Digital-RF Correlator for Dynamic Radio Spectrum Monitoring & Signal Identification

This SBIR Phase I project will develop a broadband digital correlation-based RF receiver, with particular application to spectrum monitoring and signal identification for Navy Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) and Communications in the 0-3 GHz range. HYPRES has been developing a new digital receiver technology, funded in part by DoD, based around ultrafast superconducting analog-to-digital converters and digital processors, operating at 20 GHz and above. The newly proposed receiver will incorporate a digital autocorrelation spectrometer with a dynamic zoom feature, and a template-matching cross-correlation circuit. A detailed design, optimized for Navy applications, will be developed and simulated during Phase I; a complete prototype will be demonstrated by the end of Phase II.BENEFITS: A broadband digital spectrometer will permit more efficient management of valuable bandwidth resources, with application not only to military communications, SIGINT, and EW, but also to commercial and civil wireless communications.