Abstract: Embodiments relate to a RF localization system that determines the position of a RF source of interest (RFSOI) relative to the RFLS. The RFLS includes man-portable nodes that communicate via a self-organizing WAN. Each node includes a communications device conductively coupled to antenna elements oriented in each nodal cardinal direction and battery each communicatively coupled to a control circuit(s). The control circuit is configured to: establish the WAN; capture RSSI values for each antenna element; determine the position of the RFSOI relative to the node; when not functioning as a primary node, transmit the determined position to a primary node or a computing device that's external to the WAN for processing; and when functioning as a primary node, determine the relative position of the RFSOI relative to the plurality of nodes using the received determined position. The primary node determines the position of the RFSOI relative to the nodes.

Abstract: Wearable antenna systems in the form of suspenders are disclosed. Such communications suspenders may employ antenna elements having a reduced visual signature while maintaining the load bearing functionality of traditional suspenders. The antenna system can establish mesh networking communications and communicatively couple to portable radios via a communications device. Some of the antenna elements may be within the communications suspenders. A plurality of straps are pivotably coupled to an intermediate portion at one end and a demountable fastener at the other end that couples to the user's garment item (e.g., trousers, shorts, skirts, and similar articles). The straps may include RF shielding material positioned to reflect RF radiation that emanates from the antenna elements away from the user. The antenna elements may be formed using a conductive composition that includes fully exfoliated graphene sheets present as a percolated network in a polymer matrix.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to transmission lines and specifically to textile transmission line assemblies. The textile transmission line assemblies are capable of lateral bending, axial rotation, and stretching without suffering from a statistically significant loss of its performance characteristics. Antenna elements are incorporated with the textile transmission line assemblies (hereinafter “combination assemblies”). The textile transmission line assemblies can be incorporated in to garments, apparel items, bags, tents, or other textile-based objects. The textile transmission line assemblies are configured to be flexibly affixed to textile items. The textile transmission line assemblies are impact resistant. Wearable communications systems that incorporate at least one textile transmission line assembly and/or combination assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: The instant disclosure relates to EMI shielding structures. A conductive composition is formed that includes a polymer and graphene present as a 3D-matrix therein. Rectangular EMI shielding panels are formed using the composition. Rectangular EMI shielding panels are affixed orthogonal to each other. The EMI shielding panels are successively overlapped to form a plurality of interconnected EMI shielding planes. The EMI shielding panels are affixed to each other to form a helical EMI shielding structure that folds and unfolds along its center axis. The EMI shielding planes are angularly offset from each other about the center axis to form a helical structure when in the unfolded state. The EMI shielding panels include an encapsulating layer and/or metallic layer. The EMI shielding planes rotate about the center axis when the HES structure transitions between the folded and unfolded states.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding structures. Rectangular EMI shielding panels are formed that include a first and second ends. A pair of rectangular EMI shielding panels are affixed orthogonal to each other at their first ends. The pair of rectangular EMI shielding panels are successively overlapped with each other to thereby form a plurality of interconnected EMI shielding planes. The pair of rectangular EMI shielding panels are affixed to each other at their second ends to form a helical EMI shielding structure that unfolds to an unfolded state and folds to a folded state along its center axis. Here, the plurality of interconnected EMI shielding planes are each angularly offset from each other about the center axis to form a helical structure when in the unfolded state. The EMI shielding panels include an encapsulating layer and/or metallic layer.

