Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for measuring static and dynamic pressures in harsh environments are disclosed. A pressure sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a diaphragm constructed from materials designed to operate in harsh environments. A waveguide may be operably connected to the diaphragm, and an electromagnetic wave producing and receiving (e.g., sensing) device may be attached to the waveguide, opposite the diaphragm. A handle may be connected between the diaphragm and the waveguide to provide both structural support and electrical functionality for the sensor. A gap may be included between the handle and the diaphragm, allowing the diaphragm to move freely. An antenna and a ground plane may be formed on the diaphragm or the handle. Electromagnetic waves may be reflected off the antenna and detected to directly measure static and dynamic pressures applied to the diaphragm.

Abstract: A system for remote sensing of air gaps includes a substrate and a capacitor sensor array attached to the substrate, where the capacitor sensor array includes a plurality of capacitor sensors. The system also includes a transmit antenna attached to the substrate, and a microprocessor electrically connected to the transmit antenna and the capacitor sensor array. The microprocessor is configured to switch on and off at least one capacitor sensor of the plurality of capacitor sensors and to transmit determined air gap measurements using the transmit antenna.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a conformal planar antenna is described herein. In one example, the antenna can include an antenna layer, a microstrip layer, an antenna ground plane layer, a stripline layer, and a buried electrical via. The antenna layer can include an antenna element. The microstrip layer can include a microstrip. The stripline layer can include a stripline. The buried electrical via can be electrically connected to the microstrip and the stripline.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) assembly that includes a microstrip to waveguide transition is described herein. In one example, the RF assembly can include a substrate, a microstrip, and a waveguide. The substrate can include an antenna that includes an antenna slot. A portion of the microstrip, such as an end of the microstrip, can be disposed within and/or underneath the antenna slot. The microstrip can be embedded within the substrate and can be electrically coupled to the antenna. At least a portion of the waveguide can be disposed over the antenna slot.

Abstract: An electronically steerable conformal antenna is disclosed. The antenna comprises a circuit board having a composite dielectric. The composite dielectric includes an array of a plurality of antenna elements disposed on the top surface and an array of tunable cavities, each tunable cavity disposed between an associated antenna element and a conductive ground plane on the composite dielectric's bottom surface. The composite dielectric also includes a conductor, extending from an antenna input through the composite dielectric and the tunable cavities and which forms a microstrip between each of the antenna elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a conformal planar dipole antenna is described herein. In one example, the antenna can include a first dipole layer, a second dipole layer, a microstrip layer, and a ground plane. The first dipole layer can include a first antenna element. The second dipole layer can include a second antenna element. The microstrip layer can include a microstrip. The first antenna element, the second antenna element, and the microstrip can be electrically coupled to each other.

Abstract: A conformal antenna having dielectric lenses disposed over the antenna elements is disclosed. The antenna comprises a circuit board having a composite dielectric. The composite dielectric includes an array of a plurality of antenna elements disposed on the top surface and a conductive ground plane disposed on the bottom surface. A conductor extends from an antenna input through the composite dielectric, the conductor forming microstrip with the bottom surface conductive ground plane. The top surface of the composite dielectric further comprises at least one dielectric lens, each dielectric lens disposed over only one antenna element of at least a subset of the plurality of antenna elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring pressure is disclosed. The apparatus can be used to measure static pressures or dynamic pressures as would a conventional microphone, but can be integrated with antenna elements, and can be implemented without need for conductive elements in the array itself to provide the sensed pressure signal for processing. Instead, diaphragm movement is remotely and wirelessly sensed and used to determine pressure.

Abstract: A planar antenna with an integrated receiver based on aperture coupled antenna elements with inclusive slots electrically coupled to a microstrip feed network residing above a lower ground plane is disclosed. The use of aperture coupled feed elements eliminate the need for vias, which simplifies fabrication. Further, the antenna has integrated electronics located on the same layer as the microstrip feed network to minimize any noise or unwanted parasitic effects.

Abstract: An electronically configurable antenna is disclosed. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises a circuit board having a composite dielectric that has a top surface and a bottom surface. An inner antenna element and a coupling element are disposed on the top surface, with the coupling element disposed about a periphery of and substantially coplanar with the antenna element. The coupling element is selectably electrically shorted to the inner antenna element to configure the antenna. The electronically configurable antenna further has a conductor extending through the composite dielectric between the top surface and the bottom surface and a lower electrical ground plane on the bottom surface to minimize any change in the antenna's electrical behavior due to the conductivity of the surfaces to which they are mounted.

Abstract: A conformal antenna having dielectric lenses disposed over the antenna elements is disclosed. The antenna comprises a circuit board having a composite dielectric. The composite dielectric includes an array of a plurality of antenna elements disposed on the top surface and a conductive ground plane disposed on the bottom surface. A conductor extends from an antenna input through the composite dielectric, the conductor forming microstrip with the bottom surface conductive ground plane. The top surface of the composite dielectric further comprises at least one dielectric lens, each dielectric lens disposed over only one antenna element of at least a subset of the plurality of antenna elements.

