Abstract: A dipole antenna apparatus, and method of manufacture of such an apparatus, are provided. The antenna apparatus has a conductive plate extending in a first plane, and a pair of conductive elements arranged to form a dipole antenna, where the pair of conductive elements are located in a second plane parallel to the first plane. Each conductive element forms a conductive ring in the second plane that surrounds a non-conductive inner area. The first conductive element in the pair of conductive elements has a conductive bridge extending across the conductive ring to divide the non-conductive inner area into at least two portions. A conductive connection then extends from the conductive bridge to the conductive plate.

Abstract: A dipole antenna apparatus, and method of manufacture of such an apparatus, are provided. The antenna apparatus has a conductive plate extending in a first plane, and a pair of conductive elements arranged to form a dipole antenna, where the pair of conductive elements are located in a second plane parallel to the first plane. Each conductive element forms a conductive ring in the second plane that surrounds a non-conductive inner area. The first conductive element in the pair of conductive elements has a conductive bridge extending across the conductive ring to divide the non-conductive inner area into at least two portions. A conductive connection then extends from the conductive bridge to the conductive plate.

Abstract: A solid state plasma monolithic microwave integrated circuit having single or multiple elemental devices with at least three terminals operating within the microwave, millimeter wave or terahertz bands, that can be configured within a parallel plate structure, which solid state plasma monolithic microwave integrated circuit comprises: (i) a semiconductor dielectric substrate (3); (ii) parallel plates (1, 2) which comprise an upper conducting parallel plate (1) and a lower conducting parallel plate (2) and which parallel plates (1, 2) are used to guide an electromagnetic wave; (iii) an isolating trench which is between the parallel plates (1, 2), and which is used to contain a solid state plasma; (iv) a distinct p-doped region and a distinct n-doped region which are within a first semiconductor region defined by the isolating trench below the upper conducting parallel plate (1), and which are connected to two electrical bias terminals, where at least one electrical bias terminal forms a radio frequency short t

Abstract: A solid state plasma monolithic microwave integrated circuit having single or multiple elemental devices with at least three terminals operating within the microwave, millimetre wave or terahertz bands, that can be configured within a parallel plate structure, which solid state plasma monolithic microwave integrated circuit comprises: (i) a semiconductor dielectric substrate (3); (ii) parallel plates (1, 2) which comprise an upper conducting parallel plate (1) and a lower conducting parallel plate (2) and which parallel plates (1, 2) are used to guide an electromagnetic wave; (iii) an isolating trench which is between the parallel plates (1, 2), and which is used to contain a solid state plasma; (iv) a distinct p-doped region and a distinct n-doped region which are within a first semiconductor region defined by the isolating trench below the upper conducting parallel plate (1), and which are connected to two electrical bias terminals, where at least one electrical bias terminal forms a radio frequency short t

Abstract: A displaced feed antenna which has a spaced conducting plate construction that incorporates electronically selectable feed points with associated antenna beam positions, and which comprises (i) a set of one or more beamforming configurations composed of layered, interlinking spaced conducting plates and conducting boundaries that are separated by cavities containing dielectric material or free space; (ii) a set of one or more internal focusing devices for each beamforming configuration to route radio frequency energy to or from the displaced feed points in receive and transmit modes respectively; (iii) a linear or curved array of displaced feeds for each beamforming configuration for coupling radio frequency energy into, or from, the cavity between the plates; (iv) a selection device to allow definable overlapping regions of the focussing devices to be illuminated for each beamforming configuration; and (v) array elements for each beamforming configuration between spaced conducting plates to free space, allow

Abstract: A selectable beam antenna of generally linear, polygonal, planar or polyhedral form, able to operate at microwave and millimetre wave frequencies, and constructed from associated networks that incorporate radio frequency switches, time delays and amplitude weights positioned within a set of interleaved transmission, lines or waveguides to simultaneously perform both beam-forming and beam selection operations, which selectable beam antenna comprises: (i) a single RP antenna port connected to a 1-to-N corporate feed means, where N is greater than or equal to 2; (ii) a EF switch network means of N/q multi-pole-multi-throw radio frequency switch means (qPMT) connected to the corporate feed means; (iii) a RF distribution means of N×M singularly or multiply interleaved lines arranged so as to have approximately equal transmission length connected to the switch means, where M is the number of throws associated with each radio frequency switch means (qPMT); (iv) an antenna launch means of M×M interleaved antenna elem

Abstract: A selectable beam antenna of generally linear, polygonal, planar or polyhedral form, able to operate at microwave and millimetre wave frequencies, and constructed from associated networks that incorporate radio frequency switches, time delays and amplitude weights positioned within a set of interleaved transmission, lines or waveguides to simultaneously perform both beam-forming and beam selection operations, which selectable beam antenna comprises: (i) a single RP antenna port connected to a 1-to-N corporate feed means, where N is greater than or equal to 2; (ii) a EF switch network means of N/q multi-pole-multi-throw radio frequency switch means (qPMT) connected to the corporate feed means; (iii) a RF distribution means of N×M singularly or multiply interleaved lines arranged so as to have approximately equal transmission length connected to the switch means, where M is the number of throws associated with each radio frequency switch means (qPMT); (iv) an antenna launch means of M×M interleaved antenna elem

