Abstract: A phase coherent fractional-N phase-locked loop synthesizer for maintaining phase coherence of a synthesized frequency includes a phase coherent delta-sigma modulator (DSM) having a plurality of feed-forward accumulator stages. The DSM is operatively coupled to a reference clock configured to generate a cyclical reference signal. The DSM configured to count a number of cycles of the reference signal, to cause, at each cycle of the reference signal, each of the stages of the DSM to accumulate a sum of a previous stage of the DSM, and to multiply each sum by a fractional divide word to produce a multiplier output, thereby causing the DSM to output a sequence of signals that tracks with the reference clock.

Abstract: An integrated DC power delivery system for PCBs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a compliant mechanical coupling assembly. The system further includes a power distribution interface having power planes configured to receive the DC power via the complaint mechanical coupling assembly upon securing the compliant mechanical coupling to the power distribution interface to provide the needed mechanical support.

Abstract: Techniques and architecture are disclosed for improving spurious performance in a signal generator/system. The disclosed techniques/architecture can be used, for example, to enhance/improve the wideband and/or narrowband spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) between a given carrier signal and spurious signals. In some example instances, wideband and/or narrowband SFDR may be improved to about ?40 dBc or better. In some other example instances, wideband and/or narrowband SFDR may be improved to about ?70 dBc or better. The disclosed techniques/architecture can be implemented in a wide variety of signal generators/systems, such as a direct digital synthesizer (DDS)-based system, and over a wide range of input clock frequencies (e.g., in the range of about 10 MHz to 40 GHz, or higher).

Abstract: A method and apparatus of detecting laser in a laser warning receiver is disclosed. A panoramic lens assembly utilized in cameras is combined with a laser detection focal plane. Incident laser light is refracted in the panoramic lens and made to illuminate a multiplicity of individual sensor elements. By determining the corresponding intensity of the laser light on the sensors, the angle of arrival resolutions superior to the element angular resolutions can be achieved. The combination of a panoramic lens with a laser detection focal plane provides a low cost laser warning for wrap around ground based situational awareness.

Abstract: A microchannel plate based optical communication receiving system and method of use for extracting embedded information from a covert band of modulated light. The system includes an electrically powered microchannel plate, a sense amplifier in electrical communication with the microchannel plate configured to sense a change in current across a sense resister, a demodulator in electrical communication with the sense amplifier to demodulate the band of modulated light, a data output signal exiting from the demodulator, and a receiver for receiving the data output signal and extracting a piece of covert information.

Abstract: A system includes a way of improving an image obscured by airborne particles. The system includes a decomposition processor and an image generation processor. The decomposition processor decomposes an object of interest moving in a first image at a first rate of speed into at least one first subspace vector. This decomposition processor also decomposes fine particles moving at a different rate of speed than the object in the first image into at least one second subspace vector. The fine particles obscure the object of interest in a second image. The image generation processor generates based, at least in part on the first subspace vector and the second subspace vector, an image of the object without some of the fine particles obscuring the object of interest.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for a switched output digital to analog converter employing an N-path cascode output switch. An example system may include a plurality of cascode transistors coupled in parallel to an output stage of a current mode digital to analog converter (DAC) circuit. The system may also include a plurality of control ports, each of the control ports coupled to a gate of one of the cascode transistors. The system may further include a plurality of output ports, each output port coupled to one of the cascode transistors. The cascode transistors are configured to switch the output stage of the DAC to the output port of the transistor in response to a routing control signal applied to the control port of the transistor. The cascode transistors are High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMT) fabricated from Gallium Nitride.

Abstract: A method and system for color enabled local area contrast enhancement, are provided by generating a first copy of an image; processing the first copy to locally enhance visual contrast in the image; generating a second copy of the image; processing the second copy of the image to provide at least one visual cue to radiant flux within the image incident on the focal plane pixels; displaying a combined image formed from the combination of the locally enhanced first copy and flux mapped the second copy.

Abstract: A coded image system enables a user to recover an object scene from an encoded image. The coded the image system comprises: a physical object scene; an encoding logic creating an encoded image, the encoding logic including a programmable aperture mask spaced a distance away from the physical object scene to encode the encoded image via a doubly-Toeplitz matrix, the doubly-Toeplitz matrix including two one-dimensional vectors; and a decoding logic operatively coupled to the programmable aperture mask to decode the encoded image recovering a visual representation of the object scene from the encoded image.

Abstract: In some embodiments, authentication, confidentiality, and privacy are enhanced for a wireless network of cognitive radios by encryption of network management and control messages as well as data traffic, thereby protecting information pertaining to node identification, node location, node-sensed incumbent transmissions, CRN frequency channel selections, and such like. During initial network registration, a temporary ID can be issued to a node, and then replaced once encrypted communication has been established. This prevents association of initial, clear-text messages with later encrypted transmissions. Elliptic curve cryptography can be used for mutual authentication between subscribers and the base station. ECC-based implicit digital certificates can be embedded in co-existence beacons used by CRN nodes to coordinate use of frequency channels, thereby preventing denial of service attacks due to transmitting of falsified beacons.

