Abstract: Described embodiments include an electromagnetic beam steering apparatus. The apparatus includes a first blazed transmission diffraction grating component configured to angularly deflect an electromagnetic beam at a first blaze angle. The apparatus includes a second blazed transmission diffraction grating component configured to angularly deflect an electromagnetic beam at a second blaze angle. The apparatus includes an electromagnetic beam steering structure configured to independently rotate the first blazed transmission diffraction grating component and the second blazed transmission diffraction grating component about a coaxial axis such that an electromagnetic beam incident on the first blazed transmission diffraction grating component exits the second blazed transmission diffraction grating component as a steered electromagnetic beam.

Abstract: A concealed radar imaging system includes a visible light mirror, a radar device positioned behind the visible light mirror, and a processing circuit coupled to the radar device. The visible light mirror includes a reflective layer configured to reflect visible light, and allow a radar signal to pass therethrough. The radar device is configured to transmit the radar signal, receive a reflection of the radar signal, and generate reflection data based on the reflected radar signal. The processing circuit is configured to control operation of the radar device, receive the reflection data from the radar device, and generate imaging data based on the transmitted radar signal and the reflection data.

Abstract: Modulation patterns for surface scattering antennas provide desired antenna pattern attributes such as reduced side lobes and reduced grating lobes.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with mode conversion for electromagnetic field modification. A mode converting structure (holographic metamaterial) is formed with a distribution of dielectric constants chosen to convert an electromagnetic radiation pattern from a first mode to a second mode to attain a target electromagnetic radiation pattern that is different from the input electromagnetic radiation pattern. A solution to a holographic equation provides a sufficiently accurate approximation of a distribution of dielectric constants that can be used to form a mode converting device for use with one or more transmission lines, such as waveguides. One or more optimization algorithms can be used to improve the efficiency of the mode conversion.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an occupant monitoring system and a processing circuit coupled to the occupant monitoring system. The occupant monitoring system is configured to acquire occupant data regarding an occupant of the vehicle. The processing circuit is configured to receive the occupant data; determine a vehicle operation command based on the occupant data, the vehicle operation command configured to affect operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is in a robotic driving mode; and provide the vehicle operation command to a vehicle system.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system and method. A system includes a first and second digital imaging devices. Each digital imaging device is configured to capture digital images of a surface traveled by a vehicle. A digital image correlator is configured to (i) correlate a first digital image of the surface captured by a first digital imaging device at a first time and a second digital image of the surface captured by a second digital imaging device at a subsequent second time, and (ii) determine a correlation vector. The first and second imaging devices are separated by a known distance. A kinematics circuit is configured to determine in response to the correlation vector an incremental translation and rotation of the vehicle. The system includes a navigation circuit configured to combine at least two instances of the incremental translation and rotation into data indicative of travel by the vehicle.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a gas supply for providing a base gas, a generator configured to excite the base gas to produce a metastable gas mixture that includes a metastable gas, and a housing. The housing includes a wall shaped to contain the metastable gas mixture and selectively enclose a reactive element of a target component. Interaction between the metastable gas and at least one of a coupling material and the reactive element transfers energy to selectively heat the at least one of the coupling material and the target component.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an electromagnetic beam steering apparatus. The apparatus includes a first planar component including a first artificially structured effective media having a first tangential refractive index gradient configured to deflect incident electromagnetic beams at a first deflection angle. The apparatus includes a second planar component includes a second artificially structured effective media having a second tangential refractive index gradient configured to deflect incident electromagnetic beams at a second deflection angle. The apparatus includes an electromagnetic beam steering structure configured to independently rotate the first planar component and the second planar component about a coaxial axis such that an electromagnetic beam incident on the first planar component exits the second planar component as a steered electromagnetic beam.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an electromagnetic beam steering apparatus. The apparatus includes a first blazed transmission diffraction grating component configured to angularly deflect an electromagnetic beam at a first blaze angle. The apparatus includes a second blazed transmission diffraction grating component configured to angularly deflect an electromagnetic beam at a second blaze angle. The apparatus includes an electromagnetic beam steering structure configured to independently rotate the first blazed transmission diffraction grating component and the second blazed transmission diffraction grating component about a coaxial axis such that an electromagnetic beam incident on the first blazed transmission diffraction grating component exits the second blazed transmission diffraction grating component as a steered electromagnetic beam.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an electromagnetic beam steering apparatus. The apparatus includes a first electromagnetic beam deflecting structure including a first artificially structured effective media having at least two first electronically-selectable tangential refractive index gradients. Each electronically-selectable tangential refractive index gradient of the at least two first electronically selectable tangential refractive index gradients deflecting an incident electromagnetic beam at a respective first deflection angle. The apparatus includes a second electromagnetic beam deflecting structure including a second artificially structured effective media having at least two second electronically-selectable tangential refractive index gradients. Each electronically-selectable tangential refractive index gradient of the at least two second electronically selectable tangential refractive index gradients deflecting an incident electromagnetic beam at a respective second deflection angle.

