Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a tunable dual spectrum antenna aperture including a RF antenna having first and second portions, wherein the first portion comprises a photoconductor material having a conductive state and a non-conductive state, and an IR sensor to detect IR energy. The state of the first portion determines a size of the RF antenna.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a tunable dual spectrum antenna aperture including a RF antenna having first and second portions, wherein the first portion comprises a photoconductor material having a conductive state and a non-conductive state, and an IR sensor to detect IR energy. The state of the first portion determines a size of the RF antenna.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide methods and apparatus for processing radio-frequency (RF) signals using a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). The PIC comprises a substrate having integrated lasers and signal paths. Each signal path is configured to receive a single laser signal from the lasers. Each signal path comprises an electro-optic modulator (EOM), an optical butler matrix, and a photodetector. The EOM is communicatively coupled to the one or more lasers and is configured to generate an output optical signal by modulating the single laser signal based on an input radio frequency (RF) signal. The optical butler matrix is communicatively coupled to each of the one or more signal paths and is configured to generate an optical beamformed signal from the output optical signal. The photodetector is configured to convert the optical beamformed signal to an output RF signal.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit. The photonic integrated circuit includes: a plurality of antenna elements, an element of the plurality of antenna elements having an electrical port and including: a first laser configured to produce laser light of a first wavelength; and a first radiative patch conditionally connected to the electrical port and connected, by an optical connection, to the laser, the first radiative patch including, as a major component, a semiconductor material configured to be conductive when illuminated by light having the first wavelength, and to be nonconductive when not illuminated, the first radiative patch being configured, when conductive, to convert an electric signal received at the electrical port to radiated electromagnetic waves, or to convert received electromagnetic waves to an electrical signal at the electrical port.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide methods and apparatus for processing radio-frequency (RF) signals using a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). The PIC comprises a substrate having integrated lasers and signal paths. Each signal path is configured to receive a single laser signal from the lasers. Each signal path comprises an electro-optic modulator (EOM), an optical butler matrix, and a photodetector. The EOM is communicatively coupled to the one or more lasers and is configured to generate an output optical signal by modulating the single laser signal based on an input radio frequency (RF) signal. The optical butler matrix is communicatively coupled to each of the one or more signal paths and is configured to generate an optical beamformed signal from the output optical signal. The photodetector is configured to convert the optical beamformed signal to an output RF signal.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit. The photonic integrated circuit includes: a plurality of antenna elements, an element of the plurality of antenna elements having an electrical port and including: a first laser configured to produce laser light of a first wavelength; and a first radiative patch conditionally connected to the electrical port and connected, by an optical connection, to the laser, the first radiative patch including, as a major component, a semiconductor material configured to be conductive when illuminated by light having the first wavelength, and to be nonconductive when not illuminated, the first radiative patch being configured, when conductive, to convert an electric signal received at the electrical port to radiated electromagnetic waves, or to convert received electromagnetic waves to an electrical signal at the electrical port.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit. The photonic integrated circuit includes: a plurality of antenna elements, an element of the plurality of antenna elements having an electrical port and including: a first laser configured to produce laser light of a first wavelength; and a first radiative patch conditionally connected to the electrical port and connected, by an optical connection, to the laser, the first radiative patch including, as a major component, a semiconductor material configured to be conductive when illuminated by light having the first wavelength, and to be nonconductive when not illuminated, the first radiative patch being configured, when conductive, to convert an electric signal received at the electrical port to radiated electromagnetic waves, or to convert received electromagnetic waves to an electrical signal at the electrical port.

Abstract: A multi-polarization radio frequency (RF) antenna includes an array of impulse sensors that are capable of detecting RF signals within a surrounding environment. In some embodiments, antennas are provided for use within the high frequency (HF) band. The array of impulse sensors may include, for example, one or more B-dot sensors and/or one or more D-dot sensors. Various different antenna configurations are provided that are capable of operation with multiple different polarizations.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit. The photonic integrated circuit includes: a plurality of antenna elements, an element of the plurality of antenna elements having an electrical port and including: a first laser configured to produce laser light of a first wavelength; and a first radiative patch conditionally connected to the electrical port and connected, by an optical connection, to the laser, the first radiative patch including, as a major component, a semiconductor material configured to be conductive when illuminated by light having the first wavelength, and to be nonconductive when not illuminated, the first radiative patch being configured, when conductive, to convert an electric signal received at the electrical port to radiated electromagnetic waves, or to convert received electromagnetic waves to an electrical signal at the electrical port.

