Highly integrated radiometer sensor cell

1. An integrated radiometer sensor cell comprising:

a base having opposing surfaces, one surface adapted for surface mounting on a board;

a radio frequency (RF) feed that receives RF signals and mounted on the base opposite the side that is surface mounted;

at least one MMIC mounted on the base and operatively connected to said RF feed that receives the RF signals from said RF feed, said MMIC comprising at least one quadrature hybrid used to equalize the gain in two parallel amplifier stages, including a low noise amplifier (LNA) connected thereto, and a detector circuit for producing a detected signal for further radiometer processing; and

a cover secured on the base and enclosing the RF feed and at least one MMIC.

2. A radiometer sensor cell according to claim 1 , wherein said RF feed comprises a dielectric filled feedhorn.

3. A radiometer sensor cell according to claim 2 wherein said feed horn has a shape configured by said cover.

4. A radiometer sensor cell according to claim 2 , wherein said RF feed comprises a microstrip-to-waveguide transition operatively connected between said feedhorn and said MMIC that receives RF signals from said feedhorn and passes the RF signals into the MMIC.

5. A radiometer sensor cell according to claim 4 , wherein said microstrip-to-waveguide transition further comprises backshort vias and a launch probe operatively connected to said MMIC for passing RF signals to the MMIC.

6. A radiometer sensor cell according to claim 1 , wherein said MMIC further comprises a switch connected to a quadrature hybrid.

7. A radiometer sensor cell according to claim 1 , wherein said MMIC comprises:

an input quadrature hybrid having at least one RF input and parallel signal path outputs operatively connected to a respective amplifier within each signal path and an output quadrature hybrid connected to each respective amplifier for outputting a signal to be detected by said detector circuit.

8. A radiometer sensor cell according to claim 7 , wherein said MMIC further comprises a switch connected to said output quadrature hybrid and said detector circuit comprises a diode operatively connected to said switch for forming a detected output.

9. A radiometer sensor cell according to claim 1 , wherein said MMIC further comprises a variable gain amplifier.

10. A radiometer sensor cell according to claim 1 , and further comprising DC signal vias extending from said at least one MMIC through said base.

11. A radiometer senor cell according to claim 1 , wherein said cover has a channel formed thereon providing a MMIC channel between the base and cover.

12. A radiometer sensor cell according to claim 1 , wherein said cover is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of soft-board, metal, plastic or ceramic.

13. A radiometer sensor cell according to claim 1 , and further comprising an adhesive or solder engaging the cover for securing the cover to the base.

14. A radiometer sensor assembly comprising:

a support board; and

a plurality of an integrated radiometer sensor cells surface mounted on the support board in a predetermined configuration and interconnected together, each integrated radiometer sensor cell comprising,

a base surface mounted on the support board;

a radio frequency (RF) feed that receives RF signals and mounted on the base opposite the support board;

at least one MMIC mounted on the base opposite the support board and operatively connected to said RF feed that receives the RF signals from said RF feed, said MMIC comprising at least one quadrature hybrid used to equalize the gain in two parallel amplifier stages, including a low noise amplifier (LNA) connected thereto, and a detector circuit for producing a signal for further radiometer processing, and

a cover secured on the base and enclosing the RF feed and at least one MMIC.

15. A radiometer sensor assembly according to claim 14 , wherein said radiometer sensor cells are oriented on the support board for a desired polarization.

16. A radiometer sensor assembly according to claim 14 , wherein said support board comprises a printed wiring board.

17. A radiometer sensor assembly according to claim 14 , wherein said RF feed comprises a dielectric filled feedhorn.

18. A radiometer sensor assembly according to claim 17 , wherein said feed horn has a shape configured by said cover.

19. A radiometer sensor assembly according to claim 14 , wherein said RF feed comprises a microstrip-to-waveguide transition operatively connected between said feedhorn and said MMIC that receives RF signals from said feedhorn and passes the RF signals into the MMIC.

20. A radiometer sensor assembly according to claim 14 , wherein said MMIC comprises a switch connected to a quadrature hybrid.

21. A radiometer sensor assembly according to claim 14 , wherein said MMIC comprises an input quadrature hybrid having at least one RF input and parallel signal path outputs operatively connected to a respective amplifier within each signal path and an output quadrature hybrid connected to each respective amplifier for outputting a signal to be detected by said detector circuit.

22. A radiometer sensor assembly according to claim 21 , wherein said MMIC further comprises a switch connected to said output quadrature hybrid, and said detector circuit comprises a diode operatively connected to said switch for forming a detected output.

23. A radiometer sensor assembly according to claim 14 , and further comprising DC signal vias extending from said at least one MMIC through said base.

24. A radiometer sensor assembly according claim 14 , wherein said cover has a channel formed thereon providing a MMIC channel between the base and cover.

25. A radiometer sensor assembly according to claim 14 , wherein said cover is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of soft-board, metal, plastic or ceramic.