Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to integrating a positioning or timing solution from an alternative position, navigation, or timing (PNT) system into a satellite-based-navigation system are described herein. The PNT system generates a position/timing (P/T) solution that indicates a current position or current time of the PNT system. The P/T solution is provided as input to a simulation of a satellite constellation of the satellite-based-navigation system, and a constellation signal is generated based on the simulation and the P/T solution. The constellation signal is formatted according to a navigation signal format of the satellite-based-navigation system such that when the constellation signal is provided to a receiver of the satellite-based-navigation system, the receiver computes a P/T solution that indicates the current position or the current time identified by the PNT system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for depositing a material on a surface. In accordance with the method a stream of a component material is formed having formed printing and non-printing droplets and satellite droplets of the material. The stream is directed at the surface. A deflecting energy is applied to separate printing droplets from non-printing droplets in the stream, so that only printing droplets travel to the surface. The deflecting energy is adapted to direct non-printing droplets for non-printing drop collection, and to direct at least a portion of the satellite droplets to be controlled in a manner adapted to prevent the material in the satellite droplets from reaching the surface, so that less than all of the material in the satellite droplets reaches the surface. Articles are also provided having limited satellite material.

Abstract: An antenna comprises electrical conductors arranged to form a radiating element including a folded line configuration and a distributed strip configuration, where the radiating element can be in proximity to a ground conductor and/or arranged as a dipole. Embodiments of the antenna include conductor patterns formed on a printed wiring board, having a ground plane, spacedly adjacent to and coplanar with the radiating element. An antenna can comprise a distributed strip patterned on a printed wiring board, integrated with electronic components mounted on top of or below the distributed strip, and substantially within the extents of the distributed strip. Mounting of electronic components on top of or below the distributed strip has little effect on the performance of the antenna, and allows for realizing the combination of the antenna and integrated components in a compact form.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, there is disclosed a printed circuit board having a surface providing a mating interface to which is electrically connected an electrical connector having signal conductors and ground conductors. The printed circuit board includes a plurality of stacked dielectric layers, with a conductor disposed on at least one of the plurality of dielectric layers. The mating interface includes a plurality of conductive vias aligned in a plurality of rows, with the plurality of conductive vias extending through at least a portion of the plurality of dielectric layers, at least one of the plurality of conductive vias intersecting the conductor. The plurality of conductive vias includes signal conductor connecting conductive vias and ground conductor connecting conductive vias.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for depositing a material on a surface. In accordance with the method a stream of a component material is formed having formed printing and non-printing droplets and satellite droplets of the material. The stream is directed at the surface. A deflecting energy is applied to separate printing droplets from non-printing droplets in the stream, so that only printing droplets travel to the surface. The deflecting energy is adapted to direct non-printing droplets for non-printing drop collection, and to direct at least a portion of the satellite droplets to be controlled in a manner adapted to prevent the material in the satellite droplets from reaching the surface, so that less than all of the material in the satellite droplets reaches the surface. Articles are also provided having limited satellite material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for depositing a material on a surface. In accordance with the method a stream of a component material is formed having formed printing and non-printing droplets and satellite droplets of the material. The stream is directed at the surface. A deflecting energy is applied to separate printing droplets from non-printing droplets in the stream, so that only printing droplets travel to the surface. The deflecting energy is adapted to direct non-printing droplets for non-printing drop collection, and to direct at least a portion of the satellite droplets to be controlled in a manner adapted to prevent the material in the satellite droplets from reaching the surface, so that less than all of the material in the satellite droplets reaches the surface. Articles are also provided having limited satellite material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for depositing a material on a surface. In accordance with the method a stream of a component material is formed having formed printing and non-printing droplets and satellite droplets of the material. The stream is directed at the surface. A deflecting energy is applied to separate printing droplets from non-printing droplets in the stream, so that only printing droplets travel to the surface. The deflecting energy is adapted to direct non-printing droplets for non-printing drop collection, and to direct at least a portion of the satellite droplets to be controlled in a manner adapted to prevent the material in the satellite droplets from reaching the surface, so that less than all of the material in the satellite droplets reaches the surface. Articles are also provided having limited satellite material.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical compensator (5) on a transitional substrate (8) comprises applying a first orientation layer (20) to the transitional substrate. The first orientation layer (20) is then aligned and a first anisotropic liquid crystal material (30) is applied on the first orientation layer. In one embodiment, a retardation layer (10) is located between the transitional substrate (8) and the first orientation layer (20).

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for depositing a material on a surface. In accordance with the method a stream of a component material is formed having formed printing and non-printing droplets and satellite droplets of the material. The stream is directed at the surface. A deflecting energy is applied to separate printing droplets from non-printing droplets in the stream, so that only printing droplets travel to the surface. The deflecting energy is adapted to direct non-printing droplets for non-printing drop collection, and to direct at least a portion of the satellite droplets to be controlled in a manner adapted to prevent the material in the satellite droplets from reaching the surface, so that less than all of the material in the satellite droplets reaches the surface. Articles are also provided having limited satellite material.

