Abstract: A diesel particulate filter including a microwave-absorbing target housed within a waveguide cavity lined along the walls with a hard-electromagnetic surface (HES). The HES modifies specific electromagnetic boundary conditions for a given design frequency so as to enable the establishment of electromagnetic field patterns which are more uniform across the cavity thereby causing the target material to undergo enhanced uniformity heating. The heating of the microwave absorbing media causes particulate buildup to be vaporized and removed from the filter by the exhaust stream flow.

Abstract: A device for predistorting a digital symbol for modulating an RF signal includes a multi-bit buffer connected to an input serial bit stream and providing a parallel bit stream from the input serial bit stream; and a processing module connected to the input parallel bit stream. The processing module converts data bits of the input parallel bit stream into an input digital symbol and inputs a set of gain adjustments and phase adjustments that compensate for a channel distortion. The processing module decides which of the set of gain and phase adjustments to apply depending on a magnitude of the input digital symbol, applies a gain adjustment and a phase adjustment, from the set of gain and phase adjustments, to the input digital symbol to produce a predistorted symbol, and outputs quadrature components of the predistorted symbol to a quadrature modulator.

Abstract: An apparatus for the polishing of diamond surfaces, wherein the diamond surface is subjected to plasma-enhanced chemical etching using atomic oxygen polishing plasma source, is presented. In the apparatus, a magnetic filter passes a plume of high-density, low-energy, atomic oxygen plasma. The plasma is capable of uniformly polishing diamond surfaces utilizing low energy atomic oxygen ions to chemically etch a diamond surface at moderate temperatures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the polishing of diamond surfaces, wherein the diamond surface is subjected to plasma-enhanced chemical etching using an atomic oxygen polishing plasma source, are disclosed. In the apparatus, a magnetic filter passes a plume of high-density, low-energy, atomic oxygen plasma. The plasma is capable of uniformly polishing diamond surfaces.

Abstract: A wideband wireless access local loop system using millimeter wavelength wireless technology to provide wireless access to a series of customer interfaces, via a series of access interface points, to a backbone network of central nodes interconnected by a high transmission-rate broadband medium such as fiber optic cable. The network architecture is useful for providing a two-way high-speed data transfer system to structures without the need for physical wiring. Data transfer within the network may optionally be either analog or digital, and may be optimized for either two-way communication or one-way distribution.

Abstract: A method of operating a flywheel (10) includes the provision of a central shaft (12) defining an axis of rotation; providing a disk-shaped hub (22) joining drivingly with both the shaft and with a rim portion (34); and which hub portion has a shape when the flywheel is at rest which is of a shallow dihedral geometry. That is, the hub is cone-shaped when the flywheel is at rest. As the rotational speed of the flywheel is increased from the at-rest speed toward and then to a design operating speed for the flywheel, this hub progressively flattens out until it becomes flat and extends radially between the shaft and the hub at the design speed for the flywheel. Thus, the flattening of the hub with increasing rotational speed for the flywheel moves the rim portion axially in response to centrifugal force.

Abstract: A flywheel hub includes an annular hoop and a pair of compliant diaphragms which are connected by the hoop. The diaphragms have apertures to receive a flywheel shaft and the hoop is sized to receive an annular rim. The diaphragms achieve their compliance principally with a serpentine, radial cross section. The hub is preferably realized with fiber and matrix composites. Because the compliant hub tends to match radial expansions of adjoining flywheel components, joint integrity between components is enhanced. In addition, the hub permits the rim to position its center of mass on the rotational axis to reduce rim vibrations. Axial spacing of the diaphragms provides moment stiffness to limit and control the rim deflection caused by, for example, gyroscopic precession forces.

Abstract: A high-speed flywheel includes a composite rim supported for rotation about a central axis which is perpendicular to the plane of the rim. The rim includes at least a pair of rim portions or regions of differing elastic modulus in the circumferential direction of the material forming the rim. Moreover, a radially outer portion of the rim has a higher elastic modulus in the circumferential direction, while a radially inner portion of the rim has a lower elastic modulus in the circumferential direction. This variation of circumferential elastic modulus is achieved by a selected radial variation of the angle of the fiber reinforcement material relative to the circumferential direction of the rim. A result is that the radially inner portion of the rim transfers radial force to the outer portion, with a resulting lower radial stress in the radially inner portion of the flywheel rim. An improved speed of operation and greater energy storage for the flywheel is achieved.

