Abstract: A high bandwidth, low latency middle-mile core communications network providing low-cost and high-speed communications among the users of the network. Embodiments of the invention include a number of network access points located at a number of spaced apart sites. At least some of these network access points in the network are in communication with each other via millimeter radio links with microwave backup links. In preferred embodiments the millimeter radio links include two millimeter radios, one transmitting in the frequency range of 71-76 GHz and receiving in the frequency range if 81 to 86 GHz and the other radio transmitting in the frequency range of 81-86 GHz and receiving in the frequency range if 71 to 76 GHz.

Abstract: A high bandwidth, low latency middle-mile core communications network providing low-cost and high-speed communications among the users of the network. Embodiments of the invention include a number of network access points located at a number of spaced apart sites. At least some of these network access points in the network are in communication with each other via millimeter radio links with microwave backup links. In preferred embodiments the millimeter radio links include two millimeter radios, one transmitting in the frequency range of 71-76 GHz and receiving in the frequency range if 81 to 86 GHz and the other radio transmitting in the frequency range of 81-86 GHz and receiving in the frequency range if 71 to 76 GHz. In these preferred embodiments each millimeter wave radio is equipped with an antenna designed to produce a millimeter wave beam with an angular spread of less than two degrees. A high-speed switch is located at each network access point.

Abstract: A disaster alert system and disaster alert devices for use in the system. Each disaster alert device includes a radio receiver, and a processor programmed to monitor radio transmissions from one or more central stations for disaster alerts directed to the location of the disaster alert device. Each alert device also includes an audio unit to alert personnel located at the site of the device to the precise nature of the disaster. The disaster alert devices are pre-programmed with information identifying the precise use location of the warning device. This use location information includes latitude and longitude of the use location and may also include other location information such as street address and zip code.

Abstract: A light-triggered tattoo process. A strong absorber of light energy and tattoo material are sandwiched under pressure between a skin region and a transparent window. Short pulses of light, at frequencies strongly absorbed by the strong absorber, illuminates the strong absorber through the window creating micro-explosions in the strong absorber that drive particles of the tattoo material into the skin region producing a tattoo.

Abstract: A wireless cellular communication system in which groups of cellular base stations communicate with a central office via a narrow-band millimeter wave trunk line. The transceivers are equipped with antennas providing beam divergence small enough to ensure efficient spatial and directional partitioning of the data channels so that an almost unlimited number of transceivers will be able to simultaneously use the same millimeter wave spectrum. In a preferred embodiment the trunk line communication link operates within the 92 to 95 GHz portion of the millimeter spectrum. A large number of base stations are each allocated a few MHz portion of a 900 MHz bandwidth of the millimeter wave trunk line. A first transceiver transmits at a first bandwidth and receives at a second bandwidth both within the above spectral range. A second transceiver transmits at the second bandwidth and receives at the first bandwidth.

Abstract: A wireless cellular communication system in which groups of cellular base stations communicate with a central office via a narrow-band millimeter wave trunk line. The transceivers are equipped with antennas providing beam divergence small enough to ensure efficient spatial and directional partitioning of the data channels so that an almost unlimited number of transceivers will be able to simultaneously use the same millimeter wave spectrum. In a preferred embodiment the trunk line communication link operates within the 92 to 95 GHz portion of the millimeter spectrum. A large number of base stations are each allocated a few MHz portion of a 900 MHz bandwidth of the millimeter wave trunk line. A first transceiver transmits at a first bandwidth and receives at a second bandwidth both within the above spectral range. A second transceiver transmits at the second bandwidth and receives at the first bandwidth.

Abstract: A point-to-point, wireless, millimeter wave trunk line communications link at high data rates in excess of 1 Gbps and at ranges of several miles during normal weather conditions. This link is combined with an Ethernet network to provide high speed digital data communication among a large number of users. In a preferred embodiment a trunk line communication link operates within the 92 to 95 GHz portion of the millimeter spectrum. A first transceiver transmits at a first bandwidth and receives at a second bandwidth both within the above spectral range. A second transceiver transmits at the second bandwidth and receives at the first bandwidth. The transceivers are equipped with antennas providing beam divergence small enough to ensure efficient spatial and directional partitioning of the data channels so that an almost unlimited number of transceivers will be able to simultaneously use the same spectrum.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aligning the antennas of two transceivers of a point-to-point wireless millimeter wave communications link. A narrow band oscillator power source is substituted for the signal transmitting electronics associated with a first antenna and a power detector is substituted for the signal receiving electronics associated with a second antenna. In preferred embodiments after a first alignment procedure is performed, the procedure is repeated with an oscillator power source connected to the second antenna and a power detector connected to the first antenna. In other preferred embodiments the antennas are pre-aligned using a signaling mirror or a narrow beam search light or laser. After the antennas are aligned the transceiver electronics are reconnected. In preferred embodiments the communication link operates within the 92 to 95 GHz portion of the millimeter spectrum and provides data transmission rates in excess of 155 Mbps.

