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High Power Monolithic Microwave Limiters
Navy SBIR 2011.1 - Topic N111-052 NAVSEA - Mr. Dean Putnam - [email protected] Opens: December 13, 2010 - Closes: January 12, 2011 N111-052 TITLE: High Power Monolithic Microwave Limiters TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors ACQUISITION PROGRAM: NA, IWS 2.0 will transition technology into developing Radar and EW systems RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted." The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected. OBJECTIVE: Demonstrate innovative high power Monolithic Microwave Limiters for Navy Shipboard Radars and Electronic Warfare (EW) Systems. Lower cost and improved response time are key. DESCRIPTION: Limiters are used to prevent damage to components due to excessive RF input power. Silicon PIN diodes provide excellent RF performance and are utilized in many high power RF limiter applications.1 Silicon PIN diode limiters are typically realized by integrating silicon PIN diodes with an external substrate containing RF transmission lines. Such components are typically referred to as hybrid assemblies. The cost of a hybrid RF limiter is often a significant factor in the overall cost of a T/R module, however, and improvement in this area is sought. A MMIC limiter allows a single material to be used for both diodes and RF transmission lines. A MMIC then provides a potential cost advantage over a hybrid limiter by eliminating the labor required to integrate the substrate and diodes during module assembly. Further, a MMIC limiter may offer a faster response time. To this end, solutions are sought with respect to high power RF MMIC limiters or other potential lower cost approaches. Furthermore, solutions utilizing a silicon carbide substrate are sought to address limiter thermal management challenges. MMIC limiter technology solutions are sought that can significantly reduce T/R Module limiter related cost. The limiter power handling for wide bandwidth, 3:1 for 1-20Ghz applications, is 50W and for S-Band is 100W with sub nanosecond response times. PHASE I: Demonstrate feasibility of proposed integrated limiter technology through modeling and empirical evaluation. Technical feasibility shall be demonstrated by meeting the stated performance objectives and transition potential. PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate an integrated limiter technology that 1) addresses the electrical goals of this topic, 2) that is compatible with high power operational shipboard solid state array and radar, and 3) that also will satisfy reliable long-term operation within an operational shipboard solid state array and radar. PHASE III: Refine the phase II design of the integrated limiter technology as necessary and incorporate it into a solid-state high-power amplifier module design intended for Integration and demonstration in an operating IWS 2.0 radar system. PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The developed Limiter technology will have technological applicability for all commercial and military avionics radars, all commercial radar applications, and all marine radar applications. REFERENCES: 2. Passive RF and Microwave Integrated Circuits ,Leo G. Maloratsky, Newnes, ISBN: 0-7506-7699-X 3. Phased Array Antenna Handbook, R.J. Mailloux. 4. http://www.cree.com/products/wireless_gan_hemt3.asp KEYWORDS: Limiter, Radar, EW, MMIC, integration, T/R Module
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