Solid state, high PRF radar modulators

Author

Gaudreau, Marcel P J ; Casey, Jefrey A. ; Hawkey, Timothy J. ; Kempkes, Michael A. ; Mulvaney, Michael J.

Author_Institution

Diversified Technol. Inc., Bedford, MA, USA

fYear

2000

fDate

2000

Firstpage

183

Lastpage

186

Abstract

Hundreds of radar systems in operation today utilize tetrodes or thyratrons/PFN for high PRF (pulse repetition frequency) pulse modulation. These vacuum tube modulators are expensive to maintain, and their relatively short lifetimes constitute a significant operational expense. Diversified Technologies Incorporated (DTI) of Bedford, Massachussetts, has recently built high voltage, high PRF, solid state radar modulators for the Office of Naval Research and the Naval Surface Warfare Center. This new modulator technology replaces vacuum tubes, significantly increasing the performance and reliability of the radar system. This paper also discusses the application of the “magic modulator” concept, developed by William North, to high PRF radar modulators

Keywords

military radar; modulators; pulse modulation; radar equipment; reliability; Diversified Technologies Incorporated; Naval Surface Warfare Center; Office of Naval Research; high PRF radar modulators; high voltage radar modulators; magic modulator; performance; pulse modulation; pulse repetition frequency; radar systems; reliability; solid state radar modulators; Diffusion tensor imaging; Electron tubes; Frequency; Pulse modulation; Radar; Solid state circuits; Thyratrons; Vacuum systems; Vacuum technology; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Radar Conference, 2000. The Record of the IEEE 2000 International

Conference_Location

Alexandria, VA

Print_ISBN

0-7803-5776-0

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/RADAR.2000.851827

Filename

851827