K-band T/R-converter modules for the IRIDIUM satellite program

Author

Corman, D.W. ; Agar, B.T. ; Buer, K.V. ; Cook, D.L.

Author_Institution

Div. of Satellite Commun., Motorola Inc., Chandler, AZ, USA

fYear

1995

fDate

16-20 May 1995

Firstpage

1653

Abstract

The paper describes two K-band multi-chip modules developed for the satellites on the IRIDIUM communication program. The modules employ a wide range of low noise and power 0.25 um PHEMT MMICs to provide all K-band transmit/receive functions aboard the spacecraft. The modules include over 500 active and passive components including LNAs, power amplifiers, mixers, frequency doublers, and associated support circuitry. Descriptions are provided of the MMIC and module development programs, module producibility features, and the associated MMIC reliability test program. Also described is a novel K-band interface method which eliminates RF alignment.<>

Keywords

HEMT integrated circuits; field effect MMIC; integrated circuit reliability; integrated circuit testing; multichip modules; satellite communication; 0.25 micron; IRIDIUM satellite program; K-band; LNA; MMIC reliability test program; PHEMT MMICs; T/R-converter modules; frequency doublers; mixers; multichip modules; power amplifiers; transmit/receive functions; Artificial satellites; Circuit noise; Circuit testing; Frequency; K-band; MMICs; PHEMTs; Power amplifiers; Radiofrequency amplifiers; Space vehicles;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Microwave Symposium Digest, 1995., IEEE MTT-S International

Conference_Location

Orlando, FL, USA

ISSN

0149-645X

Print_ISBN

0-7803-2581-8

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/MWSYM.1995.406294

Filename

406294