Abstract: A low power consumption amplifier that is essentially insensitive to the process used to fabricate the active devices of the amplifier employs feedback to minimize variations in electrical characteristics of the devices. For weight-sensitive microwave applications, a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) or a pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (PHEMT) may be selected as an active device for each stage of the amplifier. HEMTs and PHEMTs typically exhibit greater device gain than do MESFETs, especially at the upper portion of X-band and above, so that a HEMT- or PHEMT-based stage of an amplifier where additional overall gain is required, can be achieved without significantly adversely affecting power consumption demands, and attendant electrical energy storage/generation requirements while achieving and/or maintaining an overall flat gain characteristic of the amplifier.

Abstract: A microwave phase shifter has a plurality of sequentially arranged, independently-actuatable sectiions, the total phase shift is the sum of all of the sections. The phase shifter has a common substrate, supporting several switching elements, with at least one switching element being assigned to each phase section; the switching elements are fastened to the common substrate with the element connections are all substantially in a first plane above the substrate. A first layer of a dielectric material is affixed adjacent to the first plane. Phase shift elements, such as microstriplines of a known length or inductive patterns of conductor, imparting the desired section phase shift, are fabricated upon a surface of the first dielectric layer furthest from the substrate, and are interconnected to and from the sections, or onto or off of the phase shifter at this level.

Abstract: The present invention provides a structure for use in self-biasing and source bypassing a packaged, field-effect transistor (FET) having first and second leads. The structure is readily assembled and provides an excellent noise figure.

Abstract: A phased array antenna system includes a plurality of active radiating antenna elements each of which is driven by and each of which drives a transceiver module located closely adjacent thereto. Each transceiver module includes a high-power pulse signal-transmitting amplifier powered by a high-capacitance, low current dc rectifier system to minimize charging currents and provide very high pulse currents, and a low-noise amplifier for amplifying the received signal. The modules further include a transmit/receive switch, phase adjusting circuits in the input to the high-power signal-transmitting amplifier and in the output to the low-noise signal-receiving amplifier for normalizing the signal phase, and amplitude limiting means in the input of the low-noise signal receiving amplifier for protecting the low-noise amplifier during the transmit mode.