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Wideband Integrated Antennas DS4-T4. Jan Geralt Bij de Vaate ASTRON. Wideband Integrated Antennas. Task objectives: To design a tile of wide-band, low-cost, antenna elements appropriate for dual-polarized, close-packed phased arrays and to optimize their RF performance.
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Wideband Integrated AntennasDS4-T4 Jan Geralt Bij de Vaate ASTRON
Wideband Integrated Antennas • Task objectives: • To design a tile of wide-band, low-cost, antenna elements appropriate for dual-polarized, close-packed phased arrays and to optimize their RF performance • Model and characterise antenna elements • Develop cost effective solutions for integrating active receiver components with the antenna • To characterise the integrated antenna • Develop photonic analogue data link • To realize very low cost solutions for the radiator SKADS Review 2006
Targets • Tsys= 35K (excluding sky noise) • Bandwidth > 3:1 • ‘full’ scan range etc. etc..... • Tile cost target: to be defined but.. • 200 euros / m2 • Depending on: • Location receivers (remote/integrated) • Frequency band • Number beams SKADS Review 2006
Partners • ASTRON • UMAN • Oxford/UCAM • FG-IGN • CSIRO • NRC • OPAR • INAF • OMMIC SKADS Review 2006
Progress FG-IGN • Evaluation of potential antenna elements • Design of Vivaldi • Design wideband dipole • Design of wideband balun • Far field Test range available SKADS Review 2006
Progress UK • Development of specification 2-PAD • Contribution to 2-PAD system design concept • Initial array geometry studies • Band Interleaving approach promising • Element study and initial simulations • Multi-choke exponential slot antenna • Anti-podal slot element SKADS Review 2006
Progress CSIRO • Work on linear connected arrays • Target: 5 by 5 array for Focal Plane Array purpose Progress NRC • Focal Plane Array Vivaldi design SKADS Review 2006
Progress ASTRONAntenna design tooling • The Efficient finite array solvers are needed for SKA: • The Characteristic Basis Function Method (CBFM) enhances the MoM to solve electrically large problems efficiently without comprising the accuracy • Parallel Time Domain (FDTD) code on the LOFAR BlueGene/L computer • Together with prof. Mittra, PennState Univ. SKADS Review 2006
Active antenna design • OMMIC: samples provided for differential LNA-antenna • LNA ICs developed: focus on differential design • Hot/cold test with diff load: 60K (should be 35K) • Differential antenna • Hot cold antenna tests still too high SKADS Review 2006
Localized vacuum LNA cooling • 0.15 Watt cooling power for 20% TLNA reduction (ΔT 35 degrees • 0.8 Watt cooling power: ΔT 50 degrees • F Schreuder, J G Bij de Vaate, “Localized LNA cooling in vacuum”, Therminic, Nice, France, September 2006 • G Jones, S Weinreb, “Thermoelectric cooling of LNAs to 200K”, URSI 2005 SKADS Review 2006
Low cost radiator • Low cost radiator • Aluminum sheets • Polyester with cupper stamped or laser cut: 3€ / element • Etching/Photolitho processes should be avoided • Inkjet printing / MID (molded interconnect devices) Not feasible SKADS Review 2006
Schedule and milestones • No changes: • Next meeting: 14th September 2006, Manchester SKADS Review 2006
Conclusion • Already good progress on all objectives • First dual polarization antenna array build • SKA readiness tile on schedule: low cost high performance (EMBRACE compatible) tile SKADS Review 2006