Abstract: A vertically integrated electronically steered phased array that employs beamsteering using a programmable phase locked loop including a local oscillator. The local oscillator provides an oscillator signal that is converted to an RF signal that can be either up-converted for a transmit operation or down-converted for a receive operation. The relative off-set between independently generated local oscillator signals forms the basis of the off-set phase required for a phased array. The absolute measure of off-set phase is referenced to a globally distributed clock signal that aligns the zero degree phase shift of the oscillator.

Abstract: A guidance system for actively guiding a projectile, such as a bullet after it has been fired from a gun. The guidance system includes a radar unit that includes a plurality of receiver arrays. An optical scope is also mounted to the gun for optically sighting a target. An inertial measurement unit provided on the gun locks onto the target after it has been sighted by the scope, and provides a reference location at the center of the receiver arrays from which the bullet can be directed. The receiver arrays receive radar monopulse beacon signals from the bullet. The signals from the bullet are used to identify the position of the bullet and the roll of the bullet. The signals sent to the bullet provide flight correction information that is processed on the bullet, and used to control actuators that move steering devices on the bullet.

Abstract: A guidance system for actively guiding a projectile, such as a bullet after it has been fired from a gun. The guidance system includes a radar unit that includes a plurality of receiver arrays. An optical scope is also mounted to the gun for optically sighting a target. An inertial measurement unit provided on the gun locks onto the target after it has been sighted by the scope, and provides a reference location at the center of the receiver arrays from which the bullet can be directed. The receiver arrays receive radar monopulse beacon signals from the bullet. The signals from the bullet are used to identify the position of the bullet and the roll of the bullet. The signals sent to the bullet provide flight correction information that is processed on the bullet, and used to control actuators that move steering devices on the bullet.

Abstract: A vertically integrated electronically steered phased array that employs beamsteering using a programmable phase locked loop including a local oscillator. The local oscillator provides an oscillator signal that is converted to an RF signal that can be either up-converted for a transmit operation or down-converted for a receive operation. The relative off-set between independently generated local oscillator signals forms the basis of the off-set phase required for a phased array. The absolute measure of off-set phase is referenced to a globally distributed clock signal that aligns the zero degree phase shift of the oscillator.

Abstract: A vertically integrated electronically steered phased array that employs beamsteering using a programmable phase locked loop including a local oscillator. The local oscillator provides an oscillator signal that is converted to an RF signal that can be either up-converted for a transmit operation or down-converted for a receive operation. The relative off-set between independently generated local oscillator signals forms the basis of the off-set phase required for a phased array. The absolute measure of off-set phase is referenced to a globally distributed clock signal that aligns the zero degree phase shift of the oscillator.

Abstract: A method for micro-machining a varactor that is part of a membrane suspended MEMS tunable filter. In one non-limiting embodiment, the method includes providing a main substrate; depositing a membrane on the main substrate; depositing and patterning a plurality of sacrificial photoresist layers at predetermined times during the fabrication of the varactor; depositing metal layers that define a fabricated varactor structure enclosed within photoresist; coupling a carrier substrate to the fabricated structure opposite to the main substrate using a release layer; etching a central portion of the main substrate to expose the membrane; removing the carrier substrate by dissolving the release layer in a material that attacks the release layer but does not dissolve the photoresist; and removing the photoresist layers to provide a released varactor.

Abstract: An antenna assembly that has particular application for a hand held reader that interrogates sensors embedded within a vehicle tire, such as RFID sensors and tire pressure sensors. In one embodiment, the antenna assembly includes a first antenna operating in the 432-435 MHz range that employs a meander-line slot that provides increased antenna cross-polarization so that the sensor can be interrogated regardless of the antenna orientation and polarization. The antenna assembly also includes two RFID antennas that operate in the 902-928 MHz range that are planar antenna that make the antenna bi-directional, polarization free and a wide enough bandwidth for the RFID interrogation.

Abstract: A transceiver array that employs vertically integrated circuits in one or more wafers. The array includes a digital wafer having digital circuits. A plurality of RF cubes are formed to the digital wafer, where each RF cube includes an antenna wafer and at least one lower wafer, and where each RF cube represents a separate channel of the array. The antenna wafer includes a patch antenna and a resonating cavity. The at least one lower wafer includes high frequency RF integrated circuits and intermediate frequency RF integrated circuits. The array has application as a front-end for a digital beam-forming system.

Abstract: A vertically integrated electronically steered phased array that employs beamsteering using a programmable phase locked loop including a local oscillator. The local oscillator provides an oscillator signal that is converted to an RF signal that can be either up-converted for a transmit operation or down-converted for a receive operation. The relative off-set between independently generated local oscillator signals forms the basis of the off-set phase required for a phased array. The absolute measure of off-set phase is referenced to a globally distributed clock signal that aligns the zero degree phase shift of the oscillator.

Abstract: A method for micro-machining a varactor that is part of a membrane suspended MEMS tunable filter. In one non-limiting embodiment, the method includes providing a main substrate; depositing a membrane on the main substrate; depositing and patterning a plurality of sacrificial photoresist layers at predetermined times during the fabrication of the varactor; depositing metal layers that define a fabricated varactor structure enclosed within photoresist; coupling a carrier substrate to the fabricated structure opposite to the main substrate using a release layer; etching a central portion of the main substrate to expose the membrane; removing the carrier substrate by dissolving the release layer in a material that attacks the release layer but does not dissolve the photoresist; and removing the photoresist layers to provide a released varactor.

