Abstract: An antenna assembly includes at least one conductive dipole arm and an adjacent conductive wall (“H-wall”), which enables efficient radiation from the conductive dipole arm without added losses. A single-ended antenna feed is configured to receive a single-ended signal. The antenna assembly further includes a ground plane and a conductive dipole arm in planar alignment with a surface of the ground plane. The conductive wall is electrically coupled with the ground plane and has an end adjacent to, and physically separate from, the conductive dipole arm, an axial length of the H-wall being orthogonal to the ground plane. The antenna assembly further includes a feedline electrically coupled with the conductive dipole arm and the single-ended antenna feed.

Abstract: A power amplifier has multiple stages, wherein one stage includes nonuniform distributed power amplifier circuitry and an electrically subsequent stage includes reactively match power amplifier circuitry. There is a non 50 Ohm intermediate impedance between the distributed and reactively matched stages. The ratio of periphery between the subsequent reactively matched stage and the prior distributed stage being less than or equal to 2:1.

Abstract: Systems and methods of image enhancement comprising: obtaining image data; analyzing the image data and gathering relevant statistics thereon, at least within a first region of interest and a second region of interest; using the gathered statistics corresponding to the first region of interest, configuring a first contrast enhancement module to perform contrast enhancement of at least a first portion of the image data; using the gathered statistics corresponding to the second region of interest, configuring a second contrast enhancement module to perform contrast enhancement of at least a second portion of the image data; and combining the contrast-enhanced image data to form a complete image

Abstract: A method of producing a pair of simultaneous artificial specklegram images. The method includes steps of: reflecting a target illumination beam off of a target surface via a transmitter optical component of a shearography system; directing a first reference beam from the transmitter optical component to a receiving optical component of the shearography system; directing a second reference beam from the transmitter optical component to the receiving optical component; receiving a reflected beam from the target surface with the receiving optical component; interfering the reflected beam with the first reference beam and the second reference beam; communicating a first data set relating to the pair of simultaneous artificial specklegram images from the receiving optical component to a processor; and processing the first data set to generate the pair of simultaneous artificial specklegram images.

Abstract: A method of image enhancement, the method comprising: obtaining image data representing an image comprising a plurality of pixels, each having a pixel intensity value, the image further comprising a region of interest; analyzing image data associated with the region of interest and gathering relevant statistics thereon; analyzing image data associated with the image as a whole and gathering relevant statistics thereon; accumulating a histogram based on the intensity value of pixels in the image as a whole; defining histogram bins of interest that correspond to a range of pixel intensity values from within the region of interest; attenuating histogram bins outside of the bins of interest OR multiplying bins of interest by a scaling factor; using the attenuated or scaled histogram to create a cumulative distribution function; and using the cumulative distribution function to produce a contrast enhanced image.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for guiding a projectile. A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes generating a roll command based on a roll angle obtained from a steering map that causes a change in range and cross range of the projectile that results in a ground motion closest to a desired ground motion. The method also includes calculating a remaining maximum maneuver distance for the projectile, over a time period extending from the current time of flight to the end of flight. The calculation is based on integration a series of maximum maneuvers, obtained from the steering map, at time intervals within the time period. The method further includes generating a lift command for the projectile based on: distance between the target location and an impact point prediction (IPP) calculated at the current time of flight; an error estimate of the IPP; and the remaining maximum maneuver distance.

Abstract: An antenna assembly includes a first dielectric material, a ground plane above the first dielectric material, and two or more patch antennas above the ground plane. In an example, the ground plane has a first aperture slot, and a second aperture slot that is non-intersecting with the first aperture slot. The antenna assembly further includes a second dielectric material separating the two or more patch antennas from the ground plane. In an example, the first dielectric material comprises a printed circuit board (PCB). In some examples, the ground plane and the two or more patch antennas are manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques (such as three-dimensional printing techniques), and in some such examples, the second dielectric material includes dielectric foam. For example, the dielectric foam supports the two or more patch antennas above the ground plane.

Abstract: An antenna assembly includes a ground plane having a first aperture slot and a second aperture slot. The first and second aperture slots are non-intersecting and substantially symmetrical with each other about an imaginary plane of symmetry that divides the ground plane into two substantially symmetrical halves, and that is orthogonal to the ground plane. The antenna assembly includes a first patch antenna above the ground plane, and a second patch antenna above the first patch antenna. The first patch antenna is separated from the ground plane, and the second patch antenna is separated from the first patch antenna. The imaginary plane also divides the first patch antenna into two substantially symmetrical halves, and divides the second patch antenna into two substantially symmetrical halves. A first feed line and a second feed line are at least in part below the first aperture slot and the second aperture slot, respectively.

Abstract: Techniques for wireless initialization of GNSS receivers. An example system includes a source node and at least one GNSS receiver configured to track GNSS satellites and to provide navigation outputs, the GNSS receiver including a first wireless interface configured to implement a secure wireless communications protocol. The source node may include a second wireless interface configured for communications according to the secure wireless communications protocol, a data storage device storing GNSS configuration data that includes information for initializing the GNSS receiver, and at least one processor coupled to the first wireless interface and to the data storage device, and configured to execute instructions that control the source node to establish, via the second wireless interface, a secure wireless link with the at least one GNSS receiver using the secure wireless communications protocol, and transfer the GNSS configuration data to the GNSS receiver over the secure wireless link.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for off-axis projectile guidance. ? methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes determining a maximum acceleration capability of the projectile based on flight data, control surface positions, and aerodynamic coefficients. The method also includes estimating a range from the projectile to a target. The method further includes calculating a first flight path to provide an offset radar viewing angle to the target that is offset from a longitudinal axis of the projectile and calculating a second flight path to provide for interception of the target by the projectile. The calculations are based on the maximum acceleration capability and the range from the projectile to the target. The method further includes guiding the projectile on the first flight path for an initial period of time and then guiding the projectile on the second flight path until target interception.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for actively controlling a communications bus to mitigate threats, including cyber-attacks. A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes detecting a threat in a message that is being transmitted between nodes on the communications bus. The message comprises one or more message frames and the threat detection is based on analysis of an initial portion of the message frame. The method further includes actively controlling the bus, based on the threat detection, to prevent the remaining portion of the message frame from delivering the threat to one or more of the nodes on the bus. Actively controlling the bus includes isolating nodes from the bus and/or overwriting data in the remaining portion of the message frame to invalidate the message frame or to remove the threat from the message frame.

