Abstract: Systems and methods for rapidly finding detectable signals within the field-of-view of a phased array antenna. The transmit beam pattern is modified over time to increase signal spatial search performance over typical time-delay steering by producing a coarse-to-fine angular beam pattern with a tree-based approach to signal detection. A tree-based beam search is employed to select a beam having a narrower beamwidth for transmission at an angle from boresight that lies in an angular space where a signal has been previously detected.

Abstract: A system and a method that enable time transfer and position determination services during operation of a combined radar/communications system. One aspect of the method is broadcasting a signal that any system receiving it can use to synchronize system clocks to the set of master clocks among a selected subset of transmitting platforms. This broadcast signal can occur during both radar and communications operations. In addition, with three or more mobile or fixed platforms broadcasting the signal, any one receiving the signal can also derive position information. The time transfer and position determination service can operate at the same time as operation of both radar and communications functions. The broadcast information is derived from internal time and position information as determined by the individual transmitting platforms. A small set of such platforms are configured to broadcast signals that transfer both accurate time and accurate position to all other platforms within radiofrequency (RF) range.

Abstract: A collision avoidance system includes a monopulse radar antenna array of monopulse radar antenna segments mounted to a vehicle with respective fixed fields of view. Each monopulse radar antenna segment comprises a comparator network configured to form a sum signal representing a summation of return signals and a first difference signal representing a first difference of the return signals. The system further includes a user interface configured to present information in a form perceptible to a person operating the vehicle and a radar antenna array controller configured to calculate a range of the object and a first (azimuth) angle of arrival of the return signal from the object. The comparator network is further configured to form a second difference signal which the radar antenna array controller uses to calculate a second (elevation) angle of arrival.

Abstract: A series of sensors tags are designed to be attached to electric distribution lines and poles as well as high voltage transmission lines and towers. Each sensor tag contains an array of sensors that measure operational performance of the powerlines and supporting infrastructure and detect any anomalies in operation. The sensor tags also have wireless communication capability and communicate sensor data to a backhaul communication node. The backhaul communication node relays the sensor data, via cellular or satellite connection to a wide area network, such as the Internet. In one embodiment, performance data may be collected over a period of time and a profile established to indicate levels of normal operation and thresholds at which abnormal operation should be reported. If the sensor tag has a profile stored therein, it need only report sensor data when it exceeds some predetermined threshold defined in the profile.

Abstract: A system and a method that enable two or more dispersed platforms to simultaneously use respective frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar systems in a typical radar application such as synthetic-aperture radar for terrain mapping, moving-target indicator radar to track targets on the ground and air-to-air tracking of other aircraft. The systems use the same RF spectrum in their operation and also communicate through their respective radar systems while simultaneously reducing their interplatform interference through the use of both filters and coded waveforms.

Abstract: Efficient and low-latency cueing means for initiating and updating a process of signal detection and separation in a wideband receiver. The method uses an array of IIR filters that feed an inverted state tree. The inverted state tree provides the directions for separating, detecting, and tracking multiple simultaneous signals that are being received. These signals could be either radar or communications signals and are of widely differing frequencies, bandwidths, and other characteristics. The directions are sent by the cueing system to a set of tunable tracking filters and continuously updated so that the set of tracking filters produce noise-reduced, separated signals on their outputs representing the various simultaneous incoming signals.

Abstract: A system having a set of common hardware and common signal processing together with a common waveform family that can be used to achieve both efficient radar and efficient communications functions. The system includes a common radar/communications transmitter having a transmission antenna and a combined radar and communications receiver having a common reception antenna. The common radar/communications transmitter is configured to transmit combined radar/communications waveform-modulated signals comprising symbols, each symbol consisting of an up chirp and a down chirp. The combined radar and communications receiver includes a baseband radar signal processing module configured to estimate range and range rate of a radar object from the received symbols and a baseband communications signal processing module configured to detect slopes and initial phases of the up and down chirps of each received symbol.

Abstract: Systems and methods for forming optimized transmit or receive beams using an array antenna. A parallelized beam forming algorithm is employed that allows the beam to be optimized to increase performance over typical time-delay beam steering. The parallelized beam forming optimization algorithm is based on a limited-memory Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno algorithm with bound constraints. Using a matrix form of both the beam and beam gradient functions allows parallel optimization through beam matching against a designed target beam. Because the optimization is both efficient and parallelizable, beams may be optimized beams in real time. Hence the optimization technique may be implemented directly as part of a beam steering controller.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rapidly finding detectable signals within the field-of-view of a phased array antenna. The transmit beam pattern is modified over time to increase signal spatial search performance over typical time-delay steering by producing a coarse-to-fine angular beam pattern with a tree-based approach to signal detection. A tree-based beam search is employed to select a beam having a narrower beamwidth for transmission at an angle from boresight that lies in an angular space where a signal has been previously detected.

