SBIR/STTR Award attributes
QuinStar Technology proposes to develop an efficient, solid-state power amplifier (SSPA), operating at V-band frequencies in support of NASA Earth and planetary science applications.nbsp;This proposal addresses the critical need for high-efficiency, millimeter-wave amplifiers used in absorption radar for remote pressure sensing to improve weather models. Specifically, we propose to develop a pulsed power amplifier with a minimum duty cycle of 25% operating over the 65-71 GHz band. The maximum power of 10+ Watts at 65 GHz and 1+ Watts at 71nbsp;GHz will be achieved with a minimumnbsp;associated PAE of 35% and 5% respectively.nbsp;The efficiency and power goals of this program will be realized by employing a combination of state-of-the-art (SOA) device technology, innovative circuit design, and power combining techniques.Simulations show that the power-added-efficiency (PAE)nbsp;of 39% to 8.5 % in thenbsp;MMIC can be achieved across the band of 65 to 71 GHz with an associated output power of 2.7 and 0.28nbsp;Watts respectively. An on-chip active low-pass networknbsp;is developed to providenbsp;the 10:1 frequency-dependent power attenuation as required by the program. This high-Q, low-pass network integrated on-chip alsonbsp;minimizes efficiency loss by more than 4.6 percentage points as compared to using an ideal, lossless 10-dB attenuator in conjunction with the MMIC of 39% PAE. This translates into a saving of 4.6% in the total DC power consumption at 71 GHz.To realize the required SSPA power levelnbsp;withnbsp;highnbsp;efficiencies, we are proposing tonbsp;use high-efficiency wave-guide circuit combining techniques.nbsp;Anbsp; high-efficiency, 4-way H-tee combiner network will be exploited to realize a combining efficiencies of greater than 93%. These simulations have been experimentally verified at frequencies ranging from Q-band to W-band.nbsp;The compactnbsp;size and light weight of the SSPA are projected 2.2nbsp;x 2.0 x 1.0 inches and 6 oz. respectively,nbsp;which make itnbsp;suitable for application to CubeSat/SmallSat platforms.
