Abstract:
An apparatus for optical pointing is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a telescope, a transmission prism rotatably coupled to the telescope, and a rotatable mechanism operatively coupled to the telescope. The transmission prism is configured to rotate around a first rotation axis, and the rotatable mechanism is configured to rotate around a second rotation axis that is different than the first rotation axis.
Abstract:
A bandpass filter has a plurality of resonant cavities. The plurality of resonant cavities are arranged into a sequence of adjacent resonant cavities. Each resonant cavity is configured to define the same fundamental resonant frequency. The filter includes a plurality of coupling irises, with one of the coupling irises positioned between each pair of adjacent resonant cavities. Each resonant cavity includes a plurality of cavity sections. Each resonant cavity includes a capacitive iris positioned coupling the cavity sections to one another. The frequency of secondary resonance modes varies amongst the resonant cavities in the plurality of resonant cavities.
Abstract:
A microwave filter has a housing defining an inner cavity. A first resonator is positioned in a first portion of the inner cavity. A second resonator is positioned in a second portion of the inner cavity. A third resonator is positioned in a third portion of the inner cavity. The first resonator and the third resonator are cross-coupled via an iris. The second resonator is elongated and is coupled to the first resonator and the third resonator. The resulting microwave filter has a frequency response having a transmission zero in the lower stopband. A high-pass filter is realized without the use of a cross-coupling probe.
Abstract:
A distributed matrix wiring assembly uses a distributed matrix module to connect a routing relay module to a payload equipment device over a set of harness wires. The routing relay module is adapted to provide driving signals to the harness wires at a first end. The distributed matrix module is connected to the harness wires at a second end as well as to the payload equipment device. The distributed matrix includes distributed matrix column wires and distributed matrix row wires which are configured to form a distributed matrix having distributed matrix nodes, each distributed matrix node being defined by the unique combination of a distributed matrix column wire and a distributed matrix row wire. Since the distributed matrix nodes form at least a portion of the overall matrix node requirement it is possible to reduce the number of harness wires required.
Abstract:
A microwave switch housing assembly for operation in a selected frequency range. The housing assembly includes a housing having ports, a rotor containing at least one waveguide passage, and power absorbing material positioned either in the housing or in the rotor. Ports are positioned within the housing it so that in a first position of the rotor, the waveguide passage connects the ports and in a second position of the rotor, the waveguide passage is unconnected to the ports. The power absorbing material is positioned adjacent to one end of said waveguide passage when said rotor is in said second position it absorbs electromagnetic energy in the frequency range and reduces the tendency of the isolation passage to act as a volume resonator when the rotor is in the second position.
Abstract:
A linear switch actuator for actuating a movable element within a microwave switch includes a ferromagnetic shield, a coil positioned within, and a movable armature assembly positioned within the coil. The armature assembly is coupled to the movable element and includes a ferromagnetic rod and first and second permanent magnets. The permanent magnets are coupled on either end of the rod and have opposite pole orientations. The armature assembly moves between first and second stroke end positions. When one of the permanent magnets is positioned substantially outside the shield, the magnetic permeance of the armature assembly is maximized, and the armature assembly experiences bi-stable latching between the two stroke end positions. When the coil is energized, the armature assembly moves between these positions due to magnetic interaction between the energized coil and the field associated with the permanent magnets and the solenoid magnetic field associated with the coil which reduces the magnetic permeance associated with said armature assembly.
Abstract:
A switch contact for use in a microwave switch. The contact comprises a probe contact member having a first contact region with a first surface, and a reed contact member having a second contact region with a second surface. The second surface is non-conformal with respect to the first surface for providing an incomplete mechanical contact when the contact members are in contact.
Abstract:
A redundancy combiner assembly has two amplifiers connected in parallel along a waveguide path to a hybrid. The hybrid is connected through a transfer switch to an antenna. The hybrid contains a movable coupling plate. The coupling plate has a coupling array to allow combining of signals of the amplifiers in one position. When one of the amplifiers fails, the coupling plate is replaced by a metal wall and the output from the failed amplifier is directed by the switch to a dump load while the output from the operating amplifier is directed to the antenna. The assembly is controlled by a controller, which monitors the amplifiers and controls the movement of the coupling plate and the switch.
Abstract:
A device for changing the operating frequency of a microwave filter is mounted in a wall of a cavity of the filter. The device has a bellows that is located inside the cavity. The bellows contains an elongated member that extends outside the cavity to an actuator. The actuator can be temperature dependent and moves the elongated member either further into or further out of the cavity as desired. An interior end of the elongated member can be connected to the bellows or it can simply be in contact with the bellows without being connected. When the elongated member is in contact with the bellows and is not connected, when the elongated member moves outward, the bellows will return to a rest position due to its inherent spring. The bellows is sealed from an interior of the cavity. Filters using the device have one device located primarily for each mode in each cavity of the filter.
Abstract:
Microstrip/stripline transmission lines have a plurality of strips on a substrate where strips are separated by a gap. This arrangement results in a reduced maximum current density compared to previous transmission lines with the same power handling capability. The strips can have the same width or different widths. The gaps can have the same width or different widths. The transmission lines can be used in filters and resonators and can be made of high temperature superconductive materials.