FPD'17

D2P7 - ARTES C&G - High Performance C-/ Ka-Band Coax Circulators - Tesat-Spacecom GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)

15 Feb 2017, 14:25

30m

Newton 1 & 2 (ESA/ESTEC)

Speaker

Dr Tobias Kässer (Tesat-Spacecom GmbH & Co.KG)

Description

Coaxial circulators for both low and high power application and a coaxial load for high power application (all in C-band 3.4 – 4.2 GHz) have been designed and qualification tested for space application. For low power application, a set of circulators and isolators (with integrated load) with SMA interface have been realized with a robust microstrip design that can be manufactured with standard MIC processes. The high-power circulator has TNC interface and is in stripline technology, allowing for a power level of 125W. Also the load has TNC interface and can support 125W with a microstrip design, distributing the incoming power into 32 resistive films; the use of beryllium-oxide is omitted. The components are key components for integrated assemblies such as Imuxes or ONETs, but also as standalone units. Qualification testing has been performed successfully with environmental levels enveloping known requirements from satellite manufacturers for geostationary orbit application. In addition, low power circulators and isolators have been developed with the same design approach for various other frequency bands (C-band uplink 5.8 – 7.1 GHz, X-band 7.25 – 8.4GHz, Ku –band uplink 12.75 – 15.0 GHz, and Ka-band downlink 17.7 – 20.2 and 20.2 – 22.0 GHz). Choice of and qualification of materials and processes have been achieved successfully, electrical design has matured to specified levels. Qualification of these components was finally done in commercial satellite programs. Each of the variants mentioned has been delivered as part of higher order assemblies or as stand-alone components to commercial costumers for space application. Main Benefits • Qualified against all known environmental levels for geostationary satellite application • Short predictable lead time due to design optimized for use of automated manufacturing processes (MIC technology) • Especially for SMA variants and TNC load: stress-free and hence robust design • Mass / volume optimized for use use in higher-order assemblies such as Imuxes or ONETs.

Short Speaker Information

Dr. Tobias Kässer is a senior RF engineer for passive equipment at Tesat-Spacecom since more than ten years. His work is focused on input multiplexers, including ancilliary equipment. He is technically responsible for equipment in commercial programs as well as in development activities.