Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer
High Performance Ka Band Power Amplifiers for Future EVA Radio Applications, Phase I
Project Introduction
In this proposal, AlphaSense, Inc. and the University of Washington detail the development of a novel, high performance Ka band power amplifier for EVA radio applications. Key innovations of our approach include: a) The application of a class-E power amplifier to ensure high power efficiency, b) The EER power amplifier topology to enhance the linearity performance of the class-E amplifier, and c) a novel design of a CMOS class-G dual-supply modulator to further improve the power efficiency for modern modulation signals with high peak-to-average ratios. With such innovations, the proposed Ka band power amplifier has the following merits: a) Small form factor and low power consumption, b) Excellent linearity performance and large dynamic range, c) Fully compatible with modern digital signals and modulation techniques, d) Compatible with mature CMOS technology, and e) Extendable for multi-band and multi-carrier applications.
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Anticipated Benefits
For commercial applications, the switching CMOS power amplifiers can be used in cellular and WLAN devices to minimize the power consumption and to extend the battery lifetime. Also, it can be used by homeland security personnel and emergency responders for long duration, long range and reliable radio communications. Since it allows high data rate transceiving, it can also be used in the exchange of large files between wireless devices and the HDTV signal streaming in WPAN network. If successful, the CMOS switching power amplifiers can be used in the EVA radio to satisfy the SWaP requirements, while enabling new functions, such as high data rate high definition video transceiving among EVA nodes and the rover. Additionally, they will dramatically enhance the battery lifetime, leading to longer durations of extravehicular activities and enhanced crew safety. Furthermore, the manufacturing process is based on silicon CMOS technology, which is fully compatible with other radio components used in the transceiver, making it possible to implement a radio-on-a-chip system. Since the useable frequency range of the CMOS switching power amplifiers are rather broad, and can be increased to higher frequencies using the 45nm node CMOS technology, it is feasible to implement compact and power efficient power amplifiers in different bands for a wide array of NASA missions. Examples include the Discovery, New Frontiers, Mars Scout, SMEX, MIDEX and others.
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Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlphaSense, Inc. | Lead Organization |
Industry
Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
|
Wilmington, Delaware |
Johnson Space Center
(JSC)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Houston, Texas |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Delaware
-
Texas
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Organizational Responsibility
Responsible Mission Directorate:
- Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)
Lead Organization:
- AlphaSense, Inc.
Responsible Program:
- Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer
Project Management
Program Director:
Program Manager:
Principal Investigator:
Project Duration
Start: Feb 2011
End: Sep 2011
Technology Maturity (TRL)
| Start: | 2 |
| Current: | 4 |
| Estimated End: | 4 |
Applied Research
Development
Demo & Test
Technology Areas
Primary:
- TX05 Communications, Navigation, and Orbital Debris Tracking and Characterization Systems
- TX05.2 Radio Frequency
- TX05.2.2 Power-Efficiency
Target Destination
Earth
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This is a historic project that was completed before the creation of TechPort on October 1, 2012. Available data has been included. This record may contain less data than currently active projects.