GaAs SAW/MESFET Programmable Asynchronous Correlator with Complex Tap Weighting

A surface acoustic wave tapped delay line with complex SAW/MESFET tap weighting was fabricated on GaAs. A processing bandwith of 30 MHz was achieved for an input signal centered at 300 MHz. This paper compares the approaches to complex tap weighting that were considered and presents data collected from experimental devices having eight complex taps. Factors affecting the design of a fully monolithic device are discussed, along with design considerations appropriate for achieving processing bandwidths of 60 MHz for devices with sixteen complex taps. Adaptive signal processing applications are described.