An electrical assembly has a lead frame with a plurality of elongated conductor sets and an insulative housing. Each conductor set has two differential signal pair conductors between a first ground conductor and a second ground conductor. A slot extends through the insulative housing and at least partially exposes the first ground conductor of a first conductor set and the second ground conductor of a second conductor set. A first ground shield has a first tab bent inward that extends into the slot from a first side of the lead frame. A second ground shield has second tab bent inward that extends into the slot from a second side of the lead frame. A conductive medium is provided in the slot to electrically connect the first tab, the second tab, the first ground conductor and the second ground conductor.

A printed circuit board includes a substrate including a surface layer and a first ground layer; a high-frequency signal generation part provided in the surface layer of the substrate; at least one high-frequency signal connector mounting portion formed in the surface layer of the substrate; at least one high-frequency signal line formed in the surface layer of the substrate, and extend from the high-frequency signal generation part to the at least one high-frequency signal connector mounting portion; and at least one high-frequency signal connector disposed in the at least one high-frequency signal connector mounting portion, wherein an end of the first ground layer is exposed to a side surface of the substrate, and when the high-frequency signal connector is disposed in the at least one high-frequency signal connector mounting portion, a ground of the high-frequency signal connector is in contact with the end of the first ground layer.

Systems and apparatuses are provided in which outlets are coupled to a power distribution unit (PDU) or PDU module in various configurations. The outlets may be coupled to a recessed surface within a PDU housing. The outlets and recessed surface may be formed as part of a single mold. The outlets may be coupled to a printed circuit board that is at least partially disposed within the PDU housing. The outlets may extend away from the recessed surface or printed circuit board towards or beyond a front face of the PDU housing.

There is provided an adapter for adapting an electronic device to a modular electronic device system. The adapter generally has a housing having two lateral edges, a cavity between the lateral edges and being adapted to receive the electronic device, each of the two lateral edges of the housing having at least one magnetic coupler electrically connectable with at least one magnetic coupler of the modular electronic device system by magnetically engaging the at least one magnetic coupler of the adapter with the at least one magnetic coupler of the modular electronic device system, and an internal electric conductor network electrically connected to the magnetic couplers of the adapter and electrically connected to an internal connector which is electrically connectable to the electronic device when received in the cavity of the housing.

A battery connector is provided which is used to electrically connect a button battery. The connector has an insulating housing and positive and negative terminals. The housing has a limiting space for receiving and fixing the battery. The positive terminal has a positive contact portion which extends into the space and a first tail portion which maintains an electrical connection with a circuit board. The negative terminal has a negative contact portion which extends into the space so as to contact a negative electrode on a bottom surface of the battery, a second tail portion which maintains an electrical connection with the board, and a connection portion which is brought to move by the negative contact portion so as to electrically connect with the board when the battery is received in the space. The battery connector can be provided as part of a circuit module having an indicating member.

A distributed power harvesting system including multiple direct current (DC) power sources with respective DC outputs adapted for interconnection into a interconnected DC power source output. A converter includes input terminals adapted for coupling to the interconnected DC power source output. A circuit loop sets the voltage and current at the input terminals of the converter according to predetermined criteria. A power conversion portion converts the power received at the input terminals to an output power at the output terminals. A power supplier is coupled to the output terminals. The power supplier includes a control part for maintaining the input to the power supplier at a predetermined value. The control part maintains the input voltage and/or input current to the power supplier at a predetermined value.

A binding screw for a wire connection assembly comprises a driving section, a threaded section, and a contact section. The contact section has a tapered penetration portion establishing electrical contact with a stranded wire. A length of the penetration portion is at least three-quarters of a diameter of the binding screw in the threaded section.

