Abstract: A radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cell includes a back contact layer formed of an electrically conductive material, at least one aperture formed in the back contact layer, and at least one photovoltaic cell section disposed on the back contact layer. An airship includes one or more radio frequency antennas disposed in an interior of the airship. One or more radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cells are disposed on an outer surface of the airship.

Abstract: A radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cell includes a back contact layer formed of an electrically conductive material, at least one aperture formed in the back contact layer, and at least one photovoltaic cell section disposed on the back contact layer. An airship includes one or more radio frequency antennas disposed in an interior of the airship. One or more radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cells are disposed on an outer surface of the airship.

Abstract: A radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cell includes a back contact layer formed of an electrically conductive material, at least one aperture formed in the back contact layer, and at least one photovoltaic cell section disposed on the back contact layer. An airship includes one or more radio frequency antennas disposed in an interior of the airship. One or more radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cells are disposed on an outer surface of the airship.

Abstract: A radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cell includes a back contact layer formed of an electrically conductive material, at least one aperture formed in the back contact layer, and at least one photovoltaic cell section disposed on the back contact layer. An airship includes one or more radio frequency antennas disposed in an interior of the airship. One or more radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cells are disposed on an outer surface of the airship.

Abstract: A coincident phased dual-polarized antenna array configured to emit electromagnetic radiation includes: a plurality of electromagnetic radiators arranged in a grid, the plurality of electromagnetic radiators defining a plurality of notches; a ground plane spaced from the electromagnetic radiators; a conductive layer disposed between the electromagnetic radiators and the ground plane, the conductive layer having a plurality of slots laterally offset from the notches and being spaced apart from and electrically insulated from the electromagnetic radiators; and a plurality of feeds, each of the feeds spanning a corresponding slot of the slots and electrically connected to a portion of the conductive layer at one side of the corresponding slot.

Abstract: A radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cell includes a back contact layer formed of an electrically conductive material, at least one aperture formed in the back contact layer, and at least one photovoltaic cell section disposed on the back contact layer. An airship includes one or more radio frequency antennas disposed in an interior of the airship. One or more radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cells are disposed on an outer surface of the airship.

Abstract: A system for properly illuminating a toll collection zone without illuminating any areas outside the toll collection zone in which vehicles may be found, while minimizing lost tolls due to shadowing of shorter vehicles by taller vehicles. In one embodiment, a linear array antenna is configured to illuminate a rectangular collection zone from a point offset from the center of the roadway. The linear array antenna is configured to produce an asymmetric antenna pattern providing RF illumination over the rectangular collection zone sufficient for reliable reading of vehicle RF tags in the collection zone, and which also minimizes spillover of RF power outside the collection zone.

Abstract: A multi-layer microwave corrugated printed circuit board is provided. In one embodiment, an interconnect assembly includes a first flat flexible layer having a signal conductor and a ground conductor forming a first microstripline or microstrip transmission line, a second folded flexible layer having a signal conductor and a ground conductor forming a second microstripline or microstrip transmission line, the bottom surface of the second folded flexible layer having ridge portions, a non-conductive adhesive layer disposed between the top surface of the first flat flexible layer and the ridge portions of the second folded flexible layer, a signal through-hole extending through the non-conductive adhesive layer and the first flat flexible layer, and two ground through-holes extending through the non-conductive adhesive layer and the second folded flexible layer, wherein the two ground through-holes are disposed on opposite sides of the signal through-hole.

Abstract: A system for properly illuminating a toll collection zone without illuminating any areas outside the toll collection zone in which vehicles may be found, while minimizing lost tolls due to shadowing of shorter vehicles by taller vehicles. In one embodiment, a linear array antenna is configured to illuminate a rectangular collection zone from a point offset from the center of the roadway. The linear array antenna is configured to produce an asymmetric antenna pattern providing RF illumination over the rectangular collection zone sufficient for reliable reading of vehicle RF tags in the collection zone, and which also minimizes spillover of RF power outside the collection zone.

Abstract: A coincident phased dual-polarized antenna array configured to emit electromagnetic radiation includes: a plurality of electromagnetic radiators arranged in a grid, the plurality of electromagnetic radiators defining a plurality of notches; a ground plane spaced from the electromagnetic radiators; a conductive layer disposed between the electromagnetic radiators and the ground plane, the conductive layer having a plurality of slots laterally offset from the notches and being spaced apart from and electrically insulated from the electromagnetic radiators; and a plurality of feeds, each of the feeds spanning a corresponding slot of the slots and electrically connected to a portion of the conductive layer at one side of the corresponding slot.

Abstract: A system and method for processing antenna signals are provided. For example, the method includes, in a receive mode, weighting and combining signals from at least one low-band antenna radiator element operable over a first bandwidth, at least one high-band antenna radiator element operable over a second bandwidth at least partially overlapping the first bandwidth, and, in some examples, at least one antenna radiator element operable over one or more intermediate bandwidths. The method also includes, in a transmit mode, separating and weighting a full-band input port signal into at least one low-band sub-system output port signal, at least one high-band sub-system port output signal, and, in some examples, at least one intermediate sub-system output port signal operable over one or more overlapping intermediate bandwidths. The weighted combination and weighted separation cover an uninterrupted continuous full-band frequency whose extent covers the full frequency range of all subbands.

