The Boeing Company

Corey McKinney Thacker

Larry Leon Savage

John E Rogers

Preston Tyler Bushey

John Dalton Williams

Ted Ronald Dabrowski

Jarrod Douglas Fortinberry

Colin Anthony Minor Diehl

Robert Alan Smith

Timothy Doyle Messer

Michael Francis Mitchell

Enrique Jesus Ruiz

Colin A M Diehl

A system for remote sensing of air gaps includes a substrate and a capacitor sensor array attached to the substrate, where the capacitor sensor array includes a plurality of capacitor sensors. The system also includes a transmit antenna attached to the substrate, and a microprocessor electrically connected to the transmit antenna and the capacitor sensor array. The microprocessor is configured to switch on and off at least one capacitor sensor of the plurality of capacitor sensors and to transmit determined air gap measurements using the transmit antenna.

Systems and methods for remote sensing of air gaps using a capacitor sensor array

A dielectric lens is disclosed comprising a center portion that extends along a cylinder having a central axis and a plurality of spoke portions that are attached to the center portion and extend to a spherical perimeter region in a radial direction from the center portion. The plurality of spoke portions includes at least a first monolithic spoke portion extending from the center portion to the spherical perimeter region and the center portion and the plurality of spoke portions define a plurality of cavity regions among the plurality of spoke portions. The center portion, the cylinder, the plurality of spoke portions, and the plurality of cavity regions are included in a gradient index (GRIN) dielectric lens having a plurality of relative permittivities that are based on a radial distance from the center portion.

Spoke dielectric lens

A dielectric element includes a bottom surface, a top surface, and a plurality of cells formed vertically between the bottom surface and the top surface. Each cell of the plurality of cells includes a cell sidewall that extends below the top surface toward the bottom surface. The cell sidewall forms an aperture in the top surface and tapers from the top surface toward a center of a respective cell. Each cell sidewall is formed of a dielectric material.

Periodic tapered structure

An antenna assembly includes a composite substrate. One or more first antenna elements are secured to the composite substrate. A microstrip feed network is secured to the composite substrate. The first antenna elements are electrically coupled to the microstrip feed network. A switch is electrically connected to the microstrip feed network. The switch is configured to selectively control the first antenna element(s). A dielectric lens may be disposed on the composite substrate over the first antenna element(s).

Steerable antenna assembly

A radio frequency (RF) antenna including a patch antenna element, a microstrip transmission line, a ground plane, a waveguide, and a dielectric lens. The patch antenna element is disposed on a top surface of a first substrate of the RF antenna, and includes a slot aperture through which the patch antenna element is configured to be electromagnetically coupled to the microstrip transmission line. The microstrip transmission line is disposed between the first substrate and a second substrate. The ground plane is disposed on a third substrate. The microstrip transmission line is configured to be electromagnetically coupled to the ground plane. The waveguide includes a proximal aperture attached to the top surface and enclosing the patch antenna element. The waveguide includes a distal aperture opposite the proximal aperture, and the waveguide is configured to be electromagnetically coupled to the patch antenna element. The dielectric lens is disposed in the distal aperture.

Dielectric lens antenna

A lens includes a first hemispherical refractive structure having a first effective refractive index based on a first fill pattern of the first hemispherical refractive structure. The lens further includes a second hemispherical refractive structure having a second effective refractive index based on a second fill pattern of the second hemispherical refractive structure. The second hemispherical refractive structure is arranged as a hemispherical shell coupled to and concentric with the first hemispherical refractive structure. The second effective refractive index is different than the first effective refractive index.

Lens with concentric hemispherical refractive structures

An apparatus includes a center portion and a plurality of spoke portions that are in contact with the center portion and that extend to a perimeter region. The plurality of spoke portions include at least a first monolithic spoke portion extending from the center portion to the perimeter region, and the center portion and the plurality of spoke portions define a plurality of cavity regions among the plurality of spoke portions. The center portion, the plurality of spoke portions, and the plurality of cavity regions are included in a gradient index (GRIN) lens having a plurality of effective dielectric constants that are based on a radial distance from the center portion.

Gradient index (GRIN) spoke lens and method of operation

A radio frequency (RF) assembly that includes a microstrip to waveguide transition is described herein. In one example, the RF assembly can include a substrate, a microstrip, and a waveguide. The substrate can include an antenna that includes an antenna slot. A portion of the microstrip, such as an end of the microstrip, can be disposed within and/or underneath the antenna slot. The microstrip can be embedded within the substrate and can be electrically coupled to the antenna. At least a portion of the waveguide can be disposed over the antenna slot.

Microstrip to waveguide transition systems and methods

A method and apparatus for tuning a metamaterial cell. A set of electromagnetic properties of a tunable element associated with the metamaterial cell may be tuned. A resonance of the metamaterial cell may be adjusted in response to the set of electromagnetic properties being tuned. A range of frequencies over which the metamaterial cell provides a negative index of refraction may be changed in response to the resonance of the metamaterial cell changing.

Ferrite-enhanced metamaterials

A steerable antenna assembly ('SAA') for receiving a plurality of incident radio frequency ('RF') signals at a plurality of incident angles is disclosure. The SAA includes an approximately spherical dielectric lens (&#x201c;SDL&#x201d;), a waveguide aperture block (&#x201c;WAB&#x201d;), a switch aperture matrix (&#x201c;SAM&#x201d;), and a radial aperture combiner (&#x201c;RAC&#x201d;). The SDL receives and focuses the plurality of incident RF signals creating a plurality of focused RF signals at a plurality of focal points approximately along the back surface of the SDL. The WAB is positioned adjacent to the back surface of the SDL and receives the plurality of focused RF signals. The SAM electronically steers a beam of a radiation pattern produced by the SAA and switch between the pluralities of focused RF signals based on electronically steering the beam. The RAC produces a received RF signal from the plurality of focused RF signals.

Steerable antenna assembly utilizing a dielectric lens

An apparatus includes a waveguide. The waveguide includes a waveguide wall having a shape associated with a dominant propagation mode. The waveguide includes a first dielectric material having a cross-sectional area that varies along a length of a portion of the waveguide.

Apparatus including a dielectric material disposed in a waveguide, wherein the dielectric permittivity is lower in a mode combiner portion than in a mode transition portion

A method and apparatus for managing a magnetic permeability of a core. The apparatus comprises a core and a plurality of electrodes positioned relative to the core. The core comprises a plurality of liquid crystals and a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles. Changing a voltage applied to the plurality of electrodes changes a magnetic permeability of the core.

Growing community of inventors

Madison, AL, United States of America

Corey McKinney Thacker