Abstract: A maze-based switch generally having three functional blocks is disclosed. The first functional block handles communications by accepting an entered maze pattern from an external system controller and outputting the entered maze pattern (and optionally its directional complement) to the second functional block. The second functional block stores the maze pattern (and optionally its directional complement) to a permanent storage element and outputs the stored, entered maze pattern and its directional complement to a series of transistors in the third functional block. The third functional block is an electronic maze in which a correct maze pattern and its directional complement must be received by the transistors for the transistors to pass electrical power through the electronic maze to a connected element. The third functional block may alternatively be implemented with optical elements, optoelectronic elements, microelectromechanical elements, or elements formed by other microsystem technologies.

Abstract: A temperature regulating fabric formed from micro porous inner and outer layers of fabric laminated around a plurality of totally independent TE devices together with antennae and energy harvesting electronics within, all deposited upon a flexible substrate to form a thermal module. These completely independent thermal modules are positioned at preselected locations intermediate the laminated inner and outer fabric layers to form the temperature regulating fabric, which is used to construct temperature regulating devices powered by harvested ambient RF energy for both cooling and warming applications.

Abstract: A temperature regulating fabric formed from micro porous inner and outer layers of fabric laminated around a plurality of totally independent TE devices together with antennae and energy harvesting electronics within, all deposited upon a flexible substrate to form a thermal module. These completely independent thermal modules are positioned at preselected locations intermediate the laminated inner and outer fabric layers to form the temperature regulating fabric, which is used to construct temperature regulating devices powered by harvested ambient RF energy for both cooling and warming applications.

Abstract: A phased array antenna includes a semiconductor wafer, with radio frequency (RF) circuitry fabricated on top side of the semiconductor wafer. There is an array of antenna elements above the top side of the semiconductor wafer, and a coaxial coupling arrangement coupling the RF circuitry and the array of antenna elements. The coaxial coupling arrangement may include a plurality of coaxial connections, each having an outer conductor, an inner conductor, and a dielectric material therebetween. The dielectric material may be air.

Abstract: A phased array antenna includes a semiconductor wafer, with radio frequency (RF) circuitry fabricated on top side of the semiconductor wafer. There is an array of antenna elements above the top side of the semiconductor wafer, and a coaxial coupling arrangement coupling the RF circuitry and the array of antenna elements. The coaxial coupling arrangement may include a plurality of coaxial connections, each having an outer conductor, an inner conductor, and a dielectric material therebetween. The dielectric material may be air.

Abstract: The tubular slot-mode antenna includes an array of slot antenna units carried by a tubular substrate, e.g. a cylindrical substrate, and each slot antenna unit having a pair of patch antenna elements arranged in laterally spaced apart relation about at least one central feed position. Adjacent patch antenna elements of adjacent slot-mode antenna units have respective spaced apart edge portions with predetermined shapes and relative positioning to provide increased capacitive coupling therebetween. The array of slot-mode antenna units may define a plurality of ring-shaped slots coaxial with an axis of the tubular substrate, and a feed arrangement may be coupled thereto to operate the array of slot-mode antenna units in an endfire mode.

Abstract: The dual-polarization antenna with a slot pattern can produce vertical polarized energy near the horizon and can scan to near grazing angles. The dual-polarization, slot-mode antenna includes an array of dual-polarization, slot-mode, antenna units carried by a substrate, and each dual-polarization, slot-mode antenna unit having at least four patch antenna elements arranged in spaced apart relation about a central feed position. Adjacent patch antenna elements of adjacent dual-polarization, slot-mode antenna units have respective spaced apart edge portions defining gaps therebetween. Capacitive coupling plates are adjacent the gaps and overlap the respective spaced apart edge portions to provide increased capacitive coupling therebetween.

Abstract: The dual-polarization, slot-mode antenna includes an array of dual-polarization, slot-mode, antenna units carried by a substrate, and each dual-polarization, slot-mode antenna unit includes a plurality of patch antenna elements arranged in spaced apart relation. The substrate is preferably a flexible substrate. Adjacent patch antenna elements of each dual-polarization, slot-mode antenna unit may have respective spaced apart edge portions defining gaps therebetween, and a respective capacitive coupling feed plate may be associated with each gap and overlap the respective spaced apart edge portions of adjacent patch antenna elements of each dual-polarization, slot-mode antenna unit. Each capacitive coupling feed plate may include a feed point.

Abstract: The tubular slot-mode antenna includes an array of slot antenna units carried by a tubular substrate, e.g. a cylindrical substrate, and each slot antenna unit having a pair of patch antenna elements arranged in laterally spaced apart relation about at least one central feed position. Adjacent patch antenna elements of adjacent slot-mode antenna units have respective spaced apart edge portions with predetermined shapes and relative positioning to provide increased capacitive coupling therebetween. The array of slot-mode antenna units may define a plurality of ring-shaped slots coaxial with an axis of the tubular substrate, and a feed arrangement may be coupled thereto to operate the array of slot-mode antenna units in an endfire mode.

Abstract: The slot-mode antenna includes an array of slot antenna units carried by a substrate, and each slot antenna unit has a pair of patch antenna elements arranged in laterally spaced apart relation about at least one central feed position. Adjacent patch antenna elements of adjacent slot-mode antenna units include respective spaced apart edge portions defining gaps therebetween, and a capacitive coupling layer or plates overlap the respective spaced apart edge portions to provide increased capacitive coupling therebetween. The capacitive coupling layer may include continuous or periodic capacitive coupling plates along each gap defined by the respective spaced apart edge portions.

