Abstract: Steerable antenna on platforms, fixed or mobile, are tracked to form an RF communication link by setting the width of the main lobe of the antenna beam pattern to be greater than the initial pointing uncertainty region and then concurrently scanning and progressively reducing the widths of the main lobes as the pointing uncertainty region is reduced to first acquire and then track the opposing antenna. The width of the main lobe is reduced such that the width of the main lobe is approximately fixed for each block. The antennas at opposite ends of the communication link may be scanned with scan patterns that are orthogonal to each other such that the demodulation of the received signal levels to signal direction of arrival at each platform is solely a function of the scan pattern of the receive antenna.

Abstract: Steerable antenna on platforms, fixed or mobile, are tracked to form an RF communication link by setting the width of the main lobe of the antenna beam pattern to be greater than the initial pointing uncertainty region and then concurrently scanning and progressively reducing the widths of the main lobes as the pointing uncertainty region is reduced to first acquire and then track the opposing antenna. The width of the main lobe is reduced such that the width of the main lobe is approximately fixed for each block. The antennas at opposite ends of the communication link may be scanned with scan patterns that are orthogonal to each other such that the demodulation of the received signal levels to signal direction of arrival at each platform is solely a function of the scan pattern of the receive antenna.

Abstract: A low-loss band and polarization-selectable gender-selectable transceiver for use with a reflector-type antenna suitable for the E-band frequency allocation as well as other RF bands in which the upper and lower bands are separated by a stop band. In addition to providing the gender-selectable combination of the upper and lower bands for transmit and receive, this topology allows for the selection of transmit, and receive polarizations. A transceiver may transmit and receive on the same or on orthogonal polarizations. Paired transceivers may transmit on the same or on orthogonal polarizations. This is accomplished by integrating a rotatable polarizer (e.g. a ¼ wave plate) and a polarization duplexer (e.g. an orthomode transducer) in a FDD (Frequency-Domain Duplexed) system. The rotatable polarizer allows for selection of both transmit and receive bands and polarizations.

Abstract: A low-loss band and polarization-selectable gender-selectable transceiver for use with a reflector-type antenna suitable for the E-band frequency allocation as well as other RF bands in which the upper and lower bands are separated by a stop band. In addition to providing the gender-selectable combination of the upper and lower bands for transmit and receive, this topology allows for the selection of transmit, and receive polarizations. A transceiver may transmit and receive on the same or on orthogonal polarizations. Paired transceivers may transmit on the same or on orthogonal polarizations. This is accomplished by integrating a rotatable polarizer (e.g. a ¼ wave plate) and a polarization duplexer (e.g. an orthomode transducer) in a FDD (Frequency-Domain Duplexed) system. The rotatable polarizer allows for selection of both transmit and receive bands and polarizations.

Abstract: There is disclosed a self-contained electronic apparatus containing at least some power-dissipating components which may require cooling. The self-contained electronic apparatus may also include a removable and replaceable energy storage module. The removable and replaceable energy storage module may include a power element to provide electrical energy for the self-contained electronic apparatus and a cooling element to cool at least a portion of the power dissipating components.

Abstract: A power-combining system and method for generating a high-power coherent wavefront are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. The power-combining system comprises a combining-radiating assembly having a plurality of ports. Phase controllers generate signals with a predetermined phase shift for an associated one of the ports. Pluralities of coherent sources receive signals from an associated one of the phase controllers and to provide the signals to an associated port of the combining-radiating assembly with the predetermined phase shifts. Energy from the ports is coherently combined and radiated to provide a coherent high-power wavefront. In some embodiments, the combining-radiating assembly comprises a conductive patch having a plurality of ports spaced uniformly around the patch. In these embodiments, energy from the ports is coherently combined and radiated by the patch to provide the coherent high-power wavefront.

