An Expendable Ultra Wideband Video Data Link

An Ultra Wideband (UWB) Expendable Data Link is proposed for secure, digital, video communications. UWB signals minimize intercepts from unintended receivers by generating negligible levels of energy within an intercept receiver's acquisition bandwidth. UWB is a time-domain concept in which an extremely short pulse generates a very large instantaneous bandwidth signal because of the Fourier relationship between time and frequency. Recent advances in UWB technology made by MSSI permit the rapid develop- ment of an "all-digital" data link that is compact, light-weight and very low cost. The digital design is proposed for multichip module (MCM) and hybrid implementation to further reduce size and cost while improving reliability. The design will be extremely rugged to permit firing from Naval guns. The Phase I program will develop a brassboard expendable data link through the novel implementation of advanced signal generation, low cost antenna designs and high density construction techniques. The resulting brass- board will prove the feasibility to transmit color video information over a range in excess of 50 miles. Under Phase II, advanced MCM hard- ware will be optimized for candidate gun-Maunched observation vehicles.