Abstract: Described is a mobile radar system which provides both persistent surveillance and tracking of objects with adaptive measurement rates for both maneuvering and non-maneuvering objects. The mobile radar system includes a vehicle having mounted therein an active, electronically-steerable, phased array radar system movable between a stowed position and a deployed position and wherein the phased array radar system is operational in both the deployed and stored positions and also while the vehicle is either stationary or moving. Thus, the mobile radar system described herein provides for longer time on target and longer integration times, increased radar sensitivity and improved Doppler resolution and clutter rejection. This results in a highly mobile radar system appropriate for use in a battlefield environment and which supports single-integrated-air-picture metrics including but not limited to track purity, track completeness, and track continuity and thus improved radar performance in a battlefield.

Abstract: Embodiments of the concepts described herein are directed toward a common RF building block in the form of a monolithic assembly for an AESA array featuring a scalable RF design based on 2n:3 combining. The monopulse network building blocks are substantially identical, enabling an interchangeable sub-array architecture that is independent of position in the AESA aperture and receive sum channel sidelobe performance. In one embodiment, a passive Monopulse Beamformer may provide the passive 2n:3 RF coupling/combining network and an active Monopulse Processor may perform amplitude and phase weighting for the combined signals from the Monopulse Beamformer.

Abstract: In one aspect, an active electronically scanned array (AESA) card includes a printed wiring board (PWB) that includes a first set of metal layers used to provide RF signal distribution, a second set of metal layers used to provide digital logical distribution, a third set of metal layers used to provide power distribution and a fourth set of metal layers used to provide RF signal distribution. The PWB comprises at least one transmit/receive (T/R) channel used in an AESA.

Abstract: A mixed-signal, multilayer printed wiring board fabricated in a single lamination step is described. The PWB includes one or more radio frequency (RF) interconnects between different circuit layers on different circuit boards which make up the PWB. The PWB includes a number of unit cells with radiating elements and an RF cage disposed around each unit cell to isolate the unit cell. A plurality of flip-chip circuits are disposed on an external surface of the PWB and a heat sink can be disposed over the flip chip components.

Abstract: Described is a mobile radar system which provides both persistent surveillance and tracking of objects with adaptive measurement rates for both maneuvering and non-maneuvering objects. The mobile radar system includes a vehicle having mounted therein an active, electronically-steerable, phased array radar system movable between a stowed position and a deployed position and wherein the phased array radar system is operational in both the deployed and stored positions and also while the vehicle is either stationary or moving. Thus, the mobile radar system described herein provides for longer time on target and longer integration times, increased radar sensitivity and improved Doppler resolution and clutter rejection. This results in a highly mobile radar system appropriate for use in a battlefield environment and which supports single-integrated-air-picture metrics including but not limited to track purity, track completeness, and track continuity and thus improved radar performance in a battlefield.

Abstract: An antenna element and balun are described. The antenna includes a plurality of droopy bowtie antenna elements disposed on dielectric block and a feed point. The balun includes a central member having dielectric slabs symmetrically disposed on external surfaces thereof. At least one end of the balun is provided having a shape such that conductors on the dielectric slabs of the balun can be coupled to the the droopy bowtie antenna elements.

Abstract: A thermal management system includes an air duct assembly comprising a supply air duct having an air inlet opening, a return air duct having an air exit opening and a plurality of distribution air ducts configured to be in fluid communication with the air inlet opening of the supply air duct and with the air exit opening of the return air duct. A fan is disposed within the air duct assembly to direct air from the air inlet opening of the supply air duct through the supply air duct and out the air exit opening of the return air duct. The fan and supply duct are disposed to direct air over a first surface of a heat sink. A second opposing surface of the heat sink is disposed over and configured to be in thermal contact with a plurality of active circuits disposed on a first surface of a radio frequency (RF) multi-layer printing wiring board (PWB).

Abstract: A thermal management system includes an air duct assembly comprising a supply air duct having an air inlet opening, a return air duct having an air exit opening and a plurality of distribution air ducts configured to be in fluid communication with the air inlet opening of the supply air duct and with the air exit opening of the return air duct. A fan is disposed within the air duct assembly to direct air from the air inlet opening of the supply air duct through the supply air duct and out the air exit opening of the return air duct. The fan and supply duct are disposed to direct air over a first surface of a heat sink. A second opposing surface of the heat sink is disposed over and configured to be in thermal contact with a plurality of active circuits disposed on a first surface of a radio frequency (RF) multi-layer printing wiring board (PWB).

