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:
Aug. 19, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 11, 1999
Eugene Fischer, Clermont, FL (US);
Steven K. Latham, Orlando, FL (US);
Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US);
Abstract
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for varying the power level of a transmitted signal, such as a transmitted radio frequency signal, of high power, high transmission rate systems in a relatively straightforward, cost efficient manner. Exemplary embodiments can provide a range of stable DC control voltages for driving a power level attenuator, wherein the control voltages possess essentially no AC component (e.g., in exemplary embodiments, at a 5 volt DC output, virtually no AC component in the millivolt range is present), and possess a high current capability (e.g., at a 5 volt DC output exemplary embodiments can accommodate currents in excess of 0.5 amps (A) up to 7 A or greater). The ability to provide very stable, high current capability transmission power attenuation is especially desirable for communication systems, and in particular, wireless communication systems wherein conservation of energy is important, and wherein transmission rates are on the order of 125 Mb/s or higher, and transmission power is on the order of 0.5 to 2 watts (W) or higher. Because of its high current capability, power level attenuation of a transmitted signal in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention is suitable for use in conjunction with high power (e.g., 0.5 W) monolithic millimeter wave integrated circuits (MMICs).