Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: A15-019

Description

In response to the Army need, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to mature, in Phase II, the new Automated Two-Tone Very High Dynamic Range RF Instrument (A2D) developed and proven feasible in Phase I. POC demonstrated the feasibility of the A2D wideband digital feedforward cancellation technique with a proof-of-concept prototype A2D system supporting up to 43 dBm power in each tone, with tone separations software tunable between 1 Hz and 120 MHz. Over 60 dB cancellation of the fundamental tones was measured with the prototype, which resulted in an effective dynamic range of over 130 dB for measurement of intermodulation products. POCs analysis of the measurement results was integrated with predictive calculations to analyze alternative architectures for the instrument and develop a plan for mitigating risk in the development of an A2D product. The Phase I design concept and feasibility study will lay the groundwork for the development and demonstration in Phase II of compact (10.56.53.0), automated A2D systems that can measure amplitude and phase of intermodulation products with over 160 dB dynamic range, from a two-tone test signal with center frequency from 400 MHz to over 6 GHz, with flexibility to meet needs of diverse markets and end users.