Abstract: A radar system that utilizes predetermined, pseudorandom, or random waveforms that may be substantially matched to the impulse response of the radar and any surrounding clutter such that the signal-to-clutter ratio may be optimized and/or such that specific targets may be identified and/or classified.

Abstract: A region in a metallic panel that facilitates the transmission of radio frequency signals. The metallic panel may be included in a window such as the window of a vehicle or building. For example, the metallic panel may be used for heating or to reflect infrared radiation. An aperture is formed in the metallic panel to enable radio frequency signals to be transmitted through the metallic panel. The design of the aperture may be selected to enable the transmission of the desired frequency band. In an embodiment in which the metallic panel is used to conduct electric current, the aperture may be oriented such that the current may flow between the openings of the aperture. Accordingly, there may be uniform heating across the metallic panel without blocking the transmission of radio frequency signals in the desired frequency band.

Abstract: A region in a metallic panel that facilitates the transmission of radio frequency signals. The metallic panel may be included in a window such as the window of a vehicle or building. For example, the metallic panel may be used for heating or to reflect infrared radiation. An aperture is formed in the metallic panel to enable radio frequency signals to be transmitted through the metallic panel. The design of the aperture may be selected to enable the transmission of the desired frequency band. Furthermore, the aperture is designed such that there is a taper in the transmission amplitude and/or the phase to suppress lobing effects on the other side of the aperture. In an embodiment in which the metallic panel is used to conduct electric current, the aperture may be oriented such that the current may flow between the openings of the aperture. Accordingly, there may be uniform heating across the metallic panel without blocking the transmission of radio frequency signals in the desired frequency band.

Abstract: An improved wire pattern layout for a window antenna that takes into account the characteristics of radio frequency current flow and the impact of a heater grid pattern. The wire pattern layout comprises a heating grid that is adapted to be in electrical communication with a DC power source. A plurality of antenna wires traverse the heating grid. The antenna wires are adapted to be in electrical communication with a feed to a radio frequency device such as an AM radio, a FM radio, an AM/FM radio, a CB radio, a cellular phone, a global positioning system, or combinations thereof. The antenna wires may extend across the heating grid in substantially straight lines or in a step-wise fashion. In addition, the antenna wires may change direction while traversing the heating grid. By taking into account the characteristics of radio frequency current flow and the impact of a heater grid pattern, the improved design of the wire pattern layout provides enhanced directional gain and impedance characteristics.

Abstract: An improved wire pattern layout for a window antenna that takes into account the characteristics of radio frequency current flow and the impact of a heater grid pattern. The wire pattern layout comprises a heating grid that is adapted to be in electrical communication with a DC power source. A plurality of antenna wires traverse the heating grid. The antenna wires are adapted to be in electrical communication with a feed to a radio frequency device such as an AM radio, a FM radio, an AM/FM radio, a CB radio, a cellular phone, a global positioning system, or combinations thereof. The antenna wires may extend across the heating grid in substantially straight lines or in a step-wise fashion. In addition, the antenna wires may change direction while traversing the heating grid. By taking into account the characteristics of radio frequency current flow and the impact of a heater grid pattern, the improved design of the wire pattern layout provides enhanced directional gain and impedance characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention includes testing devices and testing systems. This invention also includes machines or electronic apparatus using these aspects of the invention. The present invention also includes methods and processes using these devices and systems. In a preferred embodiment, a testing device and method are described that utilize infrared imaging and computer analysis thereof in detecting and measuring continuity, uniformity, and presence of inhomogeneities of wire heating grids in automotive windshields. The computer is capable of autonomous decision making, and can signal industrial equipment such as robotic actuators to automatically remove faulty windshields from the assembly line.

