Abstract: A compartment for a space vehicle includes a pressurized structure having a structural wall, the structural wall having interior surfaces facing an interior of the compartment and exterior surfaces exposed to an external environment. An internal mounting structure for mounting a component is provided within the compartment, and mounting features support the internal mounting structure from the pressurized structure. The internal mounting structure is spaced away from the interior surfaces of the pressurized structure, and a thermal fluid is provided in the pressurized structure. The thermal fluid enables convective heat transfer between the component mounted on the internal mounting structure and the interior surfaces of the pressurized structure.

Abstract: Various automation units for a premises include a sensor, at least two resolvers, and a plurality of models of the data of the sensor. Each resolver has its associated models which define how the resolver uses the data of the sensor. The various resolvers are an alarm resolver, a presence resolver, a climate resolver and a voice resolver. Other automation units are cognitive or proactive, and include a data base to store at least recorded events per controlled equipment, an event analyzer to analyze recorded events to find patterns of activation of the equipment, and either a cognitive module to modify the associated scenario of a piece of equipment if the patterns do not match the scenario or a proactive module to create a new scenario for a piece of equipment based on the analysis.

Abstract: A double-fed oscillating linear alternator is provided that includes two concentric Halbach type arrays, one stationary and one movable, that do not require magnets or iron laminations to create a strong magnetic field between the two arrays where the movable array oscillates in a linear motion with respect to the stationary array. The two arrays are manufactured from magnet-less and iron-less conductive material using additive manufacturing techniques.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a flexible radio frequency (RF) converter. In one aspect, a subsystem of a spacecraft can include a flexible RF converter having a printed circuit board (PCB), and a synthesizer and controller disposed on the PCB. The PCB can be placed within a chassis. The controller can communicate with the synthesizer to adjust a frequency of a synthesizer signal generated by the synthesizer, which is used to adjust a frequency of an input RF signal.

Abstract: A logging device configured to store log messages, includes a storage device having a plurality of log entry locations which can be ordered as a sequence, an encryption device configured to generate the encrypted log messages from log messages, an authentication code generator configured to generate an authentication code from the encrypted log message, a key evolving device, a state storage device configured to store state variables for use by the encryption device, the authentication code generator and/or the key evolving device. Furthermore, a verification device configured to verify log entries stored in log entry locations of the storage device is also described. A method for storing log entries in log entry locations of a storage device of a logging device as well as to a method for verifying the integrity of log entries stored in log entry locations of a storage device is also described.

Abstract: A light receiving unit having a first energy source made up of two sub sources. A first terminal contact is formed at the upper face of the first sub source and a second terminal contact is formed at the lower face of the second sub source. The sub source has at least one semiconductor diode that has an absorption edge adapted to a first wavelength of light and the second semiconductor diode has an absorption edge adapted to a second wavelength of light which is different from the first wavelength of light, such that the first sub source generates electric voltage upon being irradiated with the first wavelength of light and the second sub source generates electric voltage upon being irradiated with the second wavelength of light.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic high-frequency component for accommodating micro-devices, having at least two housing parts which are joined together by a metal frame and which enclose a cavity, and at least one input signal line configured to introduce electrical high-frequency signals from outside of the component into the cavity. The input signal line is connected to a signal line via. Furthermore, the high-frequency component also has at least one short-circuit via which electrically connects the metal frame to at least one of the housing parts of the component.

Abstract: An axially sealing plug may not require modification of a hole being sealed in a tube or pipe. The plug may only require an axial load for activation (not torque), work independently of temperature, require no explosives, and be lightweight and compact. The plug may include a housing or a seal cup that includes at least one tooth on an outer surface and a ramp on an inner surface. The plug may also include a ferrule including a beveled, curved, or chamfered lower end. The ferrule is configured to be inserted inside the housing or seal cup.

Abstract: A spacecraft includes a feed array that includes a plurality of unitary modules, each module including a respective plurality of radio frequency (RF) waveguides structurally coupled together with at least one connecting feature. For each unitary module, the at least one connecting feature and a wall structure defining the respective plurality of waveguides are co-fabricated using an additive manufacturing process. The plurality of unitary modules includes a first unitary module including a first plurality of waveguides and a second unitary module including a second plurality of waveguides. The first unitary module and the second unitary module are configured to be integrated together so as to electrically couple at least one of the first plurality of waveguides with at least one of the second plurality of waveguides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a slot clock generator for high data rate pulse position modulation (PPM), including: a set of clocks with predetermined frequencies that are mutually prime in pairs, the set of clocks which synthesizes and accumulates changes in clock states at a rate corresponding to a slot rate that is greater than a slot rate of any single clock in the set.

Abstract: A method for the transmission of data via an Inter Communication Link (ICL) to a receiver unit is provided. The method identifies data to be transmitted in a memory cell of a data storage. The method continues by extracting the address of the memory cell and extracting the data word from the identified data. The method continues by calculating a CRC (cyclic redundancy check) checksum from the extracted address of the memory cell and the extracted data word. The method continues by generating a data packet to be sent by appending a start frame delimiter and a stop frame delimiter to the extracted address of the memory cell, the extracted data word and the calculated CRC checksum. The method continues by sending the data packet.

