Bi-directional amplifier module for insertion between microwave transmission channels
First Claim
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1. A bi-directional amplifier module comprising:
- a downstream illumination source in a first microwave channel;
an upstream illumination source in a second microwave channel;
an array of converters for receiving illuminations and for illuminating said microwave channels; and
an array of bi-directional amplifiers coupled between said converters and configured to amplify downstream signals and to amplify upstream signals in response to control signals from a logic control unit.
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Abstract
A waveguide bi-directional amplifier module is illuminated by a downstream illumination source and an upstream illumination source. The illumination sources are coupled to an array having waveguide to microstrip converters that provide for upstream and downstream electrical signals. Switchable amplifiers provide for amplification in both directions for the electrical signals and the converters coherently combine the output of the amplifiers to provide increased power to the electromagnetic wave entering the waveguide.
251 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A bi-directional amplifier module comprising:
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a downstream illumination source in a first microwave channel;
an upstream illumination source in a second microwave channel;
an array of converters for receiving illuminations and for illuminating said microwave channels; and
an array of bi-directional amplifiers coupled between said converters and configured to amplify downstream signals and to amplify upstream signals in response to control signals from a logic control unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for providing bi-directional amplification comprising the steps of:
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illuminating an array of upstream converters and downstream converters;
converting, via the upstream and downstream converters, illuminations to downstream electrical signals and upstream electrical signals;
receiving the downstream electrical signals at downstream amplifiers;
combining downstream amplified signals at the upstream converters for downstream amplified illumination;
receiving the upstream electrical signals at upstream amplifiers; and
combining upstream amplified signals at the downstream converters for upstream amplified illumination. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
transmitting the downstream amplified illumination to a radar antenna and the upstream amplified illumination to a radar receiver.
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11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:
transmitting the downstream amplified illumination to a communication antenna and the upstream amplified illumination to a communication receiver.
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12. A system for providing bi-direction amplification:
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an array of switchable downstream and upstream amplifiers;
illumination sources for a downstream direction and a upstream direction; and
an array of converters for coupling the illumination sources to and from said amplifiers. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for providing bi-directional amplification comprising:
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a first electromagnetic signal;
a second electromagnetic signal; and
a module having a first and second port, wherein the first port receives said first electromagnetic signal and the second port receives the second electromagnetic signal, the module configured to convert said electromagnetic signals into first electrical signals for amplification by first amplifiers and into second electrical signals for amplification by second amplifiers wherein the first amplified signals illuminate said second port and the second amplified signals illuminate said first port. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A microwave communication system, comprising:
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a first waveguide;
a second waveguide; and
a bi-directional amplifier module coupled to the first and second waveguides, the bi-directional amplifier module configured to receive a downstream electromagnetic signal from the first waveguide, to amplify the downstream electromagnetic signal, and to transmit the amplified downstream signal to the second waveguide, the bi-directional amplifier module further configured to receive an upstream electromagnetic signal from the second waveguide, to amplify the upstream electromagnetic signal, and to transmit the amplified upstream signal to the first waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
a radar transceiver coupled to the first waveguide; and
an antenna coupled to the second waveguide, wherein the upstream electromagnetic signal is an echo of the downstream electromagnetic signal.
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28. The system of claim 25, further comprising:
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a communication transceiver coupled to the first waveguide; and
an antenna coupled to the second waveguide, wherein the upstream electromagnetic signal is a communication signal from a remote site.
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29. The system of claim 25, wherein the bi-directional amplifier module comprises:
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a downstream amplifier;
an upstream amplifier;
a first switch coupled to an input of the downstream amplifier and to an output of the upstream amplifier;
a second switch coupled to an input of the upstream amplifier and to an output of the downstream amplifier; and
control logic configured to the first and second switches such that the downstream amplifier receives and amplifies the downstream electromagnetic signal and such that the upstream amplifier receives and amplifies the upstream electromagnetic signal.
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30. The system of claim 29, wherein the control logic is configured to control the first and second switches such that the downstream amplifier is electrically isolated from the first and second waveguides when the upstream amplifier is amplifying the upstream electromagnetic signal and such that the upstream amplifier is electrically isolated from the second waveguides when the downstream amplifier is amplifying the downstream electromagnetic signal.
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31. The system of claim 25, wherein the bi-directional amplifier module comprises:
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a first array of converters, each of the first array of converters configured to receive a portion of the downstream electromagnetic signals;
a second array of converters, each of the second array of converters configured to receive a portion of the downstream electromagnetic signals; and
a plurality of bi-directional amplifiers, each of the bi-directional amplifiers associated with a different one of the first array of converters and a different one of the second array of converters, each of the bi-directional amplifiers configured to receive and amplify a portion of the downstream electromagnetic signal from the associated first array converter to provide the amplified downstream portion to the associated second array converter, each of the bi-directional amplifiers further configured to receive and amplify a portion of the upstream electromagnetic signal from the associated second array converter and to provide the amplified upstream portion to the associated first array converter.
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32. A bi-directional processing module comprising:
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a downstream illumination source in a first microwave channel;
an upstream illumination source in a second microwave channel;
an array of converters for receiving illuminations and for illuminating said microwave channels; and
an array of processing elements coupled between said converters and adapted to process downstream and upstream signals.
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Specification