ARTES-5.1 – ESA Telecom Technology Workplan ... - Emits - ESA

Annex 2Page 43Ref. Activity Title Procurement Policy Budget(KEUR)Planned TenderIssue5C.105 Modelling of Passive Intermodulation in Multicarrier operation Open Competitive Tender Type: C 300 4Q 2009 12Objective:Description:Estimated Duration(months)The objective of this activity is to develop modelling software capable to evaluate and predict passive Intermodulation levels (using realistic modulations and frequency plans) on multicarriersystems from test measurements of two carriers PIM products.With the advent of high power channel communication satellites, a new source of interference, passive intermodulation (PIM), has arisen as a spacecraft performance of considerableimportance. Waveguide flanges and coaxial connectors have been identified as major source of Intermodulation Products in telecommunications satellites. Actual satellite requirements pushtechnology to achieve levels of PIM bellow -200 dBc.In multicarrier systems, PIM prediction is even more complicated than for two carriers, making in some case impossible to qualify by test. In this activity, a modelling tool shall be developedto quantify the level of PIM in multicarrier non-modulated and modulated systems using test data based on two input non-modulated carriers. The modelling shall also consider amplitude andphase of the carriers as inputs plus the temperature range during the mission and will analyse the G/T degradation due to PIM. The modelling software shall be validated through anappropriate test campaign to demonstrate accuracy of predictions versus real test measurements.Ref. Activity Title Procurement Policy Budget(KEUR)5C.106(09.153.42)Objective:Description:Planned TenderIssueFrequency Synthesizer Phase Noise Modelling Open Competitive Tender Type: C2 350 3Q 2009 24Estimated Duration(months)To characterize and model the baseband phase noise performance of the key frequency synthesizer components (transistors, Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs), Phase-FrequencyDetectors, followed by the creation of linear/non linear models of the overall synthesizer loop for phase noise performance optimisation. Finally, a breadboard of a representative synthesiserwill be developed for validation of the design methodology.Due to the introduction of higher order modulations, future satellite telecommunication payloads will require improved phase noise performance. In addition, the introduction of flexiblepayload and tuneable LO sources, call for the utilisation of frequency synthesizers with the associated compromises between tuning bandwidth, frequency setting resolution and phase noiseperformance. As a consequence, the currently used phase noise modelling and design methodologies need to be improved in order to allow better optimised and performing phase noiseperformance. The proposed design methodology is based on the creation of a baseband noise data base, covering the currently used components for the implementation of frequencysynthesizers (i.e. VCO transistors, phase/frequency detectors, frequency dividers. This baseband noise data can then be introduced in a model of the complete synthesizer, that includes asuitable non linear model of the VCO able to correctly model the upconversion process from baseband noise to phase noise modulating the LO signal . The models of the various elements inthe synthesizer will be introduced in an off-the-shelf software tool to calculate the resulting phase noise performance of the synthesizer. The activity shall also investigate the possibility oftopological improvements to the LO synthesizer (i.e. improved VCO design).