Frank D Butscher, 881355 Duck Walk Rd, San Marcos, CA 92069

5250955, Oct 5, 1993

Jun 5, 1992

7/894700

Harvey W. Major - Saratoga CA
James C. Beffa - Sunnyvale CA
Frank D. Butscher - San Jose CA
Bruce A. Beauchamp - Sunnyvale CA

Lockheed Information Services Company - Teaneck NJ

G01S 302

342457

A beacon system wherein a beacon station is placed at a landmark such as a state line adjacent a major highway to broadcast information-containing alternating directional signals. In addition, each vehicle may be equipped with a radio receiver, a receiving decoder and a data analysis processor for receiving data signals from the beacon station. The beacon station includes an information encoder for generating first and second alternating but distinct location signals, first and second directional antennas disposed to radiate in opposite directions along the path of travel, the directional antennas having a significant back attenuation, a radio frequency transmitter for broadcasting the two location signals, preferably as data packets, to vehicle-mounted receivers along the path of travel, and an r. f. switcher for switching signal output of the transmitter between the two antennas in synchronization with the two location signals. The data analysis processor associated with each vehicle-carried receiver includes a half-circular buffer operative to capture a succession of packets received from the receiving decoder, to preserve initially-received complete packets of the first location signals and to preserve last-received complete packets of the second location signals.

6184839, Feb 6, 2001

Jun 23, 1997

8/999651

Frank D. Butscher - San Jose CA
William J. Dawley - Sunnyvale CA
Joseph T. Loane - Pacifica CA
David R. Tanner - San Mateo CA

Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space Company - Sunnyvale CA

H01Q 138
H01Q 1912
H01Q 1506

343754

A reflector for an antenna includes a plurality of reflector elements, each having a transmission line and an aperture at a distal end of the transmission line. Each transmission line having a length which varies in accordance with the position of each aperture relative to the antenna. The varying length of transmission creates a time delay that phases re-radiated waves.

4605932, Aug 12, 1986

Jun 6, 1984

6/618013

Frank D. Butscher - San Jose CA
Michael J. Gegan - Menlo Park CA

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

H01Q 138

343700MS

An antenna structure in which two or more microstrip arrays are disposed on op of each other to minimize the required space. The shape of the microstrip elements and the polarization thereof are chosen so that the individual elements radiate only in specific areas along the edges of the elements with the remainder of the element having no appreciable electric field concentration. Because of the operating frequency of a microstrip element is a function of the size of the element, a second antenna of smaller higher-frequency elements may be disposed over a larger lower-frequency antenna such that the higher frequency antenna does not cover the areas of the lower antenna that radiate but lies over only those areas having no appreciable electric fields concentrations. Increasingly higher-frequency antennas can be placed on top of the lower-frequency antennas if the foregoing conditions are maintained with respect to all of the covered antennas. This arrangement permits separate feed networks and omnidirectional coverage or directional coverage for each of the arrays independent of the others.

4605933, Aug 12, 1986

Jun 6, 1984

6/618011

Frank D. Butscher - San Jose CA

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

H01Q 138

343700MS

A microstrip antenna having approximately an octave bandwidth comprises a planar radiating element disposed approximately coplanar with and in front of an upper ground plane and spaced above a lower ground plane at a distance equal to approximately one-tenth wavelength at the lowest operating frequency (one-quarter wavelength at the upper operating frequency). A thin dielectric layer is disposed on top of the upper ground plane which is coupled to the lower ground plane. The antenna, which is linearly polarized, is fed from the rear by a launcher that is approximately coplanar with the radiating element and mounted above the dielectric layer. Impedance matching means are provided for improved performance.