Abstract: A hybrid assembly having improved cross talk characteristics includes a substrate having an upper surface. Conductive paths on the upper surface are provided for conducting high frequency signals. Regular polygons made of an electromagnetic band gap (EBG) material having slow wave characteristics are deposited on the upper surface and form a lattice for tessellating the upper surface. Each of the polygons has a periphery. The polygons are separated along their periphery from adjacent polygons by an interspace and are covered with an insulating material. Second polygons, also made of an electromagnetic band gap material, are deposited over the insulating material. Semiconductor structures are mounted over the second polygons. The semiconductor structures have a plurality of electrical contacts with the conductive paths. The regular polygons can be hexagons, triangles, octagons or any other combination that forms a lattice and can be printed onto the substrate.

Abstract: A connector providing an offset interconnect has a dielectric body with first and second longitudinally opposed and laterally offset portions and an internal cavity. An offset electrically conductive path is disposed within the internal cavity. The offset electrically conductive path extends from the first portion of the dielectric body to the second portion of the dielectric body. A compressible conductor is disposed within the internal cavity in the second portion of the dielectric body.

Abstract: A micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) phase shifter for shifting the phase of a radio frequency (RF) signal. The phase shifter includes a quadrature coupler having an input port, an output port, a first load port and a second load port. A first variable reactance is coupled to the first load port and a second variable reactance is coupled the second load port. Each variable reactance has a plurality of reflecting phase shifting elements each having an associated micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) switching element to individually and selectively couple the reflecting phase shifting element to the appropriate load port.

Abstract: Techniques for simultaneous measurement of multiple array elements of an array antenna. The array is illuminated with a coherent signal source, and each array element phase shifter is cycled through a range of phase shifter settings at a unique rate. The phase shifted signals from each array element are combined to provide a composite signal. The composite signal is processed to extract the phase of the coherent source signal as received at each element. The phase information is used to determine the location of the elements relative to each other.

Abstract: An efficient broadband amplifier. The amplifier includes a mechanism for amplifying an input signal via a high-speed switch and providing an amplified signal in response thereto. Another mechanism filters the amplified signal via common mode rejection and provides an output signal in response thereto. In a specific embodiment, the mechanism for filtering includes a first mechanism for separating an input signal into plural intermediate signals. The mechanism for amplifying includes a second mechanism for amplifying the plural intermediate signals via one or more high-speed switches and providing plural amplified signals in response thereto. The mechanism for filtering further includes a third mechanism for employing common mode rejection to filter the plural amplified signals, yielding a single output signal in response thereto.

Abstract: A hybrid assembly having improved cross talk characteristics includes an electromagnetic band gap (EBG) layer on a substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface and a semiconductor structure (MMIC) mounted above the EBG layer. A plurality of stars made of an EBG material are preferably printed, or deposited, on the upper surface. The EBG material has slow wave characteristics. The plurality of stars tessellates the upper surface between conductive paths. Each of the stars has a center section formed from a regular polygon, the center section having projections extending from the center section. The projections and the center section form a periphery. The periphery engages adjacent stars along the periphery. Stars are separated from adjacent stars by an interspace. Each of the stars is connected to a conductive via, in turn connected to ground potential. A conductive layer at ground potential is electrically continuous with vias used to interconnect all stars forming the EBG layer.

Abstract: A system and method for maintaining the upset rate of microcircuits within acceptable limits, while optimizing performance and, optionally, not increasing power consumption. The system comprises a variable power supply, which supplies power to the microcircuit; a controller which provides an instructions to the variable power supply to vary voltage depending on susceptibility to upsets; and an actuator for sending an actuating signal to the controller. The system can include a variable frequency clock for varying the clock rate of the microcircuit and the controller can send instructions to vary the clock rate in order to keep power consumption constant.

