Abstract: A secure ballot collection system is formed of a removable container that may be positioned within a voting machine and used for collecting paper ballots as they are cast. The container itself is capable of being sealed after removal from the voting machine to ensure the security of the paper ballots. The removable container is placed on a raised floor platform that is also positioned within the interior of the voting machine. The platform provides easy access to the interior of the voting machine from a side opening and allows for the ballot container bag to be located at a height where it is relatively straightforward for an election official to place an “empty” container bag at the beginning of the voting process, and also remove a “filled” container bag at some point in time thereafter.

Abstract: A secure ballot collection system is formed of a removable container that may be positioned within a voting machine and used for collecting paper ballots as they are cast. The container itself is capable of being sealed after removal from the voting machine to ensure the security of the paper ballots. The removable container is placed on a raised floor platform that is also positioned within the interior of the voting machine. The platform provides easy access to the interior of the voting machine from a side opening and allows for the ballot container bag to be located at a height where it is relatively straightforward for an election official to place an “empty” container bag at the beginning of the voting process, and also remove a “filled” container bag at some point in time thereafter.

Abstract: A microwave circuit comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) on which is fabricated a circuit including passive components such as filters (40) formed by printed conductive patterns. In order to enhance the performance of the circuit, selected components such as filters are made with a greater precision on substrate material (41), such as alumina, having a higher dielectric constant than that of the printed circuit board material. The finished component is mounted on the printed circuit board and the conductive pattern is connected by wire bonds (48, 50) to microstrip tracks (51) of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A microwave circuit comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) on which is fabricated a circuit including passive components such as filters (40) formed by printed conductive patterns. In order to enhance the performance of the circuit, selected components such as filters are made with a greater precision on substrate material (41), such as alumina, having a higher dielectric constant than that of the printed circuit board material. The finished component is mounted on the printed circuit board and the conductive pattern is connected by wire bonds (48, 50) to microstrip tracks (51) of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A transition from microstrip to waveguide comprises a rectangular waveguide and a microstrip structure formed by a resilient substrate (24) having a stripline (26) on one surface and a ground plane (44) on an opposite surface, the conductors (26, 44) being interconnected by viaholes. The substrate (24) is disposed between the side walls (36) and the floor (22) of the waveguide with the ground plane contacting the floor. The stripline extends from one end of the waveguide along a portion of its length. A tapered ridge (38) depends from the ceiling (34) of the waveguide and extends from the other end of the waveguide. A terminal end (40) of the ridge contacts a terminal portion of the stripline under mechanical pressure. The ridge (38) may have a choice of profiles such as triangular, half cosine and half cosine with a semicircular cut-out in the upright edge.

Abstract: A microwave circuit comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) on which is fabricated a circuit including passive components such as filters (40) formed by printed conductive patterns. In order to enhance the performance of the circuit, selected components such as filters are made with a greater precision on substrate material (41), such as alumina, having a higher dielectric constant than that of the printed circuit board material. The finished component is mounted on the printed circuit board and the conductive pattern is connected by wire bonds (48, 50) to microstrip tracks (51) of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A transition from microstrip to waveguide comprises a rectangular waveguide and a microstrip structure formed by a resilient substrate (24) having a stripline (26) on one surface and a ground plane (44) on an opposite surface, the conductors (26, 44) being interconnected by viaholes. The substrate (24) is disposed between the side walls (36) and the floor (22) of the waveguide with the ground plane contacting the floor. The stripline extends from one end of the waveguide along a portion of its length. A tapered ridge (38) depends from the ceiling (34) of the waveguide and extends from the other end of the waveguide. A terminal end (40) of the ridge contacts a terminal portion of the stripline under mechanical pressure. The ridge (38) may have a choice of profiles such as triangular, half cosine and half cosine with a semicircular cut-out in the upright edge.