Techniques and mechanisms for providing socket connection to a substrate. In an embodiment, a socket device includes a first socket body portion that is to provide for signal exchanges as part of a socket connector including the first socket body portion and a second socket body portion. The first socket body portion and the second socket body portion comprise respective zones, wherein, of the two zones, only one such zone has a first electro-mechanical characteristic. The first electro-mechanical characteristic is selected from the group consisting of an interconnect dimension, an interconnect material, an interconnect structure, a socket body material, and a shielding structure. In another embodiment, modular socket sub-assemblies each comprise a respective one of the first zone and the second zone.

A force biased spring probe pin assembly includes a barrel member having a barrel wall defining an elongate internal cavity with a lower end and an upper end. The assembly also includes a first plunger member reciprocally mounted in the internal cavity proximate the lower end of the internal cavity. A spring member is positioned in the internal cavity between the plunger member and the second end of the internal cavity. Three or more conductive bearings are positioned in the internal cavity in contact with the first plunger member and the spring member. A force biased spring probe pin assembly includes a barrel member having a barrel wall defining an elongate internal cavity with a lower end and an upper end. The assembly also includes a first plunger member reciprocally mounted in the internal cavity proximate the lower end of the internal cavity and a second plunger member reciprocally mounted in the internal cavity proximate the upper end of the internal cavity. A spring member is positioned in the internal cavity between the first plunger member and the second plunger member. Three or more conductive bearings are positioned in the internal cavity in contact with the first plunger member and the spring member.

A force-biased spring probe pin assembly includes a barrel member having a barrel wall defining an elongate internal cavity with a lower end and an upper end. The assembly also includes a first plunger member reciprocally mounted in the internal cavity proximate the lower end of the internal cavity. A spring member is positioned in the internal cavity between the plunger member and the second end of the internal cavity. At least one cavity formed in the plunger member with a conductive bearing in the cavity in electrical contact with the plunger and with the wall of the barrel member. A force-biased spring probe pin assembly includes a barrel member having a barrel wall defining an elongate internal cavity with a lower end and an upper end. The assembly also includes a first plunger member reciprocally mounted in the internal cavity proximate the lower end of the internal cavity and a second plunger member reciprocally mounted in the internal cavity proximate the upper end of the internal cavity. A spring member is positioned in the internal cavity between the first plunger member and the second plunger member. At least one cavity formed in the first plunger member with a first conductive bearing in the cavity in electrical contact with the first plunger and with the wall of the barrel member and at least one cavity formed in the second plunger member with a second conductive bearing in the cavity in electrical contact with the second plunger and with the wall of the barrel member.

A power outlet having safety cover, the power outlet comprises a shell body, a base fixed in the shell body, a sliding element disposed between the shell body and the base; the shell body has at least one first outlet hole and at least one second outlet hole; the base has a first post, a third outlet hole and a fourth outlet hole; one side of the sliding element has a first inclined block, the middle of the sliding element has a through hole, another side of the sliding element has a second inclined block and a second post; an elastic element is disposed between the first post and the second post; wherein the through hole can contain the first post, the second post and the elastic element; a distance between the first inclined block and an inner wall of the base is smaller than the length of the elastic element.

The present invention provides a system and method for providing a seal for an electrical penetrator in a subsea environment. More specifically, the present invention provides for a system for creating a seal about an electrical penetrator without using o-rings or independent seals. The present invention provides for a set of supporting apparatuses to be placed in compression about a central ceramic penetrator element. The geometry of the central ceramic penetrator element and the interior of the supporting apparatuses forms a hermetic seal when under a constant radial and axial, or axial compressive force.

Subsea high voltage connection assembly (10) comprising a first section (100) having a first section body (104) to which a set of first connector(s) (111) is arranged and a second section (200) having second section body (204) to which a set of second connector(s) (211) is arranged. The assembly (10) further has a section body movement arrangement (103, 400, 9, 123) adapted to move one of the section bodies (104, 204) towards and away from the other section body, between a disengaged position and an engaged position. Further, the assembly (10) has a connector movement arrangement (105, 400). Also disclosed are a method and a subsea high voltage wet mate connector assembly.

