Abstract: A compact tracking coupler includes a plurality of ridged waveguides arranged circumferentially around a circular waveguide wherein long sides of the ridged waveguides extend circumferentially and short sides of the ridged waveguides extend radially relative to the circular waveguide. The compact tracking coupler can be especially useful in a multi-band antenna feed.

Abstract: A spectral sensing demodulator can include a programmable filter bank and a reconfigurable processor coupled to the programmable filter bank. The programmable filter bank can frequency demultiplex a plurality of frequency division multiplexed channels from a frequency band into a plurality of demultiplexed channels. The reconfigurable processor can include a plurality of reconfigurable resources. Each resource can be alternatively be configured to demodulate a demultiplexed channel and to monitor a demultiplexed channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mitigating multi-user interference in reception of a code division multiple access (CDMA) signal is described. The CDMA signal has a plurality of spread user symbol streams, each spread by a corresponding one of a plurality of spreading codes. Estimated symbols are iteratively improved by forming a reconstructed signal from the estimated symbols, subtracting the reconstructed signal from the CDMA signal to create a difference signal, and adjusting the estimated symbols based on a combination of the difference signal and the estimated symbols.

Abstract: A protocol-independent switch system and method includes wrapping ingress data with a local header to form a wrapped packet. The wrapped packet can include data in any of layer-1, layer-2, and layer-3 type. The local header is used for switching the wrapped packet across switch fabric. The local header is removed before egress of the data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a towed wireless network communications subsystem for use in flight by a towing aircraft. The towed wireless network communications subsystem includes an aerodynamic enclosure having a tether attachment and configured to be towed by the towing aircraft. A directional antenna is disposed on the aerodynamic enclosure and is capable of forming one or more directional communications beams within a wireless network. A communications device is disposed in the aerodynamic enclosure and is coupled to the directional antenna(s). The communications device is configured to relay communications data between the towing aircraft and the wireless network.

Abstract: Disclosed is a data recorder for munitions. The data recorder includes a power source, a processor, and an acceleration sensor. The data recorder further includes a trigger validation feature which is operably coupled to the data recorder to verify the occurrence of a secondary environmental/input event. This envisioned data recorder can contain a digital or analog device as a primary or secondary trigger. Data from an accelerometer is stored in FRAM memory.

Abstract: A demodulator, suitable for use in a communication system and in a modem, has a block polyphase circuit with circuit blocks for different signal processing functions, particularly filtering, delay, and frequency conversion. The circuit blocks are arranged for parallel processing of different portions of an input sequence of signals. Signals of the input sequence to be filtered are divided among the blocks by a demultiplexer for processing at a clock frequency lower than a clock frequency of the input signal sequence. Signals outputted by groups of the circuit blocks are summed to produce an output signal of the group. Output signals of all of the groups are multiplexed to provide an output signal sequence such that the repetition frequency of the outputted signals may be higher, lower, or equal to that of the input signal sequence. This enables use of programmable circuitry operative at reduced clock rates.

Abstract: A method and system for managing Priority Messages in a hybrid TDMA-Spread Spectrum (TDMA-SS) communication system is provided. The method and system include a HUB for generating a HUB TDMA epoch, wherein the HUB TDMA epoch includes at least one Priority Message (PM) slot. The PM slot includes a plurality of assignable PM sub-slots. The method and system also include at least one SPOKE, wherein the at least one SPOKE is adapted to transmit a Priority Message during its assigned PM sub-slot within the HUB TDMA epoch.

Abstract: An RF signal divider/combiner is provided for dividing a supplied RF signal to any number of up to N output ports. A switchable impedance matching network is provided to impedance match the divider according to the number of output ports connected.

Abstract: A broadband driver amplifier module is made using an arrangement of MMICS and microstrip to provide inline rf connectors for the input and output and a small package size. The input and output microstrips incorporate a microstrip portion which is at an angle to the axis of the input connector providing an offset from the axis of the input connector. There is provided at least one MMIC extending from the input microstrip at the offset across the input connector axis and having an output on the other side of the axis. This arrangement provides for an overall zigzag configuration which reduces the axial length of the package while maintaining inline input and output connectors. The invention further includes novel arrangements for MMIC mounting and d.c. blocks used in the amplifier.

Abstract: A high power switchable power combiner includes a plurality of input ports and a plurality of matching elements. The matching elements are arranged to be used in combination when more than two of the input ports are connected. A thermally conductive dielectric member may be provided between the inner conductor of the combiner and the conductive housing thereof to provide a thermal path to dissipate heat from the center conductor.

Abstract: The present technique relates to a method and apparatus of illuminating a display, which has a display screen, a plurality of lamps and reflector containing both specular and diffuse surfaces. The technique provides a relatively small area specular reflector with a curved surface configured for reflecting a substantial amount of light away from the lamps, into the intermediate areas between the lamps, and toward the display screen. The relatively large remaining area of the reflector provides a diffuse surface to direct some amount of light away from the lamps and toward the display. In addition, this diffuse surface optimizes the performance of light control films integral to the illumination system.

Abstract: Ambient light can saturate the light detectors of a touch screen and cause unreliable operation. To address this concern, one or more filters may be placed proximate the detectors. A first filter may be a spatial filter, such as a microlouvre filter. A microlouvre filter is arranged so that it passes light transmitted by the light detectors and rejects off-axis light. Another filter may be a narrow band optical filter, such as a dichroic notch filter. Such an optical filter passes light having wavelengths within a narrow band selected to correspond to the spectral characteristics of the light emitters, while it rejects light of other wavelengths. The spatial filter and the narrow band optical filter may be used separately or in combination.

Abstract: Sunlight can damage a conventional touch screen display and cause the display to be quite difficult to read. Furthermore, conventional touch screen displays are easily damaged, and, once damaged, the entire touch screen is replaced. To address these concerns, a touch panel includes anti-reflective coatings on the surfaces of the top plate and the base plate that are open to the air. These coatings substantially reduce reflections and make the touch screen easier to read in direct sunlight. In particular, the anti-reflective coating used on the upper surface of the base plate is dielectric in nature to reduce reflectivity even further. This dielectric coating includes openings to an underlying conductive layer so that an electrical contact is made when a user deflects the top plate into the base plate. Also, the top plate may be detachably coupled to the base plate, advantageously by double stick adhesive tape, so that only the top plate is replaced when damaged.

Abstract: A system for fast forward error correction coding and decoding is provided. The system includes a transmitting device having a data source and a forward error correction (FEC) encoder. The FEC is coupled to the data source and is adapted to encode packetized data from the data source. A channelizer is coupled to the at least one FEC encoder and is adapted to interleave the FEC encoded packetized data among a plurality of communication channels. The system also includes a receiving device adapted to receive the plurality of communication channels. The receiving device includes a dechannelizer, adapted to de-interleave the plurality of communication channels and a FEC decoder to reconstituted the packetized data.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for digital frequency discrimination are provided that only require one sample per data symbol (e.g. one bit for BPSK or 2 bits for QPSK). This is accomplished by determining the difference between the carrier phase error on successive data symbols. The difference in phase error is then used as an approximation to the derivative of the phase error, which is the frequency error between the carrier and the local oscillator of the receiver. An important advantage of this apparatus and method is that they allow the maximum symbol rate to be processed by the receiver for a given digital technology. In other words, maximum symbol rate can now be equal to the maximum clock rate of the digital technology, if so desired by the user. In contrast, conventional digital frequency discriminators limit the maximum symbol rate to one-half or one-fourth of the maximum clock rate for a given digital technology.