Abstract: New and/or improved coatings, layers or treatments for porous substrates, including battery separators or separator membranes, and/or coated or treated porous substrates, including coated battery separators, and/or batteries or cells including such coatings or coated separators, and/or related methods including methods of manufacture and/or of use thereof are disclosed. Also, new or improved coatings for porous substrates, including battery separators, which comprise at least a matrix material or a polymeric binder, and heat-resistant particles with additional additives, materials or components, and/or to new or improved coated or treated porous substrates, including battery separators, where the coating comprises at least a matrix material or a polymeric binder, and heat-resistant particles with additional additives, materials or components are disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-beam satellite comprises an input section receiving a plurality of first spot beams and an output section transmitting a plurality of second spot beams. A payload architecture is coupled between the input section and output section. It flexibly and selectively switches and filters the first plurality of spot beams received by the input section and provides signals to the output section to be transmitted as the second plurality of spot beams.

Abstract: A frequency scalable, low self-generated noise frequency source generates coherent or mostly-coherent local oscillator signals and includes a common reference, a coherent set of high frequency references and specific local oscillators which may be non-coherent for each specific output frequency. Delay lines may be included in the paths to ensure time delay alignment. The use of these elements with this modular design allows the generation of multiple coherent local oscillators via replication of the modular design elements.

Abstract: A technique for providing secondary DC power to certain satellite payload components to reduce the number of secondary power converters on the satellite. A frequency generator (60) is used as a source of secondary DC power instead of providing separate secondary DC power converters. A plurality of secondary DC power lines is tapped off of the frequency generator (60) and applied to certain satellite payload components, such as LNA/DCs (18) and upconverters (42). Additionally, the secondary DC power available from the frequency generator (60) is used as a secondary DC power source for a satellite beacon assembly (62) that provides a signal to a beacon antenna (74).

Abstract: A satellite is provided that routes signals on 0 to n channels to any one of M downlink beams. The satellite may include n first-stage switches each corresponding to one of the 0 to n channels, M multiplexing devices each to combine n/2 channels into one output channel, M second-stage switches to receive outputs from said M multiplexing devices and M downlink antenna ports coupled to the M second-stage switches.

Abstract: A frequency scalable, low self-generated noise frequency source generates coherent or mostly-coherent local oscillator signals and includes a common reference, a coherent set of high frequency references and specific local oscillators which may be non-coherent for each specific output frequency. Delay lines may be included in the paths to ensure time delay alignment. The use of these elements with this modular design allows the generation of multiple coherent local oscillators via replication of the modular design elements.

Abstract: A multi-beam satellite comprises an input section receiving a plurality of first spot beams and an output section transmitting a plurality of second spot beams. A payload architecture is coupled between the input section and output section. It flexibly and selectively switches and filters the first plurality of spot beams received by the input section and provides signals to the output section to be transmitted as the second plurality of spot beams.

Abstract: A multi-beam satellite has an input section to receive uplink spot beams in a first range of frequencies and an output section to transmit downlink spot beams in a second range of frequencies. An IF section is coupled between the first antenna and second antenna. It down-converts the uplink spot beams in the first range of frequencies to intermediate signals in an intermediate range of frequencies, flexibly and selectively switches and filters the intermediate signals in the intermediate range of frequencies, and up-converts the intermediate signals in the intermediate range of frequencies to the downlink spot beams in the second range of frequencies.

Abstract: A communications satellite has multiple HPA redundancy pools. All downlink feed signals driven by HPAs in any one of the HPA redundancy pools are placed on a first number of antenna apertures which is less than the total number of available antenna apertures and, in the event that a HPA driving a downlink feed signal fails, only one of the other HPAs co-located in that same HPA redundancy pool may drive that downlink feed signal. Each one of the HPA redundancy pools provides downlink feed signals to the same number, but a different unique combination, of antenna apertures and is located so that the waveguide run length between it and the furthest antenna aperture in the unique combination of antenna apertures containing downlink feed signals provided by it is minimized.

Abstract: A redundancy network is provided that may include a first unit having first unit primary components and first unit redundant components, and a second unit (coupled to the first unit) having second unit primary components and second unit redundant components. A signal may pass through the first unit primary components and through the second unit primary components based on a first control signal and pass through the first unit redundant components and through the second unit redundant components based on a second control signal.

Abstract: A technique for providing secondary DC power to certain satellite payload components to reduce the number of secondary power converters on the satellite. A frequency generator (60) is used as a source of secondary DC poiwer instead of providing separate secondary DC power converters. A plurality of secondary DC power lines is tapped off of the frequency generator (60) and applied to certain satellite payload components, such as LNA/DCs (18) and upconverters (42). Additionally, the secondary DC power available from the frequency generator (60) is used as a secondary DC power source for a satellite beacon assembly (62) that provides a signal to a beacon antenna (74).

Abstract: An antenna system for a satellite including a gimbal device, such as a bi-axial gimbal, that employs a first uni-axial gimbal providing movement in one direction and a second uni-axial gimbal providing movement in a perpendicular direction. The first gimbal is mounted to a platform bracket, which is part of a moveable platform. The first gimbal is also mounted to the second gimbal, and the second gimbal is mounted to a satellite bracket secured to the satellite. Both a receive antenna array and a transmit antenna array are mounted to the moveable platform. Therefore, movement of the first gimbal causes the combination of the receive and transmit antenna arrays to move in one direction, and movement of the second gimbal causes the combination of the receive and transmit antenna arrays to move in the perpendicular direction.

Abstract: An adaptive transceiver architecture which reallocates communications resources in real time based on the amount of bandwidth being used in communications channels in the system. The transceiver receives communications signals from a plurality of communications beam spots. Each communications beam spot has a predefined bandwidth divided into non-overlapping subbands. The transceiver further comprises a plurality of front end signal conditioners for receiving communications signals from an equal plurality of communications beam spots. A predetermined number of the conditioned signals are then combined by an interconnect. The interconnect receives composite signals from the front end signal conditioners, and it combines at least first and second communications signals from first and second respective composite signals to form an output processing signal.

Abstract: A dual phased array payload (100) for use onboard a communications satellite is disclosed. The payload includes one or more phased array receive antennas (102-108) including numerous individual receiving elements distributed in a predetermined configuration. Each of the individual radiating elements is selectively adjustable in amplitude and phase to achieve scanning beams for receiving information transmitted from the ground in an uplink beam. The payload includes a packet switch (114) connected to the phased array receive antennas (102-108). The packet switch (114) includes a set of inputs and a set of outputs. The set of inputs are selectively connectable to the set of outputs. The payload (100) includes one or more phased array transmit antennas (120-126) connected to the packet switch (114). The phased array transmit antennas (120-126) include numerous individual radiating elements distributed in a predetermined configuration.

Abstract: A steam humidifier system comprises a manifold for receiving steam and at least one steam dispersion tube extending from the manifold for receiving steam. Steam emitting nozzles on the dispersion tube are aimed into an air flow to be humidified. Preferably at least two baffle tubes are spaced upstream in an air flow from said dispersion tube and are offset laterally in opposite sides thereof transversely of the air flow. Air flow between said baffle tubes is directed thereby against an opposing flow of high velocity steam exiting the nozzles of the dispersion tube for rapid and even disbursement of steam into the air flow. An inner steam feed tube may extend from the manifold into and along the dispersion tube to feed steam to the remote end of the dispersion tube.