Band-selective interferer rejection for cognitive receiver protection

Abstract

The concept for a new, frequency-selective limiting filter is presented. This is accomplished by placing a phase change vanadium dioxide (VO2) film at the proper node of the filter. When the high-powered microwave signal reaches a certain threshold, the VO2 undergoes a phase transition from the monoclinic “insulator state” to the tetragonal “metallic state”. This crystallographic change is accompanied by a 3 order of magnitude drop in the film's resistivity, and creates a short circuit at a section of the filter, changing a pole to a zero, and rejecting further undesirable high-powered signals from damaging sensitive receiver components. This paper details the design and simulation of the filter, along with measurement results from VO2 films and the filter element. This filter element begins rejecting at about 2 W input power, with isolation of over 16 dB to over 23 W input power, and is unaffected by an out-of band interferer of over 25 W. The architecture presented allows for filter banks capable of automatically-rejecting interferers, yet allowing signals of interest to pass.