Abstract: Apparatus for aligning an ablation catheter and a temperature probe relatively for an ablation procedure includes an ablation catheter with a first antenna for ablating tissue at an ablation site in a patient's body and a temperature probe for placement in a body passage having a wall portion adjacent to the ablation site so that a second antenna in the probe is positioned opposite the first antenna. A microwave source provides a pulse modulated microwave signal to one of the antennas and a radiometer is in circuit with the other antenna. A synchronizing device in circuit with the microwave source and the radiometer enables the radiometer to synchronously detect the microwave signal so that the radiometer provides an alignment signal whose strength reflects the degree of alignment of the first and second antennas which signal may be used to control an alignment display. An alignment method using the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for measuring the contact force exerted on tissue by a probe for heating the tissue and containing an antenna which is connected to a radiometer whose output reading indicates the temperature at depth of the tissue contacted by the probe comprises displaying the output reading of the radiometer, applying sufficient power to the probe to heat the tissue to a selected first temperature that is not lethal to the tissue, moving the probe into contact with the tissue, observing the increase in the displayed temperature reading that occurs when the probe contacts the tissue, and advancing the probe toward the tissue until the displayed temperature reading reaches a value corresponding to a selected tissue contact force. After the probe position in the tissue has stabilized, the applied power to the probe may be increased to heat the tissue to a selected second temperature that is lethal to tissue for a sufficient time to ablate the tissue followed by lowering the tissue heating to a sub-lethal temperature.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device and method of making same are provided, the device including an RF circuit substrate and an RF conducting path disposed on the RF circuit substrate, a piezoelectric thin film actuator, and a conducting path electrode. The piezoelectric thin film actuator has a proximal end that is fixed relative to the RF circuit substrate and a cantilever end that is spaced from the RF circuit substrate. The conducting path electrode is disposed on the cantilever end of the piezoelectric thin film actuator. The cantilever end of the piezoelectric thin film actuator is movable between a first position whereat the conducting path electrode is spaced from the RF path electrode and a second position whereat the conducting path electrode is spaced from the RF path electrode a second distance, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance. The RF MEMS device is particularly useful as a tunable capacitor.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical device including a first substrate; a first contact disposed on a first surface of the substrate; a piezoelectric actuator disposed over the first surface of the substrate; a second contact coupled to the actuator and disposed in proximity to the first contact; a gap control mechanism disposed between the substrate and the actuator for limiting movement of the first contact relative to the second contact. In the exemplary embodiment, the gap control mechanism is a gap control stop constructed of dielectric material. In practice, plural stops are used. In the exemplary embodiment, plural thermosonic bonds are used to connect the actuator to the first substrate. A second substrate is disposed over the piezo-electric actuator. The second substrate has wells over the bonds to facilitate application of a bonding tool to the bonds. The gap control mechanism provides consistent height control between a flipped chip and its base substrate without exposing the assembly to high temperatures.

Abstract: A multilayer switching assembly for switching high frequency signals has MEMS structures on a ceramic substrate having a top surface 500, a bottom surface and a plurality of insulating layers (510,512,514). The insulating layers are separated by at least a first conductor 502 and a second conductor 504. The first conductor 502 is connected to a ground potential. The second conductor 504 is separated from the first conductor 502 by one of the insulating layers. The second conductor presents a specific impedance (50 ohms) with respect to the first conductor to high frequency signals traveling on the second conductor. 64 MEMS structures (e.g. 540,708,716,718, 720) are mounted on the top surface. Each MEMS has an input, an output, and a control. The input connected to the second conductor. The output is connected to a coplanar waveguide (508) placed on the top surface (500). The control is connected to the bottom surface.

Abstract: A micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) phase shifter for shifting the phase of a radio frequency (RF) signal. The phase shifter includes a quadrature coupler having an input port, an output port, a first load port and a second load port. A first variable reactance is coupled to the first load port and a second variable reactance is coupled the second load port. Each variable reactance has a plurality of reflecting phase shifting elements each having an associated micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) switching element to individually and selectively couple the reflecting phase shifting element to the appropriate load port.

Abstract: A filtered button DC interconnect employing a compressible conductor such as a finely wound wire mesh imbedded within a series of dielectric and ferrite cylinders. The compressible conductor is captivated within the series of dielectric and ferrite cylinders to ensure proper contact with mating surfaces of interconnected circuits. The interconnect serves as an RF filter by providing rejection of RF and microwave frequencies between the interconnected circuits.

Abstract: A multilayer switching assembly for switching high frequency signals has MEMS structures on a ceramic substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of insulating layers. The insulating layers are separated by a first conductor and a second conductor. The first conductor is connected to a ground potential. The second conductor is separated from the first conductor by one of the insulating layers. The second conductor presents a specific impedance (50 ohms) with respect to the first conductor to high frequency signals traveling on the second conductor. 64 MEMS structures are mounted on the top surface. Each MEMS has an input, an output, and a control. The input connected to the second conductor. The output is connected to a coplanar waveguide placed on the top surface. The control is connected to the bottom surface. The input to each MEMS is electrically shielded from the output and from the control by a third conductor connected to the first (grounded) conductor.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) steerable electronically scanned lens array (ESA) antenna and method of frequency scanning are disclosed. The MEMS ESA antenna includes a wide band feedthrough lens and a continuous transverse stub (CTS) feed array. The wide band feedthrough lens includes first and second arrays of wide band radiating elements and an array of MEMS phase shifter modules disposed between the first and second arrays of radiating elements. The continuous transverse stub (CTS) feed array is disposed adjacent the first array of radiating elements for providing a planar wave front in the near field. The MEMS phase shifter modules steer a beam radiated from the CTS feed array in two dimensions.