Abstract: A space-efficient broadband balun (20). The balun (20) includes a first mechanism (44, 80, 82, 94, 96) for receiving an input signal (52, 54) having an undesirable component. A second mechanism (50) rejects the undesirable component via a waveguide transition (50). In a specific embodiment, the undesirable component is a common mode component. The first mechanism (44) includes an input microstrip waveguide (44). The waveguide transition (50) is a single microstrip-to-slotline transition (50) from the input microstrip waveguide (44) and to a slotline (32) in a ground plane (34, 36) of the microstrip waveguide (44). The slotline (32) is terminated at a first end (38) via a wedge (40) in the ground plane (34, 46). A second end (42) of the slotline (32) provides an output of the balun (20). The input signal (52, 54) includes a first input signal (52) and a second input signal (54), which are input at opposite ends (38, 42) of the input microstrip waveguide (44).

Abstract: A waveguide device that includes a waveguide device body having interior surfaces, a deposited aluminum coating disposed on the interior surfaces of the waveguide device body, a protective coating disposed on the deposited aluminum coating.

Abstract: A reconfigurable processor architecture. A reconfigurable processor is an array of a multiplicity of various functional elements, between which the interconnections may be programmably configured. The inventive processor is implemented on a single substrate as a network of clusters of elements. Each cluster includes a crossbar switching node to which a plurality of elements is connected via ports. Additional ports on the crossbar switching node connect to the switching nodes of nearest neighbor clusters. The crossbar switching nodes allow pathways to be programmably set between any of the ports, and any pathway may be set to be either registered or unregistered. The use of clusters of processing elements allows complete freedom of local connectivity for effective configuration of many different processing functions. Wide area interconnection is more restricted, but, since it is less used, does not significantly restrict configurability.

Abstract: An antenna array employing continuous transverse stubs as radiating elements is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the array includes an upper conductive plate structure comprising a set of continuous transverse stubs, and a lower conductive plate structure disposed in a spaced relationship relative to the upper plate structure. A rotation apparatus provides rotation between the upper plate structure and the lower plate structure.

Abstract: A plurality of image chips (202) (over 100), each of the chips containing the same, known target of interest, such as, for example an M109 tank are presented to the system for training. Each image chip of the known target is slightly different than the next, showing the known target at different aspect angles and rotation with respect to the moving platform acquiring the image chip. The system extract multiple features of the known target from the plurality of image chips (202) presented for storage and analysis, or training. These features distinguish a known target of interest from the nearest similar target to the M109 tank, for example a Caterpillar D7 bulldozer. These features are stored for use during unknown target identification. When an unknown target chip is presented, the recognition algorithm relies on the features stored during training to attempt to identify the target.

Abstract: A compact broadband balun (20). The balun (20) includes a waveguide transition (38) between one or more input ports (34, 54, 56) and one or more output ports (34, 54, 56) of the balun (20). A mechanism (36, 44), which depends on the tapered transition (38), provides a good match, while a resistor (44) provides isolation between input ports (34, 54, 56) and the output ports (34, 54, 56). In a specific embodiment, the balun (20) includes a first waveguide (34). One end of the first waveguide represents a first port of the balun (20). The balun (20) further includes a second wave guide (40, 42). Opposite ends (54, 56) of the second waveguide (40, 42) represent second (54) and third (56) ports. The waveguide transition (38) occurs between the first waveguide (34) and the second waveguide (40, 42). The waveguide transition (38, 44) is designed to provide a frequency-independent anti-phase response in response to an input signal provided at an input port (34).

Abstract: A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image of a wide coverage area is acquired during a frame containing a first plurality of ambiguities induced in the SAR image from radar scatterers within the area. The area is illuminated with radar pulses and a segmented receive antenna oriented towards the area. The segmented receive antenna has a second plurality of sub-apertures, where the second plurality of sub-apertures is larger than the first plurality of ambiguities. Each sub-aperture has its own receiver. The digital stream from each receiver is stored in a computer for the duration of the frame to obtain frame data. A SAR image is extracted from the frame data. The first plurality of ambiguities are identified from analysis of the frame data, and a correction is computed to account for the first plurality of ambiguities contained within the synthetic aperture image. The correction is applied to reduce distortions caused by the ambiguities in the SAR image.

