Abstract: Techniques, apparatus and systems that use composite left and right handed (CRLH) metamaterial structures to combine and divide electromagnetic signals at multiple frequencies. The metamaterial properties permit significant size reduction over a conventional N-way radial power combiner or divider. Dual-band serial power combiners and dividers and single-band and dual-band radial power combiners and dividers are described.

Abstract: A communication system is provided, including an antenna, a matching network coupled to the antenna, a controller configured to control the matching network, and a look-up table coupled to the controller. The look-up table includes characterization data according to frequency bands and conditions. The controller is configured to refer to the look-up table to determine optimum impedance for a frequency band selected under a condition detected during a time interval, and adjust the matching network to provide the optimum impedance.

Abstract: A regenerative selective logarithmic detector amplifier (LDA) can have integrated FM demodulation capabilities. It can receive a wired or wireless FM modulated signal and amplify or demodulate it with high sensitivity, high skirt ratio and minimized noise when compared to the prior art. When used in conjunction with other circuits such as a PLL or mixer, it can improve interference rejection and frequency selectivity and be locked on a precise channel in frequency and phase. The LDA produces intermittent oscillations that are self-quenched when reaching a given threshold. It also embeds the circuitry to perform direct FM discrimination. FM demodulation process is completed by a simple analog or digital frequency to voltage converter. This plus the fact that the instantaneous regeneration gain is low-medium permit to detect signals of small amplitudes buried in the noise.

Abstract: A communication system is provided, including one or more antennas coupled to multiple RF paths, one or more matching blocks, each block including multiple matching networks, a look-up table including characterization data according to frequency bands and conditions, and a controller configured to control the multiple matching networks by referring to the look-up table to provide optimum impedance for a frequency band selected and a condition detected during a time interval. The matching block may further include switches and adjustment circuits.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving data communication over less than perfect power lines or transmission lines are described. The systems and methods allow for pushing out electrically any null within a frequency range of interest and/or for lossless transmission by providing impedance matching between communication devices and the transmission line. This is achieved by implementing line equalizing modules within the transceivers, at the transmitter side and/or the receiver side, or by plugging, as a stand-alone module, into an electrical outlet within a building. The line equalizing module includes multiple inductor-capacitor cells coupled in cascade where multiple switches allow for selective and concurrent connection between the inductor-capacitor cells. In another embodiment, the line equalizing module includes variable inductor-capacitor cells. The line equalizing module provides a variable propagation delay that allows for stretching electrically the transmission line.

Abstract: A logarithmic detector amplifying (LDA) system is provided for use as a high sensitivity receive booster or replacement for a low noise amplifier in a receive chain of a communication device. The LDA system includes an amplifying circuit configured to receive an input signal having a first frequency and generate an oscillation based on the input signal, a sampling circuit coupled to the amplifying circuit and configured to terminate the oscillation based on a predetermined threshold to periodically clamp and restart the oscillation to generate a series of pulses modulated by the oscillation and by the input signal, and one or more resonant circuits coupled with the amplifying circuit and configured to establish a frequency of operation and to generate an output signal having a second frequency, the second frequency being substantially the same as the first frequency.

Abstract: A switch is provided, the switch including one or more banks of transistors fabricated on a substrate, wherein body terminals of the transistors in each bank are configured to be individually controlled to have respective body voltages. The values of the body voltages are determined to provide optimum linearity of power transfer by changing properties of the substrate with respect to the properties of the substrate when the body voltages are commonly biased at a value.

Abstract: A logarithmic amplifier (LDA) is described that includes an amplifier configured to oscillate a modulated input signal, a feedback establishing a 180 degree phase shift between the amplifier input and the output and maintaining oscillation of the input signal, a parallel resonant circuit connected to the amplifier output causing the amplifier to resonate at or around a center frequency, and a controller connected to the amplifier input cyclically terminating oscillation of the input signal each time a pre-determined threshold of current is detected, the controller including a low pass filter configured to generate a second output signal having a repetition frequency. The LDA may be used for AM with or without a PLL and/or a superhetrodyne. The LDA may be implemented as a mixer and used for phase demodulation. The LDA may be used for phase demodulation. The LDA may be used in place of a low noise amplifier.

Abstract: A logarithmic amplifier (LDA) is described that includes an amplifier configured to oscillate a modulated input signal, a feedback establishing a 180 degree phase shift between the amplifier input and the output and maintaining oscillation of the input signal, a parallel resonant circuit connected to the amplifier output causing the amplifier to resonate at or around a center frequency, and a controller connected to the amplifier input cyclically terminating oscillation of the input signal each time a pre-determined threshold of current is detected, the controller including a low pass filter configured to generate a second output signal having a repetition frequency. The LDA may be used for AM with or without a PLL and/or a superhetrodyne. The LDA may be implemented as a mixer and used for phase demodulation. The LDA may be used for phase demodulation. The LDA may be used in place of a low noise amplifier.

Abstract: A logarithmic amplifier (LDA) is described that includes an amplifier configured to oscillate a modulated input signal, a feedback establishing a 180 degree phase shift between the amplifier input and the output and maintaining oscillation of the input signal, a parallel resonant circuit connected to the amplifier output causing the amplifier to resonate at or around a center frequency, and a controller connected to the amplifier input cyclically terminating oscillation of the input signal each time a pre-determined threshold of current is detected, the controller including a low pass filter configured to generate a second output signal having a repetition frequency. The LDA may be used for AM with or without a PLL and/or a superheterodyne. The LDA may be implemented as a mixer and used for phase demodulation. The LDA may be used for phase demodulation. The LDA may be used in place of a low noise amplifier.

