Low Power Universal Direct Conversion Transmit and Receive (UTR) RF Module for Software Defined Radios

Conventional software defined radio (SDR) backend signal processors are limited by a priori system definition and RF hardware. Ideally, advanced SDR RF front-end sections would be as flexible as their software back-ends, allowing in-use or in-orbit reconfiguration of original bands and modulation types. The FPMA/UTR proposed herein should meet this challenge. This proposed Innovation is a distillation of Phase I concept evaluations with the goal of yielding a producible and functional prototype with Phase II funding. The proposed RF front-end provides a post-launch, in-orbit reconfigurable RF module and is capable of Hz to >150GHz bandwidth. Benefits include vastly reduced shelf inventory of equipment addressing different RF requirements and permits ever-ready deployment capabilities using a single piece of equipment featuring this proposed RF front-end. The UTR/FPMA's modular open architecture fully complements the flexibility of SDR technology. The UTR/FPMA services communications or radar functionality, narrow (kbps) to ultra-wideband (GHz) modulation bandwidths, center frequencies scalable >150 GHz: herein UHF to Ka band. Small size and exceptional robustness (radiation hardness, reliability) are expected due to low active component count and mainstream manufacturing techniques. The UTR/FPMA RF module uses only conventional technologies but can yield excellent SW&P characteristics.