Hughes Aircraft Company

Hughes Electronics Corporation

Gregory R Sasaki

David B Cohn

Robin A Reeder

Jon M Eastman

Michael P Hasselbeck

A method and apparatus for adjusting an antenna to maximize the strength of a program information signal. A first embodiment of the apparatus includes a remote control comprising a user input interface, for accepting at least one user input command and for translating the user input command into at least one command signal; a remote control receiver, for receiving a first signal from a controlled device, wherein the first signal is indicative of a measured quality of a second signal received by the controlled device; a remote control processor, communicatively coupled to the user input interface and the remote control receiver, for processing the received first signals, and for generating coded signals according to the command signal; a remote control transmitter, communicatively coupled to the remote control processor, for transmitting the coded signals to the controlled device to execute the user command; and a user output interface communicatively coupled to the remote control processor, for presenting the processed received signals. A second embodiment includes a set top box comprising a first set top box receiver for receiving a first signal having program information; a second set top box receiver for receiving coded command signals from a remote control; a set top box processor for determining at least one parameter indicative of a measured quality of the first signal; and a set top box transmitter, communicatively coupled to the processor, for transmitting a second signal having information including the parameter to the remote control.

Remote control signal level meter

A waveguide coupler for coupling electromagnetic power between a first rectangular waveguide and a second rectangular waveguide includes a one-dimensional intermediate waveguide formed of two plates spaced apart by a distance equal to a common height of the two waveguides. This enables a wave emanating from the first waveguide to spread apart transversely so as to equal the width of the second waveguide, the width of the second waveguide being greater than the width of the first waveguide. A cylindrical lens is located between the intermediate waveguide and the second waveguide to provide for a conversion between a cylindrical wavefront and a planar wavefront. The coupler is operative in reciprocal fashion such that a wave emanating from the first waveguide spreads out in width and is then converted to a planar waveguide prior to entering the second waveguide; and a wave emanating from the second waveguide is converted to a wave of contracting width for entry into the first waveguide. In each of the first and the second waveguides, the waveguide has an open end which serves as a port by which electromagnetic power is coupled between the waveguide and the intermediate waveguide. In an alternative embodiment, the intermediate waveguide may be fabricated as a block of solid electromagnetic-wave propagating material.

Coupler for waveguides of differing cross section

A radiation protection system is operative within an optical section of a radiation imaging system for protection of an array of detectors of the radiation. The protection system is formed of one or more spark boards arranged in series along a path of radiation propagation, the spark boards having a central window through which the radiation propagates. On a front side of each spark board are arranged a set of electrodes disposed about a periphery of the window. Ground pads are disposed on a back side of each board in registration with the electrodes on the front side to form therewith a set of capacitors. A capacitive-discharge power-supply circuit is connected to a first pair of electrodes in a first one of said boards. In the presence of excessive incident radiation power, a capacitor of the power supply circuit is switched to apply a high voltage across said first pair of electrodes, the voltage being high enough to initiate an arc across the window in said first board. The capacitors and electrodes are connected serially to allow a current of one arc to charge a succeeding capacitor which, upon being charged, initiates a further arc in a process which continues until all arcs have been struck. The array of arcs blocks radiation so as to protect the detectors.

Plural arc radiation protector

In an imaging system employing an array of detectors and an optical system for focusing rays of an image upon the detectors, there is provided a protection system in the form of a cell of gaseous lasing material disposed along a path of the imaging rays. A pair of electrodes and a supply of electric power induces an electric discharge through the lasing medium to heat the medium so as to enhance interaction between intense laser radiation which might inadvertently or deliberately, be directed toward the array of detectors. The laser radiation induces still further heating of the lasing medium with a resultant absorption of a relatively narrow frequency band of radiation, at the lasing frequency, so as to prevent damage to the array of detectors while allowing scene radiation outside of the narrow band to be received by the detectors. A further detector may be located offset from a path of propagation of the laser radiation for decting fluorescent rays produced by interaction of the laser radiation with the lasing medium. If desired, a shutter activated by a signal of the further fluorescent detector may be employed to provide additional protection of the array of detectors from the laser radiation.

Growing community of inventors

Long Beach, CA, United States of America

Gregory R Sasaki