Abstract: A single surface reflector antenna and method for making same comprises a plurality of hat-shaped cross section ribs formed on the back surface of a reflector shell with flexible tooling. All antenna shell and backing structure components are comprised of triaxial weave graphite laminate layers thereby allowing the backing structure to conform precisely to the shape of the antenna shell when cured and heat cycled.

Abstract: A printed wiring board has an aluminum backing, a dielectric layer overlying the aluminum backing, and a copper layer overlying the dielectric layer. Holes are drilled through the copper and the dielectric layers, and either partially or fully through the aluminum backing, and plated to provide a conductive path between the copper layer and the aluminum backing. Tin-lead traces are applied to the upper surface of the copper layer and the copper layer is etched to define conductive paths. The copper exposed and aluminum exposed surfaces are protected so as to permit processing of the printed wiring board in otherwise-incompatible etchants and other solutions.

Abstract: An electromagnetic resonator comprises a waveguide body having a generally tubular side wall and a pair of end wall assemblies. The end wall assembly includes a bowed aluminum plate and an INVAR disk, attached to one another at the periphery thereof. The INVAR disk includes a relatively thick outer annular portion and a relatively thin inner circular portion. The bowed aluminum plate bows in response to increased temperature, thereby counteracting expansion of the waveguide body.

Abstract: An apparatus for deploying a satellite appendage such as an umbrella-like antenna reflector structure is provided. The umbrella-like antenna reflector structure includes a plurality of rib members movable from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration. The deployment apparatus comprises a deployment tube and a central hub pivotally attached to the plurality of rib members and slidably attached to the deployment tube. The deployment tube is adapted to move along its major axis with respect to the central hub. The deployment apparatus further includes a flexible member connecting the central hub to the deployment tube and a mechanism for tensioning the flexible member. The flexible member can be used to lock the deployment tube, which in turn can be used to lock the umbrella-like structure, in a stowed configuration. Alternatively or additionally, a second flexible member can be used to deploy the deployment tube, which in turn can be used to deploy the umbrella-like structure.

Abstract: A barrier membrane for use with articulating mechanical devices includes hinges formed along preferred folding lines. The hinges encourage the membrane to fold in a predetermined manner in response to articulation of the mechanical device. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is composed of flexible outer thermal layers encasing rigid panels that are spaced apart from each other at the hinges.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical switch having a beam cantilevered from a switch base, a first control electrode, having no path to ground, in contact with the fixed end of the cantilevered beam and a second control electrode, also having no path to ground, mounted to the switch base underneath the cantilevered beam, but not in contact therewith. A contact electrode is located underneath the free end of the cantilevered beam. The first and second control electrodes are manipulated to actively effect both the ON and OFF states of the microelectromechanical switch by forcing the beam in and out of contact with the contact electrode.

Abstract: An antenna structure is formed of a first patch plane, a first ground plane, a feed member plane, a second ground plane, and a second patch plane all spaced apart by layers of laminated dielectric substrate. A horn transmits energy upon the second patch plane. The energy is controlled in terms of phase and frequency, and is further electromagnetically coupled to the first patch plane which transmits in the form of shaped or pencil beams. The coupling between patch planes is accomplished by an array of slots located through the ground planes and an array of feed members interposed between the ground planes. The phase differences are established by utilization of feed members with different lengths.

Abstract: A current controlled voltage boost circuit for a high voltage converter. The voltage boost circuit includes a boost converter connected to receive an input voltage and a control signal, and output an increased output voltage to the high voltage converter as a function of a control signal. The circuit further includes a current sensing circuit providing an output voltage proportional to the sensed input current to the high voltage converter. The output voltage from the current sense circuit varies a reference voltage that is compared to the boost converter output voltage by an error amplifier. The error amplifier, in turn, outputs a control signal to the boost converter such that the control signal controls the boost converter output voltage as a function of the input current to the high voltage converter.

Abstract: An electromagnetic wave component uses one or more diaphragms secured to the interior of a waveguide structure to tune its resonant frequency, with each diaphragm engaged by one or more adjustment members that deform it. The adjustment members are preferably screws that are threaded through the structure to push and/or pull on the diaphragms, thereby tuning the electromagnetic wave component. The shift in the resonant frequency of the electromagnetic wave component due to temperature-induced dimensional changes is mitigated if the materials used for the diaphragm, the adjustment members and the structure which houses the diaphragm are chosen to have an appropriate combination of thermal coefficients of expansion.

Abstract: The output impedance matching network of a power amplifier module is improved by the addition of an intermediate set of bonding pads in close proximity to a power transistor in the power amplifier module. A tunable set of bond wires extend from the intermediate bonding pads to a transmission line that is coupled to the output of the power amplifier module. The tunable bond wires allow the inductance of the impedance matching network to be tuned and optimized.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems for mesh integration and tension control, mesh retention, and mesh management of mesh-type deployable reflectors. The mesh members are comprised of a plurality of wedge-shaped gore members, each of which are pre-tensioned initially utilizing double-sided tape in a temporary manner prior to final stitching. String-like chord catenary members are positioned in pockets formed on the outer end of the gore members. The mesh member is attached to a ribbed reflector frame structure through a plurality of nodal assembly mechanisms. The nodal assemblies have spring biasing members for tensioning radial and transverse chord members along the reflector surface. A plurality of string-like members positioned in washers on the mesh member are used to maintain a tension field in the mesh member when the reflector is in its collapsed and stowed condition.

