Abstract: A light coupling unit includes a first major surface comprising one or more substantially parallel first grooves oriented along a first direction for receiving one or more optical waveguides. A second major surface for slidably contacting a mating light coupling unit comprises an optically transmitting window for propagating an optical signal therethrough, and a region of second grooves and lands configured to capture particulate contaminants in the second grooves.

Abstract: A cat scratching deterrent including a self standing blower unit with nozzles that can be positioned near and aimed at an area containing household items to be protected against cat scratching and a housing with a canister to hold an aerosol can of pressurized air and a battery power source; and a lid for the canister having a motor and cam assembly driven by the motor, with an enlarged caning portion projecting from the lid to actuate a valve of the aerosol can to supply air to said nozzles through a flexible connector tube, when motion is detected by a motion detector mounted in the housing.

Abstract: A waveguide slot array antenna system, for use with a communications system 30 disposed on a satellite. The waveguide slot array antenna system comprises a feed waveguide having an input port and multiple output ports, a waveguide slot array having a plurality of slots formed therein that is coupled to the feed waveguide, and a waveguide lens disposed adjacent to the waveguide slot array. The phase of each contributing radiating waveguide is controlled to achieve radiation pattern shaping. Inner dimensions of the rectangular waveguides are designed to provide a phase velocity inside each waveguide that results in the appropriate radiated phase at the output of the waveguides. The phase radiated by each rectangular waveguide is determined by design, and the radiation pattern that results from the combined contributions of the array can be shaped to produce a complex radiation contour.

Abstract: A waveguide slot array antenna system, for use with a communications system 30 disposed on a satellite. The waveguide slot array antenna system comprises a feed waveguide having an input port and multiple output ports, a waveguide slot array having a plurality of slots formed therein that is coupled to the feed waveguide, and a waveguide lens disposed adjacent to the waveguide slot array. The phase of each contributing radiating waveguide is controlled to achieve radiation pattern shaping. Inner dimensions of the rectangular waveguides are designed to provide a phase velocity inside each waveguide that results in the appropriate radiated phase at the output of the waveguides. The phase radiated by each rectangular waveguide is determined by design, and the radiation pattern that results from the combined contributions of the array can be shaped to produce a complex radiation contour.

Abstract: A satellite-based antenna system that employs an improved dual function subreflector. An exemplary antenna system comprises a flat plate dual function subreflector and a subreflector positioning mechanism that selectively positions the subreflector at predetermined positions corresponding to two or more operational positions of the satellite. A plurality of feed arrays couple energy to and from the subreflector, and a main reflector generates beams for desired coverage areas. The present invention provides optimum performance from a dual reflector antenna when operating in two or more different satellite positions, with no compromise to the performance for either mode of operation.

Abstract: Array fed multiple beam antenna systems and methods for use on an orbiting spacecraft carrying a communication system. The antenna systems include a reflector and a relatively small array feed compared to the reflector. The array feed has feeds (radiators) that illuminate the reflector and that are disposed in a focal plane of the reflector. A power division network excites the radiators of the feeds. The antenna system is capable of very wide scan angle operation and may be used to provide multiple spot beam coverage over the surface of the Earth viewed from a synchronous orbit spacecraft. Phase aberration normally associated with scanning is corrected by adjusting excitation coefficients of each array feed. The spot beams are scanned across a field of regard by controlling the position of each feed in the focal plane and using the appropriate amplitude and phase distribution associated with a particular spot beam (array feed). The amplitude and phase distributions may be fixed or varied during operation.

Abstract: A communication system and antenna system for use on a satellite. The communication system includes a transmitter and/or a receiver that are respectively coupled to the antenna system. The antenna system includes a plurality of stepped slot waveguides that each have a plurality of slots disposed in a broadwall thereof that form an array of slots. Adjacent slots of each waveguide are offset from a centerline of the respective waveguide and are spaced at half guide wavelength intervals, and selected slots are thus located at a different axial positions relative to other slots in the array. A feed waveguide having in input/output port is provided that couples RF energy between the plurality of stepped slot waveguides and the communication system. The stepped waveguide slot array antenna system provides phase control of the beam pattern produced thereby.

