Other

The Boeing Company

Hughes Aircraft Company

Hughes Electronics Corporation

Ronald E Sorace

Victor S Reinhardt

Steven A Vaughn

Shih-Chang Wu

Peter John Turley

Clinton Chan

A switch matrix is provided comprising a plurality of input modules X and a plurality of output modules P. Each input module has a plurality of first input interconnections a plurality of first interconnected switches and a plurality of first output interconnections Each output module has a plurality of second input interconnections a plurality of second interconnected switches and a plurality of second output interconnections The plurality of input modules X is electrically coupled to the plurality of output modules P, forming a plurality of signal paths having a plurality of interconnected switches K per signal path A method is also provided minimizing the total number of interconnected switches Z within the switch matrix for a particular application. The method comprises determining switch matrix design requirements, calculating the values of X and P, and performing an integer partitioning process.

Switch matrix

Methods and systems for calibrating an array antenna are described. The array antenna has a plurality of antenna elements each having a signal with a phase and an amplitude forming an array antenna signal. For calibration, the phase of each element signal is sequentially switched one at a time through four orthogonal phase states. At each orthogonal phase state, the power of the array antenna signal is measured. A phase and an amplitude error for each of the element signals is determined based on the power of the array antenna signal at each of the four orthogonal phase states. The phase and amplitude of each of the element signals is then adjusted by the corresponding phase and amplitude errors.

Phase array calibration orthogonal phase sequence

A plurality of biphase modulators (42) each modulate a sinusoidal radio frequency signal based upon a corresponding one of a plurality of bits contained in a time-dependent data word. The biphase modulators (42) form a plurality of biphase modulated signals which are communicated to a summing network (40). The summing network (40) contains a plurality of attenuators (44) which attenuate the modulated signals to form a plurality of attenuated signals. The summing network (40) combines the attenuated signals to form a radio frequency signal.

High-speed digital-to-RF-converter

A slotline binary phase shift keyed (BPSK) modulator that is capable of operating at high frequency with relatively low sensitivity to terminating impedance. The slotline BPSK modulator comprises a slotline formed in a conductive layer disposed on a substrate, and a pair of diodes coupled to the conductive layer and disposed across the slotline. An RF carrier input signal is coupled to the slotline using a microstrip-to-coplanar line transition that forms one portion of a balanced transformer. The balanced transformer applies the RF carrier input signal with equal amplitude and 180 degree phase difference to each of the diodes. A modulating baseband signal is injected into the microstrip-to-coplanar line transition through a microstrip line and a lumped element low pass filter coupled to the microstrip-to-coplanar line transition. A direct via hole is provided for coupling a baseband modulating signal from the microstrip-to-coplanar line transition to the diodes. An output BPSK signal is extracted through a slotline-to-microstrip transition that forms a second portion of the transformer. The modulator has less sensitivity to terminating impedance and operates at relatively high frequency, on the order of 3.8 gigabits per second.

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Torrance, CA, United States of America

Ronald E Sorace