Ultra high speed digital processing for wireless systems using passive microwave logic

Abstract

This paper proposes two novel high-speed digital logic families that are implemented using passive microwave circuits. The proposed logic gates can process binary information represented in two high frequency carrier modulation formats-amplitude shift keying (ASK), and binary phase shift keying (BPSK). The fundamental logic gates (NOT, OR, AND) presented for both these data representations can process extremely high speed bit streams (1-100 Gbps). The combinational circuits formed from these passive logic gates can operate much faster than traditional electronic gates because they are not limited by the finite carrier mobility that is characteristic of semiconductors. Besides their higher operating speeds, these circuits are well suited for wireless communication systems because they process digital signals in a native high frequency transmission format and it is easy to integrate them with analog RF/microwave circuits.