Abstract: A high-speed flywheel includes a composite rim supported for rotation about a central axis which is perpendicular to the plane of the rim. The rim includes at least a pair of rim portions or regions of differing elastic modulus in the circumferential direction of the material forming the rim. Moreover, a radially outer portion of the rim has a higher elastic modulus in the circumferential direction, while a radially inner portion of the rim has a lower elastic modulus in the circumferential direction. This variation of circumferential elastic modulus is achieved by a selected radial variation of the angle of the fiber reinforcement material relative to the circumferential direction of the rim. A result is that the radially inner portion of the rim transfers radial force to the outer portion, with a resulting lower radial stress in the radially inner portion of the flywheel rim. An improved speed of operation and greater energy storage for the flywheel is achieved.

Abstract: A corona source suitable for use in vehicle ignition systems uses a conductive coil that receives an RF input at one end and has a corona discharge site at the other end, with a reference electrode capacitively coupled to the coil. The pitch and the length of the coil are selected to produce a corona discharge in response to an RF input signal at a predetermined frequency and voltage, through quarter wavelength resonation. Either the new resonant coil or other corona discharge devices can be used to remediate fluid-borne wastes by initiating and sustaining RF corona discharges within the fluid. The pulses used to initiate the corona discharge preferably have alternating positive and negative components, with high initial voltages on the positive components to initiate the discharge, followed by lower positive voltage levels to sustain the discharge. Unipolar pulses, preferably with progressively decreasing voltage levels, can also be used.

Abstract: A corona source suitable for use in vehicle ignition systems uses a conductive coil that receives an RF input at one end and has a corona discharge site at the other end, with a reference electrode capacitively coupled to the coil. The pitch and the length of the coil are selected to produce a corona discharge in response to an RF input signal at a predetermined frequency and voltage, through quarter wavelength resonation. Either the new resonant coil or other corona discharge devices can be used to remediate fluid-borne wastes by initiating and sustaining RF corona discharges within the fluid. The pulses used to initiate the corona discharge preferably have alternating positive and negative components, with high initial voltages on the positive components to initiate the discharge, followed by lower positive voltage levels to sustain the discharge. Unipolar pulses, preferably with progressively decreasing voltage levels, can also be used.

Abstract: A corona source suitable for use in vehicle ignition systems uses a conductive coil that receives an RF input at one end and has a corona discharge site at the other end, with a reference electrode capacitively coupled to the coil. The pitch and the length of the coil are selected to produce a corona discharge in response to an RF input signal at a predetermined frequency and voltage, through quarter wavelength resonation. Either the new resonant coil or other corona discharge devices can be used to remediate fluid-borne wastes by initiating and sustaining RF corona discharges within the fluid. The pulses used to initiate the corona discharge preferably have alternating positive and negative components, with high initial voltages on the positive components to initiate the discharge, followed by lower positive voltage levels to sustain the discharge. Unipolar pulses, preferably with progressively decreasing voltage levels, can also be used.

Abstract: A waveguide filter (22,24) is incorporated into a cavity resonator (20) for a free-electron laser or the like by coating a material layer (24) on the inner peripheral surface of a hollow waveguide member (22). A high pass filter configuration is provided when the conductivity of the material layer (24) is higher than that of the waveguide member (22), such that electromagnetic signals having wavelengths longer than the skin depth of the material layer (24) pass into and are affected by the lower conductivity waveguide member (22). Reversing the conductivities produces a low pass filter configuration in which signals having wavelengths shorter than the skin depth are affected by the material layer (24). A bandpass filter configuration is provided by adding an additional material layer (32) of low conductivity to a high pass filter, whereas a band exclusion filter configuration is produced by adding an additional material layer (32) of high conductivity to a low pass filter.