Millimeter-wave amplifiers for space communications

Founded in 2020, Elve focuses on volume production of millimeter-wave (30-300 GHz) power amplifiers based on state-of-the-art TWTA (Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier) technology for space, airborne, and terrestrial platforms. As a result, we enable  high data rate (10-100 Gbps) connectivity with high efficiency (30-50%) at an affordable price. Our solution facilitates effective network architectures inaccessible in the past with applications in backhaul, feeder links, high-demand user links, point-to-point terrestrial and inter-satellite links, as well as private and localized networks. Elve is driven by an exceptional team of manufacturing, materials, electromagnetics, thermo-mechanics, operations, and business experts. Our experience spans volume production of aerospace products, vacuum electronics, and state-of-the-art manufacturing.  TWTAs amplify mmWave signals through interaction with high-energy electron beams. Elve has developed a proprietary process that exemplifies agile design and manufacturing philosophy. The “Elve Process” uses long-lifetime electron emitters, error tolerant sheet electron beam optics, compact power supplies, and thermo-structurally robust metal circuits.Ready access to millimeter wave space TWTAs at an affordable price point is essential to the development of resilient and reliable space networks:TWTAs: amplify signals to medium to high power levels with extremely high efficiency in a compact form, as a result providing high quality connectivity capability on power, size, and thermally  constrained platforms.Space: there are two suppliers of space qualified commercially available TWTAs in the world; both have limited production capacity, long delivery times, and high prices. Success of future space networks relies on agile, accessible, and affordable hardware.mmWave: operation at mmWave frequencies provides access to uncongested wide bandwidths of frequencies enabling 100 Gbps links with secure multi-mode operation: point-to-point, omni-directional, or illumination.(1) Elve identified the need for space millimeter wave TWTAs as a significant market opportunity with dual use for commercial and government space-based networks. (2) Elve identified space qualification as an essential next step for the existing Elve products to gain access into this growing space communications market. (3) Elve has performed a comprehensive evaluation of the technical feasibility of the approach to space qualify the products and outlined a detailed plan on how to achieve space qualification. (4) Elve developed a preliminary amplifier design, performed essential analyses, and initial testing necessary to demonstrate validity of the approach. Elve outlined an approach to qualify Elve TWTAs for use in space: establishment of the requirements; preliminary design of the TWT; TWT design validation via analysis and testing; evaluation of the current design of the EPC and the complete TWTA package for space; and space qualification plan.