System and method for digitally controlling the launch of high-power broadband radio frequency waves with high linearity

• US 8,538,358 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2012
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport Division
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Steinbrecher, Donald H.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, NHAN T
• Application Number:
  US13/471,581
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 455/127.1, 455/127.2, 455/127.3, 455255-260, 455/333
• US Class Current: 455/127.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays

Abstract

An apparatus for digitally controlling the launch of high-power broad-band RF waves with high linearity for use with a software defined air-interface system. A wave launcher contains an Eplane array containing a plurality of Epixel partition elements is configured with a master digital controller. The master digital controller processes all signals to be launched as RF waves and develops the digital images necessary for digital synthesizers to format the signals to be converted to analog. A plurality of digital-analog converters coupled with power amplifiers convert the digital signal to analog, and the analog signal is then sent to the partition elements to be transmitted as RF waves.

Claims

1. An air-interface radio frequency wave launcher apparatus comprising:

a master digital controller;

at least one digital signal synthesizer for horizontally-polarized electric currents that is operatively coupled with said master digital controller;

at least one digital signal synthesizer for vertically-polarized electric currents that is operatively coupled with said master digital controller;

an Eplane array with a plurality of Epixel partition elements secured to a base plate, wherein each of said partition elements corresponds to at least one horizontal circuit board and at least one vertical circuit board;

at least one digital-analog converter coupled with said at least one digital signal synthesizer for horizontally-polarized currents that is operatively coupled to at least one power amplifier; and

at least one digital-analog converter coupled with said at least one digital signal synthesizer for vertically-polarized currents that is operatively coupled to at least one power amplifier.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of partition elements corresponds to a frequency-independent effective area approximately equal to a physical area of said plurality of partition elements.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one digital-analog converter coupled with said at least one digital synthesizer for horizontally-polarized currents are connected in parallel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one digital-analog converter coupled with said at least one digital synthesizer for vertically-polarized currents are connected in parallel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said partition elements is operatively coupled to a corresponding horizontal circuit board and a corresponding vertical circuit board.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said partition elements is square pyramidal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said partition elements is secured to said base plate using a bolted multi-pronged spring clip, wherein each prong is comprised of a tapered projection.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said bolted multi-pronged spring clips is secured to a corresponding aperture on said base plate to create a slot connection for at least one circuit board.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said horizontal circuit boards and said vertical circuit boards are secured in position by corresponding circuit board support rails.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said at least one circuit board support rail contains four supporting slots, each of said supporting slots in contact with and corresponding to the thickness and length of a circuit board.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said digital converters are comprised of integrated circuitry on said circuit boards.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said power amplifiers are comprised of integrated circuitry on said circuit boards.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said circuit boards contain structural circuit board connectors operatively coupling said circuit boards with said digital signal synthesizers.