L Band Analog to Digital and Digital to Analog Converter

ABSTRACT: Recent advancements in commercial high-speed Analog to Digital (ADC) and Digital to Analog (DAC) data converters have enabled increasingly capable microwave communication architectures, including efficient, fast-hopping digital receivers and transmitters.These new communication architectures can perform direct digitization of the entire L band, providing significantly greater speed, precision, and flexibility of frequency-hopping due to the ability to digitally down-convert and discriminate many multiple bands from a single wideband RF signal.In addition, these architectures provide significant reduction and simplification of exotic and expensive analog RF system components.Although commercial devices exist that may meet the electrical requirements of the program, these devices are designed, fabricated, and/or sold by foreign owned companies.Our partner, Honeywell Aerospace, a DoD Trusted supplier, is chosen specifically to address tamper and counterfeit device concerns.We propose to develop a high speed, radiation-hardened ADC to be implemented in existing fabrication processes and produced on-shore in a trusted semiconductor foundry to meet the data conversion needs of the Air Force and other military/aerospace system developers.The capabilities described in this SBIR proposal will provide direct, significant benefits to satellite communications and other space-borne applications by addressing the demanding requirements on performance, size, weight, and power.; BENEFIT: Successful completion of the three-phase efforts briefly outlined in this proposal will result in a fully qualified, radiation hardened 12 bit, 2.4 Gsps L-Band ADC device from a trusted supply source to satisfy system needs for signal processing.Within the radiation hardened electronics user base, there is a ready market for technology innovations that offer advanced, capable, and reliable radiation hardened devices to address critical component requirements for a wide range of defense, aerospace, and space science applications.This device will have relevance to defense, aerospace, and space science markets with significance to satellite (including micro/nano-satellite), missile defense, and other strategic defense systems.Specific applications for this device will include flight and ground uplink/downlink terminals, as well as navigation, communication, command and control, and data acquisition for interceptors, defense and commercial satellites, other space flight systems, and radar/antenna arrays.Scientics commercialization strategy seeks to leverage Honeywells unique marketplace position and knowledge, as well as their integration, fabrication, and distribution expertise to establish a market basis for development and fabrication of the proposed ADC.This approach has particular advantage with respect to risk reduction, product financing, market penetration, market credibility, manufacturing, production, and distribution.Upon successful completion of this program, Honeywell will be the primary source of production for this device.Honeywell has the capacity to produce and deliver thousands of devices per year.Members of our team have successfully developed numerous advanced radiation hardened devices for space and strategic applications in the past, including a 12 bit, 20 Msps ADC currently used to support Trident and multiple other programs, a 14 bit, 125 Msps ADC currently undergoing QML qualification, and a 10 Gbps multi-protocol SerDes transceiver.Our team is currently working to develop a radiation hardened 12 bit, 4.8 Gsps direct digital synthesis (DDS) DAC under an AF phase I SBIR.We intend to leverage the knowledge and appropriate technology developments gained during that program to support the DAC efforts proposed herein.Commercialization will also be enhanced by both Honeywells and Scientics experience in the radiation hardened technology market.Both corporations routinely participate in and support defense and industry conferences, seminars, and symposia which serve to highlight ongoing research efforts and advances in technologies. The Scientic/Honeywell team will seek to enhance community awareness by presenting at these conferences as progress warrants.Scientic personnel, along with our technology partners, have extensive experience in the DoD market area.This experience has been gained over many years while working at this and previous corporations, both large and small, bringing sophisticated technology to the defense marketplace. For example, working in close cooperation with organizations such as Honeywell Aerospace, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Aeroflex, and Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), we have developed and brought to market a number of radiation-hardened electronic devices.In addition Scientic personnel have established working relationships with defense component suppliers such as Kearfott for IMU technology and Rockwell Collins for missile defense interceptor communications applications.Scientic personnel currently support and have historically supported organizations such as the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), Missile Defense Agency (MDA), US Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC), US Navy, and others.As we proceed, we will seek to determine potential applications/needs within these organizations which could be satisfied by our proposed technology.With this in mind, and where warranted, a portion of Phase III support may be sought from other Government sources which are determined to have requirements that could be satisfied by this technology.