Abstract: A laser crosslink apparatus includes an optical device (212, FIG. 5), a beam splitter (512), an acquisition channel and a tracking and communication channel. The acquisition channel includes a high density optical fiber bundle and an acquisition channel device (510). The optical device (212) receives laser light from a wide field of view, and the beam splitter (512) splits the light into the two channels. The high density optical fiber bundle (204) has one end (206) in a focal plane of the optical device, and another end (208) coupled to the acquisition channel device (510). The acquisition channel device (510) includes an optical receiver array (400, FIG. 4). The location of spot footprints on the optical receiver array determines the direction from which the laser light is received within the wide field of view.

Abstract: An optical interconnect system (100) includes an array of optical sources (102), a high-density fiber bundle (110), and an array of optical receivers (150). The density of the fiber bundle is such that each optical source (104) couples light to multiple fibers within the bundle. The fiber bundle has a consistent cross section along its length so that the footprint of fibers (306, FIG. 3) illuminated by a spot (304) from an optical source illuminates a similar footprint (404, FIG. 4) over the optical receivers (406). The optical receiver array has a density of optical receivers such that the footprint of fibers corresponding to a single optical source illuminates at least one optical receiver. A method (600, FIG. 6) for creating optical source/receiver pairs excites each optical source in turn and detects energy at the optical receiver array.

Abstract: A planar array antenna for use with an earth-based subscriber unit generates receive or transmit communications beams through the use of digital beamforming networks (210, 211) which provide beam steering in a first dimension. In another dimension, the communications beams are synthesized by way of a waveguide structure (300, FIG. 3) which is repeated for each row of the antenna array. The waveguide outputs are weighted due to the positioning of coupling slots (350) or coupling probes (450) which transfer carrier signals to and from each waveguide. The slots or coupling probes from the waveguides are coupled to a group of barium strontium titanate (BST) (360, FIG. 3) or micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) switch (460, FIG. 4) phase shift elements which are under the control of a control network (221, 222, FIG. 2). The resulting signals are radiated by the antenna elements of the planar antenna array (310, FIG. 3) to form a communications beam.

Abstract: An enhanced digital beamformer (EDBF) (210, FIG. 2) is provided for use in a transceiver subsystem (200, FIG. 2) for mitigating interference and increasing the frequency reuse factor in communication systems. The EDBF is used to produce wide nulls (520, FIG. 5) in at least one steerable antenna beam pattern. By directing wide nulls at undesired signals, the EDBF provides a more efficient processing of antenna beam patterns in communication systems. The EDBF is used in geostationary satellites, non-geostationary satellites, and terrestrial communication devices. The EDBF combines a unique algorithm, a special processor, and an array antenna to significantly improve the capacity of current and future communication systems, while remaining compatible with existing modulation techniques.

Abstract: An rf transmitter (319) used with a single cell battery (101) includes a voltage boost circuit (211) integral with a class S amplifier (290). An rf signal to be amplified is separated into its envelope (amplitude) and phase components. The phase component is applied to the input of a power amplifier (260). The envelope is applied to a pulse width modulator (275) which is used to modulate the voltage supplied to the power amplifier (260). The pulse width modulator (275) controls electronic switches (285, 286) which are disposed between the single cell battery (101) and the primary of a step up transformer (211). The secondary of the transformer (211) is coupled to supply voltage to the power amplifier (260). In this manner, the class S amplifier is powered directly from the single cell battery, via a the transformer (211), and power consumption is substantially reduced due to the switching operation of the switches (285, 286).

Abstract: A system (10) and method delivers geolocation or other signals (26, 28) to a communication unit (24) located within an area (20) (e.g., a building) where an obstruction exists between the signal transmitter (12, 18) and the communication unit (24). The system (10) uses an infrastructure transceiver apparatus (14, 16, 22) to receive (204, 304, 604) the signals (26, 28) and retransmit (208, 310, 610) them within the area (20). A communication unit (24) calculates responsive data, such as its approximate position, from the retransmitted signals and reports (406, 704) the responsive data to a host system via the infrastructure transceiver apparatus (14, 16, 22).