Abstract: An electrically small low profile antenna is disclosed. The antenna comprises circuit board comprising a composite laminate, formed of a magnetic material and having at least one antenna element disposed on a top surface of the composite laminate, a conductive ground plane disposed on a bottom surface of the composite laminate, and a conductor, extending through the composite laminate between the top surface and the bottom surface of the composite laminate, the conductor forming a microstrip feed extending from an antenna input to the antenna element.

Abstract: A stripline conformal patch antenna is disclosed. The antenna comprises circuit board that includes a composite dielectric which has a bottom surface and a top surface. The bottom surface comprises a bottom surface conductive ground plane. The top surface comprises an array of a plurality of conductive antenna elements and a top surface conductive ground plane disposed around the plurality of antenna elements. The stripline conformal antenna also includes a conductor, extending from an antenna input through the composite dielectric, the conductor forming a stripline between the top surface conductive ground plane and the bottom surface conductive ground plane. A plurality of electrical vias extend through the composite dielectric, electrically shorting the bottom surface conductive ground plane and the top surface conductive ground plane.

Abstract: An electronically steerable conformal antenna is disclosed. The antenna comprises a circuit board having a composite dielectric. The composite dielectric includes an array of a plurality of antenna elements disposed on the top surface and an array of tunable cavities, each tunable cavity disposed between an associated antenna element and a conductive ground plane on the composite dielectric's bottom surface. The composite dielectric also includes a conductor, extending from an antenna input through the composite dielectric and the tunable cavities and which forms a microstrip between each of the antenna elements.

Abstract: An aperture coupled microstrip-to-waveguide transition (“ACMWT”) is disclosed that includes a plurality of dielectric layers forming a dielectric structure and an inner conductor formed within the dielectric structure. The plurality of dielectric layers includes a top dielectric layer that has a top surface. The (“ACMWT”) further includes a patch antenna element (“PAE”) formed on the top surface, a bottom conductor, an antenna slot within the PAE, a coupling element (“CE”) formed above the inner conductor and below the PAE, and a waveguide. The waveguide includes at least one waveguide wall and a waveguide backend, where the waveguide backend has a waveguide backend surface that's a portion of the top surface of the top dielectric layer and where the waveguide backend surface and the at least one waveguide wall form a waveguide cavity within the waveguide. The PAE is a conductor located within the waveguide cavity at the waveguide backend surface.

Abstract: A waveguide fed planar antenna array with enhanced circular polarization (“WFAECP”) is disclosed. The WFAECP includes a plurality of dielectric layers forming a dielectric structure, an inner conductor formed within the dielectric structure, a first patch antenna element (“PAE”), a second PAE, a bottom and top conductor, a conductive via in signal communication with the bottom and top conductor, a first and second antenna slot within the first PAE and second PAE, and a waveguide. The dielectric layers includes top and bottom dielectric layers, where the top dielectric layer includes a top surface and the bottom dielectric layer includes a bottom surface. The first PAE is formed on the top surface of the top dielectric layer and the second PAE is formed on the bottom surface of the bottom dielectric layer. The waveguide includes a waveguide wall, backend, and cavity. The second PAE is located within the waveguide cavity.

Abstract: A conformal antenna with enhanced circular polarization (“CAECP”) is disclosed. The CAECP includes a plurality of dielectric layers forming a dielectric structure, where a top dielectric layer, of the plurality of dielectric layers, includes a top surface. The CAECP further includes an inner conductor, a coupling element (“CE”), a patch antenna element (“PAE”), a bottom conductor, and an antenna slot. The inner conductor is formed within the dielectric structure, the CE is formed within the dielectric structure above the inner conductor, the PAE is formed on the top surface, and the antenna slot is formed within PAE. The PAE is a conductor and the CAECP is configured to support a transverse electromagnetic (“TEM”) signal within the dielectric structure.

Abstract: A high-gain conformal antenna (“HGCA”) is disclosed. The HGCA includes a plurality of dielectric layers forming a dielectric structure. The plurality of dielectric layers includes a top dielectric layer that includes a top surface. The HGCA further includes an inner conductor, a cavity, a patch antenna element (“PAE”), and an antenna slot. The inner conductor and cavity are formed within the dielectric structure, the PAE is formed on the top surface of the top dielectric layer above the cavity, and the antenna slot is formed within the PAE. The HGCA is configured to support a transverse electromagnetic (“TEM”) signal within the dielectric structure.

Abstract: A novel planar antenna array fed by an integrated waveguide and a method for producing same is presented. The antenna array is an aperture coupled array fed by an embedded microstrip line. The embedded microstrip line transitions to a stripline feed then back to a microstrip line such that the lower ground plane of the antenna array becomes the upper ground plane with the waveguide placed on the backside of the array. The microstrip feed then couples to the waveguide for signal transmission and reception. With the exception of the waveguide itself, the elements can be simultaneously fabricated on the same RF board, using subtractive (e.g., milling, etching) and additive (e.g., deposition, 3D printing) methods.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) assembly that includes a microstrip to waveguide transition is described herein. In one example, the RF assembly can include a substrate, a microstrip, and a waveguide. The substrate can include an antenna that includes an antenna slot. A portion of the microstrip, such as an end of the microstrip, can be disposed within and/or underneath the antenna slot. The microstrip can be embedded within the substrate and can be electrically coupled to the antenna. At least a portion of the waveguide can be disposed over the antenna slot.