Abstract: A displaced feed antenna, operating at UHF, microwave, millimetre wave and tetrahertz frequencies, of mostly spaced conducting plate construction that incorporates electronically selectable feed points with associated antenna beam positions, which displaced feed antenna comprises: (i) a set of one or more beamforming configurations means (6) composed of layered, interlinking spaced conducting plates (1) and conducting boundaries that are separated by cavities containing dielectric material or free space; (ii) a set of one or more internal focusing means for each beamforming configuration to route radio frequency energy to or from the displaced feed points on receive and transmit respectively; (iii) a linear or curved array of displaced feed means for each beamforming configuration for coupling radio frequency energy into, or from, the cavity between the plates (2); (iv) a selection means (4) to allow definable overlapping regions of the focussing means to be illuminated for each beamforming configuration, by

Abstract: A pool filter cleaning device (1) which allows a person to thoroughly clean a filter cartridge (15) quickly and easily with minimal amount of splash back. The pool filter cleaning device (1) is comprised of a handle (2), an angled head section (12), a shield (6) and a nozzle (8). The device (1) is attachable to standard garden hoses (3) and utilizes water pressure to clean the cartridge filter (15). The handle (2) is attached to an angled head section (12) having a preferably transparent shield (6) attached therebetween. The head section (12) is angled so as to provide a more comfortable cleaning position for a user. The shield (6) has a duel purpose as it separates the pleats (16) on the cartridge filter (15) and prevents water and debris from splashing back onto the user.

Abstract: An electromagnetic switch element that through electromechanical actuation is able to be used to influence the propagation of an electromagnetic signal within a guiding medium. An electromagnetic switch element that is activated by displacement of conducting elements, the displacement being forced through electrostatic, electric field, magnetic field, thermal or other means.

Abstract: An agricultural input supplier can provide seed products by tying the compensation received for the seed products to an evaluation of the land base on which the seed products are to be planted and/or the performance of the seed products on the land base. The evaluation of the land base may be based on environmental classification and/or genotype-by-environment data. In addition to tying the compensation to the land quality and the seed performance, this approach to providing seed allows for recommendations to be made to the producer regarding which seed products should be used on the land base. The performance of the seed product on the land base may also be verified.

Abstract: Methods and software for selecting seed products or other agricultural inputs for planting within an associated land base include classifying the land base with an environmental classification, determining at least one seed product to plant within the land base based on the environmental classification, and providing an output comprising identification of the at least one seed product to plant within the land base.

Abstract: Methods and software for selecting seed products or other agricultural inputs for planting within an associated land base include dividing the field into regions, providing an environmental profile for each of regions, determining a recommendation of a seed product to plant within each of the regions based on the environmental profile and performance of the genotype of each of the seed products in the environmental profile of the regions, and providing an output identifying the seed product to plant within each of the regions.

Abstract: Managing risks of crop production can be performed by understanding the relative performance of different agricultural inputs under the same or similar environmental conditions. In addition, managing of crop production risks can be performed by understanding variations in the performance of the same agricultural inputs over a range of environmental conditions. By being able to describe and understand these variations in performance, decisions can be made which are consistent with overall business and/or production objectives and limit risk associated with variations in environmental conditions. In addition to producers there are other stakeholders in the crop production process, such as financial institutions, insurance providers, users of crops produced, and input suppliers. These and other stakeholders can provide financial incentives to producers for managing crop production risks through use of environmental classification and/or genotype-by-environment information.

Abstract: A pool filter cleaning device (1) which allows a person to thoroughly clean a filter cartridge (15) quickly and easily with minimal amount of splash back. The pool filter cleaning device (1) is comprised of a handle (2), an angled head section (12), a shield (6) and a nozzle (8). The device (1) is attachable to standard garden hoses (3) and utilizes water pressure to clean the cartridge filter (15). The handle (2) is attached to an angled head section (12) having a preferably transparent shield (6) attached therebetween. The head section (12) is angled so as to provide a more comfortable cleaning position for a user. The shield (6) has a duel purpose as it separates the pleats (16) on the cartridge filter (15) and prevents water and debris from splashing back onto the user.

Abstract: The cellular telephone/breath analyzer combination increases the functionality of the cellular telephone by informing the user of his/her breath alcohol concentration. The visual display of the cellular telephone displays the breath analysis function. Using the keypad of the cellular telephone, the user can instruct the cellular telephone/breath analyzer to perform a breath analysis. When the user exhales into the breath analyzer, a microcontroller and digital processor disposed within the cellular telephone convert the ethanol gas sensor reading into a breath alcohol concentration indicator on the visual display of the cellular telephone.

Abstract: A method of playing a board game for one or more players includes the steps of allocating a set of playing pieces for each player, each set being visually distinctive, and providing a playing surface. The playing surface contains defined spaces arrayed in two dimensions. Each space may have an identifying icon. The method includes variations for forming winning lines of playing pieces, and varying steps to play the game, depending on the level of difficulty and style of game required. The most frequently used method of determining a winning outcome is by the placement by one player of playing pieces to form a line from one side of the playing surface to another side without diagonal connecting links between pieces. Random number generators may be used. If icons are used, a random icon generator includes the same icons as those used to identify spaces on the playing surface for determining where a player may place a piece.