Abstract: A program content tagging system for facilitating the development of an interactive social network during the viewing of a program comprising a base station, a database, an output device, and an input device. The base station serves as the conduit for bidirectional communication between the user and the output device. The database stores a library of program content and/or other program content identification to provide a means for identifying the program content transmitted to the user. The output device allows the user to view any additional information synchronized with the program content. The input device allows the user to request or send information to the base station for processing. The user may activate a tag mark displayed on the output device to view additional information. With this information users, vendors, and visitors can engage in commerce through the use of advertisements and sales of goods and services.

Abstract: A coaxial-to-microstrip vertical transition includes a dielectric substrate having formed on a first surface thereof a primary microstrip conductor trace, and on a second surface a secondary microstrip conductor trace. A first conductive via extends through the dielectric substrate and electrically connects the primary conductor trace to the secondary conductor trace. A second conductive via is spaced from the first conductive via and extends through the dielectric substrate to electrically connect the secondary conductor trace to the coaxial center conductor. A bottom microstrip ground plane layer is defined on the second substrate surface. A conductive base plate structure has a cavity formed therein, the substrate positioned such that the base plate structure is in contact with the bottom ground plane layer, and the secondary conductor trace is positioned over the cavity.

Abstract: An RF connector includes male and female connector components. The male component has a multi-diameter dielectric housing cylinder with a metal center conductor extending through an opening in the housing. The center pin extends from each end of the dielectric housing. The center pin and the dielectric housing are sized appropriately to provide a matched impedance at microwave frequencies for the use environment to which the male component is connected. The female connector component includes a dielectric body having a center cavity formed therein. A compressible wire bundle forming a compressible conductor member is recessed into the cavity. The compressible conductor protrudes from the far end of the female cavity allowing contact to a mating circuitry. The male connector component is assembled with the female component, the male center pin being brought into electrical contact with the compressible conductor member.

Abstract: In an electronically scanned array where each radiating element extends outwardly from a face of the array (10), an intra-array test probe (20) is employed to test the propagation characteristics of an individual radiating element (13). The intra-array test probe (20) is adapted to be removable fitted over the radiating element (13) at one end and coupled to a test instrument at the other end. The intra-array test probe (20) channels RF signals to or from the test instrument to the radiating element (13) under test to test the propagation characteristics of the radiating element.