Abstract: Systems and methods for mitigating broadband and/or Intermodulation (“IM”) interference. The methods comprise: monitoring performance of at least one demodulator performance metric of a communication device; detecting when the communication device is under or will be under an influence of IM interference based on a performance of the at least one demodulator performance metric; determining an improved level of gain to be applied to (i) a variable attenuator of the communication device or (ii) a variable gain low noise amplifier of the communication device; and selectively adjusting an amount of gain being applied by the variable attenuator or variable gain low noise amplifier based on the improved performance achieved with new level of attenuation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a PWB. The methods comprise: forming a Core Substrate (“CS”) a First Via (“FV”) formed therethrough; disposing a First Trace (“FT”) on an exposed surface of CS that is in electrical contact with FV; laminating a first HDI substrate to CS such that FT electrically connects FV via with a Second Via (“SV”) formed through the first HDI substrate; disposing a Second Trace (“ST”) on an exposed surface of the first HDI substrate that is in electrical contact with SV; and laminating a second HDI substrate to the first HDI substrate such that ST electrically connects SV to a Third Via (“TV”) formed through the second HDI substrate. SV comprises a buried via with a central axis spatially offset from central axis of FV and SV. FV and SV have diameters which are smaller than TV's diameter.

Abstract: An antenna reflector comprising a mesh material formed of a Carbon Nano-Tube (“CNT”) yarn that is reflective of radio waves and has a low solar absorptivity to hemispherical emissivity ratio (?solar/?H ratio) and a low Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (“CTE”).

Abstract: Disk antenna includes a plurality of conductive plates forming a stack aligned along a principal axis. The plates include a ground plane plate, a plurality of electrically active plates, and a drive plate disposed between the ground plane plate and the plurality of electrically active plates. A mast is configured to transition from a first condition in which the mast is compactly stowed, to a second condition in which the mast is deployed. Suspension members are configured to couple a radiating end of the mast to the plurality of electrically active plates. The plates are compactly stacked when the mast is in the first condition, and urged to distributed locations along the length of the mast in the second condition.

Abstract: An optical system is provided which may include an optical body, and a plurality of optical devices carried by the optical body. Furthermore, a plurality of optical waveguides may extend within the optical body between respective optical devices and an imaginary curved surface within the optical body, and an optical element may be coupled to the optical body and be optically aligned with the plurality of optical waveguides. A controller may be configured to selectively operate the plurality of optical devices to generate at least one optical beam.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) photonic equalizer may include a first electro-optic (E/O) modulator configured to modulate an optical carrier based upon an RF input signal, a stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) medium coupled to the first E/O modulator, and a second E/O modulator configured to modulate the optical carrier based upon an equalizing function waveform. An optical circulator may be coupled to the SBS medium and the second E/O modulator, and a photodetector may be coupled to the optical circulator.

Abstract: A satellite Automatic Identification System (AIS) for tracking maritime vessels includes a constellation of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. Each LEO satellite includes an AIS payload for receiving AIS messages from the maritime vessels and determining therefrom reported vessel position data and satellite-based observation data. The system also includes an AIS reporting system configured to obtain the reported maritime vessel position data and satellite-based observation data from the LEO satellites over time. In addition, the AIS reporting system is configured to filter the reported maritime vessel position data and satellite-based observation data to recursively produce estimated maritime vessel positions and update the estimated maritime vessel positions for the maritime vessels.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a polarization generator to receive first and second signals, apply to the first and second signals two-dimensional (2D) complex weights to produce 2D weighted complex signals that represent a polarization having a plane of polarization referenced to three-dimensional (3D) orthogonal axes, operate on the 2D weighted complex signals to rotate the plane of polarization angularly with respect to the 3D orthogonal axes, and produce 3D controlled complex signals representing the polarization with the rotated plane of polarization; quadrature upconverter-modulators to modulate the 3D controlled complex signals, to produce 3D modulated radio frequency (RF) signals; and a triaxial antenna including orthogonal 3D linearly polarized elements to receive respective ones of the 3D modulated RF signals and collectively convert the 3D modulated RF signals to radiant RF energy that has the polarization with the rotated plane of polarization.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting a digital code from a transmitter to a receiver. Information is transmitted via electromagnetic waves from the transmitter to the receiver. The transmission of the information includes transmitting a first portion of the information using electromagnetic waves with a first polarization in response to a first value of the digital code, and transmitting a second portion of the information using electromagnetic waves of a second polarization in response to a second value of the digital code. The first information may include a first navigational code and the second information may include a second navigational code.

Abstract: An eLORAN receiver may include an antenna and eLORAN receiver circuitry coupled to the antenna. The antenna may have a ferromagnetic core including a ferromagnetic medial portion and ferromagnetic arms extending outwardly, and a respective electrically conductive layer surrounding each of the ferromagnetic arms and having a slot.

