radio frequency portion 106 provide, side-by-side and point-to-point, a free-space optical wireless link and a radio frequency wireless link. The controller 108 may be designed to respond to atmospheric conditions based on environmental information such as weather tables or the transmit/receive power of the laser portion 104 and the radio frequency portion 106, with signal switched between the laser portion 104 and the radio frequency portion 106 with a binary switch or a variety of latched levels using an incremental switch. The hybrid wireless link 100 may also use multiple channels and may be configured for a variety of networks including multi-channel ring topologies.

Abstract: Apparatus for a micro-electro-mechanical switch that provides single pole, double throw switching action. The switch comprises a single RF input line and two RF output lines. The switch additionally comprises two armatures, each mechanically connected to a substrate at one end and having a conducting transmission line at the other end with a suspended biasing electrode located on top of or within a structural layer of the armature. Each conducting transmission line has conducting dimples that protrude beyond the bottom of the armature carrying the conducting transmission line. Closure of an armature causes the dimples of the corresponding conducting transmission line to mechanically and electrically engage the RF input line and the corresponding RF output line, thus directing RF energy from the RF input line to the selected RF output line.

Abstract: A method of integrating a thin antenna module into a vehicle is disclosed. The thin antenna module comprises a high impedance surface with at least one antenna element disposed thereon. The method includes the steps of inserting the thin antenna module between a conductive layer and a dielectric layer located above a passenger compartment of said vehicle, and connecting at least one antenna element disposed on the high impedance surface to a receiver in said vehicle.

Abstract: An improved low-angle radiation antenna is obtained through excitation of a tangential electric field on the high-impedance surface, as well as leaky transverse-electric surface waves. Such fields and surface waves cannot normally occur on an ordinary metal surface. The tangential electric field on the high-impedance region excites a transverse-magnetic surface wave on a surrounding metal surface which gives improved low-angle radiation in the E-plane of an antenna disposed on the high impedance surface. Leaky transverse-electric surface waves provide improved radiation in the H-plane of the antenna.

Abstract: Apparatus for a micro-electro-mechanical switch that provides single pole, double throw switching action. The switch comprises a single RF input line and two RF output lines. The switch additionally comprises two armatures, each mechanically connected to a substrate at one end and having a conducting transmission line at the other end with a suspended biasing electrode located on top of or within a structural layer of the armature. Each conducting transmission line has conducting dimples that protrude beyond the bottom of the armature carrying the conducting transmission line. Closure of an armature causes the dimples of the corresponding conducting transmission line to mechanically and electrically engage the RF input line and the corresponding RF output line, thus directing RF energy from the RF input line to the selected RF output line.

Abstract: A system for distributing first and second television signals of diverse modulation formats to a number of locations in a multiple-dwelling unit includes first and second antennas for receiving, at the multiple-dwelling unit, respective first and second received television signals having respective first and second, different modulation formats. The system also includes first and second transmodulators for transmodulating the first and second received television signals, respectively, to develop first and second transmodulated signals, respectively. A combiner or diplexer combines the first and second transmodulated signals into a combined signal, and a distributing network distributes the combined signal to each of a plurality of locations. A diplexer at a particular location selected from the number of locations separates the combined signal to recover the first and second transmodulated signals.