Abstract: The dual-polarization antenna with a slot pattern can produce vertical polarized energy near the horizon and can scan to near grazing angles. The dual-polarization, slot-mode antenna includes an array of dual-polarization, slot-mode, antenna units carried by a substrate, and each dual-polarization, slot-mode antenna unit having at least four patch antenna elements arranged in spaced apart relation about a central feed position. Adjacent patch antenna elements of adjacent dual-polarization, slot-mode antenna units have respective spaced apart edge portions defining gaps therebetween. Capacitive coupling plates are adjacent the gaps and overlap the respective spaced apart edge portions to provide increased capacitive coupling therebetween.

Abstract: The slot-mode antenna includes an array of slot antenna units carried by a substrate, and each slot antenna unit having a pair of patch antenna elements arranged in laterally spaced apart relation about at least one central feed position. Adjacent patch antenna elements of adjacent slot-mode antenna units have respective spaced apart edge portions with predetermined shapes and relative positioning to provide increased capacitive coupling therebetween. The spaced apart edge portions may be continuously or periodically interdigitated to provide the increased capacitive coupling therebetween.

Abstract: The dual-polarization, slot-mode antenna includes an array of dual-polarization, slot-mode, antenna units carried by a substrate, with each dual-polarization, slot-mode antenna unit having at least four patch antenna elements arranged in spaced apart relation about a central feed position. Adjacent patch antenna elements of adjacent dual-polarization, slot-mode antenna units include respective spaced apart edge portions having predetermined shapes and relative positioning to provide increased capacitive coupling therebetween. The respective spaced apart edge portions may be continuously or periodically interdigitated to provide the increased capacitive coupling therebetween.

Abstract: The dual-polarization, slot-mode antenna includes an array of dual-polarization, slot-mode, antenna units carried by a substrate, with each dual-polarization, slot-mode antenna unit having at least four patch antenna elements arranged in spaced apart relation about a central feed position. Adjacent patch antenna elements of adjacent dual-polarization, slot-mode antenna units include respective spaced apart edge portions having predetermined shapes and relative positioning to provide increased capacitive coupling therebetween. The respective spaced apart edge portions may be continuously or periodically interdigitated to provide the increased capacitive coupling therebetween.

Abstract: Compact multi-band antenna system (500) includes a main reflector (502) having a shaped surface of revolution about a boresight axis of the antenna operable at a plurality of frequency bands spectrally offset from each other. A multi band feed system (300) is provided for the main reflector that includes a subreflector (304) formed as a shaped surface of revolution about the boresight axis of the antenna, and a horn antenna (302). The horn antenna has one or more ridges (312) disposed in a throat region (314) of the horn antenna extending in a direction aligned with the boresight axis (3100 of the antenna. The horn antenna is coupled to the shaped surface of revolution defining the subreflector.

Abstract: Compact multi-band antenna system (500) includes a main reflector (502) having a shaped surface of revolution about a boresight axis of the antenna operable at a plurality of frequency bands spectrally offset from each other. A multi band feed system (300) is provided for the main reflector that includes a subreflector (304) formed as a shaped surface of revolution about the boresight axis of the antenna, and a horn antenna (302). The horn antenna has one or more ridges (312) disposed in a throat region (314) of the horn antenna extending in a direction aligned with the boresight axis (3100 of the antenna. The horn antenna is coupled to the shaped surface of revolution defining the subreflector.

Abstract: A phased array antenna includes a substrate, and a patterned conductive layer is on the substrate. The patterned conductive layer defines a plurality of slotted dipole antenna elements each having a medial feed portion associated therewith. Each slotted dipole antenna element includes a pair of slotted legs extending outwardly from the medial feed portion. Pairs of adjacent slotted legs of adjacent slotted dipole antenna elements include respective spaced apart end portions having predetermined shapes and relative positioning to provide increased inductive coupling between the adjacent slotted dipole antenna elements.

Abstract: A phased array antenna includes a substrate, and a patterned conductive layer is on the substrate. The patterned conductive layer defines a plurality of slotted dipole antenna elements each having a medial feed portion associated therewith. Each slotted dipole antenna element includes a pair of slotted legs extending outwardly from the medial feed portion. Pairs of adjacent slotted legs of adjacent slotted dipole antenna elements include respective spaced apart end portions having predetermined shapes and relative positioning to provide increased inductive coupling between the adjacent slotted dipole antenna elements.

Abstract: A multi-band ring focus antenna system includes a main reflector (408) that is operable at a plurality spectrally offset frequency bands. A first feed (301, 403) includes a first feed horn (301) and a first sub-reflector (403), which are positioned spaced apart from each other at respective locations along a boresight axis of the main reflector. The locations are selected so that the first feed horn and the first sub-reflector share a commonly located first phase center (401). A second feed (302, 404) designed for operation on a second RF frequency band includes a second feed horn (302) and a second sub-reflector (404), each positioned at a location along the boresight axis of the main reflector so that they share a commonly located second phase center.

Abstract: A compact multi-band ring-focus antenna system. The antenna system includes a first and a second main reflector 304, 306, each having a shaped surface of revolution about a common boresight axis (322) of the antenna. A first backfire type RF feed system (302, 312) is provided for feeding the first main reflector (304) on a first frequency band. A second RF feed (301) coaxial with the first RF feed (300) is provided for feeding the second main reflector (306) on a second frequency band spectrally offset from the first frequency band. Further a portion of the second RF feed passes through a first sub-reflector (302) of the backfire feed. The second RF feed is terminated a distance from the first sub-reflector to illuminate a second sub-reflector (303).