Abstract: Thin solar collecting panels are described made from arrays of small rod collectors consisting of a refracting dielectric rod lens with an absorber imbedded within it and a reflecting mirror coated on the back side of the dielectric rod. Non-tracking collector panels on vertical walls or roof tops receive approximately 90% of solar radiation within an acceptance zone 60.degree. in elevation angle by 120.degree. or more in the azimuth sectors with a collector concentration ratio of approximately 3.0. Miniaturized construction of the circular dielectric rods with internal absorbers reduces the weight per area of glass, plastic and metal used in the collector panels. No external parts or insulation are needed as heat losses are low due to partial vacuum or low conductivity gas surrounding heated portions of the collector.

Abstract: A reflector antenna system is described suitable for ground stations used in communication with geostationary satellites. Dual beams or multi-beams can be directed at several satellites spaced angularly from 5.degree. to 20.degree. apart and these beams are scanned by feed motion keeping a single main reflector surface fixed. Offset feed geometry is used for low aperture blocking and shaping of subreflectors and main reflector results in very high aperture efficiencies, low sidelobes and symmetric low cross-polarization patterns needed for satellite links. A novel method for shaping subreflectors using the ratios of ray lengths squared and variable focal lengths is applied in the optimally tilted offset geometry results in almost uniform aperture power distributions.

Abstract: A solar energy concentrator comprising a cylindrical Fresnel lens, a specially shaped and positioned reflecting mirror, and a shaped tubular receptor for conveying the collected energy to terminals is described. These concentrators are arrayed parallel and contiguous to each other and oriented generally along an East-West line to receive the sun's radiant energy, and the lenses together with the special reflectors and designed to accomodate large elevation angle variations of the sun. The large acceptance angles achieved with the image collapsing concentrator, while at the same time maintaining a high concentration ratio, improves the reception of diffused as well as direct sunlight and the small surface area of receiving tubes diminishes the thermal radiation losses. A method for determining the shape and location of the special image collapsing reflector is described and applied to solar concentrators employing both lenses and reflectors of cylindrical and three dimensional forms.

Abstract: A compact, all channel television antenna system is provided for improved reception within buildings where multiple reflections or ghosting and weak signals are typical operating conditions. The high performance in this environment with a very small antenna is achieved by the antenna's directive gain and pattern nulls, good impedance matching, low acceptance of vertical polarization, band switching, and repeatable orientation of the antenna. The antenna is characterized by a miniature, symmetrically top-loaded dipole and efficient matching circuit at the lower VHF television band. The top-loading elements are reused as parasitic elements in a compact, directive array at the upper VHF channels. Similarly, in the UHF television bands bending and top loading is used to reduce the size of radiators and to provide loading for the VHF bands. A construction of UHF half loops in parallel is used with a system of reflecting and directing elements.

Abstract: A portable multiband H.F. antenna that has minimum ground area requirements and that is capable of transmitting electromagnetic wave radiation with horizontal polarization, azimuth plane omnidirectional patterns and a null in the vertical beam pattern is realized by means of an easily erectable tower type radiator. The tower structure has adjacent conductive leg members that define an elongated antenna slot aperture the total length of which is resonant to the lowest operating frequency band. A microwave transmission line resides along one side of the slot and the slot aperture is fed by shorting the transmission line to the oposite side of the slot. Operation at higher frequency bands is achieved by shorting out sections of the slot aperture on both sides of the feed. An array of radiating slot apertures can be provided by shorting the full slot aperture into sections and feeding each slot section separately.