RF techniques for advanced on-board processing of digital signals

Radio frequency (RF) techniques related to the implementation of microwave MSK and PSK direct differential demodulators featuring single-error correction (SEC) circuits, in addition to conventional circuits, are presented. Experimental results in terms of eye diagrams, obtained on a compact MSK demodulator, employing microstrip dielectric-resonator filters as delay elements, prove the feasibility at RF of the SEC concept. Advances in the realization and miniaturization of cavity microwave filters (again used as delay elements) show that further extensions to QPSK are achievable, maintaining attractive circuit compactness