Abstract: Amplifier-induced intermodulation distortion (IMD) is reduced by encoding a multi-frequency input composite signal into multiple encoded signals that vary from each other in their power amplitudes as a function of frequency, amplifying the encoded signals, and then decoding them in a complementary fashion so as to differentiate between the amplified signal components and the IMD components. The amplified signal components are coherently combined to separate them from the IMD components, which are incoherently combined. The input signal is preferably encoded by dividng it into multiple divided signals, introducing relative phase shifts between the divided signals that vary as a function of frequency, and combining the divided and phase shifted signals with each other in a Butler matrix prior to amplification. The phase shifts are introduced by means of time delays that are preferably equal to integer multiples of 4.PI. divided by the input signal bandwidth.

Abstract: A traveling wave tube having an electron gun and a collector assembly is provided. The assemblies include a sleeve placed around an isolator. The sleeve is either heat shrunk or heat deformed around the isolator. Heat shrinking is performed when the sleeve radius is initially larger than the isolator radius. During heat shrinking, the sleeve is heated to cause the sleeve radius to increase and be larger than the isolator radius. The sleeve is then placed around the isolator and cooled causing the sleeve to contract upon the isolator. Heat deformation is performed when the sleeve radius is initially smaller than the isolator radius. During heat deformation, the isolator is inserted into the sleeve. The isolator and the sleeve are then heated so that the sleeve expands to a constrained amount of expansion and then deforms. The sleeve and the isolator are then cooled causing the sleeve to contract upon the isolator.

Abstract: An antenna having dual reflectors connected by a moving mechanism for moving the reflectors between stowed and deployed positions. In the stowed position the reflectors overlap and are positioned close to each other. In the deployed position the reflectors are spaced apart.

Abstract: A coupled cavity traveling tube employs a number of adjacent stacked annular magnetic coils (52a-52l) of insulated copper tape mounted on a housing (40) that contains an electron beam path (22) surrounded by a coupled cavity circuit (42,44). An electron beam that is focused by the annular magnetic coils is projected by an electron gun (10) at one end of the traveling wave tube to a collector (26) at the other end of the electron beam path. RF input and output ports (48,50) are coupled to opposite ends of the coupled cavity circuit, with the entire assembly mounted in an outermost device housing (12,28,36) that is sealed to and around the externally projecting RF input and output ports by a pair of sealing rings (60,62) that circumscribe coils (52b,52c,52l) at opposite ends of the traveling wave tube. Hot melt plastic (58a-58i) is injected into spaces between adjacent ones of the annular coils to firmly position the stack of coils against shock and vibration.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods that compensate for the effects of gain and phase variations of a high power amplifier in the presence of multicarrier traffic. The calibration system and method impose negligible degradation to the multicarrier traffic processed by the high power amplifier. A calibration signal generator is used to generate a plurality of nondisrupting calibration signals, such as pseudorandom numbers, which are also summed and combined with the multicarrier traffic signals. The plurality of nondisrupting calibration signals are also combined to produce a combined nondisrupting calibration signal. Each of the nondisrupting calibration signals is selectively output and is combined with sampled versions of the amplified multicarrier traffic signals produced by the high power amplifier to despread them.

Abstract: A reworkable circuit board assembly including a flip chip adapted for removal in the event of a failure and a method for fabricating the same is disclosed. The reworkable circuit board assembly includes a heat sink having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially matched to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the flip chip. It also includes a deformable circuit board having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is secured to a side of the heat sink in thermal communication therewith. The flip chip is bonded to the second side of the deformable circuit board without underfill or with weak bond strength underfill to facilitate removal of the flip chip in the event of a rework.

Abstract: A cantilevered micro-beam formed on a micro-circuit substrate such that when beam is vibrated it produces an output signal directly related to rotation of the substrate about an axis perpendicular to the beam and the direction of vibration.

Abstract: A heat sink board structure includes a thermal/structural base having a composite core layer of a mass of graphitized carbon fibers infiltrated with a first resin material matrix. The graphitized carbon fibers of the composite core are substantially unidirectional and oriented parallel to the face of the composite core layer. Transverse reinforcement layers are bonded to the oppositely disposed faces of the composite core layer. Each transverse reinforcement layer is formed of carbon fibers embedded in a resin material matrix, with the carbon fibers lying substantially in a plane of the transverse reinforcement layer and perpendicular to the carbon fibers in the composite layer. Heat generating and heat dissipating components are bonded to the thermal/structural base. Metallic contact strips are bonded to the surfaces of the transverse reinforcement layers.

Abstract: A traveling wave tube apparatus and method is disclosed. The traveling wave tube includes a slow wave structure such as a helix member. The helix member has an input end for receiving a microwave input signal having a selected power level and an output end for supplying a microwave output signal having a given power level. A microwave source is connected to the input end of the helix member for applying the microwave input signal to the helix member. An electron gun assembly is adjacent the input end of the helix member and has a cathode for injecting electrons as an electron beam through the helix member. A collector assembly is adjacent the output end of the helix member and has at least four collector electrodes for collecting the electrons in the electron beam. The power level of the microwave input signal is selected such that the given power level of the microwave output signal is at least 3 dB lower than the power level of the microwave output signal at saturation.