Abstract: A three-dimensional map of an environment with buildings is used to computationally predict locations and times of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) blockages. For example, in urban environments some of the GNSS satellites are occluded by buildings. These blockages can be modeled. A computing system can make a map showing which satellites are or are not visible as a function both of location and time. The map can be used by a mobile GNSS receiver to determine which satellites to use or whether to use a backup system for navigation. The system can determine when a given satellite will enter or leave a GNSS receiver view during a route. The map can be stored in the GNSS receiver (or a host of the GNSS) or can be stored by a network service. This mapping can be used to predict multi-path effects of a satellite transmission at a location.

Abstract: A system for generating, forming and receiving electromagnetic transmissions according to a dynamically selectable electromagnetic pattern, beam pattern or beam form can use a selectably altered backplane structure. A spatially dependent pattern of amplitudes and/or phases can be formed by selecting a state of the selectably altered backplane structure from a set of states. The altered backplane structure can include a movable mechanical structure that causes a set of patterns of spatially dependent amplitudes of electromagnetic energy depending on a position of the structure. A beam pattern from a set of beam patterns can be selected by selecting a state (e.g., the position) of the backplane structure that creates a set of spatially dependent amplitudes of electromagnetic energy.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system, article of manufacture, a system implemented in a machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, and computer-implemented method. A computer-implemented method includes electronically receiving a digital image of person observing a subject person. The method includes determining from the digital image an interest-level in the subject person by the imaged person. The method includes electronically outputting the determined interest-level. In an embodiment, the method includes storing at least one digital image of the monitored person in a non-transitory computer readable storage media.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an electromagnetic beam steering apparatus. The apparatus includes a first blazed transmission diffraction grating component configured to angularly deflect an electromagnetic beam at a first blaze angle. The apparatus includes a second blazed transmission diffraction grating component configured to angularly deflect an electromagnetic beam at a second blaze angle. The apparatus includes an electromagnetic beam steering structure configured to independently rotate the first blazed transmission diffraction grating component and the second blazed transmission diffraction grating component about a coaxial axis such that an electromagnetic beam incident on the first blazed transmission diffraction grating component exits the second blazed transmission diffraction grating component as a steered electromagnetic beam.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with mode conversion for electromagnetic field modification. A mode converting structure (holographic metamaterial) is formed with a distribution of dielectric constants chosen to convert an input electromagnetic field pattern from a first mode to a second mode to attain a target electromagnetic field pattern (near or far) that is different from the input electromagnetic field pattern. A solution to a holographic equation provides a sufficiently accurate approximation of a distribution of dielectric constants that can be used in conjunction with an electromagnetic radiation device with a known output field pattern to attain a target field pattern. A voxel-based discretization of the distribution of dielectric constants can be used to generate the mode converting structure and/or to facilitate the optimization algorithms. One or more optimization algorithms can be used to improve the efficiency of the mode conversion.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an electromagnetic beam steering apparatus. The apparatus includes a first electromagnetic beam deflecting structure including a first artificially structured effective media having at least two first electronically-selectable tangential refractive index gradients. Each electronically-selectable tangential refractive index gradient of the at least two first electronically selectable tangential refractive index gradients deflecting an incident electromagnetic beam at a respective first deflection angle. The apparatus includes a second electromagnetic beam deflecting structure including a second artificially structured effective media having at least two second electronically-selectable tangential refractive index gradients. Each electronically-selectable tangential refractive index gradient of the at least two second electronically selectable tangential refractive index gradients deflecting an incident electromagnetic beam at a respective second deflection angle.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an electromagnetic beam steering apparatus. The apparatus includes a first blazed transmission diffraction grating component configured to angularly deflect an electromagnetic beam at a first blaze angle. The apparatus includes a second blazed transmission diffraction grating component configured to angularly deflect an electromagnetic beam at a second blaze angle. The apparatus includes an electromagnetic beam steering structure configured to independently rotate the first blazed transmission diffraction grating component and the second blazed transmission diffraction grating component about a coaxial axis such that an electromagnetic beam incident on the first blazed transmission diffraction grating component exits the second blazed transmission diffraction grating component as a steered electromagnetic beam.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an electromagnetic beam steering apparatus. The apparatus includes a first planar refractive component including a first tangential refractive index gradient deflecting an electromagnetic beam at a first deflection angle. The apparatus includes a second planar refractive component including a second tangential refractive index gradient deflecting an electromagnetic beam at a second deflection angle. The apparatus includes an electromagnetic beam steering structure configured to independently rotate the first planar refractive component and the second planar refractive component about a coaxial axis such that an electromagnetic beam incident on the first planar refractive component exits the second planar refractive component as a steered electromagnetic beam.

Abstract: A lightweight transport vessel transports compressed natural gas underwater without needing to liquefy the gas for transport.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system and method. A computer-implemented method includes receiving electronic data indicative of at least two incremental movements of a vehicle moving over a stochastic surface during a period of time proximate to an event. The electronic data is responsive to a correlation vector between a feature of the stochastic surface in a first digital image captured at a first time by a first digital imaging device carried by the vehicle and the feature of the stochastic surface in a second digital image captured at a subsequent second time by a second digital imaging device carried by the vehicle. The method includes determining in response to the received electronic data a behavior of the vehicle during the period of time proximate to the event. The method includes electronically outputting data indicative of the determined behavior of the vehicle during the period of time proximate to the event.