Abstract: An apparatus and method for synthesizing low-noise, high stability, multi-frequency microwave signals is disclosed. The output frequencies of a lower frequency, low-noise, synthesizer are upconverted to higher microwave frequencies by mixing these frequencies with the output frequency of an ultra low noise microwave oscillator, determined by a very high Q resonator. Such resonators exhibit large frequency dependence on temperature, but the frequency of an ultra low noise microwave oscillator cannot be stabilized by phase-lock to a stable reference because of its very narrow voltage-controlled frequency tuning range, caused by the very high Q of the resonator. The microwave synthesizer output frequency stabilization is achieved by a novel phase-lock loop which uses the frequency tunability of a low noise SAW oscillator to compensate for the frequency drift of the microwave oscillator.

Abstract: An oscillator providing predictable oscillator modulation sensitivity includes an amplifier and a feedback circuit disposed about the amplifier. The feedback circuit includes a resonator having a first port and a second port and a voltage-controlled phase shifter having an input port, an output port and a control port, the input port of the voltage-controlled phase shifter connected to the output port of the amplifier and the output port of the voltage-controlled phase shifter coupled to a port of the resonator. The oscillator further includes a circuit, responsive to signals from the output of the voltage-controlled phase shifter and the first port of the resonator, to provide a control signal to the control port of the voltage-controlled phase shifter for degenerating low frequency FM noise arising within the amplifier.

Abstract: A tunable bandpass filter for radio frequency energy with a phase-locked loop for tracking an input signal and to control the filter to keep the center frequency of the passband coincident with the frequency of the input signal is shown. Using a Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG) filter as a frequency determining element and as a passive dispersive reference element for a frequency discriminator, the bandpass filter uses the output signal of the discriminator to form a fine tuning signal to control the center frequency of the passband of the YIG filter.

Abstract: A multiple feedback loop frequency synthesizer, having a first and a second feedback loop, each fed by one of a pair of reference frequency signals having a frequency separation equal to the desired frequency separation of the output signals provided by the synthesizer. The frequency of each of such reference frequency signals is greater than the desired frequency separation of the output signals provided by the synthesizer. With such arrangement, because the bandwidth of each of the feedback loops must be less than the frequency of the reference frequency signal fed to such loop, achievement of frequency separation less than the frequency of either one of the reference frequencies enables each of the feedback loops to have increased bandwidth and hence reduced frequency switching times and increased noise suppression.

Abstract: An improved microwave frequency signal source using a single frequency offset technique which increases the frequency range of an indirect frequency synthesizer to twice the highest operating frequency of the programmable digital frequency divider in the loop includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) operating within a predetermined microwave frequency band and phase-locked to a reference oscillator operating at a reference frequency below microwave frequencies. The offset loop signal is developed by heterodyning the voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) output signal with a microwave signal whose frequency is located at the center of the predetermined microwave frequency band of the VCO to form a signal at an intermediate frequency (I.F.) within the frequency range of a programmable digital frequency divider.

Abstract: A magnetically tuned resonant circuit having improved noise performance includes a ferrimagnetic or gyromagnetic body such as a YIG sphere which is disposed within r.f. structure, The r.f. structure is disposed between a pair of pole pieces of a biasing magnet and flux return path. Several techniques are described for reducing fluctuations in magnetic fields through the gyromagnetic body. The gyromagnetic body is isolated from conductive surfaces, or the bulk of conductive surfaces in the region adjacent to the magnetic body are reduced. Further, a technique is also described which provides a break in the electrical continuity around the r.f. structure. Each of these technique reduce the magnitude of thermally induced eddy current flow in conductive regions adjacent to the resonant body. It is believed that such eddy current flow produce random magnetic field variations which produce random variations in the frequency characteristics of conventional magnetically tuned resonant circuits.

Abstract: A microwave frequency oscillator utilizing a push-push configuration to provide a low noise highly stable output signal at twice the frequency of a single resonator. The single resonator is connected in the feedback loop of two amplifiers. Additional circuit elements insure the proper oscillation conditions and relative phase are maintained. The use of a single resonator makes possible the application of various noise reduction techniques.

Abstract: A frequency-agile source of microwave frequency signals is shown to include: a voltage-controlled oscillator operating within a band of microwave frequencies; a crystal-controlled oscillator operating at a frequency lower than the band of microwave frequencies and producing harmonics within such band; a phase detector having samples of the signals out of the crystal-controlled oscillator and the voltage-controlled oscillator applied as input signals; and a shaping amplifier receiving the output signal of the phase detector to provide a control signal related to the phase difference between the signal out of the voltage-controlled oscillator and the harmonic of the crystal-controlled oscillator nearest to the frequency of the voltage-controlled oscillator.

Abstract: An improvement in a microwave oscillator using a GaAs FET as the active element is shown to include a phase detector responsive to a portion of the positive feedback signals applied to a resonator having a high Q and to a portion of the signals out of the GaAs FET, shifted by 90.degree., to obtain signals to degenerate noise internally formed in the GaAs FET.

Abstract: A frequency discriminator having a wide capture band is shown to comprise, in addition to a conventional phase detector having two channels fed by a signal whose frequency is to be determined (the first one of the channels containing a tuned circuit operative to shift the phase of the signal in accordance with the difference between the frequency of the signal and the center frequency of the tuned circuit and the second one of the channels containing a phase shifter operative to shift the phase of the signal by 90.degree. regardless of the frequency of the signal), a compensating circuit operative substantially to equalize the amplitudes of the signals applied to the phase detector, the compensating circuit including an amplifier in the first one of the channels to amplify the signal out of the tuned circuit, the gain of the amplifier being controlled by a signal indicative of the difference between the amplitudes of the signals fed to the phase detector.

Abstract: Circuitry for dividing radio frequency energy between a plurality of loads is shown in one embodiment to consist of particular printed transmission lines and isolating resistors on a common substrate, each one of such lines forming a path between an input port to which radio frequency energy is applied and a different one of a plurality of output ports to which the loads are connected.Circuitry for amplifying radio frequency energy from a source thereof is shown in the second embodiment to consist of dividing circuitry such as is shown in the first embodiment, a field effect transistor connected to each output port to amplify each portion of the divided radio frequency energy and dividing circuitry such as is shown in the first embodiment, such circuitry being connected in a mirror fashion to the field effect transistors to combine the amplified portions of the radio frequency energy at a single port.The lengths of printed transmission lines in the second embodiment are all equal.