Abstract: The fiber optic assembly can include two fiber optic breadboards hinged to one another along a coinciding hinge axis. Each one of the fiber optic breadboards can have a flat body having two faces and lateral edges, one of which running alongside the hinge axis, and can have a tessellation of tray locations each having a tray attachment. The fiber optic assembly can also include a plurality of fiber optic trays each having a body having a base attachable to at least one of said tray attachments, the body having a size and shape associated to one of a single one of said tray locations and a plurality of adjacent ones of said tray locations on one of said at least one fiber optic breadboards, and having a structure by which an optical fiber having a critical radius of curvature can be confined within at least one optical fiber path.

Abstract: A power amplifier (PA) system is provided for multi-mode multi-band operations. The PA system includes one or more amplifying modules, each amplifying module including one or more banks, each bank comprising one or more transistors; and a plurality of matching modules, each matching module being configured to be adjusted to provide impedances corresponding to frequency bands and conditions. A controller dynamically controls an input terminal of each bank and adjusts the matching modules to provide a signal path to meet specifications on properties associated with signals during each time interval.

Abstract: An N-way radio frequency (RF) divider/combiner is formed as a combination including an input port electrically coupled to a first 2-way divider/combiner and a second 2-way divider/combiner. An antenna may be coupled to at least one port of the N-way divider. The antenna may be formed as a compound printed loop (CPL) antenna. The N-way RF divider/combiner may be configured to provide N inputs and M output ports, wherein N and M are integers and any of the M output ports and N input ports can be connected to any combinations of devices. Such devices may include, e.g., an antenna including but not limited to a CPL antenna, RF receive port, transmit port, amplifier, RF switch, low noise amplifier (LNA), oscillator, tuning circuit, matching circuit, lumped element circuit, active circuit, diode, adjustable inductive circuit, and adjustable capacitive circuit.

Abstract: A communication system is provided, including an antenna coupled to multiple RF paths, one or more matching networks, multiple switches, a controller configured to control the one or more matching networks and the multiple switches, and a look-up table coupled to the controller, the look-up table including characterization data according to frequency bands and conditions. The multiple switches are controlled to engage the signal path corresponding to the frequency band selected. The one or more matching networks are controlled by the controller to provide optimum impedance for the frequency band selected and a condition detected during a time interval with reference to the look-up table. Additional switches may be included to improve isolation.

Abstract: Logarithmic Detector Amplifiers (LDAs), multiple antennas, active antennas, and multiple active antennas and receivers are provided in a variety of configurations that are synchronized to reduce or eliminate interference so at to provide, a greater range and bandwidth between wireless routers and their clients in WLAN and WAN environments.

Abstract: A power amplifier (PA) system is provided for multi-mode multi-band operations. The PA system includes one or more amplifying modules, each amplifying module including one or more banks, each bank comprising one or more transistors; and a plurality of matching modules, each matching module being configured to be adjusted to provide impedances corresponding to frequency bands and conditions. A controller dynamically controls an input terminal of each bank and adjusts the matching modules to provide a signal path to meet specifications on properties associated with signals during each time interval.

Abstract: Techniques, apparatus and systems that use composite left and right handed (CRLH) metamaterial structures to combine and divide electromagnetic signals at multiple frequencies. The metamaterial properties permit significant size reduction over a conventional N-way radial power combiner or divider. Dual-band serial power combiners and dividers and single-band and dual-band radial power combiners and dividers are described.

Abstract: A communication system has multiple paths including one or more Tx paths for processing Tx signals and one or more Rx paths for processing Rx signals, one or more PAs coupled respectively to the one or more Tx paths for amplifying the Tx signals, one or more LNAs coupled respectively to the one or more Rx paths for amplifying the Rx signals, one or more Tx filters coupled respectively to the one or more Tx paths for filtering the Tx signals, one or more Rx filters coupled respectively to the one or more Rx paths for filtering the Rx signals, and an antenna comprising multiple feeds coupled to the multiple paths, respectively, to provide physical separation of the multiple paths from each other. Physical separation among the multiple paths and impedance matching provides isolation among the multiple paths, and relaxes rejection considerations on the filters.

Abstract: A logarithmic amplifier (LDA) is described that includes an amplifier configured to oscillate a modulated input signal, a feedback establishing a 180 degree phase shift between the amplifier input and the output and maintaining oscillation of the input signal, a parallel resonant circuit connected to the amplifier output causing the amplifier to resonate at or around a center frequency, and a controller connected to the amplifier input cyclically terminating oscillation of the input signal each time a pre-determined threshold of current is detected, the controller including a low pass filter configured to generate a second output signal having a repetition frequency. The LDA may be used for AM with or without a PLL and/or a superheterodyne. The LDA may be implemented as a mixer and used for phase demodulation. The LDA may be used for phase demodulation. The LDA may be used in place of a low noise amplifier.

Abstract: A wireless coupling method is suitable for use in calibration and testing of a radiofrequency device under test (DUT). The DUT includes a printed circuit board having one or more integral antennas. The wireless coupling method comprises the use of a test fixture to position the DUT a prescribed distance from a reference unit comprising a second printed circuit board with one or more similar integral antenna(s). Each antenna of the reference unit is aligned optimally to a corresponding antenna of the DUT for transmitting or receiving RF signals in one or more frequency channels in accordance with a test procedure script. Test equipment is coupled to the antennas and is used for measuring or generating each test of the test procedure and saving the measurements in memory.