Abstract: A window covering can be configured to facilitate height adjustment of window covering material. In some embodiments, a handle or clips may be utilized to help maintain the position of the window covering material so that the use of an operator cord and/or exposed lift cords can be avoided or minimized.

Abstract: A connection element includes a composite component with a cured epoxy resin, a first layer including a first thermoplastic polymer and an intermediate layer arranged between the composite component and the first layer, the first layer containing both the cured epoxy resin of the composite component and the first thermoplastic polymer of the first layer. The first thermoplastic polymer has a melting point above a curing temperature of the epoxy resin and is soluble at a temperature of at least 150° C. in the epoxy resin used for producing the composite component.

Abstract: A receiver component having a number of partial voltage sources implemented as semiconductor diodes connected to one another in series, so that the number of partial voltage sources generate a source voltage, and each of the partial voltage sources has a semiconductor diode with a p-n junction, and the semiconductor diode has a p-doped absorption layer. The p absorption layer is passivated by a p-doped passivation layer with a larger band gap than the band gap of the p absorption layer, and the semiconductor diode has an n absorption layer that is passivated by an n-doped passivation layer with a larger band gap than the band gap of the n absorption layer. The partial source voltages of the individual partial voltage sources have a deviation of less than 20% from one another, and a tunnel diode is formed between each sequential pair of partial voltage sources.

Abstract: A stacked multi-junction solar cell having a first subcell with a first band gap and a first thickness, and an additional first subcell with an additional first band gap and an additional first thickness. Each of the subcells have an emitter and a base, and a tunnel diode formed between the subcells. Light radiation passes through the first subcell before the additional first subcell. The first band gap is larger than the additional first band gap by a maximum of 0.1 eV, or the first band gap is larger than the additional first band gap by a maximum of 0.07 eV, or the first band gap is larger than the additional first band gap by a maximum of 0.04 eV, or the first band gap is larger than the additional first band gap by a maximum of 0.02 eV, or the first band gap is equal in size to the additional first band gap.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dynamic circuit device that can prevent hardware and software from becoming larger in size and that can have smaller outside dimensions, less weight, and lower power consumption. For this purpose, the dynamic circuit device is provided with an operation instructing unit for instructing an operation and a cluster-layer wiring layer formed by disposing a plurality of cluster layers that include one or more lookup tables in which preset function elements are disposed and by connecting adjacent cluster layers with each other using cluster-layer connecting lines, wherein the dynamic circuit device changes the circuit configuration dynamically by changing operational states of the functional elements according to the instruction from the operation instructing unit.

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: Disclosed is a spacecraft including:—a housing defining an inner space and an outer space, the housing having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; a first radiator and a second radiator supported by the first surface and the second surface, respectively, the first radiator and the second radiator each having a main inner surface, a main outer surface opposite the main inner surface and side surfaces. The spacecraft further includes a first auxiliary radiator and a first auxiliary heat-transfer device thermally connecting the first auxiliary radiator to the main inner surface of the second radiator, the first auxiliary radiator being arranged in a first portion of the outer space, the first portion being defined by the main outer surface of the first radiator and by the first planes containing the side surfaces of the first radiator.

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 fiber-reinforced composite material includes a bulk portion with a bulk matrix having reinforcing fibers embedded therein, and a surface portion with a plurality of laminated first layers serving as “expanding layers”, which expand and/or delaminate during fire impact. The surface portion also includes a plurality of laminated second layers different from the first layers and serving as “barrier layers”. The expanding layers and barrier layers can be arranged in an alternating sequence.

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: A communication network structure, in particular data communication network structure, includes a plurality of autonomous communication networks. Each autonomous communication network has at least one network node. The node is connected to a common gateway. The common gateway is designed to selectively connect at least two of the nodes in order to provide intercommunication ability between the related communication networks. A method of interconnecting autonomous communication networks includes: selecting networks or network nodes to be interconnected from a list of available networks or network nodes or selecting a preset configuration of inter-node connections; activating an interconnection between the selected networks or network nodes by creating an access-list using the IP-addresses defined for each node; and applying the access-list on a router element provided in said gateway, thus connecting the nodes/networks to each other.

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: Described herein are ground based subsystems, and related methods, for use in transmitting an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite that includes a multiple element antenna feed array and that is configured to accept the optical feeder uplink beam and in dependence thereon use the multiple element antenna feed array to produce and transmit a plurality of radio frequency (RF) service downlink beams to service terminals. Certain embodiments are related to a ground based beamformer (GBBF) for inclusion in a ground based subsystem, and methods for use therewith. Beneficially, embodiments described herein allow for flexible antenna beam forming for large signal bandwidth without the limitation associated with the available gateway uplink and downlink spectrum at RF frequencies. Also described herein are space based subsystems for use with such ground based subsystems.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle having a low radar signature includes a first side on which turbine openings, and payload bays or landing gear bays are disposed. A second side of the aerial vehicle is designed to have a smaller radar signature than the first side.

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).

Abstract: A foil deployment mechanism comprises a first drum rotatable about a first longitudinal axis, and a second drum rotatable about a second longitudinal axis. The foil deployment mechanism further comprises a cable, the cable comprising a first section which extends from a lower part of the second drum to an upper part of the first drum, a second section which is wound around a part of the first drum facing away from the second drum, a third section which extends from a lower part of the first drum to an upper part of the second drum, and a fourth section which is wound around a part of the second drum facing away from the first drum, wherein the first section and the third section intersect each other between the first drum and the second drum when being viewed along the first longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A wireless communication platform utilizes flexible bandwidth assignment to re-allocate bandwidth between spot beams. The platform may assign a first combination of frequency and polarization (FP) to a first spot beam and a second combination of frequency and polarization to a second spot beam that is adjacent and at least partially overlapping the first spot beam. The platform may assign to the first spot beam a reserved combination of frequency and polarization during a first time period, and at second time, assign the reserved combination to the second spot beam. The platform may also assign the reserved combination simultaneously to adjacent spot beams by managing user of the reserved combination by geographically isolated terminals in the spot beams. The platform may further assign different portions of the reserved combination to adjacent spot beams without geographical limitations.

Abstract: An actuator mounting method for mounting at least one actuator involves providing a skin structure and at least one actuator, and fixing the at least one actuator to the inner surface of the skin structure.