US Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army

USA as Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Anderson H Kim

Maurice Weiner

Robert J Youmans

Louis J Jasper, Jr

Lawrence J Bovino

Robert J Zeto

Thomas E Koscica

Leo D Didomenico

Lawrence E Kingsley

Stephen Levy

Robert A Pastore, Jr

Terence Burke

Melvin J Wade

Stephen E Saddow

Michelle A Dornath-Mohr

A photon triggered RF radiator that is composed of a photoconductive subste having a ground plane electrode on its bottom surface and a top surface electrode having separate sections to perform energy storage and energy radiation functions. The energy storage section has a bulk-type photoconductive switch position therein such that any energy stored in the energy storage section of the top surface electrode is instantaneously discharged through the substrate to the ground plane, thus causing a pulse of nanosecond pulsewidth dimension to radiate from the energy radiation section of the top surface electrode.

Photon-triggered RF radiator using bulk type switching

A photon triggered RF radiator having separate sections to perform the eny storage and the energy radiation functions. The energy storage function is performed by at least one charging electrode positioned on the upper surface of a photoconductive dielectric substrate, whereas the energy radiation function is performed by a charging electrode positioned adjacent to the charging electrode on the upper surface of the substrate. The charging electrode and the radiating electrode are separated by a predetermined gap distance that is large enough to insure there is no surface flashover between the electrodes and small enough to insure the efficiency of energy discharge from the charging pad to the spiral antenna is maximized.

Photon-triggered RF radiator having discrete energy storage and energy

A device for radiating pulses of radio frequency energy in response to pulses of laser light in which a metal layer is ohmically bonded to one side of a substrate of semiconductor material and an antenna is ohmically bonded to the other side of the substrate, there being at least one aperture in the metal layer for permitting laser light to reach the disk.

Optically activated multi-frequency high power RF generation utilizing a

A monolithic photoconductive pulsar utilizing a radial transmission line structure to store energy and a unique optical pulse illumination means to trigger the radial transmission line to radiate extremely, high voltage gain, narrow bipolar pulses. By achieving a higher voltage gain, the bipolar RF pulses are desirable in that they substantially improve the efficiency and lifetime of the device over the prior art.

Monolithic photoconductive bipolar pulsar utilizing a radial

A photoconductive switch coupled to an energy storage device wherein the tch is comprised of photoconductive semiconductor material while the energy storage device comprises two spiral metalized arms that make up a spiral antenna. The photoconductive switch is electrically connected to the storage device to facilitate fast discharge of the stored energy through a load. A variation comprises a storage device comprising two separate pieces of substrate material each having a spiral metalized arm. The separate pieces being connected by highly dielectric material to form a spiral antenna ultra wideband radiator.

Ultra-wideband high power photon triggered frequency independent

A photoconductive ultra-wideband impulse generating device utilizing pulse harpening techniques to further increase its radiation frequency well above the gigahertz range while also substantially improving radiation efficiency. Such pulse sharpening provides for a radiator having a wider range of applications.

Pulse sharpening using an optical pulse

An electronically controlled frequency agile impulse source utilizing pulse sharpening techniques to increase its versatility in radiating impulse energy at a variety of center frequencies and bandwidths in the megahertz to the gigahertz range. Such pulse sharpening provides for a radiator having a wider range of applications.

Electronically controlled frequency agile impulse device

A photoconductive switch coupled to an energy storage device wherein the tch is comprised of photoconductive semiconductor material while the energy storage device comprises two discrete dielectric mediums. Each medium having a conductive electrode on the top and bottom surfaces to essentially form parallel capacitors wherein the parallel capacitors are separated by a predetermined gap distance. A photoconductive switch electrically connected to each medium such that the switches are located on the opposite sides of their respective mediums. The predetermined gap distance (between the electrodes) and the photoconductive switches (on opposite sides of the storage devices) provide suppression of surface flashover between very high voltage, charged electrodes. Such flashover suppression allowing for very high power pulse generation.