Abstract: A communication system may include an RF source configured to generate a swept frequency RF signal, and a photonic local unit coupled to the RF source and configured to generate a modulated optical carrier signal based upon the swept frequency RF signal. The photonic local unit may have adjustable equalization levels. The communication system may include a photonic remote unit configured to generate a demodulated swept frequency RF signal from the modulated optical carrier signal from the photonic local unit, and an optical fiber path connecting the photonic local unit and the photonic remote unit. The communication system may include feedback circuitry cooperating with the optical fiber path to set the adjustable equalization levels of the photonic local unit based upon the demodulated swept frequency RF signal at the photonic remote unit.

Abstract: A communications system may include a command communications device and mobile wireless communications devices responsive to the command communications device to be assigned into a push-to-talk mode workgroup and with subsets of the mobile wireless communications devices also to be assigned to respective different hands-free mode work subgroups. Each mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, at least one wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing operable in the push-to-talk mode and the hands-free mode, and a controller carried by the portable housing, coupled to the at least one wireless transceiver, and responsive to the command communications device to operate in the assigned push-to-talk mode workgroup and the assigned hands-free mode work subgroup.

Abstract: A satellite system may include a reflector and a mast extending outwardly from the reflector. A radio frequency (RF) assembly may be carried by a distal end of the mast and include a conductive waveguide body having an RF cavity therein coupled with the reflector and a pin-receiving opening therein. An RF circuit module may include a housing carried by the conductive waveguide body, RF circuitry contained within the housing, and a signal coupling pin coupled to the RF circuitry and extending through the pin-receiving opening into the RF cavity.

Abstract: A satellite communication system may include a terrestrial station and a satellite having a communication link therebetween. The terrestrial station may include a controller and a transceiver cooperating therewith and configured to determine a degradation of the communication link, obtain satellite-derived, rainfall rate and rainfall height data, and determine a rain fade for the communication link based upon the satellite-derived, rainfall rate and rainfall height data. When the degradation of the communication link is caused by the rain fade, the controller determines a mitigation action for the satellite and communicates the mitigation action to the satellite.

Abstract: An antenna may include a tower extending vertically upward from a ground location, a first set of elongate antenna elements extending outwardly from the tower at a first height above the ground location, and a second set of elongate antenna elements extending outwardly from the tower at a second height above the ground location and below the first height. In some embodiments, at least one elongate antenna element of the first and second sets of elongate antenna elements may be electrically coupled to the ground location. A radio frequency (RF) feed may be electrically coupled to the first and second sets of elongate antenna elements.

Abstract: An electronic device may include an EMG sensor to be coupled to a user. The electronic device may include a control device configured to generate a control output based upon a control input and to change a scaling between the control input and the control output based upon the EMG sensor. The EMG sensor may include a pair of EMG sensors, with each EMG sensor being associated with a respective one of opposing muscles of the user.

Abstract: Deployable reflector antenna includes a fabrication hub in which at least one additive fabrication unit disposed. The additive fabrication unit is configured to form at least one rigid structural element of a reflector antenna system. In a stowed condition, an RF reflector material comprised of a flexible webbing is disposed in a stowed configuration proximate to the fabrication hub. A fabrication control system controls the additive fabrication unit so as to form the at least one rigid structural element. The RF reflector material is arranged to transition during the additive fabrication process from the stowed configuration in which the flexible webbing material is furled compactly at the fabrication hub, to a deployed configuration in which the flexible webbing material is unfurled.

Abstract: Antenna reflector has a reflector surface which forms a predetermined dish-like shape. The reflector surface includes an inner section which radially extends a first predetermined distance from a main dish axis. This inner section is immovably supported on a fixed backing structure. The reflector surface also includes an outer section comprising a deployable perimeter. A deployable support structure is comprised of a plurality of rib tips hingedly secured to the fixed backing structure, each having an elongated shape, and extending in a direction away from the main dish axis. The rib tips are configured to rotate on hinge members relative to the fixed backing structure from a first position in which the reflector antenna is made more compact for stowage, to a second position in which a diameter of the reflector surface is increased at a time of deployment.

Abstract: Methods and systems in accordance with the present invention provide a continuum measure of visibility from a single image without prior knowledge of the camera system or the cameras in the system. This may be, for example, a score on the weather visibility quality of the image, ranging from good to poor, or a numeric score representing the weather visibility quality of the terrain in the image. This may be done without prior knowledge of the camera system, the camera that took the image, or the environment. It is also done with the single image without using multiple images, or reference images. The system derives a real-time continuum measure of visibility from a single daytime image, with unknown camera quality, system configuration, and environmental conditions.

Abstract: A reflector system includes a hoop assembly formed of a plurality of link members extending between a plurality of hinge bodies. The link members have an expanded configuration wherein the link members define a circumferential hoop having a central hoop axis. A collapsible mesh reflector surface is secured to the hoop such that when the hoop assembly is in the expanded configuration, the reflector surface is expanded to a shape that is intended to concentrate RF energy. A mast assembly includes an extendible boom aligned along a central boom axis. The hoop assembly is secured by a plurality of cords relative to the boom such that when the hoop is expanded, a central hoop axis is laterally offset a predetermined distance from the central boom axis.