Trw Limited

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Terabeam Corporation

Twr Inc.

Eric L Upton

Mark Kintis

Elizabeth Twyford Kunkee

David Lawrence Rollins

Lawrence J Lembo

Richard A Fields

Stephen R Perkins

Juan C Carillo, Jr

Bruce A Ferguson

Michael G Wickham

James M Anderson

Timothy A Yokote

Grant J Stockton

Arthur G Enyedy

Dirk K Brandis

Martin P Smith

Thomas J Kolze

Scott Adam Stephens

Andrew Donovan Smith

Barry Ross Allen

Ronald P Smith

Gershon Akerling

Vincent C Moretti

Donald R Martin

Scott W Sparrold

William Marvin Skones

David Joseph Brunone

Shimen K Claxton

Craig R Talbott

Edward M Garber

Bert K Oyama

Kenneth L Brown

Albert O Okorogu

Yong Guo

Donald L Tait

Joseph M Denney

Joseph M Denny

Robert M Ward, Jr

Franklin J Bayuk

A three-dimensional holographic array of radio-frequency (RF) diffraction gratings, each of which has lengths of conductive and insulating fluid that are selected and adjusted to provide a desired diffraction effect on incident RF radiation. The three-dimensional array functions analogously to an optical hologram, and is programmable to provide desired refraction and focusing effects on multiple RF incident beams, which may be selectively directed to receivers or, if interferers, ignored. Because the gratings employ conductive and insulating fluids, the array can be reprogrammed in near real time to adapt to changes in the incident RF radiation.

Radio frequency holographic transformer

A communications apparatus and method use tapped delay lines as multiplexers and demultiplexers. In one embodiment, a receiver () uses a tapped delay line () as a demultiplexer to acquire a burst communication at very high data rates in the range of 2.5 to 80 Gbps with low preamble overhead. A sliding window correlator () continually samples the delay line () to determine when a PN encoded word is contained therein. The transmission frequency is pre-acquired before any data is present through the use of a ring oscillator frequency calibration loop () that is imbedded within the tapped delay line ().

Burst communications apparatus and method using tapped delay lines

A correlative error detection system () for a signal equalizer () that corrects a distorted communications signal. The detection system () correlates a sequence of bits in a signal from an FFE and/or a DFE processor () with a predetermined sequence of correlation values. The detection system () includes a summing network () that sums the correlated signals. If the sequence of signal bits matches the sequence of correlation values, then the summed correlated signal will include a signal maxima. A peak detector () detects and holds the signal maxima so that a slow speed weight computer () can process the signal values to set weight values in the processors (). By knowing how often the sequence of bits that match the correlative values should occur in a random bit stream for an undistorted signal, the weight computer () can set the weight values to provide that magnitude of the bit sequence.

Adaptive equalizer matched filter error metric concept and apparatus

A signal equalizer that employs micro-electromechanical machine devices for the tap weight controllers. The equalizer includes a substrate on which is formed a forward transmission line rail and a return transmission line rail. A cantilever stanchion is also formed on the substrate that runs parallel with the transmission line rails. A series of spaced apart cantilevers are pivotally mounted to the cantilever stanchion, and extend over the transmission line rails to define a gap therebetween. A weight tap line is coupled to each cantilever, and is responsive to a DC weight signal that controls the position of the cantilever to set the gap between the cantilever and the transmission line rails. A distorted signal is coupled from the forward transmission line rail to the return transmission line rail through the cantilevers.

EHF equalizer implemented with MEMs tap weight controls

The present invention provides systems and methods that employ a continuously variable optical delay line to introduce a delay into a transmitted optical signal. The delay line comprises a holey fiber configured in a spiral layout, wherein one end of the fiber is operative to a reflective fluid reservoir and the other end in operative to an input port. A segmented piezoelectric actuator is employed to position a reflective fluid within the fiber, utilizing a commutated technique that continuously moves the fluid. A signal received at the input port is routed through the holey fiber at an angle of incidence to achieve total internal reflection. The signal traverses towards the reflective fluid, and reflects back towards the input port after coming into contact with the fluid's surface. The delay introduced into the signal is a function of the distance traveled through the delay line.

Systems and methods for a continuously variable optical delay line

A configurable circuit array that includes a matrix of cells, where each cell includes interconnected analog and/or digital circuit elements. The cells are fabricated on a common semiconductor substrate, and are electrically isolated from each other. The circuit elements in the cells are electrically coupled to circuit elements in other cells, and are electrically coupled to bonding pads by coaxial transmission lines capable of transmitting extremely high frequency signals. The transmission lines include a center conductor and first and second shield conductors, where the shield conductors prevent cross-talk interference. The transmission lines extend vertically from the substrate until they are a suitable distances above the circuit elements in the cell. From there, the transmission lines extend horizontally relative to the substrate to the opposite end connection point, where they again extend vertically down to the substrate.