Abstract: There is disclosed a solid state non-lethal directed energy weapon. The non-lethal weapon may include a solid-state source to generate a high-power millimeter-wave initial wavefront, a main reflector, and a sub-reflector to reflect the initial wavefront to the main reflector. The main reflector may direct the reflected wavefront in a bore-sighted direction toward a target. The wavefront directed by the main reflector may have a power density selected to deliver a non-lethal deterring effect on the target.

Abstract: A portable weapon comprises a non-lethal portion and a lethal portion. The lethal portion may comprise a rifle, and the non-lethal portion may comprise a millimeter-wave directed energy weapon. The non-lethal portion may comprise a kit to add non-lethal capability to a lethal weapon. The non-lethal portion may comprise an output antenna to generate a high-power millimeter-wave initial wavefront, a main reflector, and a sub-reflector to reflect the initial wavefront to the main reflector. The main reflector may direct the reflected wavefront in a bore-sighted direction toward a target. The wavefront directed by the main reflector may have a power density selected to deliver a non-lethal deterring effect on the target. In some embodiments, the non-lethal portion may include a replaceable energy-storage module.

Abstract: There is disclosed a self-contained electronic apparatus containing at least some power-dissipating components which may require cooling. The self-contained electronic apparatus may also include a removable and replaceable energy storage module. The removable and replaceable energy storage module may include a power element to provide electrical energy for the self-contained electronic apparatus and a cooling element to cool at least a portion of the power dissipating components.

Abstract: A portable weapon comprises a non-lethal portion and a lethal portion. The lethal portion may comprise a rifle, and the non-lethal portion may comprise a millimeter-wave directed energy weapon. The non-lethal portion may comprise a kit to add non-lethal capability to a lethal weapon. The non-lethal portion may comprise an output antenna to generate a high-power millimeter-wave initial wavefront, a main reflector, and a sub-reflector to reflect the initial wavefront to the main reflector. The main reflector may direct the reflected wavefront in a bore-sighted direction toward a target. The wavefront directed by the main reflector may have a power density selected to deliver a non-lethal deterring effect on the target. In some embodiments, the non-lethal portion may include a replaceable energy-storage module.

Abstract: A portable weapon comprises a non-lethal portion and a lethal portion. The lethal portion may comprise a rifle, and the non-lethal portion may comprise a millimeter-wave directed energy weapon. The non-lethal portion may comprise a kit to add non-lethal capability to a lethal weapon. The non-lethal portion may comprise an output antenna to generate a high-power millimeter-wave initial wavefront, a main reflector, and a sub-reflector to reflect the initial wavefront to the main reflector. The main reflector may direct the reflected wavefront in a bore-sighted direction toward a target. The wavefront directed by the main reflector may have a power density selected to deliver a non-lethal deterring effect on the target. In some embodiments, the non-lethal portion may include a replaceable energy-storage module.

Abstract: A power-combining system and method for generating a high-power coherent wavefront are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. The power-combining system comprises a combining-radiating assembly having a plurality of ports. Phase controllers generate signals with a predetermined phase shift for an associated one of the ports. Pluralities of coherent sources receive signals from an associated one of the phase controllers and to provide the signals to an associated port of the combining-radiating assembly with the predetermined phase shifts. Energy from the ports is coherently combined and radiated to provide a coherent high-power wavefront. In some embodiments, the combining-radiating assembly comprises a conductive patch having a plurality of ports spaced uniformly around the patch. In these embodiments, energy from the ports is coherently combined and radiated by the patch to provide the coherent high-power wavefront.

