Superconductor Technologies delivers aerospace avionics subsystem; delivery exemplifies another successful integration of HTS and cryogenic technologies for the company.

A switched filter bank and cryogenic cooler subsystem, for use in aerospace electronic warfare (EW) systems, was accepted for delivery by the U.S. Air Force on Dec. 20, 1995. This system will be hardware simulator tested by the Air Force with an operational EW system at the EW Division of Wright Laboratories, Integrated Defensive Avionics Laboratory (IDAL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Funding for the development of the switched filter bank has been provided by a $6.2 million contract from the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) through the EW Division Avionics Directorate, Wright Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Interference problems have been adversely affecting microwave electronics systems for years. The Superconductor Technologies' filter bank protects the EW system from degrading in the presence of interference, and provides a clearer signal and more system control for the pilot.
The subsystem consists of 24 band-reject high temperature superconducting filters controlled by a patented optical switching device, integrated with a proprietary cyrogenic cooler into a complete self-contained subsystem. This integration marks the successful completion of another project by Superconductor Technologies in which HTS technologies supported by an in-house cryogenic cooler which is compact, low-cost, and highly reliable are applied to "real world" problems.
The optical switching device allows for control of adaptive filtering at very high speeds, while maintaining low electrical loss for desired signals. This provides greatly improved interference control, which in turn protects the air crew by allowing the EW system to focus on signals of interest only.
Daniel C. Hu, president and CEO of Superconductor Technologies, noted the importance of the continued success of the filter bank project, "We are pleased to have completed this critical phase of the development process, and we expect the filter bank to be an integral part of Superconductor Technologies' efforts to commercialize HTS."
Hu also commented on the importance of the superior signal filtering provided by the subsystem. "Not only can the filter bank provide the EW System with improved signal quality; simply put, this device can save lives and aircraft."
The next milestone in this project will be to complete in approximately 18-24 months the construction and testing of an advanced development, flight-worthy filter bank subsystem. Following the testing would be the initial production contract for airborne applications. The company also considers the optical switching technology an option for next generation cellular and Personal Communications Services (PCS) HTS filters.
Superconductor Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:SCON) is a leader in the development of commercial applications for high temperature superconductor (HTS) and cryoelectronic products for the wireless communications, high-speed computing, and aerospace electronics markets. With headquarters in Santa Barbara, Calif., Superconductor Technologies (STI) designs and manufactures subsystems for high-performance applications.