Abstract: An articulated positioning assembly includes a first support channel and a second support channel coupled together using a joint assembly having a plurality of degrees of freedom of movement. A magnetic coupling assembly is coupled to the first support channel and is configured to couple the first support channel to a support surface of a plurality of support surfaces. A light fixture comprising a plurality of individual point light sources is coupled to the second support channel and configured to generate a light field over a work area.

Abstract: A system and a method that enable time transfer and position determination services during operation of a combined radar/communications system. One aspect of the method is broadcasting a signal that any system receiving it can use to synchronize system clocks to the set of master clocks among a selected subset of transmitting platforms. This broadcast signal can occur during both radar and communications operations. In addition, with three or more mobile or fixed platforms broadcasting the signal, any one receiving the signal can also derive position information. The time transfer and position determination service can operate at the same time as operation of both radar and communications functions. The broadcast information is derived from internal time and position information as determined by the individual transmitting platforms. A small set of such platforms are configured to broadcast signals that transfer both accurate time and accurate position to all other platforms within radiofrequency (RF) range.

Abstract: A system and a method that enable two or more dispersed platforms to simultaneously use respective frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar systems in a typical radar application such as synthetic-aperture radar for terrain mapping, moving-target indicator radar to track targets on the ground and air-to-air tracking of other aircraft. The systems use the same RF spectrum in their operation and also communicate through their respective radar systems while simultaneously reducing their interplatform interference through the use of both filters and coded waveforms.

Abstract: A signal power detection method is fused with a double-difference phase modulation detection method to provide a higher-performance method of pulse detection for any digital receiver. The first pulse detection technique uses a signal power threshold. When the square of the magnitude of a pulse crosses the signal power threshold, the beginning of a pulse is declared and pulse processing starts. The second pulse detection technique is model based and uses a windowed detector that crosses a phase difference threshold when the pulse has consistent second-order (in general d-th order) difference phase values within the window. The first technique has low latency and is independent of pulse width, but only operates well at SNR values greater than 15 dB. The second technique has higher latency and requires a minimum pulse width, but operates at lower (approximately 0 dB) SNR values.

Abstract: An air cleaner arrangement or assembly is provided. The air cleaner arrangement includes a serviceable filter cartridge. The air cleaner assembly also includes an arrangement for positioning the filter cartridge into a preferred, sealing, orientation and for securing the filter cartridge in that location. Preferred serviceable filter cartridges are provided, as well as methods of assembly and use.

Abstract: An air cleaner arrangement or assembly is provided. The air cleaner arrangement includes a serviceable filter cartridge. The air cleaner assembly also includes an arrangement for positioning the filter cartridge into a preferred, sealing, orientation and for securing the filter cartridge in that location. Preferred serviceable filter cartridges are provided, as well as methods of assembly and use.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for frameless random-access image sensing. Instructions identifying a pixel detector in an array of pixel detectors and integration instructions for the pixel detector may be received by an image detector controller. Integration by the pixel detector may be controlled as defined by the integration instructions to generate pixel data by the pixel detector. The pixel data may be read from the pixel detector.

Abstract: An articulated positioning assembly includes a first support channel and a second support channel coupled together using a joint assembly having a plurality of degrees of freedom of movement. A magnetic coupling assembly is coupled to the first support channel and is configured to couple the first support channel to a support surface of a plurality of support surfaces. A light fixture comprising a plurality of individual point light sources is coupled to the second support channel and configured to generate a light field over a work area.

Abstract: A system having a set of common hardware and common signal processing together with a common waveform family that can be used to achieve both efficient radar and efficient communications functions. The system includes a common radar/communications transmitter having a transmission antenna and a combined radar and communications receiver having a common reception antenna. The common radar/communications transmitter is configured to transmit combined radar/communications waveform-modulated signals comprising symbols, each symbol consisting of an up chirp and a down chirp. The combined radar and communications receiver includes a baseband radar signal processing module configured to estimate range and range rate of a radar object from the received symbols and a baseband communications signal processing module configured to detect slopes and initial phases of the up and down chirps of each received symbol.

Abstract: A method and system for an area illumination device includes a support channel includes a power supply end, a first coupling end, and a first elongate body extending therebetween. A surface mounting assembly is fixedly coupled to the support channel and is configured to removably engage a first support surface of a plurality of support surfaces. A light arm includes a second coupling end, a fixture end, and a second elongate body extending therebetween. A main joint assembly is operably coupled to the first coupling end and the second coupling end and includes a plurality of degrees of freedom of motion. A light fixture includes a plurality of individual light sources coupled to the fixture end through a fixture joint assembly having at least two degrees of freedom of movement.

Abstract: A universal nonlinear variable delay filter includes a first mixer configured to convert an input signal to an up-converted signal including a frequency corresponding to a selected time delay. The input signal includes an original frequency. The variable delay filter also includes a nonlinear filter that filters the up-converted signal and generates a delayed signal that is delayed by the selected time delay. The variable delay filter further includes a second mixer configured to convert the delayed signal to a down-converted signal including a frequency substantially equal to the original frequency.