Active RF Switch Array (9646)

Q-DOT proposes to develop an Active RF Switch Array for the Army's hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) missile seeker test system. The switch array is designed to route 10 GHz X-band signals at low levels of approximately 0 dBm. IBM's SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) technology is used to create ultra-fast active RF switches capable of switching times of 200 ps or less. This integrated circuit technology may also be capable of integrating other functions such as gain and signal combining in order to produce a complete 4 x 4 or 4 x 8 switch matrix on a chip. The active switch approach has the potential to provide ultra-fast switching with constant port impedances while reducing the size and component count of the switch matrix. Under Phase I, Q-DOT will perform an architecture study and circuit approach evaluation to determine the feasibility of the switch array and the more complex switch matrix. A prototype switch array will be built and tested in Phase II.