Cryoelectronically cooled receiver front end for mobile radio systems
First Claim
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1. A receiver front end for receiving wireless signals, comprising:
- a plurality of filtering means for spectrally filtering an RF signal to form a filtered RF signal;
a plurality of amplifying means for amplifying the filtered RF signal; and
cooling means for cryogenically cooling the filtering means and amplifying means, said cooling means comprising a cooling member having a plurality of faces, wherein at least one of said filtering means and at least one of said amplifying means are positioned adjacent to each of a number of said faces and wherein said cooling member has an end having a temperature lower than other portions of said cooling member and said filtering means is located nearer said end than said amplifying means.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a novel use of cryoelectronic equipment to implement an extremely sensitive and stable receiver front end for UHF, microwave, and millimeter wave applications. The invention is particularly applicable to base station receivers in mobile radio systems, where the range and capacity of the systems are typically limited by the base station receiver sensitivity.
75 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A receiver front end for receiving wireless signals, comprising:
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a plurality of filtering means for spectrally filtering an RF signal to form a filtered RF signal;
a plurality of amplifying means for amplifying the filtered RF signal; and
cooling means for cryogenically cooling the filtering means and amplifying means, said cooling means comprising a cooling member having a plurality of faces, wherein at least one of said filtering means and at least one of said amplifying means are positioned adjacent to each of a number of said faces and wherein said cooling member has an end having a temperature lower than other portions of said cooling member and said filtering means is located nearer said end than said amplifying means.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A receiver front end for receiving wireless signals, comprising:
- p1 a filter for spectrally filtering electromagnetic radiation and an amplifier for amplifying the electromagnetic radiation; and
a crycooler for cryogenically cooling the filter and amplifier, said cryocooler comprising a cooling member wherein the amplifier and filter are adjacent to said cooling member and further comprising an interface for mounting said amplifier and filter on said cooling member, said filter and amplifier being positioned on said interface such that said amplifier has a higher temperature than said filter. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- p1 a filter for spectrally filtering electromagnetic radiation and an amplifier for amplifying the electromagnetic radiation; and
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10. A receiver front end for receiving wireless signals on a plurality of channels, the receiver front end comprising:
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a plurality of planar filters for filtering a corresponding plurality of RF signals corresponding to a plurality of channels to form a corresponding plurality of filtered RF signals;
a corresponding plurality of amplifiers for amplifying the plurality of filtered RF signals;
a cryogenic cooler for cryogenically cooling the plurality of filters and amplifiers, the cryogenic cooler having a cooling member being configured to cool simultaneously the plurality of planar filters and the plurality of planar amplifiers; and
a switched bypass circuit around the receiver front end and one or more sensors, wherein in a first mode when the one or more sensors measure acceptable operational parameters the bypass circuit is unswitched such that RF signals pass through the plurality of filters and amplifiers in the cryogenic cooler and not through the bypass circuit and in a second mode when the one or more sensors measure at least one unacceptable operational parameter the bypass circuit is switched and RF signals pass through the bypass circuit and not through the plurality of filters and amplifiers in the cryogenic cooler. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. The receiver front end as claimed in 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of filters and amplifiers include a superconducting material and the operating temperature of the cryogenic cooler is about 90% or less of the superconducting transition temperature of the superconducting material.
Specification