Abstract: A two-way microwave power divider (the “power divider”) may include an input port and two output ports. The power divider may also include a junction that is configured to split a feedline from the input port into a first transmission line and a second transmission line. One or more resistors may be placed along the first transmission line and the second transmission line to provide isolation between the two output ports.

Abstract: Novel aromatic polyimides are disclosed with sufficient physical properties to be useful in 3D printing.

Abstract: A passive beamforming rectenna includes a plurality of antennas, a plurality of terminal port rectifying circuits, and a beamforming network. The beamforming network includes (a) a plurality of antenna ports connecting to the plurality of antennas, and (b) a plurality of terminal ports connecting to the plurality of terminal port rectifying circuits. The beamforming network further includes a microwave lens or any of a variety of other structures. The beamforming rectenna is characterized by a plurality of radiation distribution patterns. Electromagnetic power is received through the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: A lenslet based integral field spectrograph (IFS) may have a design that makes better use of the detector pixels by placing adjacent spectra next to each other rather than staggering the spectra. Such a design maintains the main compactness and simplicity of prior lenslet array based IFSs, but improves the detector efficiency, which is rather low in conventional lenslet array based IFSs.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention describe a battery including a plurality of master-less controllers. Each controller is operatively connected to a corresponding cell in a string of cells, and each controller is configured to bypass a fraction of current around the corresponding cell when the corresponding cell has a greater charge than one or more other cells in the string of cells.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic engine is provided that uses acoustic energy to operate a piston in a double-acting action. The acoustic energy is amplified as a sound wave travels through the thermoacoustic engine. The amplified acoustic energy is extracted and converted into usable electrical energy.

Abstract: A polyamide aerogel and method of making the same is disclosed. The aerogel includes para-substituted monomers without a cross-linking agent.

Abstract: An apparatus for improving a pointing capability of an optical pointing system includes a star tracker attitude control system for maintaining an alignment between the optical pointing system and a target, a beam steering mirror controlled by the star tracker attitude control system to direct an optical signal to impinge on the target, a fixed optical assembly configured to direct a portion of the optical signal from the bean steering mirror into a field of view of a star tracker telescope of the star tracker attitude control system, and a detector array for detecting the portion of the optical signal superimposed over a location in a current star scene in the star tracker telescope field of view, where the star tracker attitude control system is configured to operate the beam steering mirror to maintain the optical signal on the target by maintaining the superimposed signal on the location in the star scene.

Abstract: A tunable QCL source that utilizes a full bandwidth of a broadband THz QCL, and produces a significantly large number of frequency channels, is provided. The tunable QCL source includes a grating router configured to receive a terahertz frequency from a tunable quantum cascade laser and generate a plurality of terahertz frequencies. The tunable QCL source also includes a waveguide controller configured to receive the plurality of terahertz frequencies from the grating router, and select a desired terahertz frequency from the plurality of terahertz frequencies to be outputted by a waveguide multiplexer.

Abstract: A method of mapping pixel locations of a detector array includes measuring a location on the detector array, initiating a frame readout of the detector array, measuring a location of one or more metrology targets on the detector array, analyzing the frame readout to identify a pixel at the location on the detector array, and defining a location of the identified pixel with respect to the location of the one or more metrology targets. Subsequent measurement of the metrology targets alone by another metrology system allows one to infer the six degree of freedom alignment of the detector array in space.

Abstract: A simultaneous ohmic contact to silicon carbide includes a mixture of platinum, titanium, and silicon compounds deposited on a silicon carbide substrate. The silicon carbide substrate includes an n-type surface and a p-type surface.

Abstract: A process for mitigating or proactively avoiding an aircraft engine icing event may include detecting ice crystals in the atmosphere using one or more sensors on board an aircraft in real time. The process may also include modulating one or more engine operating conditions to proactively change an ice accretion location, to avoid the occurrence of an icing event. The process may further include implementing one or more modulated engine operating conditions in engine controls software, hardware, or both.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a change in a thickness and temperature of a surface of a material are disclosed herein. The system and the method are usable in a thermal protection system of a space vehicle, such as an aeroshell of a space vehicle. The system and method may incorporate micro electric sensors arranged in a ladder network and capacitor strip sensors. Corrosion or ablation causes a change in an electrical property of the sensors. An amount of or rate of the corrosion or the ablation and a temperature of the material is determined based on the change of the electrical property of the sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for controlling motion in six degrees of freedom is described. The apparatus includes a support structure, a first pedal and a second pedal. A first set of three independent articulating mechanisms is operatively connected to the support structure and the first pedal. The first set of three independent articulating mechanisms, in combination, enable motion of the first pedal in three control axes corresponding to three discrete degrees of freedom. A second set of three independent articulating mechanisms, operatively connected to the second pedal, enable motion, in combination, in three control axes corresponding to a discrete second set of three degrees of freedom. The apparatus may also include first and second sensors configured to detect the motion of the first and second pedals.

Abstract: A Gated CDS Integrator (GCI) may amplify low-level signals without introducing excessive offset and noise. The GCI may also amplify the low level signals with accurate and variable gain. The GCI may include a modulator preceding an amplifier such that offset or noise present in a signal path between the modulator and a demodulator input is translated to a higher out of band frequency, and thereafter reduced by a double sampled discrete time integrator which also reduces thermal noise. The thermal noise may also be reduced by averaging the output of the discrete time integrator.

Abstract: An active gas-gap heat switch may significantly reduce the time required to transition between the open and closed states, reduce the heat require to warm the getter, and reduce the heat that leaks from the getter to the switch body. A thermal interface at one end of the active gas-gap heat switch may include a plurality of fins. A getter assembly may be hermetically attached to the thermal interface and a containment tube may surround and house the plurality of fins.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a distance between a first and second terminal includes a frame counter for determining a number of data frames traversing a distance between the first terminal 105 and the second terminal, a frame bit counter for determining a number of data clock bits offset between a transmitted data frame and a concurrently received data frame, a data clock phase detector for determining a phase difference between an RF data clock for the transmitted data frame and an RF data clock for the concurrently received data frame, and an optical carrier phase detector for determining a phase difference between an optical carrier used to transmit the transmitted data frame and an optical carrier for the concurrently received data frame. The distance between the first and second terminal is determined from a round trip transit time T between the first and second terminals.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to a radiation shielding apparatus including a cryogenic vessel and a cryogenic hydrogen radiation shielding material capable of providing a radiation shield, the cryogenic hydrogen radiation shielding material including cryogenic hydrogen.

Abstract: A via-less crossover for use in broadband microwave/mm-wave circuitry, including: a dielectric substrate; a top layer disposed on one side of the substrate and including a microstrip line with an input and an output, two tapered sections placed around the microstrip line along a co-planar waveguide (CPW) central line, one microstrip portion having an input and which connects to one top layer, rectangular stub disposed adjacent to one of the tapered sections, and another microstrip portion having an output and which connects to another top layer, rectangular stub disposed adjacent to the other of the tapered sections; and a ground layer disposed on an opposite side of the substrate and including a bottom layer CPW central line situated in a central cutout and which connects between a bottom layer, rectangular stub on one side and a bottom layer, rectangular stub on the other side situated in ground cutouts, respectively.

Abstract: A diode pumped, solid state laser is provided that can produce over 16 billion, 15 mJ, 10 ns Q-Switched laser pulses with a low measured decay rate. The laser can be integrated into a global biomass measuring instrument, and mounted on the International Space Station (ISS).