Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Rockwell International Corporation

Mark M Mulbrook

Nathan P Lower

Robert L Palandech

Jeremiah Damien Wolf

Jonathan P Doane

Theodore Jay Hoffmann

Robert Newgard

James B West

James A Stevens

Lee M Paulsen

Michael L Hageman

Brian J Herting

Nathaniel P Wyckoff

Don L Landt

Roger A Dana

Russell C Tawney

Gary E Lehtola

Donald F Hovda

William L Cronbaugh

Scott R Ernst

Marty R McGregor

Jacob C Overath

Walter Trach

A GPS receiver device can include at least one radio frequency (RF) chip implementing at least three RF modules configured to process RF signals received over at least three RF channels. Each RF module can be associated with a respective RF channel. Each RF module can include (1) a frequency demultiplexer and (2) at least two parallel circuits coupled to the frequency demultiplexer. Each of the parallel circuits can include (i) a RF amplifier connected to a respective output port of the frequency demultiplexer and (ii) an analog bandpass filter connected in series to the RF amplifier. The GPS receiver device can include a circuit board on which the at least one RF chip is mounted. The circuit board can have a breadth (e.g., length, width, or diameter) less than or equal to 1.65 inch.

Global positioning system (GPS) receivers for munitions

A system and method is disclosed for using two or more currently installed antenna elements on a vehicle for geolocation of a remote emitter. Redundant antenna elements initially installed for a non-geolocation purpose are employed to receive signals from the remote emitter. A splitter is used to tap from the received signal where the content of the received signal, if desired, is available to a non-geolocation receiver for which the antenna element was originally designed. The splitter transmits the split portion of the signal to a geolocation sensing receiver for signal processing based on a two or more antenna element geolocation solution.

Geolocation with redundant aircraft antennas system and related method

The present invention is an integrated antenna assembly which allows for integration of a first radio system and a second radio system with the integrated antenna assembly. The integrated antenna assembly may include a coupler for providing sufficient isolation between the first radio system (ex.&#x2014;a vertical polarization system) and the second radio system (ex.&#x2014;a horizontal polarization system). The integrated antenna assembly may further include a common mode choke connected between a first antenna element and a second antenna element of the integrated antenna assembly. The coupler may produce a common mode based on signals received from the vertical polarization system and may also produce a differential mode based on signals received from the horizontal polarization system. The common mode choke may be configured for: preventing transmission of common mode currents from the first antenna element to the second antenna element; and being transparent to differential mode current flow.

Dual polarization antenna with high port isolation

An antenna having at least a directional mode of operation is mounted onto an aircraft for transmission of avionics waveforms. An orientating module minimizes the power requirements of the antenna by directing an orientation of transmission at least substantially toward a receiver. A processor is coupled with the orientating module for controlling the orientation of transmission. Control programming operates the processor to determine the orientation of transmission and activate the orientating module to direct the antenna to transmit in the determined orientation.

Legacy waveform implementation in a multi-function antenna

The present invention is directed to an antenna system which may serve as a common antenna for multiple avionics systems implemented on-board an aircraft. The antenna system provides horizontal and vertical polarization functionality, while providing high isolation between a first input port of a coupler of the antenna system (the first input port being connected to a first avionics system) and a second input port of the coupler (the second input port being connected to a second avionics system).

The plasma klystron switching device of the present invention may include a low-dielectric substrate, a plasma cavity internally pressurized by an inert gas, a circuit assembly formed on the first surface of the low-dielectric substrate and enclosed by the plasma cavity, wherein the circuit assembly includes a first electrode and a second electrode configured to form a switching gap, wherein the switching gap is configured to act as a high conductance plasma generation zone during an ON state of the plasma klystron switching device and a low conductance zone during an OFF state of the plasma klystron switching device, an evacuated klystron resonance generator, wherein the klystron resonance generator includes a klystron resonance cavity, wherein the klystron resonance generator includes a coupling aperture configured to RF couple the klystron resonance cavity and the plasma cavity, and a field emitter array configured to energize the klystron resonance generator.

Plasma klystron switch

The present invention is a method for producing a capacitor. The method includes applying a dielectric substance (ex.&#x2014;silicon nitride) to a first gold seed layer, the first gold seed layer being formed on a wafer. A second gold seed layer is formed upon the dielectric substance and first gold seed layer. Gold is electroplated into a photoresist to form a first set of 3-D capacitor elements on the second gold seed layer. A first copper layer is electroplated onto the second gold seed layer. Gold is electroplated into a photoresist to form a second set of 3-D capacitor elements, the second set of 3-D elements being formed at least partially within the first copper layer and being connected to the first set of 3-D elements. A second copper layer is electroplated onto the first copper layer. Then, both copper layers are removed to provide (ex.&#x2014;form) the capacitor.

