Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.

Hazeltine Corporation

Trilliant Networks, Inc.

Bae Systems Advanced Systems

J. R. Microwave, Inc.

Marconi Aerospace Systems Inc.

Skypilot Network, Inc.

Joseph T Merenda

Mark Rich

Michael R Franceschini

Kirk Bradley

Thomas Hammel

John F Pedersen

Robert H Sparr

William G Olsen

Alfred R Lopez

Richard J Kumpfbeck

Mark J Rich

Kirk Alton Bradley

Method and apparatus for providing a wireless mesh network and network node are described. More particularly, a network having network node neighborhoods is described. A node comprises a multi-sectored antenna and a transceiver controller. Nodes are configured for installation without antenna pointing and without pre-coordination with the network. Software architecture for the node is also described.

Wireless mesh network

Wireless mesh network node

A planar antenna that facilitates directional communication to a mesh network. The antenna is housed in a relatively small, planar package that can easily be attached to a window pane to enable the antenna to communicate with a neighboring rooftop mounted node of the mesh network. The package contains an M by N element phased array, where M and N are integers greater than one. The array is driven by microwave signals supplied from a P-angle phase shifting circuit, where P is an integer greater than one. Thus, the antenna synthesizes a single main beam and the antenna's main beam can be electrically 'pointed' in one of P directions. In one embodiment of the invention, the array comprises 40 physical elements (8&#xd7;5 elements) and has three selectable directions (i.e., the phase shifters provide +90, 0 and &#x2212;90 degree shifts that move the beam left 45 degrees, center and right 45 degrees).

Planar antenna for a wireless mesh network

A whip antenna with switchable operative length provides seven band coverage from 30 to 90 MHZ. A coaxial choke section below a fixed upper antenna element is used for the highest frequency band. A series of four coaxial line sections are switchably coupled below the choke section to increase its operative length for operation in bands of successively lower frequency. One or more lumped constant non-coaxial transmission line sections are switchably coupled below the coaxial line sections for operation in the two lowest frequency bands. Dipole level gain is provided with low reflections loss. Increased height gain is provided by height of operative antenna elements employed at higher frequency bands.

Switchable length whip antenna

Radiation synthesizer systems provide efficient wideband operation with loop antenna elements which are small relative to operating wavelength. Energy dissipation is substantially reduced by cycling energy back and forth between a high-Q radiator and a storage capacitance under control of a switching circuit. Systems using multi-segment loop antennas match input impedance to switching circuit parameters. Use of such antennas in crossed-loop configurations excited in quadrature and supported on a wearable garment provide body-borne antennas with isotropic type coverage. With light-weight flexible construction, a wearable radiating system can avoid any need for visually identifiable features and provide effective antenna pattern coverage regardless of the wearer's body orientation, whether standing, prone or otherwise.

Crossed-loop radiation synthesizer systems

Radiation synthesizer systems provide efficient wideband operation with an antenna, such as a loop, which is small relative to operating wavelength. Energy dissipation is substantially reduced by cycling energy back and forth between a high-Q radiator and a storage capacitance under control of a switching circuit. In addition to transmit operation using an energy source such as a battery, by reciprocity receive systems deliver received signals to an output device, such as a speaker or other audio or visual transducer device. By efficient direct processing, via controlled activation of switch devices of switch modules, incident RF signals are converted to baseband signals. Commercial type AM receivers may be provided without IF processing and detection or analog filters.

Radiation synthesizer receive and transmit systems

Radiation synthesizer systems provide efficient wideband operation with an antenna, such as a loop, which is small relative to operating wavelength. Energy dissipation is substantially reduced by cycling energy back and forth between a high-Q radiator and a storage capacitance. Systems using multi-segment loop antennas match antenna input impedance to switching circuit parameters. Control signal feeds employ fiber-optic cables and reduce conductive paths. Multi-voltage DC supply configurations use parallel conductor portions of antenna loop segments and reduce the need for separate DC supply conductors. Spurious conductive loops are thereby reduced and lightweight, flexible antenna constructions are enabled.

Radiation synthesizer feed configurations

Low-protrusion array antennas enable reception of satellite signals by airliners in flight. Prior systems using a beam normal to an array face required a 70&deg; array tilt for reception from a satellite at 20&deg; elevation (i.e., tilt angle is complementary angle (90&deg;&minus;&bgr;) of satellite angle (&bgr;) of elevation). Compared to that 70&deg; array tilt for reception from a satellite at 20&deg; elevation, disclosed antennas require an array tilt of only 25&deg; (90&deg;&minus;&bgr;&minus;&agr;&equals;25&deg;). This is accomplished by providing a beam at a fixed acute angle (&agr;) to the array face (e.g. 45 degrees). A side-by-side linear array,of slotted waveguide radiator columns,provides a pencil beam at a fixed acute angle of 45&deg; to array aperture, for example. By action of tilting motor,to mechanically tilt the array of slotted waveguides over a range of &plusmn;25&deg; from horizontal, the beam can be scanned from 20&deg; elevation to 70&deg; elevation. Azimuth rotator motor,provides 360&deg; beam pointing in azimuth. A television satellite can thus be tracked by an aircraft mounted antenna with only about a 5 inch above-fuselage protrusion.

