ESA Open Invitation To Tender AO8789
Open Date: 16/09/2016
Closing Date: 30/03/2017 13:00:00
Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 16.1TT.39
Prog. Ref.: ARTES 5 Sub-El. 5.1
Budget Ref.: E/0505-01B – ARTES 5 Sub-El. 5.1
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+LU+CZ+RO+CA
Tender Type: C
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / RF / Microwave Communication (Platform and Payloads) / Transmitters / X-band, S-Band, Ka band/ Near Earth application, Deep space application, … / Platform vs Payload
Satellites & Probes / RF / Microwave Communication (Platform and Payloads) / “Communication – BB (Antennas excluded)” / Analog: Power amplifiers (SSPA, TWTA) / Satellites & Probes / RF / Microwave Communication (Platform and Payloads) / Repeaters and Transceivers / Bent-pipe repeaters, regenerative transponders
Technology Domains: RF Systems, Payloads and Technologies / RF Payloads / Telecommunication Payloads / RF Systems, Payloads and Technologies / RF Technologies and Equipment / RF Equipment / EEE Components and Quality / EEE Component Technologies / RF Microwave and Millimetre Wave Components
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate Telecom & Integrated Applica
Department: Telecom Technologies, Product& Systems Department
Division: Technologies and Product Division
Contract Officer: Sterzl, Ulrich
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 16/09/2016
Update Reason: Tender issue
Objective: Design, manufacture and test an RF pre-distorter based on a single-chip, for High Power Amplifiers, that is able to linearize in a closed-loop operation telecommunication multi-carrier signals Targeted Improvements: New market opportunities for the MSS / FSS / BSS market. Fully adaptive and flexible pre-distortion capabilities for different traffic scenarios and for signals with bandwidths >36 MHz. Reduced RF output back off level in High Power Amplifiers (HPAs) for a given Noise to Power Ratio (NPR).ï€ Increased efficiency of the High Power Amplifier (HPA).ï€ Reduced power consumption compared to existing technologies. Description: The DC-to-RF efficiency of High Power Amplifiers (HPAs) is currently the main contributor to the power consumption of a spacecraft. This equipment is responsible for consuming >70% of the overall DC power available in bent-pipe architectures for broadcasting satellites. To improve the scenario, analogue pre-distortion techniques are currently used in order to linearize the HPA. This analogue linearization allows for an increase of the overall DC-to-RF efficiency since the HPA can be operated closer to saturation. Nevertheless, the linearization function is tuned for one single configuration of the HPA and for static conditions (i.e. temperature, RF output power, etc.). In addition, the capability of linearizing HPAs presenting memory effects or with non-uniform traffic demands, is very limited when using analogue linearisers. Closed-loop RF pre-distortion techniques are more suitable