Abstract: A method for the design of tunable filters is disclosed. MEMS switches are used to alter the resonant frequency of one or more resonators. By tuning the resonant frequency of the resonators, the filter's characteristics also are tuned. Furthermore, MEMS switches are used to alter the input coupling, including direct input coupling and capacitive input coupling. Direct input coupling is altered by using the MEMS switches to select different input connection points. Capacitive input coupling is altered by using MEMS switches to add additional input capacitance to an input coupling capacitor.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) steerable electronically scanned lens array (ESA) antenna and method of frequency scanning are disclosed. The MEMS ESA antenna includes a wide band feedthrough lens and a continuous transverse stub (CTS) feed array. The wide band feedthrough lens includes first and second arrays of wide band radiating elements and an array of MEMS phase shifter modules disposed between the first and second arrays of radiating elements. The continuous transverse stub (CTS) feed array is disposed adjacent the first array of radiating elements for providing a planar wave front in the near field. The MEMS phase shifter modules steer a beam radiated from the CTS feed array in two dimensions.

Abstract: A band pass filter circuit for microwave frequencies, including a plurality of parallel-coupled resonators formed in a planar transmission line medium, including coupling between alternate resonators in the form of transmission line gaps.

Abstract: An RF phase shifter circuit includes first and second RF ports, and a switch circuit comprising a plurality of micro-electro-mechanical (“MEM”) switches responsive to control signals. The switch circuit is arranged to select one of a plurality of discrete phase shift values introduced by the phase shifter circuit to RF signals passed between the first and second RF ports. The circuits can be connected to provide a single-pole-multiple-throw (SPMT) or multiple-pole-multiple-throw (MPMT) switch function. The phase shifter circuits can be used in an electronically scanned array including a linear array of radiating elements, with an array of phase shifters coupled to the radiating elements. An RF manifold including a plurality of phase shifter ports is respectively coupled to a corresponding phase shifter RF port and an RF port. A beam steering controller provides phase shift control signals to the phase shifters to control the phase shift setting of the array of the phase shifters.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device and method of making same are provided, the device including an RF circuit substrate and an RF conducting path disposed on the RF circuit substrate, a piezoelectric thin film actuator, and a conducting path electrode. The piezoelectric thin film actuator has a proximal end that is fixed relative to the RF circuit substrate and a cantilever end that is spaced from the RF circuit substrate. The conducting path electrode is disposed on the cantilever end of the piezoelectric thin film actuator. The cantilever end of the piezoelectric thin film actuator is movable between a first position whereat the conducting path electrode is spaced from the RF path electrode and a second position whereat the conducting path electrode is spaced from the RF path electrode a second distance, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance. The RF MEMS device is particularly useful as a tunable capacitor.

Abstract: A first MEM is mounted on a substrate having a first contact and a second contact is mounted on a substrate. A PA power cell is thermally connected to the substrate using a thermal bump. The power cell is electrically insulated from the substrate. The power cell has a first power cell bump and a second power cell bump as pathways for I/O functions.

Abstract: A first MEM is mounted on a substrate having a first contact and a second contact is mounted on a substrate. A PA power cell is thermally connected to the substrate using a thermal bump. The power cell is electrically insulated from the substrate. The power cell has a first power cell bump and a second power cell bump as pathways for I/O functions. A first insulator is mounted on the substrate supporting a second MEM above the substrate. The second MEM has a first connection and a second connection The first connection and the second connection are located on a bottom surface of the second MEM. A first conductive via vertically traverses the first insulator and is connected to the first connection from the second MEM. This first conductive via is further connected to a first conductor. The first conductor is insulated from substrate by a first insulating layer. The first conductor is further connected to the first power cell bump.

Abstract: A method for the design of tunable filters is disclosed. MEMS switches are used to alter the resonant frequency of one or more resonators. By tuning the resonant frequency of the resonators, the filter's characteristics also are tuned. Furthermore, MEMS switches are used to alter the input coupling, including direct input coupling and capacitive input coupling. Direct input coupling is altered by using the MEMS switches to select different input connection points. Capacitive input coupling is altered by using MEMS switches to add additional input capacitance to an input coupling capacitor.

Abstract: A band pass filter circuit for microwave frequencies, including a plurality of parallel-coupled resonators formed in a planar transmission line medium, including coupling between alternate resonators in the form of transmission line gaps.

Abstract: A filtered button DC interconnect employing a compressible conductor such as a finely wound wire mesh imbedded within a series of dielectric and ferrite cylinders. The compressible conductor is captivated within the series of dielectric and ferrite cylinders to ensure proper contact with mating surfaces of interconnected circuits. The interconnect serves as an RF filter by providing rejection of RF and microwave frequencies between the interconnected circuits.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a network management program (80) is provided that manages the communication of data packets between an intranetwork (44) and an internetwork (40). An operator of a computer connected to the intranetwork (44) inputs vital information regarding users of computers connected to the intranetwork (44), mapping information regarding computers connected to the intranetwork (44), and policies to be applied against those users and computers, using a graphical user interface (GUI 70). The GUI (70) communicates the vital user information, mapping information and policies to a database (72) which stores and organizes the vital user information, mapping information and policies. A filter executive (76) optimizes the policies stored in the database (72) into a set of rules for each user and passes the rules to a filter engine (78).