Raytheon Technologies Corporation

Rtx Corporation

Rohr, Inc.

Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation

Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Gurkan Gok

Joseph V Mantese

Coy Bruce Wood

Jonathan Gilson

Goran Djuknic

Brenda J Lisitano

Sanjay Bajekal

Joseph Zacchio

Eric J Heims

Steven M Kestler

Geoffrey T Blackwell

Joseph B Wysocki

William R Shaw

John A Needham

Lawrence A Binek

Ying She

Zissis A Dardas

Haralambos Cordatos

John E Holowczak

Suman Dwari

Kenneth David Smith

John J Gangloff, Jr

Jeffrey L Box

Parikshith Channegowda

Kenneth Keese

Piezoelectric antennas may include a tuning mechanism. The tuning mechanism may adjust the operation frequency of the antennas and compensate the frequency drifts due to environmental effects on the piezoelectric materials and the other potential circuitry. The tuning mechanism may also modulate signal for communication purposes. A transmitter circuit may control the tuning mechanism. A transmitter circuit may control the tuning mechanism. The transmitter circuit may independently control multiple of the tuning mechanism, where the piezoelectric antennas are arranged in an array.

Frequency tunable piezoelectric VLF antenna

A radio frequency waveguide communication system includes a controller configured to output a radio frequency signal, and at least one connected node configured to output a node signal indicative of monitored parameter of a machine. The radio frequency waveguide communication system includes a waveguide and a radio frequency interface module. The waveguide is in signal communication with the controller and is configured to guide the radio frequency signal toward the at least one connected node. The radio frequency interface module is configured to establish signal communication between the controller and the at least one connected node, and includes at least one detachable portion configured to detach from the at least one waveguide.

Radio frequency interface to sensor

A node of a radio frequency system can include a signal splitter, a power rectifier and conditioner, a communication filter, and a network processor. The signal splitter is configured to split a radio frequency transmission between a power path and a communications path within the node. The power rectifier and conditioner are configured to produce a conditioned power signal based on power received through the power path. The communication filter of the communications path is configured to produce a filtered communication signal. The network processor is powered by the conditioned power signal and configured to extract encoded information from the filtered communication signal.

Radio frequency waveguide system nodes

A system of a machine includes a network of nodes distributed throughout the machine. Each of the nodes is operable to communicate through electromagnetic signals. The system also includes a radio frequency transceiver, a first antenna coupled to the radio frequency transceiver, a second antenna coupled to one or more sensor nodes, and a controller coupled to the radio frequency transceiver. The controller is configured to select at least one sensor node to interrogate, transmit one or more interrogation frequencies from the radio frequency transceiver through the first antenna to the second antenna, receive one or more sensor frequencies at the first antenna broadcast from the second antenna based on a frequency response of the at least one sensor node to the one or more interrogation frequencies, and determine one or more sensed values based on the sensor frequencies received at the radio frequency transceiver through the first antenna.

Radio frequency system sensor interface

A multi-mode microwave waveguide blade sensing system includes a transceiver, a waveguide, and a probe sensor. The transceiver generates a microwave energy signal having a first waveguide mode and a different second waveguide mode. The waveguide includes a first end that receives the microwave energy signal. The probe sensor includes a proximate end that receives the microwave energy signal from the transceiver and a distal end including an aperture that outputs the microwave energy signal. The probe sensor directs the microwave energy signal at a first direction based on the first waveguide mode and a different second direction different based on the second waveguide mode. The probe sensor receives different levels of reflected microwave energy based at least in part on a location at which the at least one microwave energy signal is reflected from the machine.

Multi-mode microwave waveguide blade sensing system

An aircraft ice protection system includes a frequency a frequency dependent susceptor coupled to a critical surface of an aircraft. A radio frequency (RF) energy source is configured to apply RF energy to the frequency dependent susceptor. The aircraft ice protection system is configured to selectively operate in a susceptor absorbing mode and a water absorbing mode. The aircraft ice protection system operates in the susceptor absorbing mode until a Faraday layer associated with ice formed on the critical surface reaches a target characteristic. When the target characteristic is met, the aircraft ice protection system initiates the water absorbing mode.

Ice protection system including frequency dependent susceptor

An assembly is provided for a structure. This assembly includes a composite skin and a thermal anti-icing system. The composite skin extends between an exterior surface and an interior surface. The thermal anti-icing system includes a susceptor and a waveguide. The susceptor and the waveguide are integrated into the composite skin between the exterior surface and the interior surface. The waveguide is configured to direct microwaves to the susceptor for melting and/or preventing ice accumulation on the exterior surface.

