Abstract: Disclosed herein is a reconfigurable phased array and a method for determining the current configuration of a phased array. Certain disclosed embodiments include a reconfigurable phased array including a constellation of antennas configured to receive and transmit radiation towards a far field target. Each of the antennas senses incidental power from the retransmitted radiation from the other antennas of the constellation of antennas. This incidental power may be referred to as mutual coupling. The reconfigurable phased array further includes a computer system configured to: measure the incidental power sensed by the each of the antennas; perform a physical constraint mapping of the constellation of antennas; perform an array shape construction to determine a current position of all the elements based on the physical constraint mapping of the constellation of antennas and the incidental power sensed by each of the antennas.

Abstract: A device includes, in part, an antenna adapted to receive an RF signal that includes modulated data, a splitter/coupler adapted to split the received RF signal, a receiver adapted to demodulate the data from a first portion of the RF signal, and a power recovery unit adapted to convert to a DC power a second portion of the RF signal. The splitter/coupler is optionally adjustable to split the RF signal in accordance with a value that may be representative of a number of factors, such as the target data rate, the DC power requirement of the device, and the like. The device optionally includes a switch and/or a power combiner adapted to deliver all the received RF power to the receiver depending on any number of operation conditions of the device or the device's distance from an RF transmitting device.

Abstract: A self-deployable antenna and/or antenna array that is made up of one or more antenna elements. Each of the antenna elements has a structural base that supports portions of the antenna and can be positioned between a stored configuration for compaction and a deployed configuration for transmitting. The antenna elements and structural base can be part of a base substrate that provides a base support for the antenna and/or antenna array to be compacted and deployed.

Abstract: A wireless power delivery system includes, in part, a roaming and articulating wireless power transfer device. The roaming and articulating wireless power device includes, in part, a wireless power generation unit, an energy storage unit, a controller, and an electrically driven moving platform. The device further includes, in part, at least one RF transmitter or an array of RF transmitters adapted to radiate RF signals at the same frequency. The controller is adapted to control the phase of each RF transmitter independently. The array of RF transmitters may be foldable and expandable. The moving platform may include an inertia measurement, a GPS, bump sensors and proximity sensors. The device may further include a camera, and a wireless communication link via which the device establishes a two-way communication with a recovery unit being wirelessly powered.

Abstract: A method of correcting for crosstalk in thermo-optics phase shifters (TOPS) integrated on a substrate, includes, in part, determining a first value representative of an amount of electrical power applied to a heater associated with a first TOPS causing a known phase shift in an optical signal passing through the first TOPS' associated waveguide; determining a second value representative of a time constant of the first TOPS; determining a third value representative of an amount of electrical power applied to a heater associated with a second TOPS causing a known phase shift in an optical signal passing through the waveguide associated with the first TOPS; determining a multitude of thermal couplings between a multitude of heaters, waveguides and positions in the substrate using one or more of the first, second and third values; and making a correction associated with the crosstalk in accordance with the thermal couplings.

Abstract: A flying surface may comprise a plurality of interconnectable flying vehicles configured for mid-flight reconfiguration of the flying surface. Each flying vehicle may be entirely self-sufficient, including an onboard thrust unit, an onboard controller, an onboard power unit, and connectors configured to engage corresponding connectors of other flying vehicles to form a flying surface. The flying vehicles may additionally be configured for self-control, thereby enabling a distributed control model for a flying surface that does not require significant, centralized processing power and corresponding power storage. The flying surfaces may dynamically reconfigure mid-flight by attaching or detaching flying vehicles so as to enable a wide variety of in-flight maneuvers.

Abstract: A phased-array includes, in part, N transceivers each including a receiver and a transmitter, and a controller. The phased array is configured to transmit a first radio signal from a first element of the array during a first time period, receive the first radio signal from a second element of the array, recover a first value associated with the radio signal received by the second element, transmit a second radio signal from the second element of the array during a second time period, receive the second radio signal from the first element of the array, recover a second value associated with the radio signal received by the first element, and determine a first phase of a reference signal received by the second element from the recovered first and second values. The first phase is relative to a second phase of the reference signal received by the first element.

Abstract: A wireless service delivery system determines the position of a device requesting the wireless service and delivers a wireless service to the device if the device's position is determined to fall within a predefined region of a space. The wireless service delivery may deliver no service or a lower quality/slower service if the device is determined to fall outside the predefined region of the space. The coordinates of the points along the perimeter of the predefined region are stored in a memory and are optionally established during a setup phase by moving a localization device along the perimeter of the region of the space.

Abstract: A lens-less imaging device, includes, in part, a multitude of pixels each having a light detector and an associated optical element adapted to cause the pixel to be responsive to a different direction of light received from a target. Each pixel has a field of view that overlaps with a field of view of at least a subset of the remaining pixels. The optical element may be a transparent dielectric element, a transparent MEMS component, a transparent microlens, or include one or more metallic walls. The optical element may be a continuous mapping layer formed over the pixels. Each pixel may or may not have a Gaussian distribution response. The lens-less imaging device forms an image of a target in accordance with an optical transfer functions of the pixels as well as responses of the pixels to the light received from the target.

