The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 29, 1998
Filed:
May. 12, 1997
John Xavier Przybysz, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Stephen Pusey Caldwell, Columbia, MD (US);
Donald Lynn Miller, Export, PA (US);
Andrew Hostetler Miklich, Monroeville, PA (US);
Northrop Grumman Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for generating a low phase noise RF signal where the output from a low phase-noise stabilized local oscillator operating at relatively high frequencies in the GHz range is combined in a power combiner with a digital data stream generated by a digital waveform generator and which is representative of one or more analog signals in a predetermined frequency spectrum of relatively lower RF frequencies in the MHz range. The combined signal is applied to a Josephson junction array whose output consists of a data stream including pulses of precise constant amplitude and which is then fed to a bandpass filter circuit having a predetermined bandpass. The filter extracts the lower frequency analog signal but now consisting of a signal having low phase-noise. This low phase-noise signal is mixed with the low phase-noise output from the local oscillator, thus providing a low phase- noise RF signal which when coupled to a radar transmitter results in the generation of transmitter radar pulses that enable targets to be detected in 'clutter'. The power capability of the Josephson junction array can also be increased by adding a source of current to the input to the Josephson junction array. This current is derived from the digital data stream by means of another bandpass filter connected from the digital waveform generator to the power combiner.