An independently powered USB connector is provided. The independently powered USB connector replaces the computer USB power supply for the direct transmission of digital signals from and between computers and audio components, eliminating micro-circuitry and computer generated noise from the digital signal chain so as to prevent sonic coloration from these sources. The independent power supply is coupled to the male connection of the USB connector, wherein the coupling is wrapped with shrink wrap designed for stability.

Previously available elastomeric EMI gaskets provided for multiport RF connector assemblies have performance limiting drawbacks. Consequently, EM isolation provided by a previously available elastomeric EMI gasket is often inadequate. Various implementations disclosed herein include multiport RF connection arrangements that use a metal gasket arranged within at least a portion of an isolation space provided by a multiport RF connector. In some implementations, a multiport connection arrangement includes a substrate, a multiport RF connector and a fitted metal gasket. The substrate includes a first surface and a first plurality of connection ports. The multiport connector has a body that includes a second surface, a second plurality of connection ports, and includes an electromagnetic isolation boundary that defines an isolation space between at least two of the second plurality of connection ports terminating at the second surface. Mechanical fasteners are optional and are included to merely provide engagement, without substantial compressive force.

In an embodiment, a polycrystalline diamond compact includes a substrate and a preformed polycrystalline diamond table having an upper surface, an interfacial surface, and at least one side surface extending therebetween. The interfacial surface of the polycrystalline diamond table is bonded to the substrate. The polycrystalline diamond table includes bonded diamond grains defining interstitial regions. The polycrystalline diamond table includes a first region extending inwardly from at least a portion of the upper surface and at least a portion of the at least one side surface. The first region spaced from the interfacial surface. The polycrystalline diamond table includes at least a second region extending inwardly from the interfacial surface to the upper surface. The first region includes at least a first infiltrant disposed interstitially between the bonded diamond grains thereof. The second region includes at least a second infiltrant disposed interstitially between the bonded diamond grains thereof.

An abrasive product includes a plurality of abrasive particles and a resin binder cured from a resin composition that includes an aqueous dispersion of melamine methylol having a melamine-to-formaldehyde molar equivalent ratio of between about 1:1 and about 1:3.2, wherein the aqueous dispersion has a pH in a range of between about 8 and about 10. The composition also includes a formaldehyde-based resins, such as a urea-formaldehyde resin or phenol-formaldehyde resin. The melamine methylol comprises between about 1 wt % and about 50 wt % of the combined weight of the formaldehyde-based resin and the melamine methylol.

The present invention concerns a method for depositing mixed crystal layers with at least two different metals on a substrate by means of PVD methods. To provide a method of depositing mixed crystal layers with at least two different metals on a substrate by means of PVD methods, which gives mixed crystal layers which are as free as possible of macroparticles (droplets) and which have a proportion as high as possible of a desired crystalline phase and which are highly crystalline, it is proposed according to the invention that deposition of the mixed crystal layer is effected with simultaneous application of i) the cathode sputtering method of dual magnetron sputtering or high power impulse magnetron sputtering and ii) arc vapour deposition.

A polycrystalline diamond (PCD) with diamond grains includes a first zone of the diamond grains and a second zone of the diamond grains. The first zone forms a working surface and a first catalyzing material is disposed within voids of the diamond grains in the first zone. A second catalyzing material is bonded to the diamond grains disposed in the second zone. The first catalyzing material in the first zone is connected to the diamond grains disposed in the first zone less intimately than the second catalyzing material is bonded to the diamond grains in the second zone.

An abrasive article includes a polymer matrix and abrasive grains dispersed in the polymer matrix, wherein the abrasive article has a void volume of at least 50%. The polymer matrix is polymerized from a monomer including at least one double bond.

Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) fabricated by sintering a mixture including diamond particles and a selected amount of graphite particles, polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) having a PCD table comprising such PCD, and methods of fabricating such PCD and PDCs. In an embodiment, a method includes providing a mixture including graphite particles present in an amount of about 0.1 weight percent (“wt %”) to about 20 wt % and diamond particles. The method further includes subjecting the mixture to a high-pressure/high-temperature process sufficient to form PCD.

Polycrystalline ultra-hard materials and compacts comprise an ultra-hard material body having a polycrystalline matrix of bonded together ultra-hard particles, e.g., diamond crystals, and a catalyst material disposed in interstitial regions within the polycrystalline matrix. The material microstructure is substantially free of localized concentrations, regions or volumes of the catalyst material or other substrate constituent. The body can include a region extending a depth from a body working surface and that is substantially free of the catalyst material. The compact is produced using a multi-stage HPHT process, e.g., comprising two HPHT process conditions, wherein during a first stage HPHT process the catalyst material is melted and only partially infiltrates the precursor ultra-hard material, and during a second stage further catalyst material infiltrates the precursor ultra-hard material to produce a fully sintered compact.

A cubic boron nitride sintered body tool has, at least at a cutting edge, a cubic boron nitride sintered body composed of a cubic boron nitride particle and a binder phase. The binder phase contains at least Al2O3 and a Zr compound. On any straight line in the sintered body, the mean value of a continuous distance occupied by Al2O3 is 0.1-1.0 μm, and the standard deviation of the continuous distance occupied by Al2O3 is not more than 0.8. On the straight line, X/Y is 0.1-1 where X represents the number of points of contact between Al2O3 and the Zr compound, and Y represents the sum of the number of points of contact between Al2O3 and cBN and the number of points of contact between Al2O3 and binder phase component(s) other than Al2O3 and the Zr compound.

A composite sintered body according to the present invention contains at least cubic boron nitride and a binder. Cubic boron nitride has a continuous skeleton structure as a result of bonding of a plurality of first cubic boron nitride particles to each other. The binder has a continuous structure as a result of bonding of a plurality of binder particles to each other, that are present in a region except for a bonding interface where the first cubic boron nitride particles are bonded to each other. Second cubic boron nitride particles isolated from the first cubic boron nitride particles forming the skeleton structure are dispersed in the continuous structure of the binder particles.

An abrasive element comprises a body of crystalline abrasive material. The body has an array of cutting elements formed of crystalline abrasive material which projects from a surface of the body. The shape, size and form of the projections is controlled in the production process. The body may be a natural or synthetic crystal. The body may be a film formed by deposition. The body may be diamond or cubic boron nitride. The body may be monocrystalline or polycrystalline. The projections may be aligned along a crystallographic plane or planes.

Embodiments of the invention relate to methods of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond compacts and applications for such polycrystalline diamond compacts. In an embodiment, a method of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond body includes mechanically milling non-diamond carbon and a sintering aid material for a time and aggressiveness sufficient to form a plurality of carbon-saturated sintering aid particles and sintering a plurality of diamond particles in the presence of the plurality of carbon-saturated sintering aid particles to form the polycrystalline diamond body.

A cBN sintered body tool has the following feature. In at least one cross sectional surface of the cBN sintered body tool taken along a plane perpendicular to a joining surface having the largest area in joining surfaces between the cBN sintered body and the joining layer, a point C and a point D are assumed to represent points away by ¼ of the length of a line segment connecting a point A and a point B shown in a figure. A value obtained when an area of a region surrounded by a line segment connecting the point C and the point D, the first cBN particle, the second cBN particle, and the binder phase is divided by the length of the line segment connecting the point A and point B to each other is 0.14-0.6 μm.