Abstract: A system includes, in part, a multitude of RF receivers, a first optical modulator adapted to modulate an optical signal in accordance with a first data received by a first one of RF receivers to generate a first modulated signal, a second optical modulator adapted to modulate the optical signal in accordance with a second data received by a second RF receiver to generate a second modulated signal, and a first optical fiber adapted to carry the first and second modulated signals. The optical modulator may be a photodiode or a Mach-Zehnder modulator.

Abstract: A recovery unit adapted to receive a mobile device includes a multitude of planar antennas disposed along at least one of bottom or top surfaces of the recovery unit, a rectifying circuit adapted to convert an RF power received by the planar antennas to a DC power, an energy storage unit adapted to store the DC power, and a wireless communication circuit adapted to communicate with a power generating unit generating the RF power. The recovery unit is further adapted to supply the DC power to the mobile device. The recovery unit may further include a multitude of edge antennas disposed along exterior edges of the recovery unit. The recovery unit may further include at least one inductive coil to supply power to the mobile device when an AC power is applied to the inductive coil. The AC power may be generated from the received RF power.

Abstract: A flying surface may comprise a plurality of interconnectable flying vehicles configured for mid-flight reconfiguration of the flying surface. Each flying vehicle may be entirely self-sufficient, including an onboard thrust unit, an onboard controller, an onboard power unit, and connectors configured to engage corresponding connectors of other flying vehicles to form a flying surface. The flying vehicles may additionally be configured for self-control, thereby enabling a distributed control model for a flying surface that does not require significant, centralized processing power and corresponding power storage. The flying surfaces may dynamically reconfigure mid-flight by attaching or detaching flying vehicles so as to enable a wide variety of in-flight maneuvers.

Abstract: A system includes, in part, a first optical modulator adapted to modulate a first optical signal with a first data to generate a first modulated optical signal, a second optical modulator adapted to modulate a second optical signal with a first clock signal to generate a second modulated optical signal, an optical multiplexer adapted to multiplex the first and second optical signals to generate a multiplexed optical signal, and an optical fiber adapted to carry the multiplexed optical signal. The second optical signal has a second wavelength that is different from the first wavelength.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the invention provide a photovoltaic concentrator tile for a space-based solar power (SBSP) system including constituent components thereof. In a number of embodiments, the photovoltaic concentrator tile include a one photovoltaic cell, a reflector, a power transmitter and circuitry configured to perform a variety of control functions. Embodiments also provide compactible structures, materials for improving thermal emissivity, and methods and mechanisms for manufacturing and using these components.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a phased antenna array which is configured to provide a signal through multiple antennas. The phased antenna array may include a plurality of sub-arrays. Each sub-array may include a complete and functional optically synchronized integrated circuit including an integrated photo diode. Advantageously, integrating the photo diode into the integrated circuit may reduce the size of the sub-array and decrease the length the high frequency timing signal is passed.

Abstract: An integrated photonic platform for a transceiver aperture. New functions that can only be realized in the integrated platform are further described.

Abstract: An object's distance is determined using either two RF transmitters and an RF receiver, or a two RF receivers and an RF transmitter. When using two RF transmitters, the direction of the first transmitter is changed until it reaches a first direction defined by a first angle at which the power of the RF signal—transmitted by the first transmitter—reflected off the object and received by the receiver reaches a maximum value. The direction of the second transmitter is also changed until it reaches a second direction defined by a second angle at which the power of the second RF signal—transmitted by the second transmitter—reflected off the object and received by the receiver reaches a maximum value. The distance between the object and the first transmitter is defined by the distance between the two transmitters, the second angle, and the difference between the first and second angles.

Abstract: An integrated photonic architecture for coherent signal generation and processing. This architecture can enhance coherent transceiver performance for many applications, including remote sensing, LiDAR, high-speed data communication, and high performance computing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wireless power delivery system including: a wireless power generation unit (GU) including: a GU antenna array; and a GU wireless communication circuit; and one or more recovery units (RUs), wherein each RU includes: an RU antenna array; and an RU wireless communication circuit. The GU antenna array is configured to use volumetric refocusing to scan the area for the one or more RUs by sweeping a wireless scan signal to be captured by the RU antenna array. The RU antenna array receives the wireless scan signal, the RU wireless communication unit is configured to transmit a wireless signal back to the GU wireless communication unit. The GU is configured to record the focal coordinates of each RU based upon the signal received by the GU from each RU. The GU is configured to emit a wireless power signal to the recorded focal coordinates of each RU.

Abstract: A complex-wavefront photonic transceiver including a coherent source; a complex transmitter waveform generator programmable to modulate a first portion of the coherent electromagnetic radiation, when received from the coherent source, to form a complex waveform comprising at least a pre-distortion to compensate for, or an adaptive beamforming to determine, a distortion of the complex waveform caused by at least the transceiver or during transmission of the complex waveform to a receiver aperture, the receiver aperture outputting receiver signals in response thereto; and a transmitter aperture for transmitting the complex waveform when received from the complex transmitter waveform generator. The transceiver further includes a receiver processor programmable to determine a phase and amplitude of the complex waveform, when received on the receiver aperture, from a combination of the received signals with a second portion of the electromagnetic radiation.