Method for producing a microfabricated in-plane radio frequency (RF) capacitor

The present invention is directed to a microfabricated RF capacitor. The capacitor includes two signal wirebond pads configured for being connected to an electrical current source. The capacitor further includes two backbone structures which are connected to the wirebond pads and receive electrical current from the electrical current source via the wirebond pads, each backbone structure including a first backbone portion and a second backbone portion. The capacitor further includes a plurality of protrusions which are connected to the backbone portions of the backbone structures. The protrusions are spaced apart from each other and parallel to each other. Further, the protrusions are configured for distributing current received by the backbone structures and for promoting structural stability of the capacitor. The capacitor further includes a ground wall structure which may be configured for receiving ground current from a ground current source.

Microfabricated RF capacitor

The present invention is directed to a corner interconnect component which is a passive filter component. The corner interconnect component includes a body portion having an input structure located at a first corner of the component for receiving an input. At a second corner of the component, diagonally opposite the first corner, the component further includes an output structure for providing an output. The corner interconnect component further includes a conducting portion which is connected to the first and second corners of the body structure. The corner interconnect component is configured such that a plurality of the corner interconnect components may be implemented in a corner-to-corner configuration in a filter structure.

Passive electrical component with a body with I/O structure including ground at two opposite corners of the body

The present disclosure is directed to a method, apparatus, and system for dividing power. An N-way power divider comprises a power input, a switched transformer, a switched power divider, and plurality of power outputs. The switched power divider is configurable to take input power and provide the power to any of the power outputs (matching the impedance utilizing the switched transformer). An antenna system comprises an input, a reconfigurable switched network operably coupled to the input, and a plurality of antenna elements. The reconfigurable switched network is configurable to provide power from input to any of the plurality of antenna elements. Each element can be provided power, or not provided power with the reconfigurable switch. The reconfigurable switched network is configurable to take in power and transform the impedance of the power to match the impedance of the active antenna elements.

N-way reconfigurable power divider

The present invention is a system and method for detecting devices with receivers, such as explosive devices with receivers used to remotely detonate the explosive devices. The system for detecting devices may include a transmitter which transmits a signal causing saturation of a device whereby harmonic content is emitted by the device. Receipt of an emitted harmonic signal which is coherent to the transmitted signal may indicate the presence of a device. A distance between the system and the detected device may be determined by modulating a frequency of the transmitted signal and measuring the time period between transmission of the signal and receipt of a harmonic signal. Additionally, direction information may be determined which may allow identification of a location of the device based upon the distance information and direction information.

System and method for detecting receivers

The present invention is an apparatus for determining the phase difference between a reference frequency signal and an input signal. The frequency sampling phase detector of the present invention may include a phase detector coupled with sample and hold circuitry. The frequency sampling phase detector of the present invention may reduce the frequency of an input signal suitable for proportional and linear phase detection by the phase detector. Advantageously, the frequency sampling phase detector of the present invention may reduce power consumption over conventional phase detectors in combination with frequency dividers.

Frequency sampling phase detector

The present invention is an apparatus for efficiently providing an output frequency signal based upon an input voltage. The sampling voltage controlled oscillator of the present invention may include a voltage controlled oscillator coupled with sample and hold circuitry. The voltage controlled oscillator frequency of the sampling voltage controlled oscillator may be a lower frequency whereby the voltage controlled oscillator frequency is sampled by the sample and hold circuitry to derive a higher frequency signal. Advantageously, the overall power consumption of sampling voltage controlled oscillator may be less than conventional voltage controlled oscillators.

Sampling voltage controlled oscillator

A radio has a tunable bandpass filter that is tuned by apparatus within the radio. A reference generator generates a reference signal for use in tuning the tunable bandpass filter. The tunable bandpass filter receives the reference signal and provides a filter output signal. A digital signal processing and control processor is connected to the tunable bandpass filter to receive the filter output signal. The digital signal processing and control processor has a phase comparison function that provides a phase error metric from the filter output signal. The digital signal processing and control processor tunes the tunable bandpass filter to provide a desired phase error metric signal thereby tuning the tunable bandpass filter to the desired center frequency. The digital signal processing and control processor stores tunable filter parameters for the desired center frequency. The tuning process may be repeated for several desired center frequencies of the tunable bandpass filter.

Method and apparatus for automatic center frequency tuning of tunable bandpass filters

A phase locked loop with fast tune time and low phase noise contains a fast filter and a slow filter connected to a phase detector. The slow filter filters an error signal with a narrow bandwidth and provides a slow filter tune voltage. An integrator is connected to the slow filter for integrating the slow filter tune voltage and providing a tune voltage to a VCO. The integrator has a capacitor and operational amplifier. The fast filter filters and amplifies the error signal with a wide bandwidth and high gain to provide a fast filter tune voltage. A diode is connected to the fast filter output and to a non-inverting input of the operational amplifier. The diode is forward biased when the fast filter tune voltage is sufficient thereby causing an inverting input of the operational amplifier to change to the same level to rapidly change capacitor charge.

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Marion, IA, United States of America

Mark M Mulbrook