Harris Corporation

Ralph Trosa

Robert W Perry

Neville Glyn Maycock, Jr

Joseph A Elam

Griffin Keith Gothard

Timothy Earl Durham

Jay A Kralovec

Anthony Mark Jones

Sean Ortiz

Dennis A Green

Laurance H Davis, Iii

Stephen R Landers

Chris Snyder

Stanley R Wessel

James M Freebourn

Lane R Smith

The tubular slot-mode antenna includes an array of slot antenna units carried by a tubular substrate, e.g. a cylindrical substrate, and each slot antenna unit having a pair of patch antenna elements arranged in laterally spaced apart relation about at least one central feed position. Adjacent patch antenna elements of adjacent slot-mode antenna units have respective spaced apart edge portions with predetermined shapes and relative positioning to provide increased capacitive coupling therebetween. The array of slot-mode antenna units may define a plurality of ring-shaped slots coaxial with an axis of the tubular substrate, and a feed arrangement may be coupled thereto to operate the array of slot-mode antenna units in an endfire mode.

Tubular endfire slot-mode antenna array with inter-element coupling and associated methods

A phase shift control voltage distribution scheme for a phased array utilizes analog voltage-proportional phase shift devices, to which respective input signals are supplied and from which phase-shifted output signals are produced. A voltage supply unit has a plurality of voltage outputs supplying respectively different analog voltages. A switch network coupled between voltage outputs of the multiple voltage supply unit and the voltage control inputs of the plurality of voltage-controlled phase shift elements, is operative to selectively couple any of the different voltages supplied by the multiple voltage supply unit to the voltage control inputs of any of the voltage-controlled phase shift elements.

Phase shifter control voltage distribution in a phased array utilizing voltage-proportional phase shift devices

A phase shift control voltage distribution scheme for a phased array utilizing voltage-proportional phase shift devices employs a digital-to-analog converter that supplies respectively different analog voltages to a sample-and-hold switch network coupled to analog voltage control inputs of the plurality of voltage-proportional phase shift devices. In order to impart a phase shift control voltage to one or more phase shift elements of the array, a control unit supplies a prescribed combination of a digital control code to the digital-to-analog converter and a switch control code to sample-and-hold switches of the switch network.

Sample-and-hold phase shifter control voltage distribution in a phased array utilizing voltage-controlled phase shift devices

A dual cantilevered electromagnet-based gripping mechanism has a reduced number of parts and operates with low power demand properties for use in micro-tool applications. Juxtaposed, cantilever-supported electromagnets, to which object engagement elements, such as gripping pincers, are attached, have their cores made of a low permeability material, such as stainless steel, that does not retain an induced magnetic field once the energizing current is terminated. By controlling the energizing current through the coils of the electromagnets, the magnitude of mutual magnetic attraction against the spring forces of their supporting cantilever arms is defined. This allows mutual separation between the electromagnets and object engagement force to be controlled, for seizure, retention, and release of an object. The displacement vs. current characteristic of the device has a hysteresis profile, which allows the coil energizing current to be reduced to a very low 'sustaining' value that minimizes power dissipation, yet keeps the gripping elements closed on the object. To release the object, the energizing current is controllably reduced, which collapses the magnetic fields in the electromagnets and allows the spring force of the cantilever arms to return the gripping elements to their default open positions.

Dual cantilevered electromagnet-based gripping apparatus

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Indialantic, FL, United States of America

Ralph Trosa