Patent · US Expired

Optically controlled active impedance element and filters employing the same

US5229665A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
2References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 11, 1992
Grant dateJul 20, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 11, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03B5/24
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An optically controlled active impedance element particularly suited to se as a tuneable inductive element for a microwave oscillator is disclosed. The optically controlled active inductive element is comprised of a circuit arrangement, preferably consisting of MESFET devices which exhibit a composite inductive characteristics, and whose inductance may be determined and controlled by direct illumination impinging on the MESFETs. The optically controlled active inductive element lends itself to being adapted to monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) applications and may find use in a wide variety of microwave circuits. Also disclosed, is an embodiment which uses the optical controlled active impedance element, in a prescribed manner, to serve as a tuneable capacitor for use in various microwave circuits.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.