Integrated microwave thermal anti-icing system

A reactor furnace for coating fiber tow includes an elongate reactor having a fiber tow inlet and a fiber tow outlet; a thermo-chemical reactor section positioned along the elongate reactor; a first microwave source for directing microwave energy along the reactor from a first end of the reactor toward a second end of the reactor; a second microwave source for directing microwave energy along the reactor from the second end of the reactor toward the first end of the reactor; a gas inlet upstream of the thermo-chemical reactor; and a gas outlet downstream of the thermo-chemical reactor.

Alternating and continuous microwave fiber tow coating thermo-chemical reactor furnace

An apparatus is provided for signal communication. This signal communication apparatus includes a waveguide with an internal channel. The internal channel includes a plurality of channel segments interconnected at a junction. The waveguide includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface and the second surface partially form a peripheral boundary of the internal channel at the junction. The first surface meets the second surface at a first corner. The first surface is angularly offset from the second surface by an obtuse angle.

Waveguide apparatus including channel segments having surfaces that are angularly joined at a junction or a corner

According to an aspect, a waveguide system includes a first node, a second node, and a double-ridge waveguide. The double-ridge waveguide includes a metallic shell surrounding a waveguide core that forms a communication and radio frequency power transmission path in an aerospace environment. The first node is configured to propagate at least one communication channel and a radio frequency power transmission through the waveguide core to the second node during operation of the waveguide system in the aerospace environment.

Waveguide system

Systems and methods for health monitoring and fault detection in power distribution networks are provided. Aspects include providing a first power supply coupled to a power channel, providing a load coupled to the power channel, providing a transmitting sensor coupled to the power channel between the first power supply and the load, providing a receiving sensor coupled to the power channel between the transmitting sensor and the load, operating the transmitting sensor to provide an AC test signal to the power channel, the AC test signal comprises a predefined test signal pattern, operating the receiving sensor to sense, from the power channel, a continuous power signal including the AC test signal, analyzing, by the controller, the AC test signal to determine a fault of the power channel based on comparing the predefined test signal pattern with a predefined nominal probe signal pattern corresponding to a specific network configuration.

Online health monitoring and fault detection for high voltage DC distribution networks

A system of a machine includes a network of nodes distributed throughout the machine. Each of the nodes is operable to communicate using a plurality of electromagnetic signals. A controller is operable to communicate with the nodes using electromagnetic signals. A radio frequency-based repeater is in the network between the controller and at least one of the nodes. The radio frequency-based repeater is configured to operate using power extracted from at least one of the electromagnetic signals when a signal-to-noise ratio is above a threshold, and the radio frequency-based repeater is configured to use energy stored in an onboard energy storage system when the signal-to-noise ratio is below the threshold.

Radio frequency-based repeater in a waveguide system

A system includes a network of nodes. A controller of the system is operable to communicate with the network of nodes through one or more electromagnetic signals. A plurality of waveguides is configured to guide transmission of the one or more electromagnetic signals. A radio frequency transceiver is configured to establish communication between the controller and a first waveguide of the plurality of waveguides. A membrane is configured to support communication between the first waveguide and at least one node of the plurality of nodes.

Radio frequency waveguide communication in high temperature environments

A system of a machine includes a waveguide system and a radio frequency transceiver/detector coupled to the waveguide system and configured to emit a calibration signal in the waveguide system to establish a reference baseline between the radio frequency transceiver/detector and a calibration plane associated with an aperture of the waveguide system, emit a measurement signal in the waveguide system to transmit a radio frequency signal from the radio frequency transceiver/detector out of the aperture of the waveguide system, and detect a reflection of the measurement signal at the radio frequency transceiver/detector based on an interaction between the measurement signal and a component of the machine. A measurement result of the reflection of the measurement signal can be adjusted with respect to a reflection of the calibration signal.

Self-referencing microwave sensing system

A system of a machine includes a network of a plurality of nodes distributed throughout the machine. Each of the nodes is operable to communicate through one or more radio frequencies, where the machine includes a cooler portion and a hotter portion. The system includes a means for communicating with the network of nodes using a higher frequency to communicate with one or more of the nodes in the cooler portion of the machine and a lower frequency to communicate with one or more of the nodes in the hotter portion of the machine.

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Milford, CT, United States of America

Gurkan Gok