Abstract: An antenna comprising: first and second dielectric layers; a conductive slot layer disposed between the first and second dielectric layers, wherein the slot layer has a slot therein with short and long axes of symmetry; a pair of arcs, rotated 180° from each other, made of conductive material, and disposed on top of the first dielectric layer, wherein proximal ends of the arcs are vertically-aligned with the short axis of symmetry and equidistant from the long axis of symmetry and electrically connected to the slot layer through vias in the first dielectric layer; and a forked feed made of conductive material disposed on the bottom of the second dielectric layer, wherein the forked feed has a centerline that is vertically-aligned with the short axis of symmetry.

Abstract: An antenna comprising: first and second dielectric layers; a conductive slot layer disposed between the first and second dielectric layers, wherein the slot layer has a slot therein with short and long axes of symmetry; a pair of arcs, rotated 180° from each other, made of conductive material, and disposed on top of the first dielectric layer, wherein proximal ends of the arcs are vertically-aligned with the short axis of symmetry and equidistant from the long axis of symmetry and electrically connected to the slot layer through vias in the first dielectric layer; and a forked feed made of conductive material disposed on the bottom of the second dielectric layer, wherein the forked feed has a centerline that is vertically-aligned with the short axis of symmetry.

Abstract: A method to improve the ability to detect, track and identify man-made objects in space, primarily small satellites (Nano-Satellites, Cube Satellites, etc.) in low earth orbit. The method consists of designing and fabricating Van Atta Array retro-reflectors that are designed to match the operating parameters (center frequency, bandwidth, polarization) of RADAR systems that track space objects, and then attaching the retro-reflectors to external surfaces or structures on the small satellites. The retro-reflectors will improve the RADAR cross section of the small satellites, which in turn will improve the ability of the RADAR to detect and track them. Additional enhancements include modulation of the RADAR return, or changing the spectral content or polarization of the RADAR return, to allow unique identification of the small satellite.

Abstract: An antenna includes a support structure and radiating element. The radiating element includes a dielectric planar substrate having a first and a second surface, at least two conductive spiral arms extending outward from and spiraling about an axis of rotation formed on the first surface, and a feed conductor extending outward from and spiraling about an axis of rotation formed on the second surface. The feed conductor may be substantially aligned with one of the conductive spiral arms. When the support structure is placed upon a substantially planar surface, the radiating element is positioned at height h from the planar surface, wherein height h is about one-fourth the wavelength of the antenna's operating frequency. The antenna may produce an omni-directional antenna pattern in azimuth and a broad antenna pattern in elevation, with both patterns having nulls near the horizon. An external reflector may be operatively coupled to the antenna.

Abstract: A signal processor utilizes a globally nonlinearly coupled array of nonlinear dynamic elements. In one embodiment of the invention, these elements take the form of bistable overdamped oscillators. The processor exploits the phenomenon of stochastic resonance to amplify a weak periodic signal embedded in noise. In this signal processor, a system or plurality of nonlinearly coupled overdamped oscillators is subject to a weak periodic signal embedded in a noise background. For communication or detection applications, this weak signal component is the signal of interest. A reference oscillator is chosen from the plurality of overdamped oscillators, and is given a time scale for relaxation that is longer than the remaining oscillators. The output of the reference oscillator is analyzed for signal processing purposes in response to the signal and noise.