DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE OF AN OPTIMAL RATIO COMBINER USING AGC AND AM WEIGHTING

Abstract

The conventional AGC weighted diversity combiner design experiences performance problems in the presence of fast fade rates of amplitude and phase of RF input signals. These problems and other needs are discussed by the author in detail along with the design and theory of a new combiner that has been developed. It successfully overcomes these phase and amplitude fading problems and also addresses many other problems such as the need for wider bandwidths, computer control, and many other improvements. These improvements are necessary to increase the state-of-the-art in the telemetry and communications combiner. The design criteria and realization of the design goals are described in detail accompanied by a block diagram discussion of the theory of operation.