Abstract: A system includes a generator and at least one device. The generator includes a waveform oscillator and a blanking pulse generator. Each device includes a transmit antenna, a receive antenna, an antenna unit, a mixer and a detector. The antenna unit includes a receiver coupled to the receive antenna, an amplifier coupled to the receiver and a transmitter coupled to the transmit antenna and the blanking pulse generator. The mixer has inputs coupled to the amplifier and the waveform oscillator. The detector is coupled to the mixer.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a voltage generator and a superstructure. The voltage generator includes a conductive base, an insulating spacer and a conductive top. The superstructure includes a platform and an antenna system. The voltage generator provides a voltage difference between the conductive base and the conductive top that is greater than 10,000 volts.

Abstract: An imaging system that uses a directed-energy device can include a directed-energy device configured to generate an excitation signal to impinge a region of interest of a target and excite elements therein and receive resonance signals emitted from the region of interest of the target after the excitation signal is terminated. The directed-energy device can include a charged particle generator configured to generate plural energized particles and a charge transformer configured to receive the plural energized particles that include charged particles from the charged particle generator and to output a wavefront including energized particles that include particles having substantially zero charge. The imaging system can also include plural gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet and configured to impress a polarizing magnetic field on a target and a communications interface.

Abstract: An antenna system includes plural antennas. Each antenna is different than every other antenna. Each antenna is characterized by a principal plane. A principal plane of a first antenna is oblique to a principal plane of a second antenna. The first antenna includes a first insulating substrate extending in the principal plane of the first antenna. The first antenna further includes a first radiating element and a connected first conductor and includes a second radiating element and a connected second conductor. The first antenna further includes a coupling conductor coupling the second radiating element and the first conductor. The first antenna further includes a first coupler having a first signal conductor and a second signal conductor. The first signal conductor is coupled to the second conductor, and the second signal conductor is coupled to the first radiating element.

Abstract: An antenna system includes plural antennas. Each antenna is different than every other antenna. Each antenna is characterized by a principal plane. A principal plane of a first antenna is oblique to a principal plane of a second antenna. The first antenna includes a first insulating substrate extending in the principal plane of the first antenna. The first antenna further includes a first radiating element and a connected first conductor and includes a second radiating element and a connected second conductor. The first antenna further includes a coupling conductor coupling the second radiating element and the first conductor. The first antenna further includes a first coupler having a first signal conductor and a second signal conductor. The first signal conductor is coupled to the second conductor, and the second signal conductor is coupled to the first radiating element.

Abstract: A system includes a generator and at least one device. The generator includes a waveform oscillator and a blanking pulse generator. Each device includes a transmit antenna, a receive antenna, an antenna unit, a mixer and a detector. The antenna unit includes a receiver coupled to the receive antenna, an amplifier coupled to the receiver and a transmitter coupled to the transmit antenna and the blanking pulse generator. The mixer has inputs coupled to the amplifier and the waveform oscillator. The detector is coupled to the mixer.

Abstract: An imaging system that uses a directed-energy device can include a directed-energy device configured to generate an excitation signal to impinge a region of interest of a target and excite elements therein and receive resonance signals emitted from the region of interest of the target after the excitation signal is terminated. The directed-energy device can include a charged particle generator configured to generate plural energized particles and a charge transformer configured to receive the plural energized particles that include charged particles from the charged particle generator and to output a wavefront including energized particles that include particles having substantially zero charge. The imaging system can also include plural gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet and configured to impress a polarizing magnetic field on a target and a communications interface.

Abstract: A wireless communications system can include a charged particle generator configured to generate plural energized particles and a charge transformer configured to receive the plural energized particles that include charged particles from the charged particle generator and to output energized particles that include particles having substantially zero charge. The charged particle generator can be configured to direct the plural energized particles through the charge transformer to propagate through free space until received by a broadband signal receiver that can demodulate a data signal to complete the data communication.

Abstract: A wireless identification system can include a directed-energy device configured as a reader. The reader can include a charged particle generator configured to generate energized particles and a charge transformer configured to receive the energized particles that include charged particles from the charged particle generator and to output a wavefront including energized particles that include particles having substantially zero charge. The system can also include an identification tag configured to be activated when impinged by the wavefront from the reader so as to transmit a signal configured to be used by the reader. A method of using a directed-energy device as a tag reader in a wireless identification system can include generating a wavefront that includes particles at substantially zero charge, impinging an identification tag with the wavefront so as to activate the identification tag so as to send a signal and detecting a signal transmitted by the identification tag.

Abstract: A method for generating a highly permeable stable broadband wavefront includes generating a modulated photon wave associated with a modulated data signal, the modulated photon wave comprising plural energized particles, directing the modulated photon wave to an incident surface of a charge transformer and transforming the plural energized particles within the charge transformer. The transformed particles are at substantially zero charge. The method also includes generating a wavefront at an exit surface of the charge transformer including the transformed particles at substantially zero charge.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a voltage generator and a superstructure. The voltage generator includes a conductive base, an insulating spacer and a conductive top. The superstructure includes a platform and an antenna system. The voltage generator provides a voltage difference between the conductive base and the conductive top that is greater than 10,000 volts.

