TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Materials/Processes, Sensors, Electronics, Battlespace

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Joint Strike Fighter, ACAT I

OBJECTIVE: Utilizing advanced thin-film component technology, develop high-efficiency low cost and reduced size microwave RF and IF filters suitable for use in X-band active electronically steered antenna (AESA) array based radar systems.

DESCRIPTION: Thin-film filter technology has provided the wireless consumer telecommunications market with increased device functionality, improved channel selectivity, reduced component size, lower weight and higher device reliability. Steady improvements have been made in thin-film technology including reduced filter parasitic crosstalk; improved integration onto active device substrates; wider bandwidth operation; very rapid tunability; and the utilization of advanced materials for reduced device size and lower loss. Our desire is to leverage these advances where possible and focus new research on critical issues associated with the use of thin-film tunable filters for multifunction wideband active electronically steered antenna array based radar systems.

Improvements in both materials and circuit performance are of interest. Considerations should be given to critical performance parameters for this application including the input and output impedance, selectivity, phase response, transient response, insertion loss, terminal crosstalk, tuning speed, signal power handling capability, power consumption, size and ease of integration.

PHASE I: Leveraging the state-of-the-art knowledge base in thin-film microwave filter technology and the projected performance limits of these devices, develop a broad based research and development plan that provides a prioritized investment strategy for thin-film filter technology applicable to X-band AESA-based radar systems. In consultation with the sponsor, develop a detailed research and development plan focusing on a limited set of the most promising concepts of interest to the sponsor.

PHASE II: Using the most promising concepts from Phase I, develop and demonstrate the capability of providing meaningful performance, producability and/or cost improvements to thin-film microwave filters.

PHASE III: Working with RADAR system OEMs and device manufacturers transition the technology improvements to the Fleet.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: High performance thin-film filters are essential to a wide range of civilian and military sensor and communication systems.

REFERENCES:
1. K.M. Lakin,, Thin Film Resonator Technology, IEEE Transactions On Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, And Frequency Control, vol. 52, no. 5, May 2005, pp. 707-716
2. H.R. Yi, S.K. Remillard and A. Abdelmonem, A Novel Ultra-Compact Resonator for Superconducting Thin-Film Filters, IEEE Transactions On Microwave Theory And Techniques, vol. 51, no. 12, December 2003, pp. 2290-2296
3. K. Lakin, and J. Belsick, Integration of Thin Film Resonator Devices Onto SiGe Substrates, Silicon Monolithic Integrated Circuits in RF Systems, 2001. 12-14 Sept. 2001 pp.37 � 41
4. H.R. Yi, S.K. Remillard, and A. Abdelmonem, A Superconducting Thin Film Filter Of Very High Wide-Band Rejection, Microwave Symposium Digest, 2003 IEEE MTT-S International Volume 3, 8-13 June 2003 pp. 1893 - 1896
5. J. Nath, D. Ghosh, J.-P. Maria, A.I. Kingon, W. Fathelbab, P.D. Franzon, and M.B. Steer, An Electronically Tunable Microstrip Bandpass Filter Using Thin-Film Barium�Strontium�Titanate (BST) Varactors, IEEE Transactions On Microwave Theory And Techniques, vol. 53, no. 9, September 2005, pp. 2707-2712

KEYWORDS: Microwave filters; RF filters; Thin Film Devices; Phased Array; T/R Modules; AESA radar

TPOC: (301)342-2637
2nd TPOC: (301)342-0053

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