Abstract: An optical communication system that includes terminals that operate with different, widely separated wavelengths in which a terminal in the system may be configured to function in both a first operational mode and in a second operational mode. For example, a terminal according to the techniques of this disclosure may communicate with full duplex communication by transmitting a first optical wavelength and receiving a second optical wavelength while in the first operational mode. The same terminal may be reconfigured to transmit the second optical wavelength and receive the first optical wavelength while in the second operational mode. In some examples, the terminal may be located in a spacecraft, such as an orbiting satellite or other vehicle, and may communicate with other terminals such as airborne terminals, terminals located at ground station on the Earth's surface, or with terminals located in other spacecraft.

Abstract: A portable imaging apparatus and system. A sample processing device has a reaction chamber configured to receive a sample and react the sample with a fluorescent compound that emits a specified wavelength of light when excited by light within an excitation band. An illumination source can be positioned to illuminate the reaction chamber when the sample processing device is positioned for imaging. A light guide can be positioned to face the reaction chamber and transfer the emitted light to an imaging detector. The light guide has a filter that blocks the wavelength of light from the illumination source and passes the fluorescent emitted light. The light guide unit defines an angular light acceptance range and is configured to constrain angular spreading of light.

Abstract: A multi-resonator filter has a signal input terminal, a signal output terminal, and a plurality of resonator components. The plurality of resonator components include an input resonator component coupled to the signal input terminal, an output resonator component coupled to the signal output terminal, and at least one intermediate resonator component coupled between the input resonator component and the output resonator component. The input resonator component, output resonator component and the at least one intermediate resonator component are arranged in a sequence to define a signal path between the signal input terminal and the signal output terminal. The at least one intermediate resonator component includes at least one multiple resonator component, where each multiple resonator component includes a pair of individual resonators coupled in parallel where each individual resonator in a given pair of individual resonators has the same resonant frequency.

Abstract: Various embodiments for an optical system are described herein. Generally, the optical system may include an optical transmitter coupled to an optical signal transmission path, an optical receiver coupled to an optical signal reception path, and an external signal path extending between an external optical assembly and both the optical signal transmission path and the optical signal reception path. An optical polarization division multiplexer may be provided to couple the optical signal transmission path and the optical signal reception path to the external signal path. A first non-reciprocal polarization rotator may be also positioned along the external signal path between the optical polarization division multiplexer and the external optical assembly. Further, a quarter wave plate may be positioned along the external signal path between the non-reciprocal polarization rotator and the external optical assembly.

Abstract: Various embodiments for a system and method for a range-enhanced high-speed free-space optical communication are described herein. Generally, the optical communication system may include a first modulator, a second modulator and an average-power limited optical amplifier. The first modulator may receive an input optical signal and generate a modulated optical signal. The second modulator may receive the modulated signal and may be operable to turn-off a select number of pulses in each modulated pulse frame of the modulated signal to generate a low-duty cycle modulated signal. The average-power limited optical amplifier may then generate an amplified modulated signal from the low-duty cycle signal, wherein the amplified modulated signal comprises a plurality of amplified pulse frames with each amplified pulse frame defining an amplified version of a corresponding each low-duty cycle pulse frame.

Abstract: An apparatus for optical pointing is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a telescope, a transmission prism rotatably coupled to the telescope, and a rotatable mechanism operatively coupled to the telescope. The transmission prism is configured to rotate around a first rotation axis, and the rotatable mechanism is configured to rotate around a second rotation axis that is different than the first rotation axis.

Abstract: A bandpass filter has a plurality of resonant cavities. The plurality of resonant cavities are arranged into a sequence of adjacent resonant cavities. Each resonant cavity is configured to define the same fundamental resonant frequency. The filter includes a plurality of coupling irises, with one of the coupling irises positioned between each pair of adjacent resonant cavities. Each resonant cavity includes a plurality of cavity sections. Each resonant cavity includes a capacitive iris positioned coupling the cavity sections to one another. The frequency of secondary resonance modes varies amongst the resonant cavities in the plurality of resonant cavities.

