Transmit/receive module for planar active apertures

US5745076A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Thomas R. Turlington · Linthicum, US
• Patrick G. Farrell · Baltimore, US
• Gerald K. Kane · Stevensville, US
• Gary L. Ferrell · Pasadena, US
• Scott K. Suko · Elkridge, US
• Joseph A. Faulkner · Ellicott City, US
• Gregory K. Sinon · Dayton, US
• Francis W. Hopwood · Severna Park, US
• Andrew J. Piloto · Columbia, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 5, 1996
• Grant date: Apr 28, 1998
• Expiry date: Sep 5, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01Q21/0087
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A T/R module including a multilevel, multichip microwave package having a plurality of gallium arsenide monolithic microwave integrated circuit chips (MMICs) implementing RF switching elements, a variable phase shifter, a plurality of RF amplifiers, and gain trim attenuators and which are located on a planar RF assembly. The module's architecture includes shared or common MMIC circuit elements during both transmit and receive operation modes thus reducing the number of MMICs required while at the same time preloading the supply voltage regulator-modulator which supplies DC power to all the MMIC circuits without degrading T/R module efficiency.