Description
The objective of the activity is to design, manufacture and test at least three critical microwave building blocks usingvacuum microelectronic technology (i.e. high power amplifier, low noise amplifier and a voltage controlled oscillator) for very highthroughput satellite applications.
Targeted Improvements: Enabling at least one order of magnitude higher integration density exploiting Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) technology.
Description:
Junction-less, vacuum-based microelectronic devices are increasingly of interest for a wide range of radio frequency applications traditionally served by semiconductor devices, such as high poweramplifiers, low noise amplifiers and oscillators. They are analogous to vacuum tube devices, offering higher electron mobility comparedto equivalent semiconductor devices and the potential for performance enhancement of RF payload functions. In addition, the devicesare highly compact and compatible with manufacturing by standard VLSI processes, making this technology suitable for mass production at lower cost as compared to state-of-the-art semiconductor technologies (e.g. GaN). Being a relatively new technology, it has to be fully assessed and performances verified in a practical context for space application.
In this activity, the following aspects shall be assessed and verified at breadboard level:
- Electrical parameters of single RF transistors (DC, RF and pulsed characteristics);
- Maximum ratings and failure modes of a single RF transistor and array of RF transistors;
- Electrical performance tests ofrepresentative RF circuits for wideband communication payload applications (high power amplifier, voltage controlled oscillator, low noise amplifier, switch matrix, phase shifter, etc.);
- Electrical performance tests of RF circuits over temperature and assessment of radiation hardness and ageing effects.
To address the above points, a number of different test vehicles will be designed, manufactured and tested. A high power amplifier, a voltage controlled oscillator and a low noise amplifier operating in Ka-band shall bedeveloped and tested at breadboard level.
Footnote: On Delegation Request activities will only be initiated on the explicit requestof at least one National Delegation.