Abstract: A radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cell includes a back contact layer formed of an electrically conductive material, at least one aperture formed in the back contact layer, and at least one photovoltaic cell section disposed on the back contact layer. An airship includes one or more radio frequency antennas disposed in an interior of the airship. One or more radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cells are disposed on an outer surface of the airship.

Abstract: A radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cell includes a back contact layer formed of an electrically conductive material, at least one aperture formed in the back contact layer, and at least one photovoltaic cell section disposed on the back contact layer. An airship includes one or more radio frequency antennas disposed in an interior of the airship. One or more radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cells are disposed on an outer surface of the airship.

Abstract: An integrated stiffener and RF reflector (stiffener/reflector) (100) for a RF emitter which includes: a plurality of vertical ribs (102) constituting side walls of the stiffener/reflector; a plurality of horizontal ribs (104) formed in a width direction of the stiffener/reflector; a top cover (204) including metallization layer (308), the top cover being electrically coupled to a ground layer (312) of the RF emitter and configured in such a way to direct all of RF energy in an opposite direction to the top cover. Each of the vertical (102) and horizontal (104) ribs has a sandwich structure, which includes: a foam core layer (302) disposed on a layer of the RF emitter (314); a thin film layer (306) bonded to sides and top of the rib to form facesheets of the sandwich structure.

Abstract: A system and method for processing antenna signals are provided. For example, the method includes, in a receive mode, weighting and combining signals from at least one low-band antenna radiator element operable over a first bandwidth, at least one high-band antenna radiator element operable over a second bandwidth at least partially overlapping the first bandwidth, and, in some examples, at least one antenna radiator element operable over one or more intermediate bandwidths. The method also includes, in a transmit mode, separating and weighting a full-band input port signal into at least one low-band sub-system output port signal, at least one high-band sub-system port output signal, and, in some examples, at least one intermediate sub-system output port signal operable over one or more overlapping intermediate bandwidths. The weighted combination and weighted separation cover an uninterrupted continuous full-band frequency whose extent covers the full frequency range of all subbands.

Abstract: Provided herein are devices, systems and techniques for establishing a variable height conformal antenna array having a planar backplane. More particularly, positioning of radiating elements can be made insensitive to variable ground height by selecting a suitable radiating element, such as a flared notch and arranging them to have a profile such that their outer extremities are positioned along a conformal, curved shape. Differences in radiator heights can be taken up by the addition of parallel vertical ground planes disposed between the radiating elements and the backplane. Adjacent vertical ground planes effectively form cutoff waveguide sections that naturally isolate the backplane from the radiating elements. The vertical ground planes edges effectively form a virtual curved ground for the radiating elements, following curvature of the array profile. Accordingly, heights of radiating elements are uniform with respect to the virtual ground, while being allowed to vary with respect to the backplane.

Abstract: A multi-layer microwave corrugated printed circuit board is provided. In one embodiment, an interconnect assembly includes a first flat flexible layer having a signal conductor and a ground conductor forming a first microstripline or microstrip transmission line, a second folded flexible layer having a signal conductor and a ground conductor forming a second microstripline or microstrip transmission line, the bottom surface of the second folded flexible layer having ridge portions, a non-conductive adhesive layer disposed between the top surface of the first flat flexible layer and the ridge portions of the second folded flexible layer, a signal through-hole extending through the non-conductive adhesive layer and the first flat flexible layer, and two ground through-holes extending through the non-conductive adhesive layer and the second folded flexible layer, wherein the two ground through-holes are disposed on opposite sides of the signal through-hole.

Abstract: An integrated stiffener and RF reflector (stiffener/reflector) (100) for a RF emitter which includes: a plurality of vertical ribs (102) constituting side walls of the stiffener/reflector; a plurality of horizontal ribs (104) formed in a width direction of the stiffener/reflector; a top cover (204) including metallization layer (308), the top cover being electrically coupled to a ground layer (312) of the RF emitter and configured in such a way to direct all of RF energy in an opposite direction to the top cover. Each of the vertical (102) and horizontal (104) ribs has a sandwich structure, which includes: a foam core layer (302) disposed on a layer of the RF emitter (314); a thin film layer (306) bonded to sides and top of the rib to form facesheets of the sandwich structure.

Abstract: Provided is a radiator transition assembly for exciting a long slot radiator of an antenna, the transition assembly including a folded flexible circuit substrate including at least two folds forming a long slot radiator, an excitation circuitry configured to generate signals for exciting the long slot radiator, and a microstrip transmission line coupled to the excitation circuitry and positioned along the folded flexible circuit substrate, where the microstrip transmission line extends across an opening of the long slot radiator.

Abstract: Provided herein are devices, systems and techniques for establishing a variable height conformal antenna array having a planar backplane. More particularly, positioning of radiating elements can be made insensitive to variable ground height by selecting a suitable radiating element, such as a flared notch and arranging them to have a profile such that their outer extremities are positioned along a conformal, curved shape. Differences in radiator heights can be taken up by the addition of parallel vertical ground planes disposed between the radiating elements and the backplane. Adjacent vertical ground planes effectively form cutoff waveguide sections that naturally isolate the backplane from the radiating elements. The vertical ground planes edges effectively form a virtual curved ground for the radiating elements, following curvature of the array profile. Accordingly, heights of radiating elements are uniform with respect to the virtual ground, while being allowed to vary with respect to the backplane.