Abstract: Apparatus for isolating transmit and receive optical beams having a common wavelength to ensure genderless interoperability in an optical communication system comprises a transmit path that propagates a transmit optical beam at a particular base wavelength and a receive path that propagates a receive optical beam at the same particular base wavelength wherein at least a portion of the receive path is separate from the transmit path. The apparatus further comprises an annular mirror having a receive beam region and a center aperture and the transmit path includes a steering mirror and the receive path also includes the steering mirror. The steering mirror has a single surface that reflects an entirety of the transmit optical beam transmitted along the transmit path and the single surface of the steering mirror reflects an entirety of the receive optical beam received along the receive path. A method of isolating transmit and receive optical beams in an optical communication system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A frequency hopping Global Positioning System (GPS) system comprises an on-orbit reprogrammable digital waveform generator configured to generate a GPS signal comprising a resilient frequency-hopping spread spectrum GPS signal that hops at a hop rate between two or more GPS channels. The GPS signal further comprises a legacy direct-sequence spread spectrum signal for at least two of the two or more GPS channels. Further, a receiver is configured to receive the GPS signal, wherein the receiver is further configured to decode the GPS signal.

Abstract: A system for generating a frequency hopping Global Positioning System (GPS) system includes: an on-orbit reprogrammable digital waveform generator (ORDWG) configured to generate a GPS signal comprising a resilient frequency-hopping spread spectrum GPS signal that hops at a hop rate between two or more GPS channels, the GPS signal further comprising a legacy direct-sequence spread spectrum signal for at least two of the two or more GPS channels; and a receiver configured to receive the GPS signal, the radio further configured to decode the GPS signal.

Abstract: An exemplary satellite in a communication system supports communications among earth stations and has a first receiver that receiving a first RF signal transmitted from a first earth station that is down converted to a first electrical IF signal. An up converter converts a second electrical IF signal, from a second earth station carrying information for the first earth station, to a second RF signal and transmits it to the first earth station. A switch switches remotely reconfigurable electrical IF communication circuits between pairs of ports. Signals carrying information to be communicated between the first and second earth stations are linked together by the switch.

Abstract: An apparatus includes: a Global Positioning System (GPS) phased array comprising a plurality of digital beam forming elements (DBFEs), wherein at least one of the DBFEs includes: an antenna configured to transmit a GPS signal; a radio frequency (RF) electronics section operably connected to the antenna and digital electronics sections; and a digital electronics section operably connected to the RF electronics section. An apparatus includes: a GPS phased array comprising a plurality of DBFEs, wherein at least one of the DBFEs includes: an antenna configured to transmit a GPS signal; an RF electronics section operably connected to the antenna and digital electronics sections; and a digital electronics section operably connected an RF electronic section; a navigation encoder and frequency generator (NEFU) unit operably connected to the GPS phased array; and an atomic frequency standard operably connected to the NEFU unit.

Abstract: An apparatus includes: a Global Positioning System (GPS) phased array comprising a plurality of digital beam forming elements (DBFEs), wherein at least one of the DBFEs includes: an antenna configured to transmit a GPS signal; a radio frequency (RF) electronics section operably connected to the antenna and digital electronics sections; and a digital electronics section operably connected to the RF electronics section. An apparatus includes: a GPS phased array comprising a plurality of DBFEs, wherein at least one of the DBFEs includes: an antenna configured to transmit a GPS signal; an RF electronics section operably connected to the antenna and digital electronics sections; and a digital electronics section operably connected an RF electronic section; a navigation encoder and frequency generator (NEFU) unit operably connected to the GPS phased array; and an atomic frequency standard operably connected to the NEFU unit.

Abstract: Apparatus, and a corresponding method, for spatially isolating a transmit beam and a receive beam, which, in satellite communication systems, are inherently separated by a look ahead angle. A receive beam separation mirror is positioned in the receive beam path but out of the transmit beam path, and the receive beam is reflected along a path separated from the transmit beam path. The mirror may be annular, allowing the transmit beam to be directed through the center of the mirror. In applications where a desired isolation angle is different from the look ahead angle, or where there is no look ahead angle, the receive beam separation mirror is used in conjunction with a dichroic beam splitter and at least one receive beam steering mirror, to achieve the desired angular separation.

Abstract: A multi-channel superconducting digital router/signal processor (28) for processing and conditioning an analog input signal (12) and converting it to a digital output signal (26). The digital router/signal processor (28) includes a plurality of bandpass filters (11), a plurality of voltage control pulse generators (14), a plurality of pulse splitters (30), a plurality of pulse gates (20), a plurality of pulse combiners (32), a plurality of multiply-accumulator circuits (24), and a digital processing unit (36). The multiply-accumulator circuit (24) can be programmed to any octave of the analog input signal (12). This multi-channel implementation approach provides many conversion functions in a single assembly and is easily scaleable and configurable to meet a wide range of system requirements without having to go through new design/manufacturing cycles.

Abstract: An optical assembly having a light circulating device is used for routing light and may be used with a receiver. The assembly includes a tunable filter for receiving light traveling from the light circulating device and for selecting which wavelengths of light that reach the receiver. A wavelength routing mechanism optically coupled to the tunable filter and located downstream from the circulator is used to prevent undesired dropping of signal wavelengths. The mechanism has a first operational mode preventing light from reaching the receiver and a second operational mode allowing light to reach the receiver. When the filter is tuning, the mechanism is preferably in the first operational mode. Preferably, the assembly has an arrangement of mirror reflections on the first path and the second path so that an even number of mirror reflection are experienced on one path and an odd number on the other path as light is recombined.