Abstract: A phased array antenna may include a substrate and at least one phased array antenna element carried thereby, at least one element controller for controlling the at least one phased array antenna element based upon desired compensation data, and a central controller for supplying to the at least one element controller a current value of a quick control parameter and a block of current compensation data. The block of current compensation data may be based upon a current value of a slow control parameter and a range of possible values for the quick control parameter. Further, the quick control parameter may vary more quickly than the slow control parameter. Additionally, the at least one element controller may determine the desired compensation data based upon the supplied block of current compensation data and the current value of the quick control parameter.

Abstract: A temperature sensor may include a capacitor, a circuit element coupled in series with the capacitor and having a resistance that varies with temperature, and a controller. The controller is for charging/discharging the capacitor through the circuit element, measuring a charging/discharging time required to charge/discharge the capacitor to a predetermined threshold, and determining a temperature based upon the charging/discharging time. More specifically, the circuit element may be a thermistor, for example. The temperature sensor may further include at least one calibration resistor coupled between the controller and the capacitor.

Abstract: A phased array antenna includes a plurality of phased array antenna modules and associated antenna elements. Further, at least one of the phased array antenna modules may also include a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the at least one phased array antenna module. More particularly, the temperature sensor may include a capacitor and a circuit element coupled in series with the capacitor having a resistance that varies with temperature. Additionally, the at least one phased array antenna module may further include a module controller for charging/discharging the capacitor through the circuit element, measuring a charging/discharging time required to charge/discharge the capacitor to a predetermined threshold, and determining the temperature of the at least one phased array antenna module based upon the charging/discharging time.

Abstract: A phased array antenna system may include a substrate and a plurality of phased array antenna elements carried thereby, and a plurality of subarray controllers for controlling respective groups of phased array antenna elements. The phased array antenna system may further include a central controller for generating priority beam control commands and non-priority beam control commands for the subarray controllers, and a communications bus connecting the subarray controllers to the central controller. The central controller may send the priority beam control commands to the subarray controllers via the communications bus on a substantially real time basis with time gaps therebetween. Further, the central controller may also send the non-priority beam control commands to the subarray controllers via the communications bus during the time gaps.

Abstract: A phased array antenna may include a substrate, a plurality of phased array antenna elements carried by the substrate, and a central controller for providing beam steering commands and beam shaping commands. Furthermore, the phased array antenna may also include a plurality of element controllers connected to the phased array antenna elements and the central controller. Each element controller may store at least one position related value based upon physical positioning of the associated phased array antenna element on the substrate, and determine a beam shaping offset based upon the stored at least one position related value and a received beam shaping command from the central controller. Each element controller may also determine at least one phased array antenna element control value based upon a received beam steering command and the beam shaping offset.

Abstract: A phased array antenna may include a substrate and a plurality of phased array antenna elements carried by the substrate, and a plurality of element controllers connected to the phased array antenna elements. Each element controller may be switchable between inactive and active data receiving states. The phased array antenna may further include a plurality of subarray controllers and a plurality of data buses. Each data bus may connect a respective subarray controller to respective columns and rows of element controllers.

Abstract: A phased array antenna may include a substrate and a plurality of phased array antenna elements carried by the substrate. The phased array antenna may also include a plurality of antenna element controllers for the phased array antenna elements and a central controller for providing beam steering commands and edge trigger synchronization signals for the antenna element controllers. Furthermore, each of the antenna element controllers may store a respective next beam steering command and implement the respective next beam steering command as a respective active beam steering command responsive to the edge trigger synchronization signal from the central controller. The edge trigger synchronization signal may be delivered substantially simultaneously to all of the antenna element controllers, and each antenna element controller may detect the edge trigger synchronization pulse only during a predetermined time window, for example.

Abstract: A phased array antenna system may include a substrate and a plurality of phased array antenna elements carried by the substrate, a plurality of antenna element controllers connected to the phased array antenna elements, and at least one higher level controller connected to the plurality of antenna element controllers. The at least one higher level controller and/or lower level antenna element controllers in some embodiments may perform a processing operation on a first portion of a received multi-bit command message before receiving all bits of the multi-bit command message.

Abstract: A phased array antenna may include a substrate and a plurality of phased array antenna elements carried thereby and an element control device for at least one of the phased array antenna elements. The element control device may include an IC die including output circuitry, readback circuitry, and control circuitry connected to the output and readback circuitry. The element control device may further include an IC package surrounding the IC die, a plurality of output terminals connected to the output circuitry and extending outwardly from the IC package, and a plurality of readback input terminals connected to the readback circuitry and extending outwardly from the IC package. Further, respective external readback connections may extend between the plurality of output terminals and the plurality of readback input terminals. The control circuitry may cause the output circuitry to output signals on the plurality of output terminals to be read back for fault detection.

