Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation

David W Cripe

Jeremiah Damien Wolf

Bryan S McCoy

Scott L Patten

Ross Keith Wilcoxon

Don L Landt

Nathan P Lower

William E Rhoden

Anders P Walker

Forest P Dixon

James B West

Ryan Legge

Gerard A Woychik

Robert P Campbell

Chenggang Xie

Russell David Wyse

Michael L Hageman

Matilda Gabriela Livadaru

Jonathan P Doane

Robert Andrew Kertis

Theodore Jay Hoffmann

Jeffrey L Box

Luke R Porisch

The mixer-first topology of receivers do not include low-noise amplifiers (LNA) preceding the mixer. The Mixer-First topology of radio receivers utilizes a direct-conversion quadrature mixer to down convert an RF signal to baseband, where a Hilbert Transform filter is used for sideband selection. When a switching mixer is used, the mixer-first receiver is capable of extremely high dynamic range and linearity. The downfall of the mixer-first topology is poor out-of-band signal rejection. A mixer-first receiver is described which achieves third-harmonic rejection without bandpass filtering proceeding the mixer.

Mixer-first radio receiver circuitry

A synthesized non-Foster time-variant filter is disclosed for matching impedance. The synthesized non-Foster time-variant filter may include a negative-inductor circuit and a negative-capacitor circuit. The negative-inductor circuit and the negative-capacitor circuit may be configured to be dynamically controlled based on a known transmit signal. The negative-inductor circuit may be configured to synthesize a negative inductance of a range of inductances. The negative-capacitor circuit may include a plurality of capacitors coupled together in parallel. Each capacitor may include a first capacitor end and a second capacitor end. The negative-capacitor circuit may be configured to synthesize a negative capacitance of a range of capacitances. The negative-capacitor circuit may include a plurality of inductors coupled together in series. Each inductor may include a first inductor end and a second inductor end.

Non-foster circuit for antenna broadbanding using time variant filters

Phased array antennas, such as a multi-function aperture, are limited in performance and reliability by traditional air-cooled thermal management systems. A fuel-cooled multi-function aperture passes engine fuel through channels within the ribs of the multi-function aperture to provide better heat transfer than can be achieved through air cooled systems. The increased heat transfer and thermal management results in a multi-function aperture with improved performance and reliability.

Heat exchanger rib for multi-function aperture

Phased array antennas, such as a multi-function aperture, are limited in performance and reliability by traditional air-cooled thermal management systems. A fuel-cooled multi-function aperture passes engine fuel through heat exchangers that surround the multi-function aperture to provide better heat transfer than can be achieved through air cooling systems. The increased heat transfer and thermal management results in a multi-function aperture with improved performance and reliability.

Fuel cooled multi-function aperture

A half-rhombic antenna includes an addressable switch at the apex. The addressable switch is opened or closed base on the operating frequency of the antenna. The addressable switch is open when operating at odd multiples of the lowest frequency and closed when operating at even multiples of the lowest frequency. The feedpoint includes a tuning element to adjust impedance within a range defined by the operating range of the switched antenna.

Efficient frequency agile tactical HF antenna

An antenna has a rotating magnetic dipole and a rotating electric dipole having parallel axes of rotation, but orthogonal magnetic and electric vectors. The rotational frequency defines the RF carrier to create the electric and magnetic fields necessary to generate the Poynting vector in the immediate vicinity of the antenna. Because there is no energy required to maintain the fields of a permanent magnet or electret, the only power input is that overcoming mechanical friction, and eddy current and hysteretic losses in adjacent conducting structures.

Poynting vector synthesis via coaxially rotating electric and magnetic dipoles

A system and method for operating a system including at least one active electronically scanned array (AESA) element incorporates drain voltage amplifier control (DRAVAC) to maintain the power amplifiers of the AESA elements at a constant gain compression level. A processor of the AESA system may dynamically program, monitor, or adjust each individual array element or component thereof. As the RF output power of the power amplifiers varies, constant gain compression is achieved by dynamically adjusting the RF input power and drain voltage to the power amplifiers. An AESA element may incorporate built-in self-test circuitry for detecting faults in the power supply to the power amplifiers as well as calibrating and calculating RF output power for a given input power by controlling the bias of a pass device serving as the amplifier current source.

