Abstract: Interlacing equipment may be used to form fabric and to create a gap in the fabric. The fabric may include one or more conductive strands. An insertion tool may be used to align an electrical component with the conductive strands during interlacing operations. A soldering tool may be used to remove insulation from the conductive strands to expose conductive segments on the conductive strands. The soldering tool may be used to solder the conductive segments to the electrical component. The solder connections may be located in grooves in the electrical component. An encapsulation tool may dispense encapsulation material in the grooves to encapsulate the solder connections. After the electrical component is electrically connected to the conductive strands, the insertion tool may position and release the electrical component in the gap. A component retention tool may temporarily be used to retain the electrical component in the gap as interlacing operations continue.

Abstract: Interlacing equipment may be used to form fabric and to create a gap in the fabric. The fabric may include one or more conductive strands. An insertion tool may be used to align an electrical component with the conductive strands during interlacing operations. A soldering tool may be used to remove insulation from the conductive strands to expose conductive segments on the conductive strands. The soldering tool may be used to solder the conductive segments to the electrical component. The solder connections may be located in grooves in the electrical component. An encapsulation tool may dispense encapsulation material in the grooves to encapsulate the solder connections. After the electrical component is electrically connected to the conductive strands, the insertion tool may position and release the electrical component in the gap. A component retention tool may temporarily be used to retain the electrical component in the gap as interlacing operations continue.

Abstract: A cable includes a cable core including a central strength member. A plurality of buffer tubes, with each buffer tube including a plurality of optical fibers therein, and a plurality of filler rods are stranded about the central strength member. A characterizing feature is that a diameter of each of the plurality of filler rods is larger than a diameter of each of the plurality of buffer tubes. A jacket surrounds the cable core.

Abstract: Mount assemblies that include clamps that can clamp directly to external threads of a respective adjuster bolt to lock the adjuster bolt in a desired orientation and/or position and provide for triangulated adjustment allowing for increased alignment precision. The mount assemblies can be particularly suitable for locking an aligned antenna into a desired azimuth position.

Abstract: A panel array antenna comprises an input layer including a waveguide network coupling an input feed on a first side thereof to a plurality of primary coupling cavities on a second side thereof, and an output layer on the second side of the input layer. The output layer includes an array of horn radiators, respective horn radiator inlet ports in communication with the horn radiators, and respective slot-shaped output ports in communication with the respective horn radiator inlet ports to couple the horn radiators to the primary coupling cavities. The horn radiators, the respective horn radiator inlet ports, and the respective slot-shaped output ports are integrated in a monolithic layer, which is configured to provide respective output signals from the horn radiators having a polarization orientation that is rotated by a desired polarization rotation angle relative to respective input signals received at the respective slot-shaped output ports coupled thereto.

Abstract: Mount assemblies that include clamps that can clamp directly to external threads of a respective adjuster bolt to lock the adjuster bolt in a desired orientation and/or position and provide for triangulated adjustment allowing for increased alignment precision. The mount assemblies can be particularly suitable for locking an aligned antenna into a desired azimuth position.

Abstract: A method of forming a flat panel array antenna includes the steps of: (a) providing a digitized design for a flat panel array, the flat panel array comprising a plurality of geometric features that vary in area along a thickness dimension of the flat panel array; (b) subdividing the digitized design into a plurality of thin strata stacked in the thickness dimension; (c) forming a thin layer of material corresponding to one of the thin strata; (d) fixing the thin layer of material; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) to form a flat panel array.

Abstract: A method of forming a flat panel array antenna includes the steps of: (a) providing a digitized design for a flat panel array, the flat panel array comprising a plurality of geometric features that vary in area along a thickness dimension of the flat panel array; (b) subdividing the digitized design into a plurality of thin strata stacked in the thickness dimension; (c) forming a thin layer of material corresponding to one of the thin strata; (d) fixing the thin layer of material; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) to form a flat panel array.

Abstract: A panel array antenna comprises an input layer including a waveguide network coupling an input feed on a first side thereof to a plurality of primary coupling cavities on a second side thereof, and an output layer on the second side of the input layer. The output layer includes an array of horn radiators, respective horn radiator inlet ports in communication with the horn radiators, and respective slot-shaped output ports in communication with the respective horn radiator inlet ports to couple the horn radiators to the primary coupling cavities. The horn radiators, the respective horn radiator inlet ports, and the respective slot-shaped output ports are integrated in a monolithic layer, which is configured to provide respective output signals from the horn radiators having a polarization orientation that is rotated by a desired polarization rotation angle relative to respective input signals received at the respective slot-shaped output ports coupled thereto.

