Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEM) device per the present invention comprises a semiconductor wafer—typically an SOI wafer, a substrate, and a high temperature bond which bonds the wafer to the substrate to form a composite structure. Portions of the composite structure are patterned and etched to define stationary and movable MEM elements, with the movable elements being mechanically coupled to the stationary elements. The high temperature bond is preferably a mechanical bond, with the wafer and substrate having respective bonding pads which are aligned and mechanically connected to form a thermocompression bond to effect the bonding. A metallization layer is typically deposited on the composite structure and patterned to provide electrical interconnections for the device. The metallization layer preferably comprises a conductive refractory material such as platinum to withstand high temperature environments.

Abstract: Bayesian super-resolution techniques fuse multiple low resolution images (possibly from multiple bands) to infer a higher resolution image. The super-resolution and fusion concepts are portable to a wide variety of sensors and environmental models. The procedure is model-based inference of super-resolved information. In this approach, both the point spread function of the sub-sampling process and the multi-frame registration parameters are optimized simultaneously in order to infer an optimal estimate of the super-resolved imagery. The procedure involves a significant number of improvements, among them, more accurate likelihood estimates and a more accurate, efficient, and stable optimization procedure.

Abstract: An n-stage RF choke comprises a series connection of two or more inductors connected in series between a source and a load. The inductor closest to the source has the largest inductance and the inductance closest to the load has the smallest inductance. The inductances of any inductors between the inductor closest to the supply and the inductor closest to the load decrease as a function of distance from the supply. The junctions between the inductors in the series connection are shunted to ground by capacitors connected in series with resistors that provide a matched termination for increasing bandwidth by lowering circuit Q factors and eliminating resonant frequencies. The capacitor closest to the supply has the largest capacitance and the capacitor closest to the load has the smallest capacitance. Any intermediate capacitors decrease in capacitance as a function of distance from the supply. Such an arrangement provides a high impedance that isolates the load from the supply at a wide range of frequencies.

Abstract: A segmented stub has at least one serpentine signal path that increases the effective electrical length of the stub without increasing the overall physical length or area of the stub. This permits more compact monolithic millimeter-wave and microwave integrated circuit design.

Abstract: An array of microlenses magnifies the effective negative luminescence regions of a sparsely populated NLCS so that the NLCS appears cold to a FPA. This approach reduces the total diode area with minimal effect on device processing. The microlenses are fabricated on the backside of the substrate away from the devices, either prior to or after device processing. This ensures high quality devices that maintain NL efficiency without negatively impacting power consumption.

Abstract: A shielded through-via that reduces the effect of parasitic capacitance between the through-via and surrounding wafer while providing high isolation from neighboring signals. A shield electrode is formed in the insulating region and spaced apart from the through-via. A coupling element couples at least the time-varying portion of the signal carried on the through-via to the shield electrode. This reduces the effect of any parasitic capacitance between the through-via and the shield electrode, hence the surrounding wafer.

Abstract: A cost-effective FPA includes a plurality of detectors per pixel, wherein radiation is directed by a microlens array into respective focal regions that are covered by the union of the detectors' collections regions within each pixel and any defective detectors are de-selected in the ROIC. The operability of each pixel is evaluated, and a map generated specifying detector de-selection for each pixel. This map is read into memory in the ROIC to de-select bad detectors. Bad detectors are preferably allowed to float to a photovoltage and re-emit some of their accumulated photo charge to neighboring detectors to improve collection efficiency. The radiation levels are preferably read out on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Accordingly, the signals from the selected detectors are combined within each pixel.

Abstract: A hardware-efficient mapping circuit uses a controller to down select signed shift values from the control signal (MSBs) for a particular phase angle. Shifter blocks shift the data signal (LSBs) by the respective shift values. The shifted data signals are added/subtracted from a base value decoded from the control signal to approximate a sinusoidal amplitude for the phase angle. Down selection by a controller allows the shifter blocks to be implemented with narrow band multiplexers, which conserves both chip space and power.

Abstract: In a multimode FPA, all of the FPA's conducting layers including all of the absorbing layers are patterned to form electrically isolated commons for at least two, and in some instances all of the photodetector sub-arrays, to support independent mode biasing of the photodetectors. Because the commons are electrically isolated, the bias voltages are not constrained by the CMOS design rules. The commons can accommodate large bias amplitude differences and different temporal bias profiles to address a wide range of multimode sensing applications.

Abstract: A microbolometer IR FPA is provided with in-situ vacuum sensing capability by realizing that the IR sensor microbolometer pixel element itself may be used as a vacuum sensor. The application of an electrical signal to the resistive element heats the bolometer material thereby producing a variable resistance related to vacuum level. The degree of variability for a given material depends on the efficiency of heat transfer from the material to the surrounding environment. In a good vacuum, heat transfer is poor, and thus heat will be retained in the material to produce a relatively large temperature increase and the resistance variability will be large. In a poor vacuum, heat is readily transferred to the environment and the temperature rise will be relatively small and thus resistance variability will be small. Consequently, the variable resistance magnitude can be readout to determine the vacuum level.