Abstract: A multilayer circuit board assembly includes one or more radio frequency (RF) interconnects between different circuit layers on different circuit boards which make up the circuit board assembly. The RF interconnects can include one or more RF matching pads which provide a mechanism for matching impedance characteristics of RF stubs to provide the RF interconnects having desired insertion loss and impedance characteristics over a desired RF operating frequency band. The RF matching pads allow the manufacture of circuit boards having RF interconnects without the need to perform any back drill and back fill operation to remove stub portions of the RF interconnects in the multilayer circuit board assembly.

Abstract: A mixed-signal, multilayer printed wiring board fabricated in a single lamination step is described. The PWB includes one or more radio frequency (RF) interconnects between different circuit layers on different circuit boards which make up the PWB. The PWB includes a number of unit cells with radiating elements and an RF cage disposed around each unit cell to isolate the unit cell. A plurality of flip-chip circuits are disposed on an external surface of the PWB and a heat sink can be disposed over the flip chip components.

Abstract: A multilayer circuit board assembly includes one or more radio frequency (RF) interconnects between different circuit layers on different circuit boards which make up the circuit board assembly. The RF interconnects can include one or more RF matching pads which provide a mechanism for matching impedance characteristics of RF stubs to provide the RF interconnects having desired insertion loss and impedance characteristics over a desired RF operating frequency band. The RF matching pads allow the manufacture of circuit boards having RF interconnects without the need to perform any back drill and back fill operation to remove stub portions of the RF interconnects in the multilayer circuit board assembly.

Abstract: A multilayer circuit board assembly includes one or more radio frequency (RF) interconnects between different circuit layers on different circuit boards which make up the circuit board assembly. The RF interconnects can include one or more RF matching pads which provide a mechanism for matching impedance characteristics of RF stubs to provide the RF interconnects having desired insertion loss and impedance characteristics over a desired RF operating frequency band. The RF matching pads allow the manufacture of circuit boards having RF interconnects without the need to perform any back drill and back fill operation to remove stub portions of the RF interconnects in the multilayer circuit board assembly.

Abstract: A phased array system having a plurality of array elements, a beam steering computer; at plurality of attenuation and phase control elements for controlling attenuation and phase of energy passing through such attenuation and phase control elements, and a feed network for feeding phase and attenuation data to the plurality of attenuation and phase control elements. The feed network includes at least one slave, wireless receive unit connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of attenuation and phase control elements; and a master wireless transmit unit coupled to the beam steering computer and in wireless communication with the at least one of the plurality of slave, wireless receive units, for transmitting the phase and attenuation data from the beam steering unit to the at least one of the plurality of attenuation and phase control elements. The slave wireless receive unit and the master transmit unit are a spread spectrum communication system.

Abstract: A radiator includes a waveguide having an aperture and a patch antenna disposed in the aperture. In one embodiment, an antenna includes an array of waveguide antenna elements, each element having a cavity, and an array of patch antenna elements including an upper patch element and a lower patch element disposed in the cavity.

Abstract: A radiator includes a waveguide having an aperture and a patch antenna disposed in the aperture. In one embodiment, an antenna includes an array of waveguide antenna elements, each element having a cavity, and an array of patch antenna elements including an upper patch element and a lower patch element disposed in the cavity.

Abstract: An extendable spar buoy sea-based communication system includes a spar buoy having a retracted configuration deployable from an underwater vessel and an extended configuration after deployment, and a communication subsystem mounted to the top of the spar buoy and supported thereby.

Abstract: A radiator includes a waveguide having an aperture and a patch antenna disposed in the aperture. In one embodiment, an antenna includes an array of waveguide antenna elements, each element having a cavity, and an array of patch antenna elements including an upper patch element and a lower patch element disposed in the cavity.

Abstract: A radiator includes a waveguide having an aperture and a patch antenna disposed in the aperture. In one embodiment, an antenna includes an array of waveguide antenna elements, each element having a cavity, and an array of patch antenna elements including an upper patch element and a lower patch element disposed in the cavity.