SBIR-STTR Award

Auriga will produce an ultra-linear high-power, high-efficiency amplifier to be used in satellite communication systems. The innovative approaches are proposed and validated in Phase I. The enabling technology is Gallium Nitride (GaN) ,which is well-known for its power handling capability. State-of-the-art 0.15 µm gate GaN HEMT technology will be used in the design. The concept will be verified by device characterization, modeling and a prototype amplifier demonstration. MMIC amplifiers will be the final goal and will be fabricated in Phase II. Also, a proof-of-concept high-linear and high-power amplifier will be demonstrated in Phase I. Auriga will also evaluate the impact of radiation hardness for GaN HEMTs device in Phase I.

Benefit:
The successful outcome of the project will provide high-efficiency linear high-power amplifiers for use in satellite communications systems. The amplifier design methodology developed under this effort can be used in a broad range of military and commercial communications applications.

Keywords:
Power-Amplifier, Ka-Band, Mmic, Radiation-Hardness, Interference, Linearity, Gan Hemt

Auriga will complete the development of an innovative linearized K-band High Power Amplifier (HPA) in 24 months with one additional month for the final report. This innovative approach is expected to bring revolutionary performance (close to 40% PAE under QPSK). Auriga?s HPA will have a linearizer integrated in the MMIC and packaged, requiring no other interface or digital chips to accomplish the required linearity goals. Its feasibility has been shown during Phase I as a proof-of-concept (POC) demonstration. We scheduled two design and fabrication cycles of the GaN HEMT MMIC process before delivery of compact linearized HPA modules that meet or exceed requirements.

Benefit:
The linearizer technology developed under this SBIR supports the high data-rate requirements of future transformational communications satellites terminals. Demand for higher data-rates is ever present and growing. Although the primary target of this SBIR is for satellite communication systems in K-band, the linearizer technology addressed in this program is readily applicable to other communication programs throughout the DoD agencies. The need for highly efficient, high-linear transmitters is vital for many modern communication systems. A large application potential also exists in the purely commercial communication market, where demand for high data-rate is ever increasing. Cellular base stations and point-to-point terminals will benefit from this technology.

Keywords:
Power Amplifiers, Linearizers, High Data Rate Communication, Communication, Pre-Distortion, Gan, Microwave, K Band