Abstract: A multi-polarization radio frequency (RF) antenna includes an array of impulse sensors that are capable of detecting RF signals within a surrounding environment. In some embodiments, antennas are provided for use within the high frequency (HF) band. The array of impulse sensors may include, for example, one or more B-dot sensors and/or one or more D-dot sensors. Various different antenna configurations are provided that are capable of operation with multiple different polarizations.

Abstract: A system for processing electromagnetic waves in a radar system is disclosed. The system includes a transmitter operable to transmit operating waves and calibration waves, one or more receivers operable to receive reflected calibration waves and operating waves, and a system controller operable to process the received calibration waves and operating waves. The system controller may process the received waves by generating a threshold signal based on the calibration waves, and comparing the threshold signal to the operating waves. The system controller may also process operating waves and calibration waves in accordance with one or more signal conditioning algorithms. Additionally, the system controller may display an image representing a target on a display by comparing received operating waves with the generated threshold signal.

Abstract: A system for processing electromagnetic waves in a radar system is disclosed. The system includes a transmitter operable to transmit operating waves and calibration waves, one or more receivers operable to receive reflected calibration waves and operating waves, and a system controller operable to process the received calibration waves and operating waves. The system controller may process the received waves by generating a threshold signal based on the calibration waves, and comparing the threshold signal to the operating waves. The system controller may also process operating waves and calibration waves in accordance with one or more signal conditioning algorithms. Additionally, the system controller may display an image representing a target on a display by comparing received operating waves with the generated threshold signal.

Abstract: Generating an image matrix includes accessing a round-trip time matrix for a space having points. The round-trip time matrix describes an estimated round-trip time for a signal to travel from a transmit antenna, to a point, and to a receive antenna. Signals reflected from an object of the space are received at the receive antennas. The following are repeated for at least a subset of the points to generate an image matrix: select a point of the subset of points; for each receive antenna, establish a waveform of a signal received by a receive antenna and identify a waveform value of the established waveform that corresponds to the selected point according to the round-trip time matrix; and combine the waveform values for the selected point to yield an image value for the selected point. The image matrix is generated from the image values.

Abstract: A coaxial cavity antenna including a cylindrical inner conductor sized for propagation of electromagnetic signals in a preselected frequency range. The coaxial antenna also includes a cylindrical outer conductor positioned coaxial with the inner conductor, and having a diameter larger than the inner conductor. The outer conductor has an aperture ring disposed at an end of the outer conductor. The outer conductor is positioned with respect to the inner conductor to form a cavity between the inner conductor and the outer conductor. The cavity is sized for propagating electromagnetic signals in the preselected frequency range. The coaxial cavity antenna also includes a plurality of aperture teeth radially oriented and disposed around the aperture ring, and an iris ring positioned inside the cavity at a predetermined distance from the aperture ring.

Abstract: An antenna system that includes a plurality of mounting plates arranged in a generally circular configuration. Each mounting plate has an inside surface and an outside surface. Each antenna element has a high frequency end and a low frequency end. The low frequency end of each antenna element is mounted to the inside surface of one of the mounting plates such that the high frequency ends of opposed antenna elements face each other. The high frequency ends of opposed antennas are separated by one wavelength of the signal frequency received at the high frequency end. The antenna system also includes a beamforming network having a plurality of input ports equal to the number of antenna elements. Each antenna element is coupled to the beamforming network through a respective input port.

Abstract: A conformal switched beam array antenna (10) is provided which includes a plurality of antenna elements (14) that are mounted onto a curved (16) or a planar surface (28) and that are arranged into a plurality of arrays (22). The antenna elements (14) in each array (22) are arranged in a hexagonal array with one antenna element (14) in the center of each hexagonal array space. A plurality of multiple-throw switches (34), a RF power divider or power combiner (42), and a digital programmer (46) cooperate to select antenna elements (14) in the direction of a given target, and also cooperate to reduce the required number of phase shifters (40) and amplifiers (38 or 58) to a fraction of the total number of antenna elements (14).