Abstract: A vehicle ramp assembly as disclosed includes a ramp for supporting one or more wheels of a vehicle and providing a bridge over stepped terrain on which the wheels of the vehicle can travel. The ramp can move among a first configuration where the ramp is stowed in the ramp assembly, a second configuration where the ramp extends from the ramp assembly, and a third configuration where the ramp is supports the vehicle wheels as it travels over stepped terrain. A drive mechanism for the ramp, and a carriage coupling the drive mechanism to the ramp enable rotation of the ramp. A secondary actuation system enables linear movement of the carriage along the ramp. A control module can drive the carriage around a curvilinear loop, such that the ramp is driven in a cycle from the first configuration to the second configuration to the third configuration to the first configuration.

Abstract: A solar cell stack having a first semiconductor solar cell that has a p-n junction of a first material with a first lattice constant, and having a second semiconductor solar cell that has a p-n junction of a second material with a second lattice constant. The first lattice constant is smaller than the second lattice constant. The solar cell stack has a metamorphic buffer that includes a sequence of a first, lower AlInGaAs or AlInGaP layer and a second, center AlInGaAs or AlInGaP layer, and a third, upper AlInGaAs or AlInGaP layer, and the metamorphic buffer is formed between the first semiconductor solar cell and the second semiconductor solar cell. The lattice constant in the metamorphic buffer changes along the thickness dimension of the metamorphic buffer, and the lattice constant and the In content increase and the Al content decreases between at least two layers of the metamorphic buffer.

Abstract: A method for estimating the motion of a carrier with respect to an environment in relation to which the carrier is moving. The carrier bearing a navigation sensor and a vision sensor producing images of the environment. In the images acquired by the vision sensor, the characteristic elements of the images representing characteristic elements of the environment are identified. At least one condensed measurement is calculated as a function of characteristic elements of at least two images acquired at different instants. The motion of the carrier by a navigation filter is estimated, as a function of navigation measurements carried out and as a function of the condensed measurement. The condensed measurement is calculated as a function furthermore of a priori estimation of the motion, as provided by the navigation filter.

Abstract: A computing device configured to identify portions of a computing job that are assigned to the computing device, if any, based on identification information of the computing job and identifiers of a list of computing devices present in a computing network to process the computing job. The portions are identified by the computing device independent of other computing devices in the computing network. For example, the identification information of the computing job can be mapped by the computing device to a set of identifiers of computing devices based on a predetermined computing function. Each of the identifiers corresponds to a predetermined portion of the computing job. If one of identifiers corresponds to the identifier of the computing device, the computer device performs the predetermined portion of the computing job associated with the mapped identifier.

Abstract: A spacecraft operating in a low earth orbit having an altitude in the range of 160 to 800 km has a main body that includes heat dissipating electrical equipment and an earth-facing payload. Control surfaces on the spacecraft are articulated so as to: provide three-axis attitude control to the spacecraft main body using aerodynamic drag effects, such that the earth-facing payload is maintained in a selected orientation with respect to the earth; and control one or both of orbit altitude and period by articulating the control surfaces so as to regulate an amount of aerodynamic drag. The control surfaces include a first control surface disposed, in an on-orbit configuration, on a boom, the boom being mechanically coupled with the main body, and with one or both of a solar array electrically coupled with the electrical equipment and a thermal radiating array thermally coupled with the electrical equipment.

Abstract: A multi-tone multi-band tunable millimeter-wave synthesizer is provided. In some embodiments, the multi-tone multi-band tunable millimeter-wave synthesizer is configured to simultaneously generate multiple frequency tones for space-borne beacon transmitter for atmospheric radio wave propagation studies. The apparatus includes a comb generator, which puts out evenly spaced harmonic frequencies of the input signal, which are coherent, tunable, and the number of tones or combs is scalable over a wide range of frequencies. These harmonics or tones are amplified to the power level needed for radio wave propagation studies. The amplified signals are transmitted as beacon signals from a satellite to a ground receiving station.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) system includes an RFID interrogator configured for generating an RFID signal, wherein a channel frequency of the RFID signal changes over time; at least one single feed patch antenna; and at least one single feed line configured for feeding the signal to the corresponding at least one single feed patch antenna. The single feed patch antenna is configured to transmit an electromagnetic wave in response to and at the channel frequency of the RFID signal such that the electromagnetic wave exhibits (1) a polarization tilt angle that varies depending on the channel frequency of the signal, (2) a substantially linear polarization at all channel frequencies of the signal within the given operational bandwidth, and (3) a range of polarization tilt angles across the given operational bandwidth that spans at least 70 degrees within a single quadrant. A method for frequency multiplexing includes similar components.

Abstract: A transceiver for imparting a voltage signal on a differential signaling bus, involving an output terminal and a string of one or more transistors connected between the output terminal and a predetermined voltage level. The transceiver can be switched between an active state in which the predetermined voltage level is applied to the output terminal, and an inactive state in which the predetermined voltage level is not applied to the output terminal. Methods for the transceiver can involve a detection step of detecting a first quantity depending on a current flowing through a first transistor in the string of transistors, a failure determination step of determining whether the detected first quantity satisfies one or more error conditions, and a control step of switching the transceiver to the inactive state if the detected first quantity is determined to satisfy at least one of the one or more error conditions.

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.