Abstract: A stack of laminated transparent lenses consists of two alternating optically clear materials in intimate contact. The materials are a plastic lens and clear adhesive. The adhesive is uninterrupted. The lens and the adhesive have refraction mismatch of less than 0.2. A tab portion is part of each lens and acts as an aid in peeling away the outermost lens after contamination of the lens layer during racing conditions. The lens stack can be mounted to the posts on the face shield of a racing helmet or laminated directly to a windshield.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined approach of image and template correlation, and vector correlation wherein edge detection and pattern searching are joined in a single operation to provide great flexibility without requiring extensive computational facilities. A template is devised from a sparse set of coordinate points that model only the important edges of an object to be located within an image. Different templates are dynamically reconstructed as an estimation of the object location within the image becomes more precise.

Abstract: A depixelizer for enhancing an image generated by a spatial light modulator having an array of pixels. The depixelizer comprising a translatable stage having the spatial light modulator attached thereto. The stage being moveable in a first axis of motion and a second axis of motion. The movement of the stage in at least one axis oscillates the spatial light modulator and enhances the image generated thereby.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for converting an interlaced television display to a progressive, scan, or non-interlaced display where artifacts are removed if the source of the signal is from a movie film to television converter, a video recording of a movie, a live camera, or a camera output captured on a video recording system, or any sequence of the above, by utilizing three motion detection stages.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined approach of image and template correlation, and vector correlation wherein edge detection and pattern searching are joined in a single operation to provide great flexibility without requiring extensive computational facilities. A template is devised from a sparse set of coordinate points that model only the important edges of an object to be located within an image. Different templates are dynamically reconstructed as an estimation of the object location within the image becomes more precise.

Abstract: A "just in time" pipelined signal processing architecture for a phased array antenna simultaneously updates the weights of all phase control elements of the antenna with reduced wiring complexity and fast beam steering updates. Signal propagation paths between a pipelined communication link--through subarray control processors distributed along the pipeline link--and phase control elements of the antenna array are provided with respectively different serial pipelined transport delays. These delays are such that all phase control signals produced by the subarray control processors are applied simultaneously to their associated subsets of antenna phase control elements. The use of serial (FIFO) delays to equalize pipeline and weight processing latency allows each subarray controller to process and forward serial beam vector data at the same data rate at which it is received from an upstream host processor.

Abstract: A dual-Fresnel field lens liquid crystal display projection system which includes first and second flat Fresnel lenses having their faceted surfaces facing one another and positioned adjacent to one another along the optical axis of the system between a liquid crystal display light modulator and the entrance aperture to a projection lens assembly to form a field lens assembly for the projection system.

Abstract: An optical fiber manifold is provided for coupling light from an illumination source to a plurality of spaced, large diameter output fibers, or "light pipes", which are used for a variety of purposes, such as illuminating pools, spas, hazardous material zones, jail cells, and other applications where direct lighting is dangerous, difficult to maintain, or subject to vandalism. The manifold employs an illumination reflector(s) which has been customized to maximize the efficiency of light transmission between the illumination source, such as an arc lamp, and the cores of the plurality of output fibers. A method of fabricating the customized illumination reflector includes mapping the radiation patterns of the particular illumination source to be utilized, creating a database of those radiation patterns, and utilizing the database to generate an optimal illumination reflector configuration.

Abstract: The inventive system, which is used in transmitting illumination from a central source to a variety of remote locations, efficiently couples the light originating from an arc lamp, or similar source, into a multiplicity of flexible macroscopic fibers. The combination of the several elements of the inventive system results in a very efficient transfer of the energy from the light source to the fibers. The system also provides a very flexible mechanical means for distributing the energy to the fibers and to the remote locations at which the light is used.

Abstract: An optical fiber manifold is provided for coupling light from an illumination source to a plurality of spaced, large diameter output fibers, or "light pipes", which are used for a variety of purposes, such as illuminating pools, spas, hazardous material zones, jail cells, and other applications where direct lighting is dangerous, difficult to maintain, or subject to vandalism. The manifold comprises a light converging element, which may be either a lens or a reflector, for converging light separately on each of the spaced optical fibers. The light converging element is segmented, with each segment corresponding to one of the optical fibers, and is precise enough that substantially all of the convergent light is received by the respective cores of each of the spaced output fibers, thereby minimizing light loss.

Abstract: The inventive system, which is used in transmitting illumination from a central source to a variety of remote locations, efficiently couples the light originating from an arc lamp, or similar source, into a multiplicity of flexible macroscopic fibers. The combination of the several elements of the inventive system results in a very efficient transfer of the energy of the light source to the fibers. The system also provides a very flexible mechanical means for distributing the energy to the fibers and to the remote locations at which the light is used.