Corporate Research & Development Center

Superconducting Filter Unit for Weather Radar Receiver

With the increase in flood disasters caused by local downpours in recent years, the number of highperformance weather radar sites in Japan is increasing to allow precise observation of local downpours. However, the frequencies that can be assigned to 9GHz-band weather radars are becoming depleted due to the increase in the number of systems installed. A narrowband receiving filter is essential to decrease interference among nearby weather radars. Furthermore, a compact filter unit is required for application to a wide variety of weather radars.

As a solution to these issues, Toshiba has developed the world's smallest(*) superconducting narrowband filter unit with a volume of 10L for the receiver of a weather radar with the world's smallest(*) fractional bandwidth of 0.08%. The narrowband characteristics make it possible to allocate frequencies at double the previous density. Moreover, as this filter unit operates at AC100V, it can be easily installed anywhere.

We have confirmed that the newly developed filter unit decreases interference by applying it to our current 9GHz-band solid-state multiparameter radar.

This work was supported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) of Japan.

(*) As of October 2011 (as researched by Toshiba)

Result of evaluation of transmission characteristics of superconducting filter unit

Result of evaluation of transmission characteristics of
superconducting filter unit

Compact superconducting filter unit for receiver of 9GHz-band weather radar (left) 9GHz-band solid-state multiparameter radar (right)

Compact superconducting filter unit for receiver of 9GHz-band weather radar (left)
9GHz-band solid-state multiparameter radar (right)