Abstract: Switching uniformity of an optical modulation device for controlling the propagation of electromagnetic radiation is improved by use of an electrode comprising an electrically resistive layer that is transparent to the radiation. The resistive layer is preferably an innerlayer of a wide-bandgap oxide sandwiched between layers of indium tin oxide or another transparent conductor, and may be of uniform thickness, or may be graded so as to provide further improvement in the switching uniformity. The electrode may be used with electrochromic and reversible electrochemical mirror (REM) smart window devices, as well as display devices based on various technologies.

Abstract: A 1:N MEM switch module comprises N MEM switches fabricated on a common substrate, each of which has input and output contacts and a movable contact which bridges the input and output contacts when the switch is actuated. The input contacts are connected to a common input node, and the output contacts are connected to respective output lines. Each output line has an associated inductance and effective capacitance, and is arranged such that its inductance is matched to its effective capacitance. The switches are preferably arranged symmetrically about the terminus point of the signal input line. A phase shifter employs at least two switch modules connected together with N transmission lines having different lengths, operated such that an input signal is routed via one of the transmission lines to effect a desired phase-shift.

Abstract: An Aviation Weather Awareness and Reporting Enhancements (AWARE) system provides situational awareness by effectively filtering, analyzing and visualizing aviation weather data and specific hazard alerts in preflight, in-cockpit and controller applications. The AWARE system includes a temporal-spatial databases that filters weather data and a Bayesian network that assesses specific hazards in the filtered weather data in the context of pilot preferences, aircraft properties and airport properties. The filtered weather data and hazard alerts are then displayed on a client.

Abstract: A tunable filter includes a waveguide with at least one resonant cavity and a tunable impedance structure coupled to each resonant cavity. Each resonant cavity has a resonant frequency and its corresponding impedance structure can be tuned to adjust the resonant frequency. The filter transmits the signal in a pass-band that includes the resonant frequency and reflects signals outside the pass-band.

Abstract: A hybrid circuit phase shifter assembly of RF MEMS switch modules and passive phase delay shifter circuits uses a low loss, preferably flip-chip, interconnection technology. The hybrid circuit assembly approach separates the fabrication of the MEMS switch modules from the fabrication of the passive phase delay circuits thereby avoiding process incompatibilities and low yields and providing substantial production cost savings. In another aspect of the invention, the integration on a common substrate of a MEMS-based hybrid circuit phase shifter assembly behind each of a plurality of radiating elements provides a compact, low cost electronic scanning antenna array.

Abstract: A modular sensing station architecture that supports flexible power management includes one or more sensors connected to a WINS node. Each node includes power supply, data acquisition, programmable microprocessor and wireless transceiver modules that communicate data and instructions over a bus. The bus suitably includes a signal bus for communicating instructions and low bandwidth data and a high-capacity data bus for transferring high bandwidth data and executing high power tasks. The dual bus approach provides constant communications among the modules and low-capacity data transfer with the option to activate the high-power circuits or tasks only as needed.

Abstract: A “return-to-zero” (RZ) current switching DAC includes an analog output node for which a “zero” potential has been defined. The outputs of a plurality of current sources are selectively directed to respective intermediate nodes in response to respective control signals, which are varied in synchronization with a clock signal CK. A plurality of RZ circuits are connected between respective intermediate nodes and the analog output node. In a preferred embodiment, each RZ circuit directs the current applied to a respective intermediate node to ground or to the analog output node in synchronization with CK. An output network pulls the analog output node to the “zero” potential when currents applied to the intermediate nodes are directed to ground.

Abstract: A waveguide is disclosed that shifts the phase of the signal passing through it. In one embodiment, the waveguide has an impedance structure on its walls that resonates at a frequency lower than the frequency of the signal passing through the waveguide. This causes the structure to present a capacitive impedance to the signal, increasing its propagation constant and shifting its phase. Another embodiment of the new waveguide has impedance structures on its wall that are voltage controlled to change the frequency at which the impedance structures resonate. The range of frequencies at which the structure can resonate is below the frequency of the signal passing through the waveguide. This allows the waveguide cause a adjust the shift in the phase of its signal. An amplifier array can be included in the waveguides to amplify the signal. A module can be constructed of the new waveguides and placed in the path of a millimeter beam.

Abstract: A locally distributed electrode is made by placing a conducting metallic oxide layer and a counter electrode in contact with a noble metal electroplating solution and applying a negative potential to the metallic oxide layer relative to the counter electrode, such that the noble metal is electrodeposited from the solution preferentially at defect sites on a surface of the metallic oxide layer. The noble metal nuclei are selectively electrodeposited at the defect sites to form a locally distributed electrode made up of a dot matrix of metallic islands. For reversible electrochemical mirror (REM) devices, the presence of the noble metal renders mirror metal electrodeposition at the defect sites reversible so that the defects become part of the dot matrix electrode and extraneous deposition of the mirror metal on the conducting metallic oxide is avoided.

Abstract: An autonomous power source comprises a power harvester mounted on a movable structure. The power harvester includes a coil, a magnet, and a low-friction ferrofluidic bearing in contact with the magnet, arranged such that the magnet and coil move with respect to each other when the structure is in motion such that an electrical current is produced in the coil. This current is converted to power and stored in an energy storage system and is thus available to power electronic circuitry. The magnet and bearing are preferably enclosed within a closed linear or circular tube, with the coil mounted around the exterior of the tube. The power harvester and battery are combined with one or more sensors and a wireless transmitter to form a tire pressure monitoring system.