Abstract: An active infrared sensor may include an imaging infrared sensor to provide an output signal conveying time-sequential infrared images of a scene which includes a subject, a beam generator to generate a millimeter wave energy beam, and a processor. An initial infrared image of the scene may be stored in a memory. After storing the initial infrared image, the beam generator may illuminate the subject with the millimeter wave energy beam. A temperature change across the subject due to the millimeter wave energy beam may be estimated based on the output signal and the stored initial infrared image. The beam generator may stop illuminating the subject when a highest temperature change across the subject is at least equal to a predetermined temperature change limit.

Abstract: Embodiments of a target tracking system and method with jitter reduction suitable for directed energy systems are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the directed energy system includes a target tracking system to track one or more track points on a moving target, and a beam transmission unit to maintain a directed energy beam on a selected one of the track points in response to tracking control signals provided by the target tracking system. The track points may be smaller than a spot size of the directed energy beam maintained on the target.

Abstract: Embodiments of a target tracking system and method with jitter reduction suitable for directed energy systems are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the directed energy system includes a target tracking system to track one or more track points on a moving target, and a beam transmission unit to maintain a directed energy beam on a selected one of the track points in response to tracking control signals provided by the target tracking system. The track points may be smaller than a spot size of the directed energy beam maintained on the target.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a phased array system. The phased array system may include an array structural frame defining an array of module-receiving mounting locations. The phased array system may further include multiple array modules. Each array module may be adapted to be mounted in one of the mounting locations, and may include an antenna and a power source. The power source may supply power to the array module during an array transmit operation.

Abstract: An active infrared sensor may include an imaging infrared sensor to provide an output signal conveying time-sequential infrared images of a scene which includes a subject, a beam generator to generate a millimeter wave energy beam, and a processor. An initial infrared image of the scene may be stored in a memory. After storing the initial infrared image, the beam generator may illuminate the subject with the millimeter wave energy beam. A temperature change across the subject due to the millimeter wave energy beam may be estimated based on the output signal and the stored initial infrared image. The beam generator may stop illuminating the subject when a highest temperature change across the subject is at least equal to a predetermined temperature change limit.

Abstract: A safeguard system ensures device operation in conformance with governing laws for devices such as directed energy weapons or surveillance systems, whose misuse may discomfort, harm or otherwise violate the legal rights of a person. A legal protocol is defined by rules embodying the laws that govern the use of the device and requires as inputs an authorization to use the device and input condition(s) relating to at least one of a use of the device, an attribute of a human target of the device and an operational environment of the device and human target. The safeguard system applies the rules to the authorization and input condition(s) to generate a control signal that ensures the device is used in conformance with the legal protocol. A documentation system records the authorization, input condition(s) applied rules, and control signal.

Abstract: A safeguard system ensures device operation in conformance with governing laws for devices such as directed energy weapons or surveillance systems, whose misuse may discomfort, harm or otherwise violate the legal rights of a person. A legal protocol is defined by rules embodying the laws that govern the use of the device and requires as inputs an authorization to use the device and input condition(s) relating to at least one of a use of the device, an attribute of a human target of the device and an operational environment of the device and human target. The safeguard system applies the rules to the authorization and input condition(s) to generate a control signal that ensures the device is used in conformance with the legal protocol. A documentation system records the authorization, input condition(s) applied rules, and control signal.

Abstract: A surface-heating system heats a surface with a high-power wavefront at a millimeter-wave frequency. The high-power wavefront may be a collimated wavefront or a converging or diverging wavefront. In some embodiments, the system includes a frequency generator to generate a lower-power millimeter-wave frequency signal, and an active-array antenna system to amplify the millimeter-wave frequency and generate the high-power wavefront in a direction of a surface for heating the surface. In other embodiments, a frequency generator and power amplifier may generate a high-power power millimeter-wave frequency signal, and a passive-array antenna system may provide the high-power wavefront in a direction of the surface. In some embodiments, a thermal-sensing subsystem may measure the surface temperature and generate a control signal to maintain the surface temperature within a predetermined temperature range.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a phased array system. The phased array system may include an array structural frame defining an array of module-receiving mounting locations. The phased array system may further include multiple array modules. Each array module may be adapted to be mounted in one of the mounting locations, and may include an antenna and a power source. The power source may supply power to the array module during an array transmit operation.

Abstract: Embodiments of High-Power Millimeter-Wave Oscillators are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, the oscillator includes a polarized partial reflector to at least partially reflect back signals to a reflection array amplifier to help induce oscillation by individual sub-array amplifier elements of the reflection array amplifier. In some other embodiments, the oscillator includes a phase-graded polarization-sensitive reflection plate to at least partially reflect back signals to the reflection array amplifier to help induce an oscillation by the sub-array amplifier elements. In some embodiments, the oscillator includes a reflector and a phase-graded polarized reflection-transmission plate to at least partially pass through signals to the reflector for reflection back to the reflection array amplifier to help induce an oscillation by the sub-array amplifier elements.

Abstract: An oscillator. In the illustrative embodiment, the oscillator includes an ortho-mode feed; a reflective amplifier array adapted to be illuminated by the feed with an input wavefront with a first polarization and to return thereto an amplified wavefront with a second polarization orthogonal to the first wavefront; and a partially reflective plate disposed between the feed and the amplifier. The inventive oscillator provides a Fabry-Perot cavity between the feed and the plate. In the illustrative embodiment, the plate is a polarized plate. The plate may have surfaces with dissimilar polarizations and/or curvatures. The amplifier may be phase locked by an ortho-mode converter or other arrangement.

Abstract: An amplifier including a monolithic semiconductor substrate and an array disposed on said substrate for coherently receiving and retransmitting electromagnetic energy. The array is implemented with a plurality of cells. Each of the cells includes a dual polarization antenna structure for receiving electromagnetic energy and an amplifier connected thereto. The amplifier may include an ortho-mode feed and a reflective amplifier array adapted to be illuminated by the feed with an input wavefront with a first polarization and to return thereto an amplified wavefront with a second polarization orthogonal to the first wavefront. First and second shaped mirrors may be incorporated for illuminating the array with a planar wavefront and converting the reflected planar wavefront to a spherical wavefront.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a cargo container. The novel system (100) includes a sensor module (10) mounted in each target area (20) and a central monitoring system (40). Each sensor module (10) includes one or more sensors (22) and a transceiver (28) for transmitting data from the sensors to the central monitoring system (40). The central monitoring system (40) includes a transceiver (44) for receiving the data from all sensor modules (10) and a local master processor (46) for processing and analyzing the data. In the preferred embodiment, each transceiver (28) is capable of receiving and retransmitting signals of other sensor modules to relay signals of a particular sensor module (10) in a daisy chain fashion to and from the central monitoring system (40).

Abstract: An apparatus includes a microwave source that produces a microwave feed beam, and a first pair of microwave sensors that each intercept and receive a portion of the microwave feed beam. The two microwave sensors are spaced apart from each other along a first-pair axis. A first phase-comparison device has as it inputs the output signals of the two microwave sensors, and as an output a first phase comparison of the first-sensor output signal and the second-sensor output signal. A first geometrical calculator has as an input the first phase comparison and as an output a geometrical relationship of the first-pair axis to an other feature. This geometrical relationship output may be used to generate a control signal that is used to alter the geometrical relationship. There may be additional microwave sensors operating in a similar manner but spaced to provide information for other geometrical axes or allow improvements in geometrical measurements.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a cargo container. The novel system (100) includes a sensor module (10) mounted in each target area (20) and a central monitoring system (40). Each sensor module (10) includes one or more sensors (22) and a transceiver (28) for transmitting data from the sensors to the central monitoring system (40). The central monitoring system (40) includes a transceiver (44) for receiving the data from all sensor modules (10) and a local master processor (46) for processing and analyzing the data. In the preferred embodiment, each transceiver (28) is capable of receiving and retransmitting signals of other sensor modules to relay signals of a particular sensor module (10) in a daisy chain fashion to and from the central monitoring system (40).

Abstract: An amplifier. In the illustrative embodiment, the amplifier includes a monolithic semiconductor substrate and an array disposed on said substrate for coherently receiving and retransmitting electromagnetic energy. In a specific embodiment, the array is implemented with a plurality of cells. Each of the cells includes a dual polarization antenna structure for receiving electromagnetic energy and an amplifier connected thereto. A reflective mode implementation of the present teachings includes an amplifier comprising an ortho-mode feed and a reflective amplifier array adapted to be illuminated by the feed with an input wavefront with a first polarization and to return thereto an amplified wavefront with a second polarization orthogonal to the first wavefront. Another novel aspect of the invention derives from the provision of first and second mirrors dual shaped mirrors for illuminating the array with a planar wavefront and converting the reflected planar wavefront to a spherical wavefront.

Abstract: A monolithic semiconductor power device. The device is designed to produce high energy density and high power level RF/Millimeter wave radiation using the quasi-optical spatial power of an array (100) of small amplifiers (200) on a solid state wafer (300). Each cell (200) of the array (100) contains a reflection amplifier (206) that receives radiation and retransmits the signal back into the approximate same direction from which it was received. The radiation exiting from the array (100) is physically like a reflection that has been modified by the individual amplifier's characteristics. The exiting amplified radiation leaves the array (100) as a coherent wave front (110). The individual amplifier elements are fabricated on a monolithic solid state wafer (300). Rather than being diced into individual amplifiers, the elements are electrically connected together with proper biases and ground levels on the actual solid state wafer.

Abstract: A microwave antenna and light tracking system includes a microwave antenna, a microwave source, a light sensor, and a beam-guide system. The beam-guide system has a mirror set with at least one guide microwave mirror operable to guide a microwave beam along a first portion of a microwave path toward the antenna. Each microwave mirror has embedded therein a light mirror positioned to direct a light beam along a first portion of a light path substantially coincident with the first portion of the microwave path but in a reverse direction from the antenna. The beam-guide system further includes a dichroic beam splitter including a dichroic beam splitter microwave mirror having a light-transparent window therethrough. The dichroic beam splitter is disposed in a second portion of the microwave path between the mirror set and the microwave transmit/receive device and in a second portion of the light path between the mirror set and the light sensor.

Abstract: A high-power wideband transformer (40). The transformer (40) includes a first input terminal (42) connected in parallel to one or more conductor paths (50 and 52) and to a first output conductor (48). A second input terminal (44) is connected in parallel to the one or more conductor paths (50 and 52) and to a second output conductor (54). An inductive device (56, 60, 64, 58, 62, and 66) effects electrical coupling between the one or more conductor paths (50 and 52) and the first output conductor (48) and between the one or more conductor paths (50 and 52) and the second output conductor (54) sufficient to implement a desired transformer ratio from input of the transformer (40) to output of the transformer (40) via approximately colinear wires (56, 60, and 64). In a first illustrative embodiment, the co-linear wires (56, 60, and 64) are parallel wires placed sufficiently close to effect the electrical coupling. The transformer 40 effects a nine-to-one transformer ratio.

Abstract: A broadband, high power balun which includes plural sets of first and second coaxial cables. Each cable has a center conductor and a shield conductor. Each shield conductor of each cable within each set is connected to a shield conductor of the other coaxial cable of the set. The first input lead is connected to a first end of a center conductor of a first coaxial cable of each set. The second input lead is connected to a first end of a center conductor of a second coaxial cable of each set. A second end of a center conductor of a first coaxial cable of a set of coaxial cables provides an output lead for the balun. A second end of a center conductor of a second coaxial cable of a set of coaxial cables provides an output lead for the balun. A second end of each remaining center conductor of each coaxial cable of each set of coaxial cables is connected to a second end of a center conductor of a coaxial cable of another set of coaxial cables.