Abstract: Enhanced stability for infrared countermeasure systems is provided by using a pair of single axis rate sensors having orthogonal active axes, preferably aligned with the elevation axis and the azimuth axis of the gimbal. The outputs of the orthogonal single axis rate sensors are used to detect instantaneous aircraft angular movement and to use the detected movement to drive the elevation and azimuth motors of the gimbal to move the output mirror for the gimbal to cancel the detected movement.

Abstract: A system for providing situational awareness outside a temporary incident area network includes a prioritized connection module for connecting a mesh network at the incident area to one of a plurality of available communications channels, with the selection based not only on the availability of a communications channel but also on the associated expense, speed, reliability or bandwidth, so that high bandwidth traffic such as video and pictures can be reliably sent from the incident area to a location outside of the incident area. In one embodiment switching to a satellite phone network bypasses problems with terrestrial networks such as cell phone networks and landlines which may be down.

Abstract: In some embodiments, authentication, confidentiality, and privacy are enhanced for a wireless network of cognitive radios by encryption of network management and control messages as well as data traffic, thereby protecting information pertaining to node identification, node location, node-sensed incumbent transmissions, CRN frequency channel selections, and such like. During initial network registration, a temporary ID can be issued to a node, and then replaced once encrypted communication has been established. This prevents association of initial, clear-text messages with later encrypted transmissions. Elliptic curve cryptography can be used for mutual authentication between subscribers and the base station. ECC-based implicit digital certificates can be embedded in co-existence beacons used by CRN nodes to coordinate use of frequency channels, thereby preventing denial of service attacks due to transmitting of falsified beacons.

Abstract: A scene correlation-based target system and related methods are provided. A reference image depicts a remotely-positioned object having identifiable characteristics, wherein a reference directional vector is established relative to the reference image. A target image of a general vicinity of the remotely-positioned object has an unknown directional vector, the target image having at least a portion of the identifiable characteristics. An inertial measuring unit has a scene correlation system, wherein the scene correlation system matches the portion of the identifiable characteristics of the target image with the identifiable characteristics of the reference image, wherein a slew angle between the reference image and the target image is calculated. A target image directional vector is derived from the calculated slew angle and the reference directional vector.

Abstract: A rigid adaptor ring for coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatched optical device components is disclosed. In one embodiment, either side of the rigid adaptor ring includes one or more mounting pads that are configured to interface between the CTE mismatched optical device components.

Abstract: A device and the process for creating a three-dimensional electronic photonic circuit is disclosed. The process includes fabricating a standard high performance integrated circuit on a high resistivity silicon or a silicon-on-insulator substrate up to and including the passivation layer on top of transistors. Separately, a silicon-on-insulator wafer capped by an oxide layer is fabricated, then the two wafers are joined. The resultant device has photonic process elements (e.g. waveguides and photodetectors) fabricated in the top silicon layer. Continued processing interconnects the transistors and photonic elements with contacts and metallization levels to produces an electronic-photonic integrated circuit.

Abstract: A system and method for repurposing of cryptographic capabilities in an electronic warfare (EW) environment is presented. A method begins by determining in a client system a cryptographic function to be performed; however, the client system does not have any cryptographic functionality. The client system then requests the cryptographic function be performed in a cryptographic logic that is physically secured with the client system and is external to the client system. The cryptographic logic performs the cryptographic function to produce a cryptographic result. The cryptographic result is then provided to the client system.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing the timing between two asynchronous clocks. The techniques are particularly well-suited for synchronizing the reference clock with the divided clock in a phase coherent DSM PLL application, but can be more broadly applied to any application that includes a need for synchronizing a data bus across a clock boundary. In one example embodiment, the techniques are implemented in a retime word circuit operatively coupled between a DSM and the divide-by-N integer divider of a PLL application. The retime word circuit receives the divide word from the DSM and generates a retimed divide word that can be applied to the divider. The retime word circuit maintains the reference clock frequency throughput, and forces the divide word seen by the divider to change only at end of a given divide cycle.

Abstract: An amplifier for amplifying signals is presented. A cascode power amplifies includes two or more adjacent cascode amplifiers and at least one remote cascode amplifier. The adjacent cascode amplifiers are lined up adjacent each other with inputs of the adjacent cascode amplifiers connected to a common input line and outputs of the of adjacent cascode amplifiers connected to a common output line. The adjacent cascode amplifiers generally operate in parallel. The remote cascode amplifier is spaced apart from the adjacent cascade amplifiers. An input transmission line connects an input of the remote cascode amplifier to the common input line. An output transmission line connects an output of the remote cascode amplifier to the common output line. Amplified outputs of the adjacent cascode amplifiers and amplified outputs of the remote cascode amplifier are power combined and summed into a coherent amplified output signal that is output on the output transmission line.