Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Timothy R LaRocca

Manouchehr Ghanevati

Eric C Wagner

Denpol Kultran

John M Trippett

A radio frequency (RF) summer circuit having a characteristic impedance Zcomprises first and second ports coupled by first and second resistances, respectively, to a junction. The circuit further comprises a series combination of a third resistance and a switch movable between open and closed positions and an amplifier having input and output terminals and operable in an off state and an on state wherein the series combination is coupled across the input and output terminals of the amplifier between the junction and a third port. The first resistance, second resistance, and the third resistance are all substantially equal to Z/3. Further, when the switch is moved to the closed position and the amplifier is switched to the off state a passive mode of operation is implemented and when the switch is moved to the open position and the amplifier is switched to the on state an active mode of operation is implemented. The RF summer circuit develops a summed signal at the third port equal to a sum of signals at the first and second ports modified by one of first and second gain values.

Selectively switchable wideband RF summer

A radio frequency (RF) summer circuit having a characteristic impedance Zo comprises first and second ports coupled by first and second resistances, respectively, to a junction. The circuit further comprises a series combination of a third resistance and a switch movable between open and closed positions and an amplifier having input and output terminals and operable in an off state and an on state wherein the series combination is coupled across the input and output terminals of the amplifier between the junction and a third port. The first resistance, second resistance, and the third resistance are all substantially equal to Z/3. Further, when the switch is moved to the closed position and the amplifier is switched to the off state a passive mode of operation is implemented and when the switch is moved to the open position and the amplifier is switched to the on state an active mode of operation is implemented. The RF summer circuit develops a summed signal at the third port equal to a sum of signals at the first and second ports modified by one of first and second gain values.

An exemplary embodiment of a low noise amplifier has integral noise cancellation to provide a low noise figure and operation over a frequency range of 40 GHz-60 GHz. An amplifier amplifies an input signal as well as noise present with the amplified signal and amplified noise being out of phase and in phase, respectively, with the corresponding inputs. An auxiliary amplifier amplifies the same inputs and generates an amplified signal and amplified noise both being out of phase relative to the inputs. A summation circuit combines all of these amplified signals with the noise being cancelled since the auxiliary amplifier provides the same amount of amplification as the amplifier and the amplified noise signals being summed are 180 degrees out of phase to each other. Preferably, the amplifier, auxiliary amplifier and the summation device utilize CMOS transistors disposed on an SOI substrate with impedance stabilization over the frequency range.

Low noise amplifier with noise cancellation

A low noise amplifier has integral noise cancellation to provide a low noise figure and operation over a frequency range of 0.5 GHz-50 GHz. An amplifier amplifies an input signal as well as noise present with the amplified signal and amplified noise being out of phase and in phase, respectively, with the corresponding inputs. A feedback circuit that is non-linear with frequency enables a constant amplification. A summation circuit combines amplified signals with the noise being cancelled since two combined noise signals being summed are 180 degrees out of phase to each other. An optional secondary amplification stage provides additional amplification. Preferably, the amplifier, auxiliary amplifier and the summation device utilize CMOS transistors disposed on an SOI substrate with impedance stabilization over the frequency range.

Wideband low noise amplifier with noise cancellation

A tunable analog noise-cancelling transversal reconfigurable filter for filtering an RF signal. The filter includes a noise-cancelling balun responsive to the RF signal and providing gain and noise suppression, and a time delay network responsive to the signal from the balun. The time delay network includes a single continuous three-dimensional air coaxial line where a separate tap is provided between sections of the line. The filter also includes a multiplication and summing network having a plurality of multiplication stages, where each stage is fed by a voltage signal from at least one of the taps, and each stage includes a multiplication amplifier that amplifies the voltage signal. A tuning element provides a multiplication coefficient to the amplified signal. Each amplified signal in each stage is added on an output line, where the multiplication and summing network operates under Millman's Theorem.

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Torrance, CA, United States of America

Timothy R LaRocca