Abstract: An impedance matching power combining/dividing system and a method for combining power combiners/dividers are presented. The impedance matching power combiner comprises a cylindrical matching cavity, two or more coaxial inputs, each of the two or more coaxial inputs having an inner input conductor and an outer input conductor and having a source impedance, a coaxial output having an inner output conductor and an outer output conductor and having a load impedance and a circular matching plate suspended inside the cylindrical matching cavity, wherein the inner input conductors and the inner output conductor are electrically connected to the matching plate, the outer input conductors and the outer output conductor are electrically connected to the cylindrical matching cavity and the cylindrical matching cavity at least partially matches the source impedance with the load impedance. The system and method to combine/divide groups of power combiners/dividers to handle high power are also presented.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a signal generator, polarizer, signal combiner, transmitter, positioning device, and controller. The signal generator converts first and second received data streams into respective first and second orthogonal linearly polarized signals. The polarizer is at a first rotation angle and converts first and second orthogonal linearly polarized signals into, respectively, a first right-hand-circularly polarized (RHCP) signal and first left-hand circularly polarized (LHCP) signal, which are combined in signal combiner into a signal sent by transmitter to a receiver. The positioning device adjusts the first rotation angle to substantially increase isolation between third and fourth orthogonal linearly polarized signals at the receiver. The controller performs the real-time analysis of transmission loss and directs the positioning device to adjust the first rotation angle.

Abstract: A system for triggering improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with an alternating magnetic field. In one embodiment, the magnetic field is produced by a magnetic field projector in the shape of one-half of a torus, the half-torus being composed of several conductive segments referred to as toroidal wedges. A poloidal current flows in each toroidal wedge, producing a magnetic field that is projected by the half-torus. The magnetic field may induce a current, producing heating, in a conductive loop in an IED and triggering the IED.

Abstract: A multiple input loop antenna comprising one or more half-loop antennas disposed above a ground plane wherein the plane of each half loop is perpendicular to the ground plane such that the multiple input loop antenna is a three-dimensional structure and electromagnetic waves are radiated from points within the volume occupied by the antenna rather than from a two-dimensional surface. For this reason, the multiple input loop antenna can radiate levels of peak power without inducing excessive air breakdown which are relatively high compared with peak power levels of conventional antennas having comparable transverse dimensions. Also described is an array antenna comprised of an array of multiple input loop antennas.

Abstract: A system for triggering improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with an alternating magnetic field. In one embodiment, the magnetic field is produced by a magnetic field projector in the shape of one-half of a torus, the half-torus being composed of several conductive segments referred to as toroidal wedges. A poloidal current flows in each toroidal wedge, producing a magnetic field that is projected by the half-torus. The magnetic field may induce a current, producing heating, in a conductive loop in an IED and triggering the IED.

Abstract: A multiple input loop antenna comprising one or more half-loop antennas disposed above a ground plane wherein the plane of each half loop is perpendicular to the ground plane such that the multiple input loop antenna is a three-dimensional structure and electromagnetic waves are radiated from points within the volume occupied by the antenna rather than from a two-dimensional surface. For this reason, the multiple input loop antenna can radiate levels of peak power without inducing excessive air breakdown which are relatively high compared with peak power levels of conventional antennas having comparable transverse dimensions. Also described is an array antenna comprised of an array of multiple input loop antennas.

Abstract: A multiple input loop antenna comprising one or more half-loop antennas disposed above a ground plane wherein the plane of each half loop is perpendicular to the ground plane such that the multiple input loop antenna is a three-dimensional structure and electromagnetic waves are radiated from points within the volume occupied by the antenna rather than from a two-dimensional surface. For this reason, the multiple input loop antenna can radiate levels of peak power without inducing excessive air breakdown which are relatively high compared with peak power levels of conventional antennas having comparable transverse dimensions. Also described is an array antenna comprised of an array of multiple input loop antennas.

Abstract: An active retrodirective antenna array is provisioned with a virtual beacon for use with uncooperative targets. An RF pilot signal is imposed onto an optical carrier beam and directed at a target. The scattered optical carrier beam is optically detected by a plurality of the retrodirective array nodes to extract the RF pilot signal. Each recovered RF pilot-signal is phase-conjugated with a phase reference signal, amplified and retransmitted towards the target where the RF beams add-in phase at the virtual beacon. The array may be used to complete an RF communication link with the target, to transfer microwave power from orbiting solar power stations to a target or as a directed energy weapon to prosecute the target.

Abstract: A multiple input loop antenna comprising one or more half-loop antennas disposed above a ground plane wherein the plane of each half loop is perpendicular to the ground plane such that the multiple input loop antenna is a three-dimensional structure and electromagnetic waves are radiated from points within the volume occupied by the antenna rather than from a two-dimensional surface. For this reason, the multiple input loop antenna can radiate levels of peak power without inducing excessive air breakdown which are relatively high compared with peak power levels of conventional antennas having comparable transverse dimensions. Also described is an array antenna comprised of an array of multiple input loop antennas.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a first radar system having a transmitter and a receiver and a reflector to provide a synthetic aperture radar relationship. The signal return is processed to generate an image of targets in the area.