Minimum protrusion mechanically beam steered aircraft array antenna systems

Synthesizer radiating systems provide efficient wideband operation with an antenna, such as a loop, which is small relative to operating wavelength. Energy dissipation is substantially reduced by cycling energy back and forth between a high-Q radiator and a storage capacitor. Wideband operation is achieved by actively controlling power switch devices. Dissipation is further reduced during high speed switching by use of sequential switching methods to avoid dissipation of energy capacitively stored in switch capacitances, including switch control circuit capacitance. Systems using multi-segment loop antennas are arranged to match antenna input impedance to switching circuit parameters. Personal transmit/receive systems mounted on a jacket or other clothing for field use are enabled.

Radiation synthesizer systems and methods

A low cost array antenna (10) employs U-dipole elements (30) inserted into slots in a printed circuit board (18). Board (18), supported in spaced relation directly by back reflector (12), bears a feed network (22) connected to an input/output port (24). The dipole element (30) is a dual-dipole single-feed element, including parallel coextensive dipole segments (32, 34) attached at one end, with a sole signal feed path via feed segment (36). Feed segment (36) is inserted into board (18) and soldered to a feed point of feed network (22). One or more mounting tabs (38) are also inserted into slots in board (18) and may be fixed in place by soldering to an isolated conductor portion provided on board (18) for this purpose. A dual array antenna (50) includes dipoles (51-54) for left slant polarization reception and dipoles (61-64) for right slant polarization reception. Receive diversity is thus provided for cellular communications, with vertical polarization for transmission via parallel use of both arrays (51-54, 61-64).

Antennas employing U-dipole elements

Simplified, high reliability slot array antennas are usable in cellular communication systems. In a flat panel form, an antenna includes a slot array with simplified feed enclosed within a back panel and a front radome structure. Use of a simplified feed, consisting of a vertical aluminum rod dielectrically spaced from an aluminum sheet including a vertical array of horizontally aligned slot openings, is made possible by horizontal slot offsets. With a linear feed rod, signal coupling to each slot in series is determined by the horizontal location of each slot relative to the feed rod. With a capacitive input coupling, there are no electrical contacts or connections in the internal feed path which may cause intermodulation effects. With a grounded aluminum array sheet and case construction, and capacitively-coupled feed, the antenna is resistant to lightning strikes. Antenna models with different beam tilts merely require substitution of an aluminum array sheet with different slot configurations punched therein. Narrower azimuth beamwidths are provided by use of multiple slot arrays and multiple beam antennas are adaptable to use of beam forming networks and active antenna beam steering and nulling techniques.

Slot array antennas

Synthesizer radiating systems providing efficient wideband operation incorporate a radiating element (20a), such as a loop, dipole or whip, which has dimensions which are small relative to wavelength in the radiated frequency band. Energy dissipation is substantially reduced by cycling stored energy back and forth between a radiating element (20a) having a first reactance and a storage element (22a) having the same or opposite reactance, in order to achieve energy efficiency along the lines of a narrowband tuned-circuit antenna. Wideband operation is achieved by synthesizing a representation of an input waveform (at 28) by actively controlling (30) solid-state switching devices (24), responsive to rate control and direction control parameters, which are interactive with the energy transferred between the opposite reactances. Higher efficiencies are achieved by bipolar circuits providing separate positive and negative energy transfer paths between a radiating element and a storage element. Systems as described provide relatively high radiated power levels with broadband operation and reduced power supply requirements, permitting provision of readily transportable units with small antennas for applications in which combinations of size, radiated power, bandwidth, power use and mobility are important.

Synthesizer radiating systems and methods

An apparatus for interconnecting a four wire control such as a thermostat and a four wire system such as a heating/cooling system with two wires. An encoder encodes signals provided by the thermostat so that four encoded signals may be transmitted over a two wire system. The apparatus includes inductors which are selectively connected to the thermostat thereby providing varying signals which can be delivered over the two wires between the thermostat and the system.

Two wire adaptive system for interconnecting a four wire thermostat and

A resistive water probe is used in combination with a Christmas tree stand to detect a low water level. A low water situation activates lights in a Christmas tree ornament.

Growing community of inventors

Northport, NY, United States of America

Joseph T Merenda