Abstract: An antenna assembly that has particular application for a hand held reader that interrogates sensors embedded within a vehicle tire, such as RFID sensors and tire pressure sensors. In one embodiment, the antenna assembly includes a first antenna operating in the 432-435 MHz range that employs a meander-line slot that provides increased antenna cross-polarization so that the sensor can be interrogated regardless of the antenna orientation and polarization. The antenna assembly also includes two RFID antennas that operate in the 902-928 MHz range that are planar antenna that make the antenna bi-directional, polarization free and a wide enough bandwidth for the RFID interrogation.

Abstract: A speed measuring device that employs a Fresnel zone plate lens antenna. The Fresnel lens antenna is mounted to one end of a low profile collection housing, typically cylindrical in configuration. An opposite end of the collection housing includes a back plate having an opening. A transceiver unit is mounted to the outside surface of the back plate so that a transmitter and a detector within the transceiver are in communication with the opening. A signal is transmitted from the transceiver unit through the opening, and is directed by the lens antenna. A reflected signal is received and focused by the lens antenna, and collected by the housing to be directed through the opening to the transceiver.

Abstract: An evanescent mode resonator including a cavity formed in a substrate of semiconductor material. The resonator includes a capacitive post positioned within the cavity, and a tuning element positioned within the wall of the cavity proximate to the capacitive post, where a gap between the flexible element and the post sets the tuning of the resonator.

Abstract: A transceiver array that employs vertically integrated circuits in one or more wafers. The array includes a digital wafer having digital circuits. A plurality of RF cubes are formed to the digital wafer, where each RF cube includes an antenna wafer and at least one lower wafer, and where each RF cube represents a separate channel of the array. The antenna wafer includes a patch antenna and a resonating cavity. The at least one lower wafer includes high frequency RF integrated circuits and intermediate frequency RF integrated circuits. The array has application as a front-end for a digital beam-forming system.

Abstract: Micro-machined microstrip-to-coplanar waveguide transitions for vertically integrated RF systems on chip. In one embodiment, a microstrip line is formed on one surface of a semiconductor wafer and a coplanar waveguide is formed on an opposite surface of the wafer, where the microstrip line and the coplanar waveguide are electrically coupled by vias extending through the wafer. In another embodiment, a semiconductor device is provided that includes a first wafer and a second wafer. The first wafer includes a microstrip line formed on one side that is electrically coupled to a coplanar waveguide formed on an opposite side of the first wafer. The second wafer includes a coplanar waveguide that is electrically coupled to the coplanar waveguide on the first wafer by electrical bumps.

Abstract: A microstrip-to-microstrip RF transition circuit that employs a wide microstrip line transition to a short co-planar waveguide section. In one embodiment, a first microstrip line and a first ground plane are patterned on a top surface of a semiconductor wafer, and a second microstrip line and a second ground plane are patterned on a bottom surface of the wafer. A signal via is formed through the wafer and makes electrical contact with the first and second microstrip lines. Likewise, at least one ground via is formed through the wafer and makes electrical contact with the first and second ground planes. A widened portion of the microstrip line is positioned between extended portions of the respective ground plane so that a slot is provided between the widened portion and the extended portion.

Abstract: A dual-slot coupled sectorial loop antenna (CSLA). The dual-slot CSLA includes a metalized layer deposited on a dielectric substrate. Portions of the metalized layer are removed to define two pie-slice shaped sectors that are electrically isolated from the remaining portion of the metalized layer, where points of the pie-slice shaped sectors oppose each other and are electrically coupled to a common feed.

Abstract: A two-sided overlapping coupled sectorial loop antenna (CSLA). The CSLA includes a ground plane and a dielectric substrate mounted substantially perpendicular thereto. A first metalized trace is deposited on one side of the substrate and a second metalized trace is deposited on the other side of the substrate, where the metalized traces overlap at a center area and are coupled to a common feed at the center area. In one embodiment, the size of the CSLA is further reduced by adding inductors to the traces.

Abstract: A sectorial loop antenna structure that employs a plurality of pie-slice shaped sectors where adjacent sectors are coupled together by an arch and points of the sectors are coupled to a common feed. In one embodiment, the antenna structure includes a first sectorial loop antenna having two pie-slice shaped sectors and an arch therebetween, and a second sectorial loop antenna having two pie-slice shaped sectors and an arch therebetween. In another embodiment, the antenna structure includes a first pie-slice shaped sector and a second pie-slice shaped sector having an arch therebetween.

Abstract: A wide-band double-loop antenna. The antenna includes a metal trace deposited on a dielectric substrate. The metal trace includes a plurality of trace legs and a cross-bar trace that define an E-shape. Two of the legs are electrically coupled to a ground plane, and the third leg is electrically coupled to a feed, such as a center conductor of a coaxial connector. An outer conductor of the connector is electrically coupled to the ground plane.