Abstract: A panel array antenna comprises an input layer including a waveguide network coupling an input feed on a first side thereof to a plurality of primary coupling cavities on a second side thereof, and an output layer on the second side of the input layer. The output layer includes an array of horn radiators, respective horn radiator inlet ports in communication with the horn radiators, and respective slot-shaped output ports in communication with the respective horn radiator inlet ports to couple the horn radiators to the primary coupling cavities. The horn radiators, the respective horn radiator inlet ports, and the respective slot-shaped output ports are integrated in a monolithic layer, which is configured to provide respective output signals from the horn radiators having a polarization orientation that is rotated by a desired polarization rotation angle relative to respective input signals received at the respective slot-shaped output ports coupled thereto.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a radome-reflector assembly for, e.g., a microwave antenna, has (i) two semi-circular rims that receive the peripheries of the radome and the reflector and (ii) fixed and adjustable clamps that secure the ends of the rims together. The rims are designed with slanted inner surfaces that engage the periphery of the reflector, such that, when the adjustable clamp is tightened circumferentially, the periphery of the reflector is forced laterally to abut other rim structure to form a metal-to-metal RF seal between the reflector and the rims. Certain assemblies with low profiles and low circumferential forces can be assembled without special tooling using plastic clamps and still achieve good RF seals.

Abstract: A hybrid cable is provided that transmits both electrical power and optical signals. The hybrid cable has a transverse cross-sectional shape with multiple lobes and a generally circular outer boundary. At least some of the lobes surround and insulate the electrical conductors. The lobes surrounding the electrical conductors can be torn away from the remainder of the cable while continuing to insulate the electrical conductors.

Abstract: A hybrid cable is provided that transmits both electrical power and optical signals. The hybrid cable has a transverse cross-sectional shape with multiple lobes and a generally circular outer boundary. At least some of the lobes surround and insulate the electrical conductors. The lobes surrounding the electrical conductors can be torn away from the remainder of the cable while continuing to insulate the electrical conductors.

Abstract: A panel array antenna comprises an input layer including a waveguide network coupling an input feed on a first side thereof to a plurality of primary coupling cavities on a second side thereof, and an output layer on the second side of the input layer. The output layer includes an array of horn radiators, respective horn radiator inlet ports in communication with the horn radiators, and respective slot-shaped output ports in communication with the respective horn radiator inlet ports to couple the horn radiators to the primary coupling cavities. The horn radiators, the respective horn radiator inlet ports, and the respective slot-shaped output ports are integrated in a monolithic layer, which is configured to provide respective output signals from the horn radiators having a polarization orientation that is rotated by a desired polarization rotation angle relative to respective input signals received at the respective slot-shaped output ports coupled thereto.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a radome-reflector assembly for, e.g., a microwave antenna, has (i) two semi-circular rims that receive the peripheries of the radome and the reflector and (ii) fixed and adjustable clamps that secure the ends of the rims together. The rims are designed with slanted inner surfaces that engage the periphery of the reflector, such that, when the adjustable clamp is tightened circumferentially, the periphery of the reflector is forced laterally to abut other rim structure to form a metal-to-metal RF seal between the reflector and the rims. Certain assemblies with low profiles and low circumferential forces can be assembled without special tooling using plastic clamps and still achieve good RF seals.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a radome-reflector assembly for, e.g., a microwave antenna, has (i) two semi-circular rims that receive the peripheries of the radome and the reflector and (ii) fixed and adjustable clamps that secure the ends of the rims together. The rims are designed with slanted inner surfaces that engage the periphery of the reflector, such that, when the adjustable clamp is tightened circumferentially, the periphery of the reflector is forced laterally to abut other rim structure to form a metal-to-metal RF seal between the reflector and the rims. Certain assemblies with low profiles and low circumferential forces can be assembled without special tooling using plastic clamps and still achieve good RF seals.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a radome-reflector assembly for, e.g., a microwave antenna, has (i) two semi-circular rims that receive the peripheries of the radome and the reflector and (ii) fixed and adjustable clamps that secure the ends of the rims together. The rims are designed with slanted inner surfaces that engage the periphery of the reflector, such that, when the adjustable clamp is tightened circumferentially, the periphery of the reflector is forced laterally to abut other rim structure to form a metal-to-metal RF seal between the reflector and the rims. Certain assemblies with low profiles and low circumferential forces can be assembled without special tooling using plastic clamps and still achieve good RF seals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for signal processing is disclosed. The methods and apparatus include a first autocorrelator configured to autocorrelate a received signal using a first time delay to produce a first correlation magnitude, a second autocorrelator configured to autocorrelate the received signal using a second time delay different from the first time delay to produce a second correlation magnitude, and a detector configured to determine whether the received signal comprises a packet preamble based on the first and second correlation magnitudes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for signal processing is disclosed. The methods and apparatus include a first autocorrelator configured to autocorrelate a received signal using a first time delay to produce a first correlation magnitude, a second autocorrelator configured to autocorrelate the received signal using a second time delay different from the first time delay to produce a second correlation magnitude, and a detector configured to determine whether the received signal comprises a packet preamble based on the first and second correlation magnitudes.

Abstract: A closed-cycle system and method of electrical power generation uses steam to transport charge carriers through an MHD generator. Water droplets, fine particles or mixtures thereof are used as the charge carriers. The fine particles are sufficiently small to allow the particles to pass through pumps and other equipment in the flow path with little or no damage, thereby eliminating the need to remove and re-inject a seed material, or treat it prior to discharge to the environment. The high operating temperatures of prior art MHD generators are avoided, thereby allowing more economical and readily available materials to be used. The system and method also allows the MHD generator to be used as the bottoming cycle in a single-loop power generation system, with a conventional steam turbine-generator used as the topping cycle, resulting in an increased heat rate with reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, and with reduced heat rejection to the environment per unit of electricity produced.