Abstract: An antenna system includes plural antennas. Each antenna is different than every other antenna. Each antenna is characterized by a principal plane. A principal plane of a first antenna is oblique to a principal plane of a second antenna. The first antenna includes a first insulating substrate extending in the principal plane of the first antenna. The first antenna further includes a first radiating element and a connected first conductor and includes a second radiating element and a connected second conductor. The first antenna further includes a coupling conductor coupling the second radiating element and the first conductor. The first antenna further includes a first coupler having a first signal conductor and a second signal conductor. The first signal conductor is coupled to the second conductor, and the second signal conductor is coupled to the first radiating element.

Abstract: A portable fire extinguishing device capable of suppressing a fire in a room or other enclosed area comprises a housing containing a pyrotechnic composition and a delay fuze. Upon initiation, the pyrotechnic composition burns and generates combustion byproducts that include an inorganic halogen compound that is dispersed as a aerosol of fine particles, or a gas that rapidly condenses into an aerosol of fine particles, the particle size of which is so small that the free-fall velocity of the particles is less than the average air currents in the room. Accordingly, the fire suppression aerosol remains suspended for several hours to act as a fire suppressant and because of its persistence will seek out and suppress even hidden fires.

Abstract: A method allows for controlling the amount of electric current from an electrical circuit used by an electric motor in an electric motor driven reciprocating air compressor unit. A piston is reciprocated with a portable electric motor while air is channeled through an inlet into a compression cylinder, allowing the piston to draw on compressed amounts of air during each reciprocation. A valve mechanism is mounted to the inlet and is adjustable to a plurality of positions, each position allowing for one of a plurality of predeterminable amounts of air to be permitted to be drawn into the compression cylinder and compressed. The valve mechanism is manually adjusted to control the amount of air drawn into the compression cylinder and compressed by the piston to control the amount of electric current used by the electric motor.

Abstract: A check valve is for use in a fluid system. A valve body has an inlet end, a valve cavity, and an outlet end. A valve enables a valve assembly to control the flow of fluid therethrough. A plug of the valve assembly includes tapered and non-tapered sections, the tapered section having a cross section that increases in diameter in a direction that is downstream from the inlet end of the valve body. A sealing ring is mounted to reciprocate on the non-tapered section and an elastomeric actuation ring is mounted along the tapered section. The tapered section biases the actuation ring to a normal position, at which the actuation ring contacts and positions the sealing ring in contact with the valve body and the valve assembly to prevent fluid from flowing out the outlet end of the valve body.

Abstract: A jamming apparatus includes jamming control circuitry and plural antenna sets fed by the jamming control circuitry. A first antenna set includes first and second directional antennas directed along respective first and second main lobe directions that are parallel to one another. A second antenna set includes first and second omni antennas. In a particular example, the first and second directional antennas are mounted on a roof of a motor vehicle near a forward edge and are displaced from one another along a first lateral direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle. The longitudinal axis is parallel to each of the main lobe directions. The first and second omni antennas are mounted on the roof of the motor vehicle near a rearward edge and are displaced from one another along a second lateral direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve for exhausting pressure from a pressurized device, includes a valve body that has a first end and a second end, a chamber extending through the valve body, and a valve seat located within the valve body. A valve member comprises a piston and a stem, with the piston shaped so it can be mounted adjacent the valve seat. A spring is mounted within the chamber so as to bias the piston toward the valve seat. In one embodiment a valve cap includes a sidewall shaped to fit around the outside of the second end of the valve body and has a hole through which the stem extends. The valve cap is connected to said valve body in a manner that renders the valve substantially inoperable at the preselected pressure once the valve cap's position is changed. In another embodiment, the stem is a formable wire that extends through the valve body and stem is bent to enable the valve member to move within the valve body.

Abstract: A check valve includes a valve body having an inlet end through which air enters the valve and a valve cavity extending through the valve body and leading to an outlet end. A valve assembly is located at a position that enables control of the flow of air through the valve cavity. The valve assembly includes a tapered section having a cross section that increases in diameter in a direction that is downstream from the inlet end of the valve and which may be included as part of a plug. An elastomeric seal is mounted around the tapered section to reciprocate on the tapered section, with the tapered section biasing the elastomeric seal to a normal position at which the seal comes into sealing contact with both the valve body and tapered section to prevent the downstream flow of air from the inlet end out the outlet end.

Abstract: A reflector includes a conductive surface and a surface coating. The surface coating includes a binder and metal oxide grains embedded in the binder. The metal oxide grains include aluminum oxide that constitute up to 60% of the metal oxide by weight. A method of making a reflector includes forming a slurry, applying an electric field between a spray gun nozzle and the reflector, and spraying the slurry through the spray gun nozzle onto the reflector. The slurry contains metal oxide grains suspended in a binder.

Abstract: A fuel element made from highly compressed comminuted cellulose wastes, finely divided aluminum or magnesium and water. The element upon burning emits great quantities of heat due to the generation of hydrogen by reaction of the metal with the water (steam). In a preferred form of the invention, the element is coated with a layer of finely divided metal and has an external layer of paraffin.