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SAW Correlators
SAW correlators enable the passive
reception and trans- mission of complex
coded signals. This capability engenders
the following applications:
- Low power spread spectrum
communications.
- RF unpowered ID tags.
- Unpowered radio receivers.
Spread Spectrum Communications
The creation of an electrically
programmable SAW correlator has
enabled low power spread spectrum
communication networks.
Programmable SAW Development report.
Passive Remote Sensing
Passive RFID Tags
Miniature SAW correlators have
been used to fabricate coded tags
at microwave and RF frequencies.
These can provide an unpowered
means of wirelessly identifying
tagged objects. SAW filters have
been developed for passive remote
sensing applications, where the
sensor has no local power source
available.
Passive Microwave Tags report.
Zero-Power Radio Receiver
A variety of different SAW correlator
based radio configurations have been
developed and tested for both
transmitters and receivers. Short-range unpowered radio receivers have
been built and tested. Longer range
versions that make use of powered
amplifiers and/or detectors have also
been made and evaluated.
A Zero-Power Radio Receiver report.
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SAW Filters
SAW filters enable the passive
reception and transmission of complex
coded signals. This capability is useful in
the following applications:
- Custom microwave filters.
- RF unpowered remote sensing.
Custom Microwave Filters
A design and fabrication capability
for high performance SAW filters exists
at Sandia. Filters with frequencies as
high as 5.8 GHz have been fabricated,
as well as filters on lithium niobate,
quartz, and gallium arsenide.
Custom RF Integrated Circuits
Custom RF integrated circuit designs
including linear and power amplifiers,
power and phase detectors, mixers and
multiplexers have been developed.
Sophisticated design and modeling
capabilities are available to support
new initiatives.
Miniature Chemical Detector
The eight-sensor MicroChemLab is a surface acoustic wave (SAW) based sensor system-on-a-chip. It consists of two quartz SAW sensor arrays, a gallium arsenide (GaAs) multiplexing phase-detector chip, and passive matching components mounted together on a thick-film, hybrid alumina substrate. The entire assembly is about the size of dime and operates at 510 MHz. The eight-sensor, multiplexed MicroChemLab is capable of near simultaneous detection of a wide variety of chemical compounds.
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