Abstract: Methods and apparatus for converting data. In one aspect, an apparatus comprises at least one sensor, a data evaluation component, a general report generating component, a system-specific report generating component and a decision-making component. The data evaluation component generates data information based on evaluation of data from the sensor or sensors. The general reports are based on expert information and the data information. The system-specific reports are based on expert information, information pertaining to the system and the data information. The decision-making component makes decisions based on data from the sensor or sensors, the data information, the general reports and the system-specific reports. Also, data converting components and methods.

Abstract: A line-replaceable unit for a phased array antenna including a thermally conductive housing having a front face and an opposed rear face, at least one open-ended waveguide extending through the housing from the front face to the rear face, at least one first radiating element including the waveguide and adapted to emit energy in a first frequency band; and at least one second radiating element positioned on the front face of the housing and adapted to emit energy in a second frequency band distinct from the first frequency band. The waveguide is dimensioned to pass energy in the first frequency band and is exposed to the environment outside the housing at the front and rear faces to define a cooling duct passing through the housing.

Abstract: A line-replaceable unit for a phased array antenna including a thermally conductive housing having a front face and an opposed rear face, at least one open-ended waveguide extending through the housing from the front face to the rear face, at least one first radiating element including the waveguide and adapted to emit energy in a first frequency band; and at least one second radiating element positioned on the front face of the housing and adapted to emit energy in a second frequency band distinct from the first frequency band. The waveguide is dimensioned to pass energy in the first frequency band and is exposed to the environment outside the housing at the front and rear faces to define a cooling duct passing through the housing.

Abstract: A smart airport automation system includes a subsystem that inputs weather and airport configuration data to determine an active runway in use and an airport state. Another subsystem inputs aircraft position and velocity data from available surveillance sources, known flight-intent information, and past aircraft trajectories to project future aircraft unconstrained trajectories. A third subsystem uses the projected trajectories and aircraft intent to determine desired landing and takeoff sequences, and desired adjacent aircraft spacing. A fourth subsystem uses such information to predict potential aircraft conflicts, such as a loss of acceptable separation between adjacent aircraft. A fifth subsystem packages the weather, airport configuration, aircraft state, desired landing/takeoff sequence, and potential conflict detection into a verbal advisory message that is broadcast on a local common radio frequency.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method of locating a target using distributed antenna. The antenna consists of several receiving elements in known locations. At least one of the receiving elements is also a transmitter and transmits an interrogation signal to a target. The return signal from the target is received by a plurality of receiving elements and the target's position is calculated using the time of arrivals of the reply signal and the round trip delay between the transmission of the interrogation signal and the reception of the subsequent reply signal.

Abstract: A secure automatic dependant surveillance—broadcast system includes: an authenticator including a unique id generator memory storing an authenticator secret key and a transmitter for transmitting the unique id to a responder; a responder including a secure hash algorithm generator combining the received unique id with a responder secret key and a data signal to generate a secure response and a transmitter transmitting the secure response and the data signal to the authenticator; the interrogator also including a receiver receiving the secure response and the data; the authenticator including an secure hash algorithm generator combining the received data and the received secure response and generating an output signal; and a comparator for comparing the output signal with the received secure response and providing an authentication signal based on the comparison.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing of rotating surface based antennas arrays (regardless of their shape), with the capability of fully diagnosing and locating a failure on the face of the antenna by coherently sampling and storing the radiation in the near field and imaging the fully array complex excitation from the stored data. The rotation of the antenna is used in order to collect data for the full azimuth span required for high resolution imaging of excitation in the horizontal domain. Excitation in the vertical domain can be preformed in two ways depending on the type of antenna used. For electronically scanning antennas in elevation (phased array antennas), the phase shifter in the desired row is toggled and the row is isolated by subtracting the complex data from pairs of adjacent samples. The sampling probe is moved vertically while the antenna is rotating horizontally.

Abstract: A phased array antenna is designed for scanning a narrow beam over an angular sector that is wide in one plane, and narrow in another, while using a minimum number of phase steering controls. High directivity elements occupy a rectangularly shaped area which is large in one direction relative to a second direction, the elements being staggered in position with neighboring elements to suppress near-in grating lobes. The elements are independent and identical to one another so that conventional array beamforming techniques may be utilized.

Abstract: An improved non-contact apparatus and method for reading a surface that has information encoded in a relief pattern thereon, includes an optical transmitter for projecting a line of light onto the relief pattern at a first angle to a normal of the surface; an optical receiver that views the projected line of light at a second angle to the normal of the surface and produces signal data that is representative of an image of the reflection thereon. The image viewed by the receiver has parallactic displacements of the line of illumination that occur at transitions between raised and recessed portions of the relief pattern. The signal data is culled such that only those pixels surrounding the line of light are selected. The culled signal data is then decoded into electrical signals which represent decoded information contained in the relief pattern. The optical receiver can be realized as a plurality of light sensors arranged in a linear, or a two dimensional array, together with suitable focusing optics.

Abstract: A planar edge-slotted and end-fed traveling wave antenna is designed for monopulse operation, with an odd array of parallel elements interleaved with an even array of parallel elements. The even elements have an amplitude taper that is an arithmetic sum of Taylor and Bayliss amplitude tapers, while the odd elements have an amplitude taper that is an arithmetic difference of the Taylor and Bayliss tapers. Transmit energy is fed to both the odd and even elements, and the resulting radiation produces a pencil beam of a predetermined beamwidth for illumination of a distant target. The return excitation for the odd and even elements is combined to produce sum and difference monopulse patterns.

Abstract: A unitary waveguide element is employed in a light weight waveguide antenna. The waveguide element has a waveguide portion having a front wall with slots formed across it at predetermined locations, a continuous back wall, and substantially continuous broad walls. A first flange is formed on one of the broad walls lying in a plane that extends in the width direction. A pair of flanges are formed on the other broad wall that lie in planes that are displaced slightly from the first flange, so that when the waveguide element is superposed onto the next successive element, these flanges overlap with the second flanges straddling the first flange. The flanges are then bonded with epoxy or an equivalent agent. A rivet box is formed on the proximal side of the back wall and permits attachment of the waveguide element in precise alignment to a predrilled backing plate with rivets or other suitable fasteners. The rivets do not penetrate into the waveguide portion of the element.

Abstract: There is disclosed a non-contact apparatus and method for reading a surface that has information encoded in a relief pattern thereon. The apparatus comprises an optical transmitter for projecting a line of light onto the relief pattern at a first angle to a normal of the surface; an optical receiver that views the projected line of light at a second angle to the normal of the surface and produces a signal that is representative of an image of the reflection thereon. The image viewed by the receiver has parallactic displacements of the line of illumination that occur transitions between raised and recessed portions of the relief pattern. The displacements are detected by a pattern detector which is coupled to the optical receiver and submitted to a decoder. The optical receiver can be realized as a plurality of light sensors arranged in a linear, or a two dimensional array, together with suitable focusing optics.