A coated cBN sintered body has excellent wear resistance, fracture resistance, adhesiveness between a substrate and a coating, and a tool life of which is elongated as compared with conventional cBN sintered bodies. The coated cBN sintered body has a cBN sintered body substrate and a coating coated on the surface thereof. The cBN sintered body includes 76 to 90% by volume of cBN, and 10 to 24% by volume of a binder phase and inevitable impurities. An average grain size of cBN is 0.5 to 5.0 μm, an average value of the thickness of the binder phase is 0.05 to 0.8 μm, and the standard deviation of the thickness of the binder phase is 0.8 μm or less.

A CMP polishing pad comprising (a) a polishing layer having a polishing surface and a back surface opposite said polishing surface; said polishing layer having at least one cured opaque thermoset polyurethane region and at least one aperture region; said at least one cured opaque thermoset region has a porosity from about 10% to about 55% by volume; said at least one aperture region having (1) a top opening positioned below the polishing surface, (2) a bottom opening that is co-planar with said back surface and (3) straight line vertical sidewalls extending from said aperture top opening to said aperture bottom opening; said at least one aperture region filled with a cured plug of thermoset polyurethane local area transparency material that has a light transmission of less than 80% at a wavelength from 700 to 710 nanometers and is chemically bonded directly to a thermoset polyurethane opaque area; (b) an aperture-free removable release sheet covering at least a portion of said back surface of the polishing layer; and(c) an adhesive layer interposed between said polishing layer and said release sheet; said adhesive layer capable of adhering the polishing layer to a platen of a CMP apparatus after said release sheet has been removed.

Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) comprising a polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) table including a thermally-stable region having at least one low-carbon-solubility material disposed interstitially between bonded diamond grains thereof, and methods of fabricating such PDCs. In an embodiment, a PDC includes a substrate, and a PCD table bonded to the substrate. The PCD table includes a plurality of diamond grains exhibiting diamond-to-diamond bonding therebetween and defining a plurality of interstitial regions. The PCD table further includes at least one low-carbon-solubility material disposed in at least a portion of the plurality of interstitial regions. The at least one low-carbon-solubility material exhibits a melting temperature of about 1300° C. or less and a bulk modulus at 20° C. of less than about 150 GPa.

Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) and methods of fabricating such PDCs. In an embodiment, a PDC includes a substrate and a preformed polycrystalline diamond table including an interfacial surface bonded to the substrate and an opposing working surface. The preformed polycrystalline diamond table includes a proximal region extending from the interfacial surface to an intermediate location within the preformed polycrystalline diamond table that includes a metallic infiltrant infiltrated from the substrate, and a distal region extending from the working surface to the intermediate location that is substantially free of the metallic infiltrant. A boundary exists between the proximal and distal regions that has a nonplanar irregular profile characteristic of the metallic infiltrant having been infiltrated into the preformed polycrystalline diamond table.

A cutting tool insert for machining by chip removal comprising a body of a hard alloy of cemented carbide, cermet, ceramics or cubic boron nitride based material onto which a hard and wear resistant coating is deposited by CVD, and the methods of making and using the same. The coating includes at least one α-Al2O3 layer with a thickness between 0.5 μm and 40 μm having a {01-15} and/or {10-15} texture exhibiting excellent wear and metal cutting performance.

Polishing pads for polishing semiconductor substrates using eddy current end-point detection are described. Methods of fabricating polishing pads for polishing semiconductor substrates using eddy current end-point detection are also described.

An abrasive article includes an elongated body, a bonding layer including a metal overlying a surface of the elongated body, and a coating layer including a polymer material overlying the boding layer. The abrasive article further includes abrasive grains contained within the bonding layer and coating layer, and wherein the bonding layer comprises an average thickness (tbl) at least about 40% of the average grit size of the abrasive grains.

CVD coated cutting tools are provided. A coated cutting tool described herein, in some embodiments, comprises a PcBN substrate and a polished coating adhered to the substrate including one or more layers of Al2O3 deposited by chemical vapor deposition, wherein the coating has a surface roughness (Ra) less than about 600 nm in an area of the cutting tool for contacting a workpiece.