Abstract: An active retrodirective antenna array is provisioned with a virtual beacon for use with uncooperative targets. An RF pilot signal is imposed onto an optical carrier beam and directed at a target. The scattered optical carrier beam is optically detected by a plurality of the retrodirective array nodes to extract the RF pilot signal. Each recovered RF pilot-signal is phase-conjugated with a phase reference signal, amplified and retransmitted towards the target where the RF beams add-in phase at the virtual beacon. The array may be used to complete an RF communication link with the target, to transfer microwave power from orbiting solar power stations to a target or as a directed energy weapon to prosecute the target.

Abstract: There is disclosed a reflect array including a dielectric substrate having a first surface and a second surface. The first surface may support an array of phase-shifting elements. The second surface may support a conductive layer. At least some of the phase-shifting elements may be dual resonance phase-shifting elements.

Abstract: A coherent near-field array. The array consists of a number of high-gain elements, each of which directs its beam at the desired target area (either mechanically or electronically). Each element is coherently fed, so that the phase relationships between different feeds are constant or slowly varying. The elements in the array may be spaced many wavelengths apart. The array relies on interference to generate a number of power density peaks within the target area.

Abstract: There is disclosed a reflect array including a dielectric substrate having a first surface and a second surface. The first surface may support an array of phase-shifting elements. The second surface may support a conductive layer. At least some of the phase-shifting elements may be dual resonance phase-shifting elements.

Abstract: A power-combining system and method for generating a high-power coherent wavefront are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. The power-combining system comprises a combining-radiating assembly having a plurality of ports. Phase controllers generate signals with a predetermined phase shift for an associated one of the ports. Pluralities of coherent sources receive signals from an associated one of the phase controllers and to provide the signals to an associated port of the combining-radiating assembly with the predetermined phase shifts. Energy from the ports is coherently combined and radiated to provide a coherent high-power wavefront. In some embodiments, the combining-radiating assembly comprises a conductive patch having a plurality of ports spaced uniformly around the patch. In these embodiments, energy from the ports is coherently combined and radiated by the patch to provide the coherent high-power wavefront.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus to test an antenna. A transmitter generates a test signal radiated by the antenna under test. A near field scanner includes a field sampling probe to capture electromagnetic energy radiated by an antenna under test. An x-y positioning system including x and y positioning motors moves the field sampling probe over a measurement surface disposed proximate to the antenna under test. A quasi-optical beam transport system couples at least a portion of the captured electromagnetic energy from the field sampling probe to a scanner output port. A receiver is coupled to the scanner output port.

Abstract: A system for selectively blocking electromagnetic energy. The system includes a first mechanism for employing a perforated component to pass a beam characterized by a first property and reject a beam characterized by a second property. A second mechanism selectively alters a beam passed by the first mechanism so that upon reflection, the beam exhibits the second property. In a specific embodiment, the first property corresponds to a first polarization, and the second property corresponds to a second polarization. In the specific embodiment, the perforated component includes a beamsplitter having a first perforated metallic plate. The second mechanism includes a quarter-wave plate having a second perforated metallic plate.

Abstract: A power-combining system and method for generating a high-power coherent wavefront are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. The power-combining system comprises a combining-radiating assembly having a plurality of ports. Phase controllers generate signals with a predetermined phase shift for an associated one of the ports. Pluralities of coherent sources receive signals from an associated one of the phase controllers and to provide the signals to an associated port of the combining-radiating assembly with the predetermined phase shifts. Energy from the ports is coherently combined and radiated to provide a coherent high-power wavefront. In some embodiments, the combining-radiating assembly comprises a conductive patch having a plurality of ports spaced uniformly around the patch. In these embodiments, energy from the ports is coherently combined and radiated by the patch to provide the coherent high-power wavefront.

Abstract: A coherent near-field array. The array consists of a number of high-gain elements, each of which directs its beam at the desired target area (either mechanically or electronically). Each element is coherently fed, so that the phase relationships between different feeds are constant or slowly varying. The elements in the array may be spaced many wavelengths apart. The array relies on interference to generate a number of power density peaks within the target area.

Abstract: A system and method for combining and radiating electromagnetic energy. The invention includes a novel antenna comprising a first dielectric substrate having opposite first and second surfaces, a patch of conducting material disposed on the first surface, a ground plane of conducting material disposed on the second surface, and at least three input ports, each input coupled to the patch at a feed point. The feed points are positioned to minimize the total power reflected from each input port. In an illustrative embodiment, the feed points are equally distributed around a circle having the same center as the patch and having a radius chosen to minimize the reflections at each input. In accordance with the novel method of the present invention, the outputs of multiple sources are combined in the antenna itself, by coupling the sources directly to the antenna.