V-Band Switch (65-70 GHz)

Building on successful proof-of-principle hardware developed in Phase I, Millimeter Wave Systems, LLC proposes to design, fabricate, and demonstrate the performance of two 65-70GHz latching waveguide ferrite circulator configurations: 1) An innovative Multimode Latching Circulator (MLCtrade;), exploiting two circulating Eigenmodes in a ferrite junction, and 2) latching turnstile ferrite circulators with extended bandwidth using matching networks. The MLCtrade; takes advantage of the small dimensions, scaling by wavelength, at millimeter wave frequencies to quickly switch the magnetic field. The driver circuitry for both configurations were demonstrated in Phase I and will be enhanced in Phase II. Both topologies have different strengths providing options to the radar designer. The MLCtrade; innovation allows for a scaling the switch to higher frequencies where the decreasing waveguide dimensions benefit the design trades rather than becoming prohibitive as they do with traditional approaches. With our current fabrication methods, we are confident in reaching frequencies beyond 200GHz.