Configurable amplifier array incorporating programmable EHF transmission lines

A semiconductor device, a microelectromechanical system package and a method of making the same utilize high performance vias for vertical IC packaging. A semiconductor die of the device/package has a substrate with integrated circuitry formed on a front side of the substrate. A metal bonding pad overlies the substrate on the front side of the substrate and is electrically connected to the integrated circuitry. A solder bump is located on the metal bonding pad. An electrically conductive via extends through the substrate from the metal bonding pad to a back side of the substrate where the via forms a side wall of a via hole. A plurality of the substrates are stacked on one another with the outer end of the solder bump of one substrate fitting within the via hole of an adjacent substrate. During reflow soldering, surface tension forces of the molten solder bump self-align the substrates.

High performance vias for vertical IC packaging

A window-mounted positionable collector comprising a base that is secured to a window. An inner rotatable hollow wedge-cut member may be rotated about the base to produce a first degree of freedom, while an outer rotatable hollow wedge-cut member may be rotated about a top end of the inner rotatable hollow wedge-cut member to provide a second degree a freedom. The combination of the first and second degrees of freedom enables the optical axis of an optical collector operatively coupled to the outer rotatable hollow wedge-cut member to be directed along any direction falling within a cone of angulation defined by acute angles corresponding to the angles of the wedge cuts defined in the rotatable hollow wedge cut members. In one embodiment, a cover is connected to a top end of the outer rotatable hollow wedge-cut member to form a sealed volume, whereby the apparatus may be secured to the window by applying a vacuum to the sealed volume.

Window-mounted positionable collector

A free space point-to-multipoint optical transceiver has a reflective element and an optical feed mounted on the reflective element. When the optical feed is coupled to a light source, the optical feed is positionable to direct light received from the light source onto a reflective surface of the reflective element. Light directed onto the reflective surface is reflected towards a remote location to be received by a receiver located at the remote location. By adjusting a position of the optical feed, the reflected light is aimed. Therefore, adjusting the position of the optical feed provides a technique to track moving remote locations and/or to target different remote locations.

Free space point-to-multipoint optical communication system and apparatus

A receiver ( ) for a wireless telecommunications system that provides relatively wideband signal processing of received signals without increased signal distortion so that multiple received signals can be simultaneously processed. The receiver ( ) includes a specialized LNA ( ), frequency down-converter ( ) and ADC ( ) to perform the wideband signal processing while maintaining receiver performance. The frequency down-converter ( ) employs a suitable mixer ( ), BPA ( ), attenuator ( ), and transformer ( ) that are tuned to provide the desired frequency down-conversion and amplitude control over the desired wideband. The down-converter devices are selected depending on the particular performance criteria of the ADC ( ). A specialized digital channelizer ( ) is included in the receiver ( ) that receives the digital signal from the ADC ( ), and separates the signals into the multiple channels. In one embodiment, the frequency down-conversion is performed in a single down-conversion process, and the ADC ( ) employs delta-sigma processing to provide digital conversion over the complete frequency band. In an alternate embodiment, the frequency down-conversion is performed in a double down-conversion process so that a less complex ADC ( ) can be used.

Wireless telecommunications multi-carrier receiver architecture

An apparatus for positioning an end effector and associated position controller. The apparatus comprises a plurality of bimorph members, generally elongated in shape, that are coupled end-to-end. In one embodiment, each bimorph member includes a pair of elongated piezoelectric bimorph elements that cause a localized deformation in the bimorph member when driven with an input voltage. Accordingly, each bimorph member can be caused to bend in opposite directions, as well as twist, depending on its drive voltages. In one configuration, four bimorph members are connected end-to-end, with the last bimorph member operatively coupled to the end effector, providing a five-degree of freedom positioner. A multi-channel position controller that provides a pair of correlative feedback loops for each channel is used to generate appropriate drive voltages based on a global feedback signal and a local feedback signal corresponding to a measured position of each channel's corresponding piezoelectric bimorph element.

Multiple degree of freedom bimorph positioner and controller

An optical transmission system includes an optical source for providing an input optical signal to an optical array having a plurality of delay lines, and by utilizing orthogonal code modulation for active optical wave component control, the optical signal split among the plurality of delay lines is phase and amplitude modulated for efficient transmission to a destination point.

Optical energy transmission system utilizing precise phase and amplitude control

In an analog-to-digital converter ( ), a method and apparatus compare ( ) an analog input signal ( ) with a reference signal ( ) to generate a decision signal ( ), and sum ( ) the analog input signal with a control value ( ) whose magnitude is determined by an accumulated value ( ), and whose sign is determined by the decision signal, thereby generating an error signal ( ). The method and apparatus further calculate ( ) a correlation value ( ) between the error signal and the decision signal, and accumulate ( ) the correlation value to produce the accumulated value, thereby adaptively compensating for an inaccuracy in the A/D converter.

Method and apparatus for adaptively compensating for an inaccuracy in an analog-to-digital converter

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Redondo Beach, CA, United States of America

Eric L Upton