Description
The objective is to design, build, and test an EM of a Ka-/Q-band frequency upconverter for future telecom payloads.
Targeted Improvements: Technology access to Q/V-band.
Description:
The need for bandwidth in satellite communications and broadcasting is constantly increasing. It is foreseen that, in some locations, the capacity at Ka-band alone will not be sufficient to allow for the emergence of new applications such as broadband internet, satellite-HDTV, live video, tele-medicine, interactive gaming, video conferencing and others.
The exploitation of higher frequency bands (Q/V) will offer a substantial increase in capacity for satellite services meeting the needs of both the public and private sectors. It is expected that Q/V band will first be used for gateway access in Ka-band multi-beam systems.
Key elements in the Q/V band communications payload are frequency up converters and down converters. This activity aims to develop a Ka-band to Q-band frequency up converter using European or Canadian state-of-the-art MMIC processes. Different conversion schemes (e.g. fundamental, sub-harmonic), technologies and integration methodologies shall be investigated and traded-off in order to optimise power consumption, RF performance, mass, and cost. Special attention shall be paid to the output stage amplifier. An EM of a complete up converter comprising amplifiers, mixers, filters and frequency multipliers shall be built and tested. The performance impact at payload level, in particular the linearity, shall be assessed.
Tender Specifics