Inventors:
John Clarke - Baltimore MD
Joseph A. Faulkner - Ellicott City MD
Gregory K. Sinon - Dayton MD
Brian J. Misek - Pasadena MD
John E. Kositz - Glen Burnie MD
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
G01S 7282
Abstract:
A solid state radar transmitter for use in airborne applications has a modular design which extends into the transmitter. The transmitter is formed of a plurality of power modules the number of which is selected based on the power required for a particular application. For example, two 75 to 100 watt modules may be used for weather radar, while 30 to 60 or more modules may be used for fire control in a military fighter. A radio frequency signal from a stabilized local oscillator is distributed by a splitter to the power modules and a combiner is used to combine the output from the power modules to produce the transmitter output signal. Each power module is formed of parallel connected power amplifiers, preferably formed by GaAs FETs and a power conditioning and control unit. The power conditioning and control unit produces a DC bias across the FETs as desired to produce a particular signal. The transmitter output signals which can be produced in this manner include rectangular, Gaussian on a pedestal and one amplifier at a time for testing purposes.