A microwave signal processing (MSP) architecture is presented for active phased array beam forming and steering. A large scale network, comprising 63 power dividers and 32 pairs of vector-synthetic phase/amplitude controllers, has been successfully developed in an 11 mm/spl times/13 mm GaAs monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC). It has a huge integration level of 128 metal-semiconductor field effect transmitters (MESFETs), 448 spiral inductors, 527 metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors, and 357 ion-implanted resistors. The expected 360/spl deg/ phase is successfully obtained at all the output ports. Vector error standard deviations exhibited are within 0.38-dB root-mean square (rms) and 2.8/spl deg/ r.m.s. over the bandwidth of 20 MHz at 2.5 GHz. This megalithic chip could mark an epoch in phased array systems.

Megalithic microwave signal processing for phased-array beamforming and steering

This paper discusses the suitability of using a multiport amplifier (MPA) for a power section of space telecommunication payloads with power flexibility requirements. The performances of an MPA-based architecture are compared to those of a classical amplification architecture having one power amplifier per beam. This study is based on a 4 times 4 Ka-band MPA composed of four paralleled traveling-wave tube amplifiers (TWTAs). First, a static model of the MPA has been extracted from conventional characterizations. Second, the MPA has been characterized in a realistic environment for telecommunication operation. The good agreement between measured and simulated data serves to validate the MPA model. Once the model has been validated, exhaustive simulations are performed to compare the performances of the MPA-based and classical architectures in terms of power consumption and the TWTA's saturation power. As a result, the MPA approach proves to be an interesting solution because of its greater flexibility, lower power consumption, and lower saturation power required by the TWTAs

Multiport-Amplifier-Based Architecture Versus Classical Architecture for Space Telecommunication Payloads

Since their conception satellites have offered the promise of more capacity for terrestrial communication systems or to exploit their inherent multicasting and broadcasting capabilities. Recent advances in satellite technology have resulted in the integration of satellite and terrestrial networks to meet the quality and capacity requirements of modern day communication systems. Network and Protocol Architectures for Future Satellite Systems reviews the emerging technologies being deployed in the networking architectures being proposed in the framework of the Future Internet. Novel protocols such as Multi Path TCP (MPTCP) and networking trends such as Information Centric Networking (ICN) are described in depth and their application in segments deploying both satellite and terrestrial networks are illustrated. This is also the first monograph to review content-based networking extensively. This is becoming increasingly important driven by the ubiquitous nature of the internet. Applications to satellite communications are illustrated and the technical challenges to be further addressed are highlighted.

/pdf/network-and-protocol-architectures-for-future-satellite-asvb6fnktl.pdf

Network and Protocol Architectures for Future Satellite Systems

A wireless communication device and a method of re-establishing a connection with a WPAN master device is presented. The method includes detecting that a first master station of a WPAN session which includes the first master device and one or more stations becomes unavailable, activating a master station application to become a second master station and sending one beacon to notify the stations of the session about the second master station connectivity parameters.

Method and apparatus of connectivity recovery in wireless network

This paper presents a novel concept for offering payload resources flexibility in High Throughput Satellite (HTS) systems. The concepts makes joint use of two advanced techniques, namely beam hopping and precoding. The combination of these two techniques allows the system to really optimize the performance of beam hopping in terms of capability to follow the temporal and spatial variation of user traffic requests within the coverage. The performance of such an approach is demonstrated through computer simulations of an exemplary system. A similar approach can also be used by combing precoding with frequency flexible techniques. Additional combination of on-board power pooling techniques helps to further improve the system performance.

Joint Beam Hopping and Precoding in HTS Systems

This paper discuss the suitability of using a Multi-Port Amplifier (MPA) for multimedia multi-beam telecommunication operation with power flexibility requirements. With this aim, a Ka-Band MPA has been characterized in a realistic environment for telecommunication operation. Simulation and measurement results are discussed and the performances of the MPA based architecture and a classical architecture (with one power amplifier per beam) are compared in terms of power consumption. The MPA proves to be an interesting solution since it offers flexibility with lower power consumption and less equipment.

Multi-Port Amplifier Operation for Ka-band Space Telecommunication Applications

Thispaperdiscuss thesuitability ofusing aMulti- Port Amplifier(MPA) for multimediamulti-beam telecommunication operationwith power flexibility requirements. Withthisaim,a Ka-BandMPA hasbeen characterized ina realistic environment fortelecommunication operation. Simulation andmeasurement results arediscussed and theperformances oftheMPA basedarchitecture andaclassical architecture (with onepoweramplifier perbeam)arecompared intermsofpowerconsumption. TheMPA provestobean interesting solution since itoffers flexibility withlowerpower consumption andless equipment. IndexTerms- Poweramplifiers, communication systems, multiport circuits, satellite communication, traveling wave amplifiers, traveling wavetubes.

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/4014788/4014789/04015223.pdf

Multi-Port Amplifier Operation forKa-band SpaceTelecommunication Applications

The first European SAR based on an active phased array was launched in March 2002 on board Envisat and is operational. Several SAR instruments with active array antennas are currently under development in Europe and new instrument concepts are under discussion for the next generation. How will new technologies, currently under development in the commercial and military sectors, influence radar design based on existing architectures and new concepts? This paper discusses the current technology status and identifies future trends.

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/10171/32491/01517016.pdf

Status and trends for space-borne phased array radar

A new concept for the implementation of complex RF beamforming networks (BFN) based on Microwave MultiChip Module (MMCM) technology, including MMICs and 3D multilayer structure is presented. Its validity is fully demonstrated by the fabrication and characterization of a S-Band 9/spl times/9 beamformer using low cost, low mass space qualifiable processes and exhibiting remarkable RF performances.

F. Coromina

Papers

Multi-Port Amplifier Operation for Ka-band Space Telecommunication Applications

Multi-Port Amplifier Operation forKa-band SpaceTelecommunication Applications

Status and trends for space-borne phased array radar

New multibeam beamforming networks for phased array antennas using advanced MMCM technology

Status and Trends for Space-borne Phased Array Radar (INVITED)