Abstract: An injection molded phased array antenna system such as may advantageously employed on satellites. The antenna system comprises a plurality of metal plated, injection molded plastic horn radiating elements respectively coupled to a plurality of metal plated, injection molded plastic orthomode junctions that produce a corresponding plurality of vertically and horizontally polarized outputs. A metal plated, injection molded plastic vertical and horizontal beamforming networks is coupled to outputs of the plurality of orthomode junctions that establish unique phases and amplitudes that produce two separate outputs associated with two independent beams.

Abstract: An antenna system has a reflector illuminated by a primary feed for producing a primary beam. The reflector is illuminated further by a secondary feed formed of an array of secondary feed elements of which the respective electromagnetic signals are adjustable in terms of their relative amplitudes and phases to produce a secondary beam with sidelobes oriented in directions away from the directions of the primary beam. Spacing among feed elements of the secondary feed array is selected for further control of orientation of sidelobes of the secondary beam. Highest efficiency is attained for signals of the primary feed by configuring the reflector for forming the primary beam, while the secondary beam is produced with lower efficiency but with isolation from the primary beam. The surface of the reflector is contoured to provide maximum primary-beam efficiency and minimal primary-beam sidelobes in the direction of the secondary beam.

Abstract: An antenna, forming a part of an antenna system, is suitable for use on a communication satellite encircling the earth, and has a reflector illuminated by a set of feed elements wherein one of the feed elements generates a primary beam. The reflector is shaped to establish a specific configuration of the beam, and, upon illumination of the earth, there results a specific shape to the beam footprint. A mechanical positioning device connects the antenna with a body of the spacecraft for adjusting an orientation of the feed antenna and its beam relative to the body of the spacecraft. Control circuitry for adjustment of signal strengths and phase shifts of signals sent to respective ones of the feeds is accomplished by electronic circuitry including a memory which stores coefficients employed in the operation of variable power dividers and variable phase shifters of a feed network supplying electromagnetic signals to the feed.

Abstract: An assembly of antenna elements is mounted in a unitary structure for transport on a satellite encircling the earth. Each element comprises a horn shaped radiator with opposed arcuate sidewalls, a rectangular waveguide feed, and a transition interconnecting the feed to a throat of the horn. The assembly services a plurality of portions of a communication band within the electromagnetic spectrum. The throats of respective horns are dimensioned for specific frequencies of the respective portions of the communication bands. The antenna elements may provide telemetry and control functions for the satellite. A side-by-side arrangement of the horns permits use of a common meanderline polarizer for conversion of a linearly polarized wave to a circularly polarized wave for each antenna element.

Abstract: A dual frequency band antenna (10) having frequency reuse capability. The antenna waveguide (12) includes a four port waveguide network which transmits and receives orthogonal, linearly polarized signals of each of two frequencies. A pyramidal horn (14) is engaged to the mouth of the waveguide, and a meanderline polarizer (16) is engaged to the aperture (17) of the horn (14) to convert the signals from linear polarizations to circular polarizations.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to fireproof building panels for use in building structures and in adding to existing structures where it is desired to insulate the internal volume defined by the structure from a high outside ambient temperature. The building panel is comprised of a fiber insulating material placed against a metal screen. The outer perimeter of the fiber material and the metal frame is surrounded by a metallic channel.

Abstract: A coaxial radiating waveguide antenna is disclosed, comprising two conductive concentric right circular cylinders forming a cavity. Equally spaced within the cavity is a set of probes phased in such a manner as to produce TE.sub.21 or a higher order difference mode of radiation. One side of the toroidal antenna is sealed by a flat conductive ring; the other side is generally open and terminates in two flared regions which serve to shape the beam in the desired fashion. A broad null surrounds the boresight axis with major lobes disposed approximately 45.degree. therefrom in the case of TE.sub.31 propagation. The resulting radiation can be circularly or linearly polarized.

Abstract: A form of printed wiring antenna with integral transmission feed line is disclosed and a passive repeater using the antenna is shown printed onto a single printed wiring card. An array of such cards can be fabricated into a radiant energy lens. The character of the lens is determined by the physical dimensions of the printed wiring cards and the electrical length of the printed transmission lines.