Abstract: A ground imaging system for use on a guided aerobody includes one or more lenses designed to receive EM radiation from a ground level, a filter substrate having a plurality of filters, a sensor array designed to receive the EM radiation from the filter substrate, and a processing device coupled to the sensor array. The filter substrate is located at a focal plane of the one or more lenses such that the filter substrate receives the EM radiation from the one or more lenses. The plurality of filters includes at least polarization filters and multispectral filters. The processing device is designed to analyze multispectral and polarization signatures of the electromagnetic radiation from identified objects at the ground level and determine that one or more of the objects is not a desired target based at least on the hyperspectral and polarization signatures of the one or more objects.

Abstract: A coaxial pad probe for coupling with a preexisting coaxial cable having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end and remote from an analyzing device. The coaxial pad probe includes a probe operably engaged with the second end of the preexisting coaxial cable. The probe is configured to directly contact a coaxial input/output (IO) connection provided on a mixed signal die or a coplanar IO connection provided on the mixed signal die for measuring an S-parameter measurement of the mixed signal die. The probe may include a support structure operably engaged with second end of the preexisting coaxial cable. The probe may also include a probe tip operably engaged with the support structure and configured to directly contact with the selected coaxial IO connection provided on the mixed signal die or the coplanar IO connection provided on the mixed signal die.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) bridge that may include a body having an interfacing surface and a bonding surface extending from the interfacing surface. RF bridge may also include an interconnect operably engaged with the body. The interconnect may have at least one electrical connection positioned at the interfacing surface and at least another electrical connection positioned at the interfacing surface adjacent with the at least one electrical connection. The interconnect extends curvilinearly between the at least one electrical connection and the at least another electrical connection creating a curvilinear signal path.

Abstract: An interferometry system and method thereof detects movements of the surface of a body of water in response to acoustic waves generated from a sub-surface source interacting with the surface. Movements of the surface of the body of water are viewed over multiple interferometric images that can be pieced together to generate an interferometric movie or video. The interferometric movie or video depicts the movement of the acoustic wave propagating through the viewing area. Once the movement of the acoustic wave propagating through the viewing area is known, then back propagation techniques are employed to determine or triangulate the location of the sub-surface source that generated the acoustic wave.

Abstract: A semiconductor package that may include least one section having at least one die and at least one electrical structure operably engaged directly with the at least one die. Semiconductor package may also include at least another section having at least another die and at least another electrical structure operably engaged directly with the at least another die. The at least one section and the at least another section may be directly engaged with one another via wafer bonding of the at least one electrical structure and the at least another electrical structure. The at least one section and the at least another section may also be formed entirely of metal materials.

Abstract: A semiconductor package that may comprise a mixed signal die having a first surface operably engaged with an interconnect and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and at least one set of input/output (IO) connections on the mixed signal die. The at least one set of IO connections is configured to be electromagnetically shielded in a non-linear geometry from at least another set of IO connections that is different from the at least one set of IO connections.

Abstract: A method of assessing the effectiveness of an electronic countermeasure (ECM) applied against an unknown, ambiguous, or unresponsive radar threat includes monitoring changes in a radar-associated factor while applying the ECM and determining if the ECM is disrupting the hostile radar. The radar-associated factor can be a weapon that is controlled by the radar threat, and assessing the ECM can include determining whether the weapon is misdirected due to applying the ECM. Or the radar-associated factor can be a feature of an RF waveform emitted by the radar threat, and assessing the ECM can include determining if the feature is changed due to applying the ECM. Continuous changes in the feature can indicate unsuccessful attempts to mitigate the ECM. Return of the feature to a pre-threat state can indicate disruption of the radar. The ECM can be selected from a library of countermeasures pre-verified as effective against known threats.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for jammer detection. A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes estimating an angle of arrival of a jamming signal, the jamming signal included in a received signal, and generating a direction finding (DF) confidence indicator associated with the estimated angle of arrival. The method also includes extracting the jamming signal from the received signal. The method further includes correlating the extracted jamming signal with previously extracted jamming signals to generate a correlation score and using the correlation score as a uniqueness assessment of the extracted jamming signal. The method further includes identifying characteristics of the extracted jamming signal and generating a characterization confidence indicator. The method further includes demoting the extracted jamming signal to non-jammer status based on one or more of the DF confidence indicator, the uniqueness assessment, and the characterization confidence indicator.

Abstract: An interferometry system and method thereof detects movements of the surface of a body of water in response to acoustic waves generated from a sub-surface source interacting with the surface. Movements of the surface of the body of water are viewed over multiple interferometric images that can be pieced together to generate an interferometric movie or video. The interferometric movie or video depicts the movement of the acoustic wave propagating through the viewing area. Once the movement of the acoustic wave propagating through the viewing area is known, then back propagation techniques are employed to determine or triangulate the location of the sub-surface source that generated the acoustic wave.