The invention relates to a cutting tool comprising a main part and a multilayer coating applied thereon. A first layer A made of a hard material is applied on the main part, said hard material being selected from titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN), titanium aluminum silicon nitride (TiAlSiN), chromium nitride (CrN), aluminum chromium nitride (AlCrN), aluminum chromium silicon nitride (AlCrSiN), and zirconium nitride (ZrN), and a second layer B made of silicon nitride (Si3N4) is applied directly over the first layer A.

Methods of forming a polycrystalline compact for use in an earth-boring tool include sintering a plurality of hard particles with catalyst material to form a polycrystalline material that includes a plurality of inter-bonded particles of hard material integrally formed with the catalyst material and introducing at least a portion of the polycrystalline material to a reactive material to remove at least a portion of the catalyst material contained within the polycrystalline material. The reactive material may include at least one of a molten glass, an ionic compound, a leaching liquor, and a chemical plasma. The reactive material may be introduced to the polycrystalline material at a temperature of greater than or equal to a melting point thereof.

A method of manufacturing grooved polishing layers for use in chemical mechanical polishing pads is provided, wherein the formation of defects in the polishing layers are minimized.

Methods for preparing a silicon bonded PCD material involving a one step, double sweep process and drilling cutters made by such processes are disclosed. The PCD material includes thermally stable phases in the interstitial spaces between the sintered diamond grains. The method sweeps a diamond powder with a binder to form sintered PCD, reacts said molten binder with a temporary barrier separating said binder and said diamond from a silicon (Si) source, and sweeps said sintered PCD with said Si source to form SiC bonded PCD.

In the production method for abrasive grains according to the invention, an aqueous solution of a salt of a tetravalent metal element is mixed with an alkali solution, under conditions such that a prescribed parameter is 5.00 or greater, to obtain abrasive grains including a hydroxide of the tetravalent metal element.

The present invention relates to a system for determining a distance, a transponder, a position detection apparatus, and a method therefor. The method for determining a distance comprises providing a position detection apparatus (101), and a transponder (105). The method further comprises generating (201) a pseudo number sequence, transmitting (202) the pseudo number sequence, receiving (203) the pseudo number sequence; modulate (204) the received pseudo number sequence by means of delaying the recieved pseudo number sequence a predetermined number of clock cycles from a group of at least two predetermined number of clock cycles. The method further comprises transmitting (205) the modulated pseudo number sequence, recieving (206) the modulated pseudo number sequence, detecting (207) a path time of the pseudo number sequence, by means of delaying and correlating the generated pseudo number sequence with the received modulated pseudo number sequence, wherein the delay time corresponds to the path time, The method further comprises detecting (208) a clock correction factor for the transponder (105) using the received modulated pseudo number sequence, calculating (209) a flight time of the pseudo number sequence between the position detection apparatus and the transponder by means of the path time, the clock correction factor, and the predetermined number of clock cycles of the transponder, and calculating (210) the distance between said position detection apparatus and said transponder by means of the flight time.

Methods and systems for detection of an occupancy status of a space monitored by a system (100) are described herein. The method comprises detecting a magnetic field value at the space by a magnetic field sensor (210) of a sensing device (104). The detected magnetic field value with a reference magnetic field value, to determine a magnetic occupancy status (MOS) of the space. The MOS is indicative of the change in the occupancy status of the space. The change in the occupancy status is indicative of one of a change from empty to occupied occupancy status, and a change from occupied to empty occupancy status. Further, when the MOS indicates the change in the occupancy status of the space, a radar sensor (212) of the sensing device (104) is activated to determine a radar occupancy status (ROS) by generating at least one radar reading from the radar sensor (212). The ROS is indicative of the change in the occupancy status of the space. Thereafter, the change in the occupancy status of the space is established when the ROS indicating the change in the occupancy status of the space is in agreement with the MOS. Further, the established change of the occupancy status in the space is communicated to a central unit (102) of the system (100).