Abstract: Equipment and methods for aligning the antennas of two transceivers of a point-to-point wireless millimeter wave communications link and keeping them aligned. Each of two communicating antennas is equipped with a telescopic camera connected to a processor programmed to recognize landscape images. The processors are programmed to remember the pattern of the landscape as it appears when the antennas are aligned. Each of the cameras then view the landscape periodically or continuously and if the landscape in view changes by more than a predetermined amount a signal is provided to indicate a misalignment. An operator can then take corrective action or alternatively the antenna system can be configured for remote or automatic realignment based of feedback from the camera.

Abstract: A point-to-point, wireless, millimeter wave communications link providing data transmission rates of over 1 billion bits per second (more than 1 Gbps) at ranges of several miles during normal weather conditions. In a preferred embodiment a communication link operates within the 92 to 95 GHz portion of the millimeter spectrum. A first transceiver transmits at a first bandwidth and receives at a second bandwidth both within the above spectral range. A second transceiver transmits at the second bandwidth and receives at the first bandwidth. The transceivers are equipped with antennas providing divergence of less than 10−4 steradians so that an almost unlimited number of transceivers can use the same spectrum. In a preferred embodiment the first and second spectral ranges are 92.3-93.2 GHz and 94.1-95.0 GHz. During very bad weather conditions this data link will not provide a 10−10 bit-error rate and 99.999% availability.

Abstract: A point-to-point, wireless, millimeter wave communications links equipped with tracking antennas to maintain pencil beam contact between the links. In a preferred embodiment the communication links operate within the 92 to 95 GHz portion of the millimeter spectrum and provides data transmission rates in excess of 155 Mbps. A first transceiver transmits at a first bandwidth and receives at a second bandwidth both within the above spectral range. A second transceiver transmits at the second bandwidth and receives at the first bandwidth. The transceivers are equipped with antennas providing beam divergence small enough to ensure efficient spatial and directional partitioning of the data channels so that an almost unlimited number of transceivers will be able to simultaneously use the same spectrum. In a preferred embodiment the first and second spectral ranges are 92.3-93.2 GHz and 94.1-95.0 GHz and the half power beam width is about 0.36 degrees or less.

Abstract: A wireless cellular communication system in which cellular base stations utilize multi-beam antenna to communicate with a large number of users. Each of the base station beams is a narrow beam of less than 10 degrees permitting reuse of available spectrum many times. A preferred antenna is described which broadcasts about 12 simultaneous beams, each about 5 degree, the 12 beams together covering a fan arc of about 60 degrees with the beams overlapping somewhat but interference is avoided by having adjacent beams broadcast at different frequencies within an authorized broadcast bandwidth. Six antennae mounted in a hexagonal manner thus cover a 360-degree azimuthal range. Preferably, users of the system communicate with the base station using a single narrow beam antenna directed at the base station.

Abstract: A wireless cellular communication system in which groups of cellular base stations communicate with a central office via a narrow-band millimeter wave trunk line. The transceivers are equipped with antennas providing beam divergence small enough to ensure efficient spatial and directional partitioning of the data channels so that an almost unlimited number of transceivers will be able to simultaneously use the same millimeter wave spectrum. In a preferred embodiment the trunk line communication link operates within the 92 to 95 GHz portion of the millimeter spectrum. A large number of base stations are each allocated a few MHz portion of a 900 MHz bandwidth of the millimeter wave trunk line. A first transceiver transmits at a first bandwidth and receives at a second bandwidth both within the above spectral range. A second transceiver transmits at the second bandwidth and receives at the first bandwidth.

