MIC polar discriminators and multifunction modules in EW systems

In the design of modern airborne and shipborne electronic warfare (EW) systems, problems arise with respect to weight, size, cost and repeatability demands. The approaches used to obtain solutions to those problems frequently involve the use of new structures, based on the development of integrated microwave subsystem and multifunction modules. The two most useful configurations are related to strip-line and microstrip designs. A Polar Frequency Discriminator (PFD) is a subsystem which relates its output angle with an input frequency. This subsystem includes a power splitter, a delay line, and a Polar Phase Discriminator (PPD) with four detectors. A PPD which includes three 3-dB hybrid couplers, and a power splitter is considered. Attention is given to the development of suitable PFDs, and the design of a mcirostrip broadband multifunction component. The component is used for a Built-In Test Equipment (BITE) in a ship-borne system.