Optical RF Distribution System (ORFDS)
Syntonics is studying the feasibility of a shipboard optical radio frequency distribution system (ORFDS) that uses photonic links to
mitigate EMI issues, freeing the system designer to place antennas and radios without constraints on connection
lengths. Syntonicsis studying several RF-over-fiber architectures focusing on designs that use externally modulated CW
lasers with relative intensity noise suppressed by balanced detectors and active phase detector linearization techniques.
Pixel-Addressable Reconfigurable Conformal Antenna (PARCA)
PARCA is a conformal, electronically steered communications antenna that can reconfigure its operating frequency, gain, beam shape, and polarization in less than 1 ms. Syntonics is currently developing the PARCA technology for two different DoD applications.
Direction-Finding (DF) Fabric Antenna
Syntonics is developing a broadband “DF tarp” SIGINT antenna. This lightweight, rugged, fabric-like structure lays on the ground and can be covered by a light layer of dry loose brush or a light layer of dry sand. Alternately, it can be stretched on guyed poles like an awning. The antenna can be rolled or folded for storage.
Beam-switching Multi-mode Antenna System
Syntonics is developing a “stacked tri-pole” beam-switching antenna system that provides good all-sky performance with both vertically polarized line-of-sight (LOS) signals and circularly polarized beyond LOS (BLOS) satellite signals. Unlike existing quadrifilar helix antennas, which provides only one zenith beam of circular polarized (CP) gain, this antenna system adds multiple low-elevation CP beams and switches electronically between beams.
Wireless Strain Gage System for Jet Turbine Engines
Syntonics is prototyping a wireless strain gage system capable of functioning in an operating jet turbine engine, telemetering 45 kHz dynamic strain data to an external data collection system.
PICO Advanced Clock
The PICO Advanced Clock for GPS holdover timekeeping was developed for mission-critical DOD timekeeping. It provides precise, reliable, robust, flexible timekeeping, as well as providing a stable precision frequency reference, all without using an atomic clock. Precision results from PICO's ability to synchronize its ensemble of oscillators within 1-2 nanoseconds to an external time source such as GPS. PICO compensates mathematically for any drift in its clock ensemble (including any external customer-supplied clocks), sustaining precision timekeeping for extended periods if the external reference is interrupted. Robustness results from an architecture where any oscillator's partial or complete failure (including in signals from any customer-supplied clocks) only slightly degrades the performance of the unit. PICO's self-monitoring and reporting enhances reliability. Flexibility results from PICO's ability to include existing atomic clocks in the ensemble timekeeping.
