Converters Receivers Evolution Programme

  • Status
    Ongoing
  • Status date
    2009-12-03
Objectives

Frequency converters and receivers are important products for Saab Ericsson Space and it is essential that all functions fulfil high requirements and allow efficient production. A modular design concept for C- and Ku-band operation has been established during the 90'ties and converters/receivers from this generation are delivered or presently under manufacturing for several commercial programmes.


To meet the future demands on equipment with state of the art performance as well as small size and low mass a new generation converters and receivers has to be developed. To fulfil the increased need for short delivery time, low cost and improved electrical performance, improvements are essential. This new generation of frequency converters and receivers for telecom- and multimedia satellites shall fulfil the performance requirements imposed by the system requirement for present and coming applications. It shall also be designed for efficient manufacturing and testing, small size and low cost.

Challenges

The development will be concentrated to a large extent on hybrid design using multi-layer technologies (LTCC) and MMIC design.


Key issues:



  • Excellent performance

  • High Frequency and Gain Stability

  • Low Phase Noise

  • Excellent Spectrum Purity

  • Low mass

  • Small size
Benefits

The program will keep Saab Ericsson Space competitive both in Europe and the US in the product area Converters and Receivers.

Features

The proposed program aims to establish the equipment requirements and a modular design concept for a new generation of converters and receivers on C-band and Ku-band.

It includes the design of the RF-section and IF-sections on C-band for the new generation. The RF- and IF-sections for the Ku-band converter chain are available in a first version from the HiCo programme.

The proposed work also includes the definition of receiver versions of the equipment i.e. including front-ends circuitry with low-noise amplifiers. A full hardware development of the front end will be made for C-band as well as Ku-band.

The proposed program also includes to update the present standard C-band converters (1st gen.) with 70 V DC/DC.

Plan

The proposed work is based on the development work and experience from Saab Ericsson Space first generation of generic converters and receivers. It is also a continuation of the development for a second generation which has started with the HiLo and HiCo Programmes (ARTES 5 and -4) for development of a highly integrated local oscillator and Ku-band converter.













BDR 7 June 2005
MTR21 Nov 2005
Final ReviewDec 2006
Final ReportMarch 2007
  
Current status

Final Achievements:

1 Ku-band Converter EQM, new gen.
1 C-band Converter EQM, new gen.
1 C-Band EQM Conv w. 70V DC/DC, gen. 1
1 C Band LNA BB Board, new gen.
1 Ku Band LNA BB Board, new gen.
1 EBB Receiver Module, new gen.
1 EBB 40 V DC/DC, gen. 1
1 EM 30 V DC/DC in Ku-band EQM, new gen.