A system for use in a vehicle determining the type of terrain ahead of the vehicle, the system comprising; a processor configured to receive sensor output data from a plurality of vehicle-mounted sensors, including at least one radar sensor and at least one acoustic sensor, each for receiving a reflected signal from the terrain ahead of the vehicle; and a data memory configured to store pre-determined data relating sensor output data, for the or each acoustic sensor and the or each radar sensor, to a terrain type; wherein the processor is configured to compare the sensor output data with the pre-determined data to determine an indication of the terrain type corresponding to the sensor output data.

A method and system for estimating uncertainties in radar based precipitation estimates is provided. In an embodiment, gauge measurements at one or more gauge locations are received by an agricultural intelligence computer system. The agricultural intelligence computer system obtains precipitation estimates for the one or more gauge locations that correspond to the gauge measurements and computes the differences between the precipitation estimates and the gauge measurements. Using the precipitation estimates and the computed differences, the agricultural intelligence computer system then models a dependence of the uncertainty in the precipitation estimates on the value of the precipitation estimates. When the agricultural intelligence computer system receives precipitation estimates for a location where gauge measurements are unavailable, the agricultural intelligence computer identifies an uncertainty for the precipitation estimate based on the value of the precipitation estimate and the model of the dependence of the uncertainty on the precipitation estimate values.

Methods and devices are presented for synchronizing positioning signals in a kinematic location network. In particular, methods and devices are presented for synchronizing a unique positioning signal generated by a positioning-unit device to a reference positioning signal generated by a reference transmitter, where the positioning-unit device and the reference transmitter are moving relative to each other. In certain embodiments the reference transmitter or the positioning-unit device, or both, self-monitor trajectory data comprising one or more of location, velocity or acceleration, e.g. using inertial navigation systems, and broadcast that data in their positioning signals. The trajectory data enables estimation of Doppler shifts and propagation delays associated with the positioning signals, allowing measurement and correction of clock drift for synchronization of the positioning signals.

A dual mode electromagnetic detection system and a protective dome for the electromagnetic detection system are described. The protective dome includes a substrate having a portion transparent to both infrared radiation and radio frequency radiation. The portion of the substrate includes a macromolecular material including a polymer selected from a family of polyolefins and an antistatic additive.

An apparatus may include a plurality of antenna elements forming an antenna array. The apparatus may further include a beamformer that determines one or more of phase and amplitude shifts to cause the plurality of antenna elements to produce a beam in the direction of a target. The apparatus may further include a null limiter comprising dither circuits. The dither circuits may dither the one or more of phase and amplitude shifts by adding noise to cause a side lobe of the beam to increase above a threshold value. The dither circuits may be enabled by a control signal, and the dithered one or more of phase and amplitude shifts may be provided to the antenna elements to produce the beam in the direction of the target with the side lobes above the threshold value.

A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for improved switching speed and/or tunability for radio-frequency (RF) devices are described. In one embodiment, a liquid crystal (LC) component comprises an LC structure in a mixture with right-handed (R) and left-handed (S) chiral dopants.

An array antenna forms a main beam, and the main beam is toward a beam direction. The array antenna includes a plurality of radiating elements with a plurality of central line segments, where the plurality of radiating elements are arranged along a straight line, and the straight line is connecting the plurality of central line segments; and a plurality of meanders connecting the plurality of radiating elements; where the array antenna is disposed on a first plane, the beam direction has a nonzero deviating angle with a normal direction of the first plane, and the normal direction is perpendicular to the first plane.

A system is described, along with the related device and method, for transmission and/or reception of signals having electromagnetic modes with orbital angular momentum (OAM), wherein the device is adapted to receive, at its input, electromagnetic signals from at least one transmitter, and is configured to apply a discrete Fourier transform to the electromagnetic signals in order to generate the signals having electromagnetic modes with orbital angular momentum.