High power photon triggered ultra-wideband RF radiator with opposite

The combination of a photoconductive switch coupled to an energy storage ice wherein the switch is comprised of photoconductive semiconductor switch while the energy storage device comprises a tapered radio transmission line. A photoconductive semiconductor gallium arsenide switch is embedded in a circular disc of dielectric material having a thickness dimension which reduces linearly outward from the center, with upper and lower layers of continuous radial metallization configured in a circular pattern located thereon. The upper layer of metallization includes an apertured grid adjacent one surface of the switch, while the outer conductor of a coaxial output signal line is connected to the metallization layer on the opposite side with the inner conductor thereof passing through the dielectric layer to the undersurface of the semiconductor switch.

Tapered radial transmission line for an optically activated hybrid pulser

Bulk gallium arsenide having a high hold-off voltage is optically activated by a laser resulting in high power output. A high voltage input is applied to a semi-insulating gallium arsenide material. The gallium arsenide material is activated by laser light, thereby resulting in large current conduction. An external oscillating signal is superimposed on the high current resulting in a high power output.

Signal amplification using optically activated bulk semi-insulating GaAs

A device for generating pulses of radio frequency energy in response to pulses of laser light in which a circular wafer of GaAs has metallized annular layers ohmically bonded to the wafer by epitaxial GaAs layers, and an epitaxial layer of AlGaAs in the center of one of the annular epitaxial layers through which laser light is to be directed, there being a plurality of apertures in the metallized layer in contact with the AlGaAs epitaxial layer. In addition, an AlGaAs epitaxial layer may be formed opposite the first AlGaAs layer and an optical fiber is brought into contact with it so that laser light can be introduced at both sides of the wafer.

Optically activated wafer-scale pulser with AlGaAs epitaxial layer

A photoconductive switch coupled to an energy storage device wherein the tch is comprised of photoconductive semiconductor material while the energy storage device comprises two quasi-radial transmission line including a different material, i.e. a dielectric storage medium. The photoconductive semiconductor gallium arsenide switch is electrically connected to two quasi-radial transmission lines formed in part by layers of metallization configured in a quasi-radially shaped pattern upon the energy storage device. A variation comprises a photoconductive semiconductor gallium arsenide wafer sandwiched between two quasi-radial transmission lines so that the semiconductor gallium arsenide wafer serves as substrate, energy storage medium, and photoconductive switch.

Ultra-wideband high power photon triggered frequency independent radiator

A high voltage sub-nanosecond pulser and radiator including a radial transsion line consisting of a dielectric member sandwiched between two patterned layers of metallization, one of which comprises a plurality of radiating elements. A photoconductive semiconductor gallium arsenide switch is embedded in the dielectric member which has a constant thickness. The other layer of metallization includes an apertured grid adjacent one surface of the switch for application of an energization pulse of laser light.

Optically activated hybrid pulser with patterned radiating element

The combination of a photoconductive switch coupled to an energy storage ice wherein the switch is comprised of photoconductive semiconductor material while the energy storage device comprises a radio transmission line including a different material, i.e. a dielectric storage medium. A photoconductive semiconductor gallium arsenide switch is embedded in a circular disc of dielectric material with upper and lower layers of continuous radial metallization configured in a circular pattern located thereon. The upper layer of metallization includes an apertured grid adjacent one surface of the switch, while the outer conductor of a coaxial output signal line is connected to the metallization layer on the opposite side with the inner conductor thereof passing through the dielectric layer to the undersurface of the semiconductor switch. A variation comprises the upper and lower metallization layers being formed in the shape of a plurality of discrete straight line segments or strips which extend radially outward from the center and thus forms a quasi-radial structure.

Optically activated sub-nanosecond hybrid pulser

A high power, solid state burst generator for producing RF pulses includes a plurality of transmission lines, such as coaxial cables, having one end connected across a load via a plurality of photoconductive switches, one for each line. The other end of the transmission lines are terminated in open ends and connected to a charging DC voltage. One set of lines is connected to a positive DC voltage +V while other set is connected to a negative DC voltage -V. A laser is coupled to one end of a plurality of fiber optic lines, each having a different length, for simultaneously launching switch pulses thereon. The other ends of the fiber optic lines are each coupled to a different one of the photoconductive switches for closing and opening the switches in a sequential fashion such that the lines are sequentially discharged through the load to generate a cyclic series of pulses.

Growing community of inventors

Toms River, NJ, United States of America

Anderson H Kim