Engineering topics

Romanofsky, Robert R.

Publications and source records attributed to Romanofsky, Robert R..

65 records · Page 4

NASA NTRS1990

The NASA high temperature superconductivity program

It has been recognized from the onset that high temperature superconductivity held great promise for major advances across a broad range of NASA interests. The current effort is organized around four key areas: communications and data, sensors and cryogenics, propulsion and power, and space materials technology. Recently, laser ablated YBa2Cu3O(7-x) films on LaAIO produced far superior RF characteristics when compared to metallic films on the same substrate. This achievement has enabled a number of unique microwave device applications, such as low insertion loss phase shifters and high Q filters. Melt texturing and melt quenched techniques are being used to produce bulk materials with optimized magnetic properties. These yttrium enriched materials possess enhanced flux pinning characteristics and will lead to prototype cryocooler bearings. Significant progress has also occurred in bolometer and current lead technology. Studies are being conducted to evaluate the effect of high temperature superconducting materials on the performance and life of high power magneto-plasma-dynamic thrusters. Extended studies were also performed to evaluate the benefit of superconducting magnetic energy storage for LEO space station, lunar and Mars mission applications. The project direction and level of effort of the program are also described.

Sokoloski, Martin M.↗

NASA NTRS1989

30 GHz Commercial Satellite Receivers

NASA's research and development work in satellite communications for the past 10 years has included a major technology thrust aimed at opening the Ka frequency band to commercial exploitation. This has included the development and testing of advanced system network architectures, on-board switching and processing, multibeam and phased array antennas, and satellite and ground terminal RF and digital hardware. Development work in system hardware has focused on critical components including power amplifiers, satellite IF switch matrices, low noise receivers, baseband processors, and high data rate bandwidth efficient modems. This paper describes NASA's work in developing and testing 30 GHz low noise satellite receivers for commercial space communications uplink applications. Frequencies allotted for fixed service commercial satellite communications in the Ka band are 27.5 - 30.0 GHz for uplink transmission and 17.7 - 20.2 GHz for downlink transmission. The relatively large 2.5 GHz bandwidth lends itself to wideband, high data rate digital transmission applications.

Kerczewski, Robert J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Universal test fixture for monolithic mm-wave integrated circuits calibrated with an augmented TRD algorithm

The design and evaluation of a novel fixturing technique for characterizing millimeter wave solid state devices is presented. The technique utilizes a cosine-tapered ridge guide fixture and a one-tier de-embedding procedure to produce accurate and repeatable device level data. Advanced features of this technique include nondestructive testing, full waveguide bandwidth operation, universality of application, and rapid, yet repeatable, chip-level characterization. In addition, only one set of calibration standards is required regardless of the device geometry.

Romanofsky, Robert R.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Analytical and experimental procedures for determining propagation characteristics of millimeter-wave gallium arsenide microstrip lines

In this report, a thorough analytical procedure is developed for evaluating the frequency-dependent loss characteristics and effective permittivity of microstrip lines. The technique is based on the measured reflection coefficient of microstrip resonator pairs. Experimental data, including quality factor Q, effective relative permittivity, and fringing for 50-omega lines on gallium arsenide (GaAs) from 26.5 to 40.0 GHz are presented. The effects of an imperfect open circuit, coupling losses, and loading of the resonant frequency are considered. A cosine-tapered ridge-guide text fixture is described. It was found to be well suited to the device characterization.

Romanofsky, Robert R.↗

NASA NTRS1989

External electro-optic probing of millimeter-wave integrated circuits

An external, noncontact electro-optic measurement system, designed to operate at the wafer level with conventional wafer probing equipment and without any special circuit preparation, has been developed. Measurements have demonstrated the system's ability to probe continuous and pulsed signals on microwave integrated circuits on arbitrary substrates with excellent spatial resolution. Experimental measurements on a variety of digital and analog circuits, including a GaAs selectively-doped heterostructure transistor prescaler, an NMOS silicon multiplexer, and a GaAs power amplifier MMIC are reported.

Whitaker, J. F.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Channelized coplanar waveguide: Discontinuities, junctions, and propagation characteristics

A new variant of CPW which has been termed channelized CPW, CCPW, is presented. Measured and computed propagation characteristics are presented. Lumped equivalent circuit element values for a CCPW open circuit and right angle bend have been obtained. CCPW power divider junctions and a coax-to-CCPW in-phase, radial power divider are also presented.

Simons, Rainee N.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Performance of five 30 GHz satellite receivers

Technology development contracts funded by NASA have resulted in five 30 GHz satellite receivers of various design. The results of tests performed at NASA-Lewis to determine the operating characteristics of the receivers and their ability to perform in a digital satellite link are presented and discussed.

Kerczewski, Robert J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Monolithic microwave integrated circuit technology for advanced space communication

Future Space Communications subsystems will utilize GaAs Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMIC's) to reduce volume, weight, and cost and to enhance system reliability. Recent advances in GaAs MMIC technology have led to high-performance devices which show promise for insertion into these next generation systems. The status and development of a number of these devices operating from Ku through Ka band will be discussed along with anticipated potential applications.

Ponchak, George E.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) technology for space communications applications

Future communications satellites are likely to use gallium arsenide (GaAs) monolithic microwave integrated-circuit (MMIC) technology in most, if not all, communications payload subsystems. Multiple-scanning-beam antenna systems are expected to use GaAs MMIC's to increase functional capability, to reduce volume, weight, and cost, and to greatly improve system reliability. RF and IF matrix switch technology based on GaAs MMIC's is also being developed for these reasons. MMIC technology, including gigabit-rate GaAs digital integrated circuits, offers substantial advantages in power consumption and weight over silicon technologies for high-throughput, on-board baseband processor systems. For the more distant future pseudomorphic indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) and other advanced III-V materials offer the possibility of MMIC subsystems well up into the millimeter wavelength region. All of these technology elements are in NASA's MMIC program. Their status is reviewed.

Connolly, Denis J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Microwave characterization and modeling of GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors

The characterization and modeling of a microwave GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction Bipolar Transistor (HBT) are discussed. The de-embedded scattering parameters are used to derive a small signal lumped element equivalent circuit model using EEsof's Touchstone software package. Each element in the equivalent circuit model is shown to have its origin within the device. The model shows good agreement between the measured and modeled scattering parameters over a wide range of bias currents. Further, the MAG (maximum available power gain) and the h sub 21 (current gain) calculated from the measured data and those predicted by the model are also in good agreement. Consequently, the model should also be capable of predicting the f sub max and the f sub T of other HBTs.

Simons, Rainee N.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) technology for space communications applications

Future communications satellites are likely to use gallium arsenide (GaAs) monolithic microwave integrated-circuit (MMIC) technology in most, if not all, communications payload subsystems. Multiple-scanning-beam antenna systems are expected to use GaAs MMICs to increase functional capability, to reduce volume, weight, and cost, and to greatly improve system reliability. RF and IF matrix switch technology based on GaAs MMICs is also being developed for these reasons. MMIC technology, including gigabit-rate GaAs digital integrated circuits, offers substantial advantages in power consumption and weight over silicon technologies for high-throughput, on-board baseband processor systems. For the more distant future pseudomorphic indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) and other advanced III-V materials offer the possibility of MMIC subsystems well up into the millimeter wavelength region. All of these technology elements are in NASA's MMIC program. Their status is reviewed.

Connolly, Denis J.↗