United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

Rainee N Simons

Edwin G Wintucky

Jon C Freeman

Felix Antonio Miranda

Hung D Nguyen

Jennifer L Jordan

Christine T Chevalier

A multi-tone multi-band tunable millimeter-wave synthesizer is provided. In some embodiments, the multi-tone multi-band tunable millimeter-wave synthesizer is configured to simultaneously generate multiple frequency tones for space-borne beacon transmitter for atmospheric radio wave propagation studies. The apparatus includes a comb generator, which puts out evenly spaced harmonic frequencies of the input signal, which are coherent, tunable, and the number of tones or combs is scalable over a wide range of frequencies. These harmonics or tones are amplified to the power level needed for radio wave propagation studies. The amplified signals are transmitted as beacon signals from a satellite to a ground receiving station.

Tunable multi-tone multi-band high-frequency synthesizer for space-borne beacon transmitter for atmospheric radio wave propagation studies

A contactless radio frequency (RF) probe. The RF probe includes a dielectric substrate, at least one waveguide comprising an electric field configured to increase the coupling between the dielectric substrate and the at least one waveguide, and an air gap separating the dielectric substrate and the at least one waveguide to prevent thermal loading, thermal expansion, and material deformity.

High/low temperature contactless radio frequency probes

A multimode directional coupler is provided. In some embodiments, the multimode directional coupler is configured to receive a primary signal and a secondary signal at a first port of a primary waveguide. The primary signal is configured to propagate through the primary waveguide and be outputted at a second port of the primary waveguide. The multimode directional coupler also includes a secondary waveguide configured to couple the secondary signal from the primary waveguide with no coupling of the primary signal into the secondary waveguide. The secondary signal is configured to propagate through the secondary waveguide and be outputted from a port of the secondary waveguide.

Multimode directional coupler

A tunable QCL source that utilizes a full bandwidth of a broadband THz QCL, and produces a significantly large number of frequency channels, is provided. The tunable QCL source includes a grating router configured to receive a terahertz frequency from a tunable quantum cascade laser and generate a plurality of terahertz frequencies. The tunable QCL source also includes a waveguide controller configured to receive the plurality of terahertz frequencies from the grating router, and select a desired terahertz frequency from the plurality of terahertz frequencies to be outputted by a waveguide multiplexer.

Tunable multi-frequency terahertz quantum cascade laser source

A contactless radio frequency (RF) probe with inverted microstrip lines. The RF probe includes a microstrip associated with a device under test, and a broadside coupled inverted microstrip line configured to exchange RF signals to a network analyzer.

One or more embodiments of the present invention describe an apparatus and method to combine unequal powers. The apparatus includes a first input port, a second input port, and a combiner. The first input port is operably connected to a first power amplifier and is configured to receive a first power from the first power amplifier. The second input port is operably connected to a second power amplifier and is configured to receive a second power from the second power amplifier. The combiner is configured to simultaneously receive the first power from the first input port and the second power from the second input port. The combiner is also configured to combine the first power and second power to produce a maximized power. The first power and second power are unequal.

Ka-band waveguide hybrid divider with unequal and arbitrary power output ratio

An optical tunable transmitter is used to transmit multiple radio frequency bands on a single beam. More specifically, a tunable laser is configured to generate a plurality of optical wavelengths, and an optical tunable transmitter is configured to modulate each of the plurality of optical wavelengths with a corresponding radio frequency band. The optical tunable transmitter is also configured to encode each of the plurality of modulated optical wavelengths onto a single laser beam for transmission of a plurality of radio frequency bands using the single laser beam.

Optical tunable-based transmitter for multiple radio frequency bands

Ka-band waveguide 2-way hybrid combiner for MMIC amplifiers with unequal and arbitrary power output ratio

One or more embodiments of the present invention pertain to an all solid-state microwave power module. The module includes a plurality of solid-state amplifiers configured to amplify a signal using a low power stage, a medium power stage, and a high power stage. The module also includes a power conditioner configured to activate a voltage sequencer (e.g., bias controller) when power is received from a power source. The voltage sequencer is configured to sequentially apply voltage to a gate of each amplifier and sequentially apply voltage to a drain of each amplifier.

High-efficiency power module

A compact, hand-held device for wireless powering, interrogation and data retrieval from at least one implanted sensor. The hand-held device includes an antenna for powering an implanted sensor and for receiving data from the implanted sensor to the hand-held device for at least one of storage, display or analysis. The hand-held device establishes electromagnetic coupling with a low radiating radio frequency power inductor in the implanted sensor at a predefined separation and the antenna geometry allows for the antenna to power, interrogate and retrieve data from the implanted sensor without strapping the hand-held device to a human body housing the implanted sensor The hand-held device optionally allows for activation of the implanted sensor only during interrogation and data retrieval.

Hand held device for wireless powering and interrogation of biomems sensors and actuators

A polarization reconfigurable patch antenna is disclosed. The antenna includes a feed element, a patch antenna element electrically connected to the feed element, and at least one microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator, with a partial connection to the patch antenna element along an edge of the patch antenna element. The polarization of the antenna can be switched between circular polarization and linear polarization through action of the at least one MEMS actuator.

Microelectromechanical systems actuator based reconfigurable printed antenna

The present invention discloses and teaches apparatus for combining Radio Frequency (RF) technology with novel micro-inductor antennas and signal processing circuits for RF telemetry of real time, measured data, from microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensors, through electromagnetic coupling with a remote powering/receiving device. Such technology has many applications, but is especially useful in the biomedical area.

Growing community of inventors

North Olmsted, OH, United States of America

Rainee N Simons