Ferrite-Based Frequency Selective Limiter and Signal-to-Noise Enhancer for Interference Protection and Prevention in UHF SATCOM

Increasing global RF electromagnetic (EM) activity related to commercial, scientific, and military systems, threatens the integrity of satellite communication links and has resulted in an environment cluttered with RF signals, particularly in the UHF-band. This is causing two major problems: 1) interference (due to co-site and jamming); and 2) increase in the EM noise floor. These effects can cause loss of information, reduce effective data transmission rate, and compromise system operability. Metamagnetics proposes the development of analog, low-cost, passive component solutions based on the unique non-linear properties of ferrite materials to address incoming interference threats and promote low-background-noise transmission of outgoing signals. Incoming signals will be safely received using a UHF-band frequency-selective limiter (FSL) and signal-to-noise enhancer (SNE). These combined technologies provide selective attenuation of co-site interference and jamming threats (via FSL), in addition to reducing the background EM noise floor (via SNE), while simultaneously allowing for friendly signals to pass unaffected. Outgoing signals will pass through a UHF-band SNE, before transmission, to purify the signal by attenuating unwanted spectral content. The proposed technology meets urgent Navy needs for mitigation of co-site interference and jamming threats, and addresses the rising background EM noise level, on increasingly-electromagnetically-cluttered satellite communication links.