Abstract: A portable weapon comprises a non-lethal portion and a lethal portion. The lethal portion may comprise a rifle, and the non-lethal portion may comprise a millimeter-wave directed energy weapon. The non-lethal portion may comprise a kit to add non-lethal capability to a lethal weapon. The non-lethal portion may comprise an output antenna to generate a high-power millimeter-wave initial wavefront, a main reflector, and a sub-reflector to reflect the initial wavefront to the main reflector. The main reflector may direct the reflected wavefront in a bore-sighted direction toward a target. The wavefront directed by the main reflector may have a power density selected to deliver a non-lethal deterring effect on the target. In some embodiments, the non-lethal portion may include a replaceable energy-storage module.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a microwave source that produces a microwave feed beam, and a first pair of microwave sensors that each intercept and receive a portion of the microwave feed beam. The two microwave sensors are spaced apart from each other along a first-pair axis. A first phase-comparison device has as it inputs the output signals of the two microwave sensors, and as an output a first phase comparison of the first-sensor output signal and the second-sensor output signal. A first geometrical calculator has as an input the first phase comparison and as an output a geometrical relationship of the first-pair axis to an other feature. This geometrical relationship output may be used to generate a control signal that is used to alter the geometrical relationship. There may be additional microwave sensors operating in a similar manner but spaced to provide information for other geometrical axes or allow improvements in geometrical measurements.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a microwave source that produces a microwave feed beam, and a first pair of microwave sensors that each intercept and receive a portion of the microwave feed beam. The two microwave sensors are spaced apart from each other along a first-pair axis. A first phase-comparison device has as it inputs the output signals of the two microwave sensors, and as an output a first phase comparison of the first-sensor output signal and the second-sensor output signal. A first geometrical calculator has as an input the first phase comparison and as an output a geometrical relationship of the first-pair axis to an other feature. This geometrical relationship output may be used to generate a control signal that is used to alter the geometrical relationship. There may be additional microwave sensors operating in a similar manner but spaced to provide information for other geometrical axes or allow improvements in geometrical measurements.

Abstract: A wave plate (10) formed of a perforated metallic plate of a particular thickness (L) has circular holes (12) that induce a change in the polarization of an electromagnetic wave passing through the holes in the plate. By choosing the proper hole diameter, the hole spacing in orthogonal directions, and the plate thickness, the desired relative phase shift is achieved with maximum transmission and minimal reflection. Two or more axially-aligned wave plates form a variable wave plate system. By changing the relative rotational positions of the wave plates, the polarization of the electromagnetic wave passing through the system can be selectively varied.

Abstract: An expander for a concentric pulse tube cooler. The inventive expander includes a central pulse tube; a concentric insulation tube disposed around the central pulse tube, the insulation tube having a concentric chamber therein and the chamber being filled with an insulator and the insulator being atmospheric; and a regenerator disposed around the concentric insulation tube. In a particular implementation, the insulator tube includes a vent which allows the insulation chamber to communicate with the surrounding atmosphere. When used in space, the chamber is filled with a void and the insulator becomes a vacuum and provides effective insulation at cryogenic temperatures.

Abstract: A cooling system utilizes a pulse-tube expander having a hollow pulse tube and three hollow regenerator tubes that lie parallel to and laterally displaced from the pulse tube, and are arranged in triangular fashion about the pulse tube. A cold end of each of the regenerator tubes is in gas pressure communication with a cold end of the pulse tube. Pulsing gas pressure is supplied to a warm end of each of the regenerator tubes, and a surge volume communicates with a warm end of the pulse tube. A heat sink is provided at the warm end of the regenerator tubes and the pulse tube to remove heat therefrom and from the pulsing gas. Heat is extracted from a heat load at the cold end of the regenerator tubes and the pulse tube.

Abstract: A pulse tube cooler comprising pulse tube, a regenerator concentrically disposed around the pulse tube, and a thermal insulator concentrically disposed between the pulse tube and the regenerator. More specifically, the concentric pulse tube cooler comprises a cold finger assembly disposed at a first end of the concentric pulse tube cooler, a heat exchanger assembly disposed at a second end of the concentric pulse tube cooler that is coupled to a a surge volume and that is coupled to a source of operating gas, and a pulse tube expander assembly slidably and sealably secured to the heat exchanger assembly. The pulse tube expander assembly comprises a central pulse tube, a thermal insulator concentrically disposed around the central pulse tube, and a regenerator concentrically disposed around the concentric insulation tube. The pulse tube expander assembly comprises a slidable axial seal for slidably and sealably securing the pulse tube expander assembly to the heat exchanger assembly.