Form 9.B Project Summary

Chron:

970541

Proposal Number:

26.01-7267

Project Title:

Ka-Band MMIC for Spacecraft

Transponders

Technical Abstract (Limit 200 words)

The transponder on-board spacecraft is made of a

receiver for up-link

command and a down-link for data transfer. For

small spacecraft used

for deep space exploration, the microwave

transceiver for those

functions must be small and rugged and consume

little DC power.

Microwave Monolithic Integrated Circuits (MMIC)

offer methods of

integrating functions of such transponders into a

few IC chips, and,

thus, increasing the performance capabilities of

transponders.

While X-band MMICs for SHF down-links are

being developed, additional

MMIC capabilities are needed to enable

integration of EHF (Ka-band)

transmitters. This proposal addresses that need,

and describes

several optional approaches of implementing a

Ka-band transmitter by

adding a frequency multiplier, a converter, a

modulator, or

combinations of those to an existing SHF

transmitter. For all of the

proposed transmitter configurations, MMIC chips

may be designed using

conventional commercial gallium-arsenide MMIC

processes. Examples of

MMIC designs and expected performance

characteristics of various MMIC

chips are presented. The proposed program would

lead to definition of

the optimum approach, selection of MMIC

architecture, and feasibility

demonstration of MMIC performance. The ensuing

Phase 2 program will

be structured for MMIC design/fabrication and

demonstration.

Potential Commercial Applications (Limit 200 words)

The outcome of the proposed program will lead to

introduction of

low-cost generic MMICs that may be used in

commercial (as well as

military) telecommunications equipment. Such

MMICs may be used in:

ground stations for 20/30 GHz satellite

communication systems, local

multi-point distribution systems (MDS), and 38

GHz point-to-point

radios.

Name and Address of Principal Investigator (Name,

Organization Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip)

Paul Blount

Hittite Microwave Corporation

21 Cabot Road

Woburn , MA 01801

Name and Address of Offeror (Firm Name, Mail Address,

City/State/Zip)

S. Francis Paik

Hittite Microwave Corporation

21 Cabot Road

Woburn , MA 01801