Abstract: Wearable antenna systems in the form of suspenders are disclosed. Such communications suspenders may employ antenna elements having a reduced visual signature while maintaining the load bearing functionality of traditional suspenders. The antenna system can establish mesh networking communications and communicatively couple to portable radios via a communications device. Some of the antenna elements may be within the communications suspenders. A plurality of straps are pivotably coupled to an intermediate portion at one end and a demountable fastener at the other end that couples to the user's garment item (e.g., trousers, shorts, skirts, and similar articles). The straps may include RF shielding material positioned to reflect RF radiation that emanates from the antenna elements away from the user. The antenna elements may be formed using a conductive composition that includes fully exfoliated graphene sheets present as a percolated network in a polymer matrix.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a communications node that includes an interfacing plate assembly; an antenna assembly; a board mounting assembly; a housing; and an enclosure. The housing includes the antenna assembly and the board mounting assembly. The enclosure is a rigid, open ended, sleeve structure that selectively receives the housing and thereby encloses the antenna assembly and the board mounting assembly therein. An interfacing plate assembly is positioned at a second end. The interfacing plate includes an input device coupled to the control circuit that receives user operational input. The antenna assembly includes an antenna frame that includes the antenna elements and orients the antenna elements in each nodal cardinal direction. The board mounting assembly includes the communication device and the control circuit that are positioned proximate to a plate. The plate is coupled to the first end opposite the interfacing plate and thermally coupled to the control circuit.

Abstract: Wearable antenna systems in the form of suspenders are disclosed. Such communications suspenders employ antenna elements having a reduced visual signature while maintaining the load bearing functionality of traditional suspenders. The antenna system communicatively couples to portable radios that operate on different RF frequencies via a communications hub. Some of the antennas elements are dynamically positionable (i.e., swappable, switchable, etc.) on the communications suspenders. A plurality of straps are pivotably coupled to an intermediate portion at one end and a demountable fastener at the other end. The demountable fasteners couple to the user's garment item (e.g., trousers, shorts, skirts, and similar articles). The straps include RF shielding material positioned to reflect RF radiation that emanates from the antenna elements away from the user. The antenna elements are formed using a conductive composition of fully exfoliated graphene sheets present as a percolated network in a polymer matrix.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a sensor node communication system that determines the presence of an object. The system includes man-portable nodes that communicate via a self-organizing LAN. Each node includes a control circuit that has multiple cores, multithreading, and/or parallel processing. The control circuit establishes the LAN, captures an image, determines a presence of a predetermined object in the image using a machine learning algorithm, generates a first notification when presence of the predetermined object is determined, and generates a second notification when the presence is not determined. The control circuit detects an electromagnetic environment, determines unused frequency bands, and adapts a radio working parameter to broadcast in the unused frequency band. Determining the unused frequency bands includes the use of a spectrum sensing method.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a wearable communications node (WCN) with mesh networking capabilities. The WCN, which is worn on the user's torso, includes an enclosure and shoulder strap(s) as well as communications device, antenna element(s), and battery conductively coupled to a control circuit. The enclosure includes a top area and an oppositely positioned bottom area. The shoulder strap is pivotably attached proximate to the top area and the bottom area. The communications device is rigidly affixed within the enclosure. The antenna element is conductively coupled to the communications device as well as rigidly affixed to the enclosure or flexibly affixed the shoulder strap. The control circuit is configured to establish, via the communications device, a self-organizing wide area network with a plurality of computing devices that each connects directly, dynamically, and non-hierarchically to the WAN. The antenna element includes a conductive composition that includes graphene dispersed in a polymer matrix.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to communications tarpaulins. In one embodiment, the communications tarpaulins include a textile layer, a plurality of antenna elements, and a communications hub. The communications hub includes a plurality of radio frequency (“RF”) connectors. The communications hub is affixed to the textile layer. The RF connectors are each conductively coupled to one of the antenna elements. The RF connectors each demountably receive a communications device. The antenna elements are each affixed to the textile layer and includes a conductive composition. The antenna elements each include a conductive composition. The conductive composition includes a polymer and fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene that are present as a three-dimensional percolated network within the polymer. The textile layer includes a first textile layer and a second textile layer that are coterminous and physically coupled together and thereby form a multilayered structure.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a RF localization system that determines the position of a RF source of interest (RFSOI) relative to the RFLS. The RFLS includes man-portable nodes that communicate via a self-organizing WAN. Each node includes a communications device conductively coupled to antenna elements oriented in each nodal cardinal direction and battery each communicatively coupled to a control circuit(s). The control circuit is configured to: establish the WAN; capture RSSI values for each antenna element; determine the position of the RFSOI relative to the node; when not functioning as a primary node, transmit the determined position to a primary node or a computing device that's external to the WAN for processing; and when functioning as a primary node, determine the relative position of the RFSOI relative to the plurality of nodes using the received determined position. The primary node determines the position of the RFSOI relative to the nodes.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding structures. Rectangular EMI shielding panels are formed that include a first and second ends. A pair of rectangular EMI shielding panels are affixed orthogonal to each other at their first ends. The pair of rectangular EMI shielding panels are successively overlapped with each other to thereby form a plurality of interconnected EMI shielding planes. The pair of rectangular EMI shielding panels are affixed to each other at their second ends to form a helical EMI shielding structure that unfolds to an unfolded state and folds to a folded state along its center axis. Here, the plurality of interconnected EMI shielding planes are each angularly offset from each other about the center axis to form a helical structure when in the unfolded state. The EMI shielding panels include an encapsulating layer and/or metallic layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to transmission lines and specifically to textile transmission line assemblies. The textile transmission line assemblies are capable of lateral bending, axial rotation, and stretching without suffering from a statistically significant loss of its performance characteristics. Antenna elements are incorporated with the textile transmission line assemblies (hereinafter “combination assemblies”). The textile transmission line assemblies can be incorporated in to garments, apparel items, bags, tents, or other textile-based objects. The textile transmission line assemblies are configured to be flexibly affixed to textile items. The textile transmission line assemblies are impact resistant. Wearable communications systems that incorporate at least one textile transmission line assembly and/or combination assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: Wearable antenna systems in the form of suspenders are disclosed. Such communications suspenders employ antenna elements having a reduced visual signature while maintaining the load bearing functionality of traditional suspenders. The antenna system communicatively couples to portable radios that operate on different RF frequencies via a communications hub. Some of the antennas elements are dynamically positionable (i.e., swappable, switchable, etc.) on the communications suspenders. A plurality of straps are pivotably coupled to an intermediate portion at one end and a demountable fastener at the other end. The demountable fasteners couple to the user's garment item (e.g., trousers, shorts, skirts, and similar articles). The straps include RF shielding material positioned to reflect RF radiation that emanates from the antenna elements away from the user. The antenna elements are formed using a conductive composition of fully exfoliated graphene sheets present as a percolated network in a polymer matrix.

