An antenna comprising a feed (42) for delivering electromagnetic energy to a rotatable combination of a dielectric lens (44) and a reflective surface (46). The combination of the dielectric lens and the reflective surface is placed proximate to and in front of an energy feed, such as a horn (42), to support the scanning of an antenna beam in response to rotation of the lens/reflective surface assembly. The lens typically comprises a dielectric material and the reflective surface can comprise a thin layer of material operable to reflect electromagnetic energy. For example, the lens can comprise a half-cylinder shape of dielectric material and the reflective surface can be applied to the flat portion of the half-cylindrical lens. Alternatively, the antenna can comprise two or more electromagnetic feeds (72a, 72b, 72c, 72d) and a cylindrical lens of dielectric material including a centrally embedded, two-sided reflective surface. A positioning system can be used to rotate the combination of the lens and the reflective material proximate to and in front of the electromagnetic feed(s).

Scanning directional antenna with lens and reflector assembly

A fastener cartridge installs clamping fasteners, e.g., a set screw and a lock nut, to fix a linking rod or cable in the head of an anchor assembly. The cartridge carries one or more fasteners, or pairs of inner and outer fasteners, and applies them onto the anchor head without cross-threading. A separate holder mechanism aligns and guides the cartridge with a centering body into which the fastener cartridge fits. One cartridge has a box wrench that externally grips and turns the nut, and a central shaft coaxial with the box wrench that positions and rotates a clamp screw in coordination with the nut. Preferably, these are configured, by springs, detents or offset positioning surfaces, to install the inner lock screw coaxially with but ahead of the outer nut to fix a linking member anchor assemblies prior to fitting, e.g., compressions and distractions of the spine and final tightening. The holder mechanism has a distal jaw that grips the anchor head and positions the centering body on-axis, aligning it to avoid cross-threading the fasteners. The holder may have an elongated handle projecting to a side of the centering body for manipulating the holder in a surgical wound, or the holder may have a coaxially disposed and/or telescopically interfitted handle. The handle also actuates a jaw to grip the anchor head and center the assembly. Fastener cartridges may be manually gripped or turned with a wrench remote from the wound. A floating assembly enhances alignment of threads and coordination of fasteners.

Tool and system for aligning and applying fastener to implanted anchor

A lightweight millimeter wave outdoor unit includes a lightweight housing with a heat sink and mounting member configured for mounting on the antenna to form a wireless link. A millimeter wave transceiver board is mounted within the housing and includes microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) chips. A frequency synthesizer board has a signal generating circuit for generating local oscillator signals to the transceiver board and MMIC chips. A controller board has surface mounted DC and low frequency discrete devices thereon forming power and control circuits that supply respective power and control signals to other circuits on other boards. A quick connect/disconnect assembly allows the housing to be rapidly connected and disconnected.

Low-cost wireless millimeter wave outdoor unit (odu)

A communication system has a communication infrastructure and a gateway station communicating a communication signal to the communication infrastructure. An airplane having an antenna coupled to a processing circuit for establishing a plurality of multiple communication links corresponding to the communication infrastructure is used. The gateway station generates multiple datagrams from the television signal and transmits the multiple datagrams through the multiple dynamic links. The antenna receives the datagrams from the infrastructure and the processing circuit and reassembles the datagrams into the communication signal.

Communication system using multiple link terminals for aircraft

A communication system has a plurality of bases stations generating communication portions from a base station communication signal. The plurality of base stations are capable of using the entire allocated bandwidth to generate the base station communication portions. A user terminal establishes a plurality of dynamic links corresponding respectively to the plurality of base stations. The user terminal generates multiple communication portions of a user signal and transmits the multiple communication portions through the dynamic links to the plurality of base stations. The user terminal receives the base station communication portions from the plurality of bases stations and reassembles the communication portions into the base station communication signals.

Communication system using multiple link terminals

A low-cost spherical reflector and a mechanically scanned antenna system utilizing such reflectors. The system employs one or more (substantially similar) primary spherical reflectors (each a truncated spherical surface), each having an associated moveable feed driven by a two-axis positioner mechanism that has few moving parts. The feed structure may preferably comprise a point source waveguide feed in combination with a shaped concave secondary reflector used in a Gregorian-like configuration to correct for spherical phase error. The positioner mechanism moves Gregorian-like congiguration to correct for spherical phase error. The positioner mechanism move the waveguide feed and secondary reflector in tandem to shift the position of the far field beam direction in the sky. After phase correction by the secondary reflector, the resultant signal reflected from the primary aperture can simultaneously transmit and receive at two or more independent frequencies. With an assembly of multiple such spherical reflectors, each having a moveable feed driven by its own positioner mechanism, a compact arrangement is achieved. The assembly is mounted on a circular baseplate and preferably is covered by a radome.

Cardiasmenos Apostle G

Papers

Multibeam satellite communication antenna