Active electronically scanned array with power amplifier drain bias tapering for optimal power added efficiency

An antenna array system can include a plurality of sheet metal structures arranged substantially parallel to one another. Each sheet metal structure can include a row of antenna elements and the plurality of sheet metal structures can form an array of antenna elements. The antenna array system can include a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) each of which is mechanically and electrically coupled to a respective sheet metal structure. Each sheet metal structure extends beyond the PCB to which it is mechanically coupled. The antenna array system can include at least one electromagnetic shielding structure configured to electromagnetically shield one or more circuit components from the array of antenna elements. The antenna array system can also include one or more alignment structures configured to provide mechanical rigidity to the array of antenna elements and to allow for spacing between pairs of adjacent sheet metal structures.

Thin metal ultra-wideband antenna array systems and methods

Piezoelectric transistors with Schottky contacts and power conversion applications utilizing such piezoelectric transistors are disclosed. A piezoelectric transistor configured in accordance with the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be fabricated to behave as a controllable/switchable active device with an intrinsic anti-parallel diode. Piezoelectric transistors configured in this manner may be utilized in power amplifiers, power converters, as well as in a variety of electronic systems/applications.

Piezoelectric transistors with intrinsic anti-parallel diodes

An antenna assembly includes a rotor, a first end component, and a second end component. The rotor includes a rotor body and a plurality of magnets configured to output a first magnetic field. The rotor body defines a plurality of slots extending radially inward from an exterior surface of the rotor body. Each magnet is disposed in a corresponding slot. The first end component includes a first end component body and a plurality of first extensions extending from the first end component body and contacting a first set of the plurality of magnets. The second end component includes a second end component body and a plurality of second extensions extending from the second end component body and contacting the first set. The first end component and the second end component are configured to output an electromagnetic signal.

Systems and methods for switched reluctance magnetic mechtenna

A bi-directional Class D half-bridge power amplifier circuit incorporates soft switching components to reduce switching losses by commutating the voltage across the high and low switches of the half-bridge. The power amplifier may further be embodied in an AC power inverter configured to generate 60 Hz sinusoidal current from a DC power source. The AC power inverter may further incorporate an active filter circuit including a current shunt resistor and negative feedback loop to attenuate ripple current from the DC power source by supplying a compensating ripple voltage to the AC power inverter.

Bi-directional soft-switching class-D power amplifier

A switch comprises two photoconductive semiconductors and two corresponding laser diodes driven by opposing voltage sources. The two photoconductive semiconductors are connected in series between a high and low voltage source with a radio frequency output at a center node between the photoconductive semiconductors. Each photoconductive semiconductor may include one ohmic contact and one schottky contact for superior bandwidth and efficiency.

Photoconductive semiconductor amplifier and switch

A piezoelectric transistor includes an input terminal, a piezoresistive element, an output terminal, an insulator, a control terminal, and a piezoelectric actuator. The piezoresistive element is electrically positioned between the input terminal and the output terminal. The insulator is positioned between the piezoresistive element and the piezoelectric actuator. The insulator electrically insulates the output terminal from the control terminal. The control terminal is configured to control activation of a piezoelectric actuator.

Self-neutralized piezoelectric transistor

An antenna system and related method are disclosed for an electrically small antenna of variable geometry capable of a harmonically pure resonant radiation pattern over a broadband coverage of frequency selection. One geometrical embodiment comprises a multiple loop antenna system is configured to radiate a switched signal via the multiple antenna elements to inhibit transmission of any of the harmonics of the signal. An additional geometrical embodiment comprises a cylindrical shell with one or more interior center conductors to overcome radiation resistance and radiate a signal pattern of desirable toroidal shape free from undesirable harmonics.

Growing community of inventors

Mount Vernon, IA, United States of America

David W Cripe