Abstract: A combination comprising a document having an image applied thereto and a security device affixed to a surface of the document. The security device comprising a first layer applied on the image. The first layer comprising a first and a second portion in communication with a first and second image area of the image, respectively. The first layer comprising a coating composition comprising fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene. The first portion comprises: a first detectable property having a first value correlated with the fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene; a first X-ray diffraction pattern; and a first electrical conductivity. The second portion comprises a second detectable property comprising: a second value correlated with the fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene; a second X-ray diffraction pattern; and a second electrical conductivity. The first and second detectable properties are not equal and together create a distinctive signature.

Abstract: An article includes a first layer comprising a substrate having one or more images applied thereto. A second layer applied on each image and comprising one or more first and second portions, the first portion and second portions each in communication with a first image area and a second image area of an image, respectively. The second layer comprises a coating composition comprising fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene. The first and second portions comprise first and second detectable properties, respectively, having a value correlated with the graphene. The first and/or second detectable properties each comprise a first X-ray diffraction pattern, a first electrical conductivity, and one or more of a thermal conductivity, an optical property. The first and second detectable properties together create a distinctive signature for the article.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a wearable personal thermal management system and an associated method of manufacture. The PTMS comprises a harness that includes one or more cooling components and/or heating components. The harness include an upper-torso wearable portion and/or a lower-torso wearable portion. The PTSM provides a heating and/or cooling effects to one or more thermally sensitive areas of its user when worn.

Abstract: Epoxy adhesive comprising graphene sheets and at least one epoxy resin and articles made therefrom.

Abstract: Multilayered security devices comprising a patterned substrate over which a graphene-based coating has been applied.