Abstract: The gear box in conventional wind turbine systems is very complex, large, heavy and costly. In addition, large, heavy, complex and costly lube oil systems are required to remove heat generated by such gear boxes. Such complex systems require frequent maintenance and overhaul, requiring access even in offshore locations. A solution to these problems has been identified in the art by eliminating the requirement for a gear box and lube oil system by the invention of direct drive generators which generate at 50 Hz frequency at wind turbine speed, having a very large number of poles and being larger and heavier than the traditional four pole equivalents. The present invention includes a energy storage and recovery system whereby a wind turbine generates electricity at a predetermined frequency below 45 Hz which may then be used to compress air for subsequent expansion and generation of electricity at a grid frequency of 50 Hz.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes a VCO chip that is a monolithic circuit with a Gunn diode and varactor diode intercoupled by a resonant circuit. A detector/discriminator/power divider chip is coupled to the VCO chip through a directional coupler and is a monolithic circuit having a pair of discriminator diodes and amplitude detector diode on a semi-insulating substrate with associated circuit components. Connected-together electrodes of the discriminator diodes are connected to one output of the power divider. An electrode of the amplitude detector diode is connected to the other output of the power divider. Stagger-tuned resonant circuits are coupled to the other electrodes of the discriminator diodes. Conducting portions forming low pass filters couple the amplitude detector diode and the discriminator detector diodes to respective outputs.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes a VCO chip that is a monolithic circuit with a Gunn diode and varactor diode intercoupled by a resonant circuit. A detector/discriminator/power divider chip is coupled to the VCO chip through a directional coupler and is a monolithic circuit having a pair of discriminator diodes and amplitude detector diode on a semi-insulating substrate with associated circuit components. Connected-together electrodes of the discriminator diodes are connected to one output of the power divider. An electrode of the amplitude detector diode is connected to the other output of the power divider. Stagger-tuned resonant circuits are coupled to the other electrodes of the discriminator diodes. Conducting portions forming low pass filters couple the amplitude detector diode and the discriminator detector diodes to respective outputs.

Abstract: A hybrid ring mixer includes an annular conducting ring on a gallium arsenide substrate coated on the bottom with a conducting layer to comprise a strip transmission line. Three conductors spaced by 120.degree. extend radially outward from the annular ring to define local oscillator, signal input and i-f ports, respectively. A pair of conductors spaced by substantially 120.degree. extend radially inward to comprise diode ports. A conducting surface inside the annular ring is grounded and has circular sectors of different radius bounded by radii extending from the center of the ring and bisecting the signal and local oscillator ports, respectively. The sector of larger radius is located in the 120.degree. sector between the signal and local oscillator ports. Mesa diodes are connected between each of the diode ports and the sector of smaller radius.