Programme Element: ARTES 5.1
Reference nr.: 13.1TT.38
Planned Tender Issue: quarter 2, 2013
The objective of this activity is to develop dielectric channel filters for next generation Ka-band multiplexers and demultiplexers operating at 30 GHz and to demonstrate mass and footprint savings without compromising RF performance.
Targeted Improvements: 30% mass reduction and 30% footprint reduction.
Description:
Multibeam Ka-Band satellite payloads require a number of channel filters that is proportional to the number of user beams. Already more than 70 - 100 channels are employed, with a trend to reach several hundreds in the future. This leads to a significant impact on mass and footprint requirements and mass and footprint reduction is critical if products are to remain competitive.
Today's technology of 30 GHz channel filters, which are employed in channel multiplexing and demultiplexing applications prior to down conversion, is based on standard Invar TE mode resonators. Mass and footprint savings of innovative filtering structures based on dielectric resonators have already been demonstrated in Ku-band and in Ka-band at the downlink frequencies (20 GHz). With the advance of dielectric material development, novel resonator concepts and synthesis methods of pre-distortion and lossy circuit techniques, it is now feasible to also develop these concepts for the upper Ka-band for multiplexing and demultiplexing applications.
In a first part of the activity, after review of the current state of the art of dielectric technology and suppliers, a dielectric resonator concept shall be developed and studied for realisation at 30 GHz. Pre-distortion and lossy circuit techniques shall be evaluated. A novel filtering structure shall be developed and validated on breadboard units for all bandwidth requirements. In the second part of the activity two Engineering Models (EM) shall be designed, built and tested. Critical tuning and manufacturing aspects, including the effect of manufacturing and material tolerances on production quality, shall be evaluated.
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