Project Title:

Millimeter-Wave Converters for Satellite Communications Systems

Hittite Microwave Corporation
21 Cabot Road
Woburn, MA 01801

93-114.04   7267    __      AMOUNT REQUESTED $69,905

Millimeter-Wave Converters for Satellite Communications Systems

Abstract:

The product to be developed is a family of low-cost highly-
integrated MMIC up and down-converters for satellite communications
above k-band. Gallium-arsenide converter chips are made possible by
the development of K and Ka-band balanced MMIC mixers with high LO
isolation from RF and IF ports and high spurious harmonic
suppresion that allow integration of the mixer with other converter
functions (e.g. amplifiers and filters) onto a single chip. The
Hittite balanced mixer design approach is based on a novel method
of implementing passive baluns and transformers on chip at high
frequencies. A 12 to 18 GHz MMIC mixer utilizing this design
approach has achieved low conversion loss, high isolations, DC to
6 GHz IF bandwidth, 25 dBm 3rd order (input) intercept point and
typical RF circuit yields of 80%. A design for higher frequency, 20
to 40 GHz mixers will be developed using this new mixer topology
and advanced design technologies, PHEMT, HBT as well as MESFET.

The product to be developed is a family of low-cost highly-
integrated MMIC converters for satellite communications above K-
band. Potential applications are: commercial/industrial sensors in
the 24 GHz band, sensor systems operating in Ka and Q bands for
automotive control and K and Ku band data links for satellite and
terrestrial communications systems.

Mixers, Converters, MMIC, GaAs Circuits, Transmit/Receive Module,
Double Balanced Mixers, K-band Satellite Communications