Abstract: An electrical connector for interconnecting a portable radio and accessory devices. The connector attached to the accessory device includes a slot for initially engaging a tab on the portable radio, which provides proper alignment between the portable radio and the connector, while the connector is rotated toward the portable radio. Maintaining alignment ensures proper mating between the electrical contacts of the portable radio and the electrical contacts of the connector, and further ensures that a quarter turn latching device of the connector is properly received by a receiving member on the portable radio. The user then rotates the quarter turn latching device to urge the contacts against each other and secure the connector in place. Because the electrical connector includes a two-point attachment mechanism to the portable radio, rotation of the connector relative to the portable radio is prevented.

Abstract: A dual channel monopulse transceiver is described for use at millimeter wavelengths and for the detection of targets for vehicle collision avoidance. A microstrip antenna is located on one side of a plate and a transceiver microstrip circuit coupled to the antenna is located on the other side of the plate. The transceiver includes a reflective balanced mixer, an isolated balanced mixer and a hybrid circuit for connecting the mixers to antenna feed points. Sum and difference signal generating circuits are employed to provide single and split antenna beams for the detection of targets.

Abstract: Microwave apparatus for altering the phase-front of microwave energy propagating in a predetermined path and in which there is provided a panel having a plurality of electrically-conductive leads extending substantially parallel to the electric vector of the wave, each of these leads is lengthwise divided into sections. A semiconductor junction is formed in the semiconductor material at each end of each section of lead. Each pair of confronting junctions together with the semiconductor material therebetween provide a surface oriented semiconductor diode switch. A switching voltage is applied to each of the leads so as to render at least some of the diodes in each of the leads simultaneously either conductive or non-conductive, thereby allowing each of the leads to be electrically either divided into said sections or continuous throughout at least a portion of its length.

Abstract: A microwave antenna and receiver assembly is described for use at gigaherz frequencies wherein the antenna is a microstrip antenna and the receiver includes a stripline filter circuit which is integrated in a layered configuration with both the microstrip antenna and the amplifier so as to achieve a very low noise figure, a low SWR and preserve good receiver characteristics, while being easily assembled inside a common radome housing. An inexpensive substrate material formed of alternating layers of polypropylene and woven glass is described for use with the microstrip antenna and other microwave structures.

Abstract: Several embodiments are shown for a quick connect/disconnect microwave coaxial connector which is held together under magnetic force. In one embodiment, the ends of coaxial cables are provided with annular magnets and the end faces ground flat. A good low SWR coaxial connection is made and held by simply pushing the ends together. In another embodiment, ring magnets are employed to hold standard coaxial ends together while enabling their disconnection by pulling them apart. A magnetic adapter is used to facilitate coaxial connections.

Abstract: A mesa-type PIN diode and method for making same are disclosed. A diode made according to the present invention includes a junction formed in the top surface of the mesa-shaped structure, having an area that is less than (and preferrably, approximately half) the area of the top surface. A highly-doped, N-type conducting layer is formed in the side-walls of the mesa-shaped structure. The resulting diode is subject to greatly reduced charge carrier recombination effects and suffers from much less carrier-to-carrier scattering than conventional diodes. Thus, a diode made according to the present invention is capable of achieving much higher stored charge, lower resistance, lower capacitance, better switching characteristics, and lower power consumption than one made according to the prior art. Particular utility is found, inter alia, in the areas of high-frequency microwave and monolithic circuits.

Abstract: An RF jack and plug assembly provides 360.degree. of contact with a strong mechanical bond between the two parts. The jack has molded and stamped interrelated parts that predeterminedly position the parts for simple and accurate assembly. The construction provides positive electrical contact and long life for the contact elements with complete RF shielding.

Abstract: An electronic attenuator device is provided whose attenuation characteristics are substantially insensitive to variations in component element parameters and ambient temperature changes. Advantageously, an attenuator device made according to the present invention may be constructed at substantially reduced cost without loss of attenuation precision.

Abstract: A mesa-type PIN diode and method for making same are disclosed. A diode made according to the present invention includes a junction formed in the top surface of the mesa-shaped structure, having an area that is less than (and preferrably, approximately half) the area of the top surface. A highly-doped, N-type conducting layer is formed in the side-walls of the mesa-shaped structure. The resulting diode is subject to greatly reduced charge carrier recombination effects and suffers from much less carrier-to-carrier scattering than conventional diodes. Thus, a diode made according to the present invention is capable of achieving much higher stored charge, lower resistance, lower capacitance, better switching characteristics, and lower power consumption than one made according to the prior art. Particular utility is found, inter alia, in the areas of high-frequency microwave and monolithic circuits.

Abstract: A fiber optic attenuator having a predetermined, fixed attenuation value and low back reflection properties across a broad wavelength spectrum is disclosed. Attenuation is achieved by providing an optical fiber pathway having an attenuation region which causes a predetermined signal loss. The medium defining the pathway is of a substantially constant index of refraction through the device to minimize or eliminate interference caused by Fresnel reflections.

Abstract: A microwave apparatus for warming of a liquid such as blood or IV fluids in which the warming occurs in-line by means of a microwave heating cavity having a source of microwave energy coupled thereto. A support element in the form of a bobbin forms an assembly with an IV tube wound about the bobbin. This tubing-bobbin assembly is inserted into the microwave heating cavity. A non-invasive, non-perturbing microwave temperature monitor is provided coupled to the microwave heating cavity for monitoring the temperature of liquid flowing in the IV tube. Controls are provided including a desired operating temperature selector for combining signals representative of, not only cavity temperature, but also inlet and outlet temperatures to control the power level of microwave energy delivered to the heating cavity.

