N102-186 TITLE: Wideband Low-loss Tunable Band-Pass Filter (BPF)

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Materials/Processes, Sensors, Electronics

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: JPEO JTRS ACAT I

OBJECTIVE: Develop wideband tunable BPF with unprecedented low insertion loss for small form-factor military transceivers designed to operate in the VHF and UHF bands.

DESCRIPTION: Some military SDR systems are specified to operate over an extremely large bandwidth (20MHz-2GHz+) while transmitting and receiving simultaneously on a shared antenna system. To accomplish this simultaneous operation without interference, these wideband SDR systems typically employ several filters in the signal chain after the power amplifier to prevent the transmitter from desensitizing or jamming the receiver. The losses of these filters and associated switches must be compensated for with additional power delivered by the power amplifier. For small form-factor SDR transceivers, this extra power (essentially all of which must be dissipated as wasted heat) has negative consequences for system reliability, cost, size, battery life and thermal dissipation. Small form-factor tunable filter technologies with potential to address this problem have been developed and commercialized, but these products are inadequate for many military SDR applications in their current state of evolution because they do not significantly improve the insertion loss characteristics as compared to those of the fixed-tuned BPF they would replace. Additionally, other promising technologies lack the power handling capability necessary for this application. This SBIR will focus on the definition and development of tunable BPF technologies that are broadband, low-loss, and centered around a small form-factor to maximize their utility for military SDR systems.

PHASE I: Design a continuously tunable BPF from 20MHz � 1GHz with a 10 percent 3dB bandwidth and insertion loss of 1dB or less across the entire band. Demonstrate that the filter can be fabricated in a volume not exceeding 25 cubic centimeters and with power consumption not exceeding 500mW.

PHASE II: Based on Phase I results, fabricate the prototype tunable BPF, characterize its performance over the design bandwidth and demonstrate that it meets proposed requirements for insertion loss, volume and power consumption.

PHASE III: Phase III work would involve transitioning a successful prototype tunable BPF to manufacturing.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Successful development of wideband low-loss tunable BPF has the potential to benefit DoD and commercial market segments alike. DoD applications that could benefit from this technology include communications, navigation and electronic warfare systems. Commercial applications include wireless communications systems (handsets).

REFERENCES:
1. Manas Roy, Robert J. Ward, and J.A. Higgins, "SiC Varactor based Tunable Filters with Enhanced Linearity", Silicon Monolithic Integrated Circuits in RF Systems, 2008. SiRF 2008. IEEE Topical Meeting, 23-25 Jan. 2008, page(s):163 � 166, Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/SMIC.2008.47.

2. Paratek Microwave URL (http://www.paratek.com/)

3. Agile RF URL (http://www.agilerf.com/)

4. Pole Zero URL (http://www.polezero.com/)

5. USPTO Patent Application 20090002915, Micro-electromechanical voltage tunable capacitor and filter devices.

KEYWORDS: Tunable band-pass filter; tunable filter; hopping filter; low-loss filter; co-site filter; electronically tunable filter.

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between April 21 and May 19, 2010, you may talk directly with the Topic Authors to ask technical questions about the topics. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting May 19, 2010, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the DoD's SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (10.2 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 10.2 topic under which they are proposing.

If you have general questions about DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at (866) 724-7457 or email weblink.