Abstract: A modulator for high data rate communication at frequencies greater than 50 GHz and at data rates of about 1.25 Gbps or greater. The modulator includes a resonant LC circuit including a diode which is back-biased for “off” (i.e., no transmit) and forward biased for “on” (or transmit). In preferred embodiments the modulator is a part of high performance transceivers for wireless, millimeter wave communications links. A preferred embodiment provides a communication link of more than eight miles which operates within the 71 to 76 GHz portion of the millimeter spectrum and provides data transmission rates of 1.25 Gbps with bit error rates of less than 10−10. A first transceiver transmits at a first bandwidth and receives at a second bandwidth both within the above spectral range. A second transceiver transmits at the second bandwidth and receives at the first bandwidth.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aligning the antennas of two transceivers of a point-to-point wireless millimeter wave communications link. A narrow band oscillator power source is substituted for the signal transmitting electronics associated with a first antenna and a power detector is substituted for the signal receiving electronics of associated with a second antenna. In preferred embodiments after a first alignment procedure is performed, the procedure is repeated with an oscillator power source connected to the second antenna and a power detector connected to the first antenna. In other preferred embodiments the antennas are pre-aligned using a signaling mirror or a narrow beam search light or laser. After the antennas are aligned the transceiver electronics are reconnected. In preferred embodiments communication link operates within the 92 to 95 GHz portion of the millimeter spectrum and provides data transmission rates in excess of 155 Mbps.

Abstract: A point-to-point, wireless, millimeter wave trunk line communications link at high data rates in excess of 1 Gbps and at ranges of several miles during normal weather conditions to connect a local communication network through a SONET aggregation unit to a high speed fiber-optics network. In a preferred embodiment a trunk line communication link operates within the 92 to 95 GHz portion of the millimeter spectrum. A first transceiver transmits at a first bandwidth and receives at a second bandwidth both within the above spectral range. A second transceiver transmits at the second bandwidth and receives at the first bandwidth. The transceivers are equipped with antennas providing beam divergence small enough to ensure efficient spatial and directional partitioning of the data channels so that an almost unlimited number of transceivers will be able to simultaneously use the same spectrum.

Abstract: A point-to-point, wireless, millimeter wave communications link at ranges of several miles during normal weather conditions. In a preferred embodiment a communication link operates within the 92 to 95 GHz portion of the millimeter spectrum and provides data transmission rates in excess of 155 Mbps. A first transceiver transmits at a first bandwidth and receives at a second bandwidth both within the above spectral range. A second transceiver transmits at the second bandwidth and receives at the first bandwidth. The transceivers are equipped with antennas providing beam divergence small enough to ensure efficient spatial and directional partitioning of the data channels so that an almost unlimited number of transceivers will be able to simultaneously use the same spectrum. Antennas and rigid support towers are described to maintain beam directional stability to less than one-half the half-power beam width. In a preferred embodiment the first and second spectral ranges are 92.3-93.2 GHz and 94.1-95.

Abstract: High performance transceivers for wireless, millimeter wave communications links at frequencies in excess of 70 GHz. A preferred embodiment built and tested by Applicants is described. This embodiment provides a communication link of more than eight miles which operates within the 71 to 76 GHz portion of the millimeter spectrum and provides data transmission rates of 1.25 Gbps with bit error rates of less than 10−10. A first transceiver transmits at a first bandwidth and receives at a second bandwidth both within the above spectral range. A second transceiver transmits at the second bandwidth and receives at the first bandwidth. The transceivers are equipped with antennas providing beam divergence small enough to ensure efficient spatial and directional partitioning of the data channels so that an almost unlimited number of transceivers will be able to simultaneously use the same spectrum. In a preferred embodiment the first and second spectral ranges are 71.8+/−0.63 GHz and 73.

Abstract: Equipment and methods for aligning the antennas of two transceivers of a point-to-point wireless millimeter wave communications link and keeping them aligned. Each of two communicating antennas is equipped with a telescopic camera connected to a processor programmed to recognize landscape images. The processors are programmed to remember the pattern of the landscape as it appears when the antennas are aligned. Each of the cameras then view the landscape periodically or continuously and if the landscape in view changes by more than a predetermined amount a signal is provided to indicate a misalignment. An operator can then take corrective action or alternatively the antenna system can be configured for remote or automatic realignment based of feedback from the camera.

Abstract: A point-to-point, wireless, millimeter wave trunk line communications link at high data rates in excess of 1 Gbps and at ranges of several miles during normal weather conditions. This link is combined with one or more digital service links that provide digital data rates to a large number of users at downstream rates of more than 1 Mbps.