Abstract: A telemetry system with a matrixed telemetry switch unit array and a method for determining the switch position of a telemetry switch unit. The switch units include steering diodes and parallel signal paths each with unique resistance values. The signal paths correspond to switch positions and are closed when the switch unit is in the corresponding switch position. A signal source is electrically connected to an input current path and output current path of the array with a corresponding telemetry switch unit coupled into the signal path. A plurality of sensing signals are applied through the array and the resultant signals are measured. The switch position is determined from the resultant signals indicating the resistance value of the switch signal path currently coupled into the array signal path while accounting for the voltage drop of the steering diodes.

Abstract: A triple-band bandpass filter with at least one cavity resonator. Each cavity resonator has the same three orthogonal resonances modes corresponding to three unique resonance frequencies. The three unique resonance frequencies define the passbands of the filter. The filter has an input probe coupled to an input cavity resonator. The filter has an output probe coupled to an output cavity resonator. The input and output probes are shaped to concurrently couple signal waveforms in each of the resonance modes. Coupling probes that can be used as input or output probes are also provided. An inter-cavity coupling operable to concurrently transmit signal waveforms in each of the resonance modes is also provided. The inter-cavity coupling can be used to transmit signals between adjacent cavity resonators in the filter.

Abstract: A sequential actuator for a radio frequency switch includes a rotor designed to be rotated in a designated rotational direction of the actuator and a stator defining with the rotor when the stator is energized an active torque curve of the rotor having asymmetric positive and negative torque curve portions. Magnetic elements are distributed between the rotor and the stator and define a detent torque curve of the rotor. In some examples, when the stator is energized, the rotor undergoes a first rotation from a position of partial angular overlap of a first rotor magnetic element with a first stator electromagnet to a position of angular alignment of the first rotor magnetic element with the first stator electromagnet.

Abstract: A microwave filter has a housing defining an inner cavity. A first resonator is positioned in a first portion of the inner cavity. A second resonator is positioned in a second portion of the inner cavity. A third resonator is positioned in a third portion of the inner cavity. The first resonator and the third resonator are cross-coupled via an iris. The second resonator is elongated and is coupled to the first resonator and the third resonator. The resulting microwave filter has a frequency response having a transmission zero in the lower stopband. A high-pass filter is realized without the use of a cross-coupling probe.

Abstract: A spectrometer and method for determining an emitted light spectrum. An input light signal is received and directed to an array of interferometers using waveguides. A plurality of self-interfering signals are detected from a first plurality of interferometers in the array of interferometers. The first plurality of interferometers has fewer interferometers than required to satisfy the Nyquist criterion for reconstructing the emitted light spectrum. The emitted light spectrum is reconstructed from the plurality of self-interfering signals using compressive sensing. The plurality of self-interfering signals can provide an interference pattern used to reconstruct the emitted light spectrum. A second plurality of interferometers may output a second plurality of self-interfering signals to reconstruct a low resolution spectrum of the input light signal satisfying the Nyquist criterion. Low resolution signal components can be detected from the low resolution spectrum and used to pre-process the interference pattern.

Abstract: A microwave switch housing assembly for operation in a selected frequency range. The housing assembly includes a housing having ports, a rotor containing at least one waveguide passage, and power absorbing material positioned either in the housing or in the rotor. Ports are positioned within the housing it so that in a first position of the rotor, the waveguide passage connects the ports and in a second position of the rotor, the waveguide passage is unconnected to the ports. The power absorbing material is positioned adjacent to one end of said waveguide passage when said rotor is in said second position it absorbs electromagnetic energy in the frequency range and reduces the tendency of the isolation passage to act as a volume resonator when the rotor is in the second position.

Abstract: A hybrid switch actuator having six positions that are stable in the absence of current and in which displacement occurs between an initial position and a target position under the action of a current. The actuator includes a stator and a rotationally moveable rotor package. The stator has six pole shoes. Each pair of opposed pole shoes is equipped with a common exciting coil. The rotor package has two pairs of rotor poles magnetized transversely in alternate directions and a permanent magnet ring and two end caps adapted to be engaged around said permanent magnet ring. Each end cap is associated with two rotor poles having maximum radius regions that correspond to the area of each of the stator pole shoes and reduced radius regions positioned adjacent the maximum radius regions such that each rotor pole can be precisely aligned with each stator pole shoe.

Abstract: A half wave dielectric resonator assembly including a resonator cavity having a top surface and a bottom surface, an elongated cylindrical dielectric resonator positioned within said resonator cavity and first and second insulative supports to couple and insulate the ends of the cylindrical dielectric resonator from the resonator cavity. The dielectric resonator has a substantially small diameter to length ratio. The resonator assembly provides improved spurious performance and quality factor (Q) at a lower mass. A resonator filter is constructed using a plurality of these resonator assemblies, where adjacent pairs of said resonator cavities are separated from each other by a common cavity wall. By forming a first iris opening formed within a first common cavity wall and forming a second iris opening formed within a second common cavity wall having a position that is vertically offset from the position of the first iris, it is possible to reduce stray coupling.

Abstract: A termination for absorbing electromagnetic energy provided by a transmission line and for transferring any resulting heat to a heat sink. The termination comprises a housing in communication with the transmission line for receiving the electromagnetic energy, and in communication with the heat sink for transferring the resulting heat thereto. The termination also includes a conductor disposed within the housing and cooperating with the housing for providing an internal transmission line structure for confining and guiding the electromagnetic energy within the termination. The termination also includes an absorber comprising a lossy dielectric. The absorber is disposed within the housing and is in communication with the internal transmission line for receiving the electromagnetic energy and absorbing the electromagnetic energy in accordance to an absorption profile of the termination.

Abstract: A MEMS electrostatic actuator assembly for connection to a DC voltage supply includes a MEMS device and a capacitive element. The MEMS device has a conductive member and a restoring force element. The conductive member is continuously movable between first and second positions in response to the electrostatic force produced by the DC voltage supply. The restoring force element provides a restoring force to the conductive member to move it back to the first position. The capacitive element is coupled in series between the MEMS device and the DC voltage supply and is used to limit the electrostatic force produced within the MEMS device to a value substantially equal to the maximum restoring force provided by the restoring force element.

Abstract: A distributed matrix wiring assembly uses a distributed matrix module to connect a routing relay module to a payload equipment device over a set of harness wires. The routing relay module is adapted to provide driving signals to the harness wires at a first end. The distributed matrix module is connected to the harness wires at a second end as well as to the payload equipment device. The distributed matrix includes distributed matrix column wires and distributed matrix row wires which are configured to form a distributed matrix having distributed matrix nodes, each distributed matrix node being defined by the unique combination of a distributed matrix column wire and a distributed matrix row wire. Since the distributed matrix nodes form at least a portion of the overall matrix node requirement it is possible to reduce the number of harness wires required.

Abstract: A microwave switch for transmitting signals having a plurality of ports and a plurality of signal paths for selective transmission of the signals. Each signal path is disposed between a respective pair of the ports and each signal path has a conducting state in which signal transmission occurs between the respective pair of ports and a non-conducting state in which signal transmission does not occur between the respective pair of ports. The switch also has a plurality of actuators, each actuator being adapted to actuate at least one of the signal paths between the conducting and non-conducting states. At least one of the ports and at least one of the signal paths are located on a first plane and the remainder of the ports and the signal paths are located on a second plane such that there are no cross over points between the signal paths in any of the planes. A switch matrix can be built using this bi-planar switch such that the switches in the matrix are connected without any cross over points.

Abstract: A microwave switch housing assembly for operation in a selected frequency range. The housing assembly includes a housing having ports, a rotor containing at least one waveguide passage, and power absorbing material positioned either in the housing or in the rotor. Ports are positioned within the housing it so that in a first position of the rotor, the waveguide passage connects the ports and in a second position of the rotor, the waveguide passage is unconnected to the ports. The power absorbing material is positioned adjacent to one end of said waveguide passage when said rotor is in said second position it absorbs electromagnetic energy in the frequency range and reduces the tendency of the isolation passage to act as a volume resonator when the rotor is in the second position.