Stable, low cost SAW microwave transmitter

The design flexibility and application possibilities of surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology is discussed. When a highly stable, AM-modulated transmitter is required, a SAW resonator can provide an oscillator Q of up to 20,000 at 1 GHz. When FM modulation is required, the SAW delay line can provide a lower oscillator Q, which represents the optimum tradeoff between frequency stability and FM modulability. The capabilities of SAW oscillators are reviewed, and two example transmitters are presented. One transmitter operates at 1680 MHz and provides an AM-modulated signal. The second operates at the 400 to 406 MHz range and provides an FM-modulated output at one of six frequencies. SAW transmitters are suitable for applications where moderately high stability and low cost are key factors. With direct generation of signals at microwave frequencies and the flexibility of SAW oscillator design, a wide range of performance characteristics can be achieved.