Software-Defined Delta-Sigma Waveform Generator (DS WG) (9655)

Q-DOT proposes to develop a Software-Defined Delta-Sigma Waveform Generator (DS-WG) for advanced MDA ballistic missile defense systems. This approach can be used to generate diverse waveforms from UHF to X-band. The proposed effort has the potential to reduce the size, power and cost of waveform generation for communications and radar systems while increasing reliability. This approach offers miniature generation of modern spectrally efficient waveforms for telemetry of communications as well as radar waveforms like linear FM and pulsed CW. The approach offers the signal quality (110 dBc SFDR and low noise floor) for usage in the receive path as a local oscillator. The DS WG can be used to augment phased array beamforming systems with a communications function. Die-level packaging makes the approach compatible with integration into an X-band T/R module. The single-chip, low-power approach greatly reduces costs, a key requirement for large phased array radar systems. The approach is compliant with JTRS's SCA mandate. Under Phase I, Q-DOT will characterize the DS WG approach for a broad set of waveforms and determine an optimum architecture for the DS WG. Circuit-simulations will be performed to determine the feasibility and performance of this approach for the waveforms of interest. Under Phase II prototype circuits will be fabricated and demonstrated.