Abstract: A filtered button DC interconnect employing a compressible conductor such as a finely wound wire mesh imbedded within a series of dielectric and ferrite cylinders. The compressible conductor is captivated within the series of dielectric and ferrite cylinders to ensure proper contact with mating surfaces of interconnected circuits. The interconnect serves as an RF filter by providing rejection of RF and microwave frequencies between the interconnected circuits.

Abstract: A digital RF tag (10) for providing an automatic reply to an electromagnetic signal. The system includes a radar receiver (11, 20); signal and data processors (50, 64) for analyzing the electromagnetic signal to extract data with respect thereto and for synthesizing a second electromagnetic signal; and a radar transmitter (11, 20). The radar receiver (11, 20) is a narrow band radar receiver. The use of a narrow band receiver minimizes power consumption and extends battery life. The inventive RF tag (10) tracks the received radar signal. The data processor (50) includes a microprocessor adapted to execute software designed to implement the tracking function. While the received radar signal is being tracked, type and timing data are extracted and used to synthesize a reply signal. The use of a synthesized reply signal, as opposed to a recorded and modified transmit signal as a reply signal, allows for the transmission of the cleaner (noise free) reply signal.

Abstract: A radar system derives a correction for an actual boresight (311) of a radar monopulse antenna mounted on a moving platform from ? data and ? data generated with respect to an a priori known, calibrated boresight (309). The monopulse antenna (602) is coupled to a ground position measuring system (616) while acquiring data. The radar receiver acquires a ? and ? synthetic aperture map of the same radar scattering location with respect to the calibrated boresight. ? SAR data and the ? SAR data are motion compensated using the position and velocity supplied by the ground positioning system. A computer forms a ratio of the aligned ? pixels to the aligned ? pixels for each of a plurality of aligned ? pixels located near the calibrated boresight. The correction for the location of the actual boresight of the monopulse antenna is computed by an analysis of the ratio of aligned ? pixels and corresponding aligned ? pixels over the radar scattering location.

Abstract: A method of marking and identifying an object (10) by the marking consists of applying to an object (10) an up-conversion material (12), then irradiating the object (10) with infrared electromagnetic radiation (16) and, finally, observing the irradiated object to detect the spectrum of emitted electromagnetic radiation (18). A suitable up-conversion material (12) is selected from a group of up-conversion materials consisting of CaF2, BaF2, CdF2, LaF2 and SrF2 doped with erbium, praseodymium, neodymium or dysprosium. The objects (10) may be observed to detect emitted electromagnetic radiation (18) from that part of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the naked eye. The objects (10) may also be observed to detect specific wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation which are known to be emitted by the up-conversion material (12) when the up-conversion material (12) is irradiated by designated wavelengths of infrared electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A multilayer switching assembly for switching high frequency signals has MEMS structures on a ceramic substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of insulating layers. The insulating layers are separated by a first conductor and a second conductor. The first conductor is connected to a ground potential. The second conductor is separated from the first conductor by one of the insulating layers. The second conductor presents a specific impedance (50 ohms) with respect to the first conductor to high frequency signals traveling on the second conductor. 64 MEMS structures are mounted on the top surface. Each MEMS has an input, an output, and a control. The input connected to the second conductor. The output is connected to a coplanar waveguide placed on the top surface. The control is connected to the bottom surface. The input to each MEMS is electrically shielded from the output and from the control by a third conductor connected to the first (grounded) conductor.

Abstract: An optically-pumped laser having a gain medium configured to provide a low loss, three-dimensional integrated optical pump cavity that substantially confines optical pump radiation within the lasing volume, which is particularly useful for efficiently pumping solid state gain media that has low pump dopant concentration. The integrated pump cavity includes a plurality of boundaries contiguous with the gain medium. An optical pump source such as a laser diode array supplies optical pump radiation that is input into the gain medium through one or more pump cavity windows with a propagation direction transverse to a laser axis defined through the gain medium. In some embodiments, an optical surface is situated opposite the window to approximately recollimate the input pump radiation. The optical pump cavity may be designed to concentrate the optical pump radiation and approximately uniformly pump the entire volume of the lasing medium.