Abstract: The present invention is a radar system for detecting the presence of obstacles. The radar system includes at least one transmitting antenna and at least one receiving antenna. The transmitting antenna receives an input signal and transmits an electromagnetic wave. The electromagnetic wave reflects off an obstacle back to the receiving antenna. The receiving antenna captures the reflected electromagnetic wave and produces an output signal. The output signal is then combined with the input signal in a quadrature mixer. The resulting in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals may be further processed and then transmitted to a processing system. The processing system uses a suitable algorithm, e.g., a back projection algorithm, to estimate the type and location of obstacles that reflected the electromagnetic wave. In an exemplary embodiment, the algorithm is adapted to discriminate between different sizes and locations of obstacles in order to determine if there is a hazard.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the intraocular pressure of a cornea includes an interferometer directing a beam of a coherent light along a path to the cornea, a sensor for sensing the reflected light from the cornea, an air supply device for directing puffs of air to the cornea in alignment with the beam to cause the surface of the cornea to be artificially displaced and means for measuring variations of light intensity reaching the sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the intraocular pressure of a cornea includes an interferometer directing a beam of a coherent light along a path to the cornea, a sensor for sensing the reflected light from the cornea, an air supply device for directing puffs of air to the cornea in alignment with the beam to cause the surface of the cornea to be artificially displaced and means for measuring variations of light intensity reaching the sensor.

Abstract: The present invention includes antenna connectors, antenna connecting devices, and antenna connecting systems. This invention also includes machines or electronic devices using these aspects of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention includes tapered anechoic chambers and chamber systems. This invention also includes machines or electronic apparatus using these aspects of the invention. The present invention also includes methods and processes for using these devices and systems. In a preferred embodiment, a TEM antenna is utilized that is terminated by a resistive card, or R-card. This makes for a very broadband antenna that may be used to properly illuminate the test zone in a tapered chamber without changing the feed antenna. A preferred chamber utilizes an absorber layout that has never been applied to a tapered chamber, called a Chebyshev absorber layout. The concept is to place the wedge absorber tips at different heights relative to the mounting side wall and pyramidal absorber tips at different heights relative to the back wall. In this pattern, wave reflections off the pyramid tips and valleys behave very much like reflections in a multi-section transmission line.

Abstract: The present invention includes antenna connectors, antenna connecting devices, and antenna connecting systems. This invention also includes machines or electronic devices using these aspects of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention includes antenna connectors, antenna connecting devices, and antenna connecting systems. This invention also includes machines or electronic devices using these aspects of the invention.

Abstract: A dual band slot antenna for cellular telephone and GPS frequency bands. The antenna is a slot antenna formed in a conductive layer laminated to a layer of a windshield or other transparency. The slot is formed along two adjoining arcs of a circle extending oppositely from a feedpoint, with a portion of the conductive layer interposed between the ends of the slots. The two slot legs have different lengths so the slot is tuned to exhibit at least two resonant peaks, such as one at the cellular telephone frequency band and the other at the GPS frequency band. The slot is fed by strip line transmission lines or capacitive coupling, using additional conductive film patches spaced by one or more layers of the window, with the window layer forming a dielectric.

Abstract: A radio antenna formed in a vehicle window is coupled with a radio apparatus using an RF transformer having a primary winding connected between the antenna/heating element and the vehicle body and a secondary winding connected between the vehicle body and the radio apparatus. Preferably, the transformer also has a third winding which connects to a second antenna/heating element terminal for completing the electrical supply current circuit through the heating element. The primary winding and third winding are wound with identical turns and connected so the electrical heating current flowing through each winding generates a flux equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the other to cancel the flux resulting from the heating current and thus prevent saturation of the transformer. Shunting capacitors cause RF currents through the primary winding and third winding to be equal in magnitude and in phase.

Abstract: A slot antenna formed in combination with a vehicle window. An electrically conducting, optically transparent film panel is bonded to the window and terminates so that its outer peripheral edge is spaced from the innermost edge of the metal framing the window to define a polygonal antenna slot between the edges. An unbalanced transmission line is connected to the antenna by connecting the grounded conductor to the framing metal near the metal edge and coupling the ungrounded conductor to the conductive panel near the juxtaposed, interfacing edge of the conductive panel.

Abstract: A device for varying fluid pressure in increments in order to vary the position of a mechanism in a remote location such as a valve wherein the output pressure of the fluid may be controlled through an automatic system which may be manually overridden without disengaging the automatic control system.

Abstract: Control system which may be manually operable without disengaging, automatically or otherwise, the automatic features of the control system.