Abstract: A subassembly for microwave structure such as a connector is described. An insulator for spacing of at least one center conductor is formed of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and effectively bonded to at least one center conductor to be used in the connector. The PTFE may be bonded to the conductor by employing an intermediate layer of FEP (fluorinated ethylene-propylene) that can be bonded to the center conductor. Bonding of the components into an integral subassembly is done in a single step involving heating and pressurizing a pre-assembly in a mold to a sufficient amount and for a sufficient time to provide an acceptably strong bond. Superior electrical characteristics such as a low SWR and insertion loss are achieved in captivated and/or sealed connectors. A good seal is achieved between the insulator and the outer conductor by forming an undercut in the latter, filling it with silicone grease and enabling a temporarily mechanically-collapsed bead on the insulator to expand into the undercut.

Abstract: Extended horizontal definition is provided in a television system in which the wideband and narrowband chrominance components of a video signal are modulated for transmission by a subcarrier. The modulated wideband I chrominance component is filtered over a bandwidth that is antisymmetrical about the subcarrier frequency with an extended upper sideband to thereby entend the bandwidth that is available for transmission of the I chrominance component. The modulated I chrominance component is antisymmetrically filtered to enhance the relative amplitude in the extended portion of the upper sideband for transmission, and in a television receiver the modulated I chrominance component of a received video signal is filtered to have a relatively flat-response over the antisymmetrical bandwidth about the subcarrier frequency.

Abstract: A microminiature coaxial connector is described. The connector comprises a male half and a female half and an annular electrical spring contact member which functions to provide continuous annular outer conductor electrical contact and RFI suppression. The annular spring member provides continuous annular outer conductor contact between facing surfaces at said male and female surfaces even during slight conductor misalignment. The spring is retained on said female member by a groove adjacent the outer end thereof, the outer end thereof is tapered away from a collar defining the outer end of the groove towards its axis, and the male member is at least 5% larger in diameter than the diameter of said female member adjacent the collar and said spring member extends at least 5% beyond the diameter of said collar.

Abstract: A receiver interface system for enabling an operator to access different types of services in a like manner, wherein the services contain different combinations of service components received by a receiver in different portions of one or more different frequency channels, such as television channels. The system includes a plurality of separate interface channels for carrying different types of services containing different combinations of the service components; switching means for selecting a said service, wherein the switching means is coupled to the interface channels for accessing the respective interface channels in a like manner; and a decoder coupled to the receiver and the interface channels for accessing the components of said selected service received by the receiver in different portions of one or more different frequency channels to provide said selected service on the interface channel carrying the selected service.

Abstract: A decoding system capable of outputting Viterbi-decoding-algorithm-decoded data at a predetermined rate that is greater than a given rate at which coded data is processed in accordance with said algorithm to produce the decoded data. The system includes a data input bus; a data output bus; a ring of decoders, with each decoder being coupled to the input bus for receiving coded data from the input bus and coupled to the output bus for providing decoded data onto the output bus. Each of the decoders in the ring includes an input buffer, timing controller, decoding processor and output buffer. The input buffer responds to a start-input signal from a preceding decoder in the ring by buffering a block of the received coded data. The timing contoller provides a start-input signal to a succeeding decoder in the ring at such time as to cause the succeeding decoder to receive a block of coded data from the input bus that overlaps the block of coded data received from the input bus by the instant said decoder.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and associated method of fabrication in which the device includes a semiconductor substrate having a cavity therein extending in a frame pattern. An insulating layer such as one of silicon nitride is deposited in the cavity followed by the deposition of polysilicon to substantially fill the cavity and provide structural support. An epitaxy layer is formed over the surface of the substrate along with a second insulating layer having windows defined therein for enabling ohmic contact with the epitaxy layer and substrate, resectively. Metallization is deposited to form separate beam leads to provide ohmic contact at the epitaxy layer and substrate.

Abstract: A microwave coupler device for connecting a first stripline conductor on one level to a second stripline conductor on another parallel level is described. The device includes a resiliently deformable electrically conductive member (preferably a metal-filled elastomer) for electrically contacting first and second stripline conductors within the device. There is provision for applying a longitudinal compressive force on the first and second stripline conductors compressing the resiliently deformable electrically conductive member between them. In certain embodiments the interconnected striplines can be rotated with respect to one another.

Abstract: A mobil radio communication network utilizing meteor burst communication medium. A master station communicates with a plurality of mobile radio stations using digital messaging. Each of the master stations generates polling data sent over a plurality of sectors to identify mobile radio stations to which messages are to be transmitted. Messages for transmission are composed at the master station, and when an acknowledgement is received in one of a plurality of receive sectors at the master station from the polling command, the messages are subsequently transmitted. Transmission of a message following receipt of an acknowledgement occurs only over a transmit sector containing the received acknowledgement signal. Messages may be composed in each of the mobile radio stations and sent digitally to the master station which responds by sending an acknowledgement over the transmit sector which is coextensive with the receive sector having processed the acknowledgement signal.

Abstract: A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus used in association with a guided wave member that may be for the purpose of sterilization and that is adapted for microwave heating of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that is held in some type of container or connector that is transparent at microwave frequencies. The apparatus comprises a length of waveguide. A coupling aperture is defined in the guided wave member. The length of waveguide is supported with one end thereof about the coupling aperture. A microwave radiometer detection circuit is also coupled from the length of waveguide for detecting on a continuing basis the temperature of the substance which is usually liquid being heated by the microwave energy.