Abstract: Disclosed optical compensator for a liquid crystal display and process comprising a transparent polymeric support, an orientation layer, and an optically anisotropic layer comprising a nematic liquid crystal, in order, wherein the anisotropic layer contains a colorless polymer having a weight average molecular weight that is greater that the entanglement molecular weight of the polymer. The uniformity and quality of this film is enhanced by the addition of a high molecular weight polymer.

Abstract: A process for making an optical compensator, comprising the steps of coating a orientable resin in a solvent onto a support; drying the resin-containing coating; orienting the resin-containing layer in a predetermined direction; coating a nematic liquid-crystal compound in a solvent carrier onto the orientation layer; drying the nematic liquid-crystal-containing coating; thermally treating the nematic liquid-crystal compound layer, cooling the nematic liquid-crystal compound layer, polymerizing or curing the anisotropic nematic liquid-crystalline layer to form an integral component; and optionally repeating the above steps on top of the integral component so that the optical axis of the first anisotropic nematic liquid-crystal layer is positioned orthogonally relative to the respective optical axis of the second anisotropic nematic liquid-crystal layer about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the support.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrical connector assembly having a first electrical connector mateable to a second electrical connector. In one embodiment, the first electrical connector includes a plurality of wafers, with each wafer having an insulative housing, a plurality of signal conductors and a shield plate. A portion of the shield plate is exposed so that a conductive member can electrically connect the shield plates of the wafers at the exposed portion of the shield plate. In one embodiment, the second electrical connector includes an insulative housing, and a plurality of signal conductors and ground conductors in a plurality of rows. Each row corresponds to a wafer of the first electrical connector. Each signal conductor has a contact tail and each ground conductors has two contact tails.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed an electrical connector connectable to a printed circuit board, the electrical connector having an insulative housing including side walls and a base. The electrical connector also includes signal conductors and ground conductors. Each of the signal conductors and ground conductors has a first contact end connectable to the printed circuit board, a second contact end, and an intermediate portion therebetween that is disposed in the base of the insulative housing. The signal conductors and the ground conductors are arranged in a plurality of rows, with each row having signal conductors and ground conductors. For each of the plurality of rows, there is a corresponding ground strip positioned adjacent thereto disposed in the base of the insulative housing. And the ground strip is electrically connected to the ground conductors of the row.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical compensator (5) on a transitional substrate (8) comprises applying a first orientation layer (20) to the transitional substrate. The first orientation layer (20) is then aligned and a first anisotropic liquid crystal material (30) is applied on the first orientation layer. In one embodiment, a retardation layer (10) is located between the transitional substrate (8) and the first orientation layer (20).

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical compensator and process for a liquid crystal display comprising a transparent polymeric support, an orientation layer, and an optically anisotropic layer, in order, and optionally, other layers, wherein a chemically bound surfactant is contained in at least one layer. The uniformity and quality of the film is enhanced by the use of a chemically bound surfactant in a layer.

Abstract: A method of full-duplex electromagnetic communication wherein a pair of data modulation formats are selected for the forward and return data links respectively such that the forward data electro-magnetic beam serves as a carrier for the return data. A method of encoding optical information is used wherein right-hand and left-hand circular polarizations are assigned to optical information to represent binary states. An application for an earth to low earth orbit optical communications system is presented which implements the full-duplex communication and circular polarization keying modulation format.

Abstract: Disclosed optical compensator for a liquid crystal display comprising a transparent polymeric support, an orientation layer, and an optically anisotropic layer comprising a nematic liquid crystal, in order, wherein the anisotropic layer contains a colorless polymer having a weight average molecular weight that is greater that the entanglement molecular weight of the polymer. The uniformity and quality of this film is enhanced by the addition of a high molecular weight polymer.

Abstract: A process for making an optical compensator, comprising the steps of coating a orientable resin in a solvent onto a support; drying the resin-containing coating; orienting the resin-containing layer in a predetermined direction; coating a nematic liquid-crystal compound in a solvent carrier onto the orientation layer; drying the nematic liquid-crystal-containing coating; thermally treating the nematic liquid-crystal compound layer, cooling the nematic liquid-crystal compound layer, polymerizing or curing the anisotropic nematic liquid-crystalline layer to form an integral component; and optionally repeating the above steps on top of the integral component so that the optical axis of the first anisotropic nematic liquid-crystal layer is positioned orthogonally relative to the respective optical axis of the second anisotropic nematic liquid-crystal layer about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the support.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical compensator film for a liquid crystal display and a process for forming the film comprising the steps of (1) coating an anisotropic layer containing liquid crystal prepolymer materials and an organic solvent system that is both miscible with said materials and has a weight average boiling point of from 85 to 130° C. and subsequently (2) drying the layer. The compensator widens the viewing angle characteristics of liquid crystal displays and is readily manufactured with improved quality and uniformity of coated layers.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical compensator for a liquid crystal display comprising a transparent polymer support, a photo-alignment layer, an anisotropic layer comprising a nematic liquid crystal, and located between the support and the photo-alignment layer, an impermeable barrier layer. The invention also provides a process for making such compensators.