Abstract: A three-dimensional compound loop antenna is provided, including a ground plane, a pair of horizontal conductive portions substantially horizontal relative to the ground plane, a feed line substantially vertical relative to the ground plane, and a vertical conductive portion coupling the pair of horizontal conductive portions to the ground plane.

Abstract: Source radio frequency energy (RF) is coupled wirelessly, with no direct physical contact, between two compound loop (CPL) antennas across a variety of barriers such as plastic, human tissues, glass, and air. The compound coupling interface is highly efficient in transferring the RF energy from a source including one CPL antenna to a destination including a second CPL antenna. A re-radiating structure including a further CPL antenna or a different type of antenna may be connected on the destination side to completely physically isolate the source side from the destination side. When the destination coupling antenna is removed, the source coupling antenna may operate as an efficient radiator at the desired operating frequencies. Likewise, the destination coupling antenna may operate as an efficient radiator in the absence of the source coupling antenna.

Abstract: A regenerative selective logarithmic detector amplifier (LDA) can have integrated FM demodulation capabilities. It can receive a wired or wireless FM modulated signal and amplify or demodulate it with high sensitivity, high skirt ratio and minimized noise when compared to the prior art. When used in conjunction with other circuits such as a PLL or mixer, it can improve interference rejection and frequency selectivity and be locked on a precise channel in frequency and phase. The LDA produces intermittent oscillations that are self-quenched when reaching a given threshold. It also embeds the circuitry to perform direct FM discrimination. FM demodulation process is completed by a simple analog or digital frequency to voltage converter. This plus the fact that the instantaneous regeneration gain is low-medium permit to detect signals of small amplitudes buried in the noise.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving data communication over less than perfect power lines or transmission lines are described. The systems and methods allow for pushing out electrically any null within a frequency range of interest and/or for lossless transmission by providing impedance matching between communication devices and the transmission line. This is achieved by implementing line equalizing modules within the transceivers, at the transmitter side and/or the receiver side, or by plugging, as a stand-alone module, into an electrical outlet within a building. The line equalizing module includes multiple inductor-capacitor cells coupled in cascade where multiple switches allow for selective and concurrent connection between the inductor-capacitor cells. In another embodiment, the line equalizing module includes variable inductor-capacitor cells. The line equalizing module provides a variable propagation delay that allows for stretching electrically the transmission line.

Abstract: An in-medium monitoring system for monitoring material carried within a pipe. The system includes an acoustic device installed within the pipe that generates voltage signals indicative of changes in the material, such as flow rate or leaks, a hardware unit that includes a detector module and a communication module, a switch for switching the voltage signals to and communication signals from the hardware unit. The hardware unit and a power source are attached to the pipe. The acoustic device may be detector or a sensor. The communication module may communicate date through the sensor in the medium or outside of the pipe to a fixed network. The hardware unit may include a log detection amplifier for generating an amplified pulsed output signal without voltage gain and without significantly adding noise.

Abstract: A logarithmic detector amplifying (LDA) system is provided for use as a high sensitivity receive booster or replacement for a low noise amplifier in a receive chain of a communication device. The LDA system includes an amplifying circuit configured to receive an input signal having a first frequency and generate an oscillation based on the input signal, a sampling circuit coupled to the amplifying circuit and configured to terminate the oscillation based on a predetermined threshold to periodically clamp and restart the oscillation to generate a series of pulses modulated by the oscillation and by the input signal, and one or more resonant circuits coupled with the amplifying circuit and configured to establish a frequency of operation and to generate an output signal having a second frequency, the second frequency being substantially the same as the first frequency.

Abstract: A low noise detection system is disclosed in which a modulator located in a transmitter or a receiver is configured to convert a voltage data signal to a frequency signal, to modulate a baseband signal with the voltage data, and to output the modulated data signal. The receiver further includes a log detection amplifier configured to receive the modulated data signal and to regeneratively demodulate the modulated data signal to extract the data in an amplified analog data signal while not significantly amplifying any noise in the modulated data signal. The receiver further includes a digital conversion circuit for converting the amplified analog signal into a digital data signal.

Abstract: An antenna system is provided, including a first antenna, a second antenna, a ground plane, and a resonant isolator coupled to the first and second antennas. Each of the antennas is configured to be a capacitively-coupled compound loop antenna, and the resonant isolator is configured to provide isolation between the two antennas at resonance. The two antennas may be symmetrical or asymmetrical and include a first element that emits a magnetic field and a second element that generates an electrical field that is orthogonal to the magnetic field. The radiating element of the second element may be capacitively coupled to the remainder of the second element. The resonate isolator may be comprised of a single conductive element or two conductive elements that are capacitively coupled.

Abstract: A compound loop antenna (CPL) is described that includes a capacitively fed magnetic loop and/or a capacitively fed electric field radiator. Embodiments include single-band CPL antennas and multi-band CPL antennas. The CPL antennas have been reduced in physical size by capacitively feeding the loop and/or radiator. The embodiments include at least one e-field radiation element that is capacitively coupled or not capacitively coupled, at least one magnetic loop element that is capacitively coupled. A continuation of the magnetic loop may be continued with either a wire or a connection to a second layer.

Abstract: A logarithmic amplifier (LDA) is described that includes an amplifier configured to oscillate a modulated input signal, a feedback establishing a 180 degree phase shift between the amplifier input and the output and maintaining oscillation of the input signal, a parallel resonant circuit connected to the amplifier output causing the amplifier to resonate at or around a center frequency, and a controller connected to the amplifier input cyclically terminating oscillation of the input signal each time a pre-determined threshold of current is detected, the controller including a low pass filter configured to generate a second output signal having a repetition frequency. The LDA may be used for AM with or without a PLL and/or a superhetrodyne. The LDA may be implemented as a mixer and used for phase demodulation. The LDA may be used for phase demodulation. The LDA may be used in place of a low noise amplifier.

Abstract: A logarithmic amplifier (LDA) is described that includes an amplifier configured to oscillate a modulated input signal, a feedback establishing a 180 degree phase shift between the amplifier input and the output and maintaining oscillation of the input signal, a parallel resonant circuit connected to the amplifier output causing the amplifier to resonate at or around a center frequency, and a controller connected to the amplifier input cyclically terminating oscillation of the input signal each time a pre-determined threshold of current is detected, the controller including a low pass filter configured to generate a second output signal having a repetition frequency. The LDA may be used for AM with or without a PLL and/or a superheterodyne. The LDA may be implemented as a mixer and used for phase demodulation. The LDA may be used for phase demodulation. The LDA may be used in place of a low noise amplifier.

Abstract: An N-way radio frequency (RF) divider/combiner is formed as a combination including an input port electrically coupled to a first 2-way divider/combiner and a second 2-way divider/combiner. An antenna may be coupled to at least one port of the N-way divider. The antenna may be formed as a compound printed loop (CPL) antenna. The N-way RF divider/combiner may be configured to provide N inputs and M output ports, wherein N and M are integers and any of the M output ports and N input ports can be connected to any combinations of devices. Such devices may include, e.g., an antenna including but not limited to a CPL antenna, RF receive port, transmit port, amplifier, RF switch, low noise amplifier (LNA), oscillator, tuning circuit, matching circuit, lumped element circuit, active circuit, diode, adjustable inductive circuit, and adjustable capacitive circuit.

Abstract: Embodiments provide single-sided and multi-layered circular polarized, self-contained, compound loop antennas (circular polarized CPL). Embodiments of the CPL antennas produce circular polarized signals by using two electric field radiators physically oriented orthogonal to each other, and by ensuring that the two electric field radiators are positioned such that an electrical delay between the two electric field radiators results in the two electric field radiators emitting their respective electric fields out of phase. Ensuring the proper electrical delay between the two electric field radiators also maintains high efficiency of the antenna and it improves the axial ratio of the antenna.

Abstract: Logarithmic Detector Amplifiers (LDAs), multiple antennas, active antennas, and multiple active antennas and receivers are provided in a variety of configurations that are synchronized to reduce or eliminate interference so at to provide, a greater range and bandwidth between wireless routers and their clients in WLAN and WAN environments.

Abstract: An antenna system is provided, including a first antenna, a second antenna, a ground plane, and a resonant isolator coupled to the first and second antennas. Each of the antennas is configured to be a capacitively-coupled compound loop antenna, and the resonant isolator is configured to provide isolation between the two antennas at resonance. The two antennas may be symmetrical or asymmetrical and include a first element that emits a magnetic field and a second element that generates an electrical field that is orthogonal to the magnetic field. The radiating element of the second element may be capacitively coupled to the remainder of the second element. The resonate isolator may be comprised of a single conductive element or two conductive elements that are capacitively coupled.

Abstract: A method is provided for communicating signals at a low power level in an electromagnetic interference (EMI) environment. A first device transmits a modulated signal having a first carrier frequency, including the encoded information via a hardwire transmission medium. In one aspect, the power level of the modulated signal can be adjusted to minimize power consumption or reduce the generation of EMI. The modulated signal may be in one of the following formats: frequency modulation (FM) or phase modulation (PM) to name a few examples. A second device including a logarithmic detector amplifier (LDA) demodulator circuit receives the signal, which may be mixed with EMI. The LDA demodulator circuit amplifies the modulated signal, without amplifying the EMI, to supply a demodulated baseband signal, which may be an n-ary digital signal, or an audio signal. A low-power, noise insensitive communication channel is also provided.

Abstract: A three-dimensional compound loop antenna is provided, including a ground plane, a pair of horizontal conductive portions substantially horizontal relative to the ground plane, a feed line substantially vertical relative to the ground plane, and a vertical conductive portion coupling the pair of horizontal conductive portions to the ground plane.

Abstract: A method is provided for communicating signals at a low power level in an electromagnetic interference (EMI) environment. A first device transmits a modulated signal having a first carrier frequency, including the encoded information via a hardwire transmission medium. In one aspect, the power level of the modulated signal can be adjusted to minimize power consumption or reduce the generation of EMI. The modulated signal may be in one of the following formats: frequency modulation (FM) or phase modulation (PM) to name a few examples. A second device including a logarithmic detector amplifier (LDA) demodulator circuit receives the signal, which may be mixed with EMI. The LDA demodulator circuit amplifies the modulated signal, without amplifying the EMI, to supply a demodulated baseband signal, which may be an n-ary digital signal, or an audio signal. A low-power, noise insensitive communication channel is also provided.

Abstract: A logarithmic detector amplifying (LDA) system is provided for use as a high sensitivity receive booster or replacement for a low noise amplifier in a receive chain of a communication device. The LDA system includes an amplifying circuit configured to receive an input signal having a first frequency and generate an oscillation based on the input signal, a sampling circuit coupled to the amplifying circuit and configured to terminate the oscillation based on a predetermined threshold to periodically clamp and restart the oscillation to generate a series of pulses modulated by the oscillation and by the input signal, and one or more resonant circuits coupled with the amplifying circuit and configured to establish a frequency of operation and to generate an output signal having a second frequency, the second frequency being substantially the same as the first frequency.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to an antenna builder and a method of building and maintaining an antenna design repository. A first embodiment consists of an antenna builder that enables the creation of an antenna representation that can subsequently be output into a plurality of formats to be used by other tools, such as electromagnetic simulation software. An alternative embodiment is directed to a method of building and maintaining a repository of antenna designs. The repository of antenna designs can be queried, enabling a plurality of users to search for specific antenna designs. Alternative embodiments can enable a user to search the repository antenna designs by visually browsing over the antenna designs in the repository. The repository of antenna designs is created by saving solutions generated by an optimizer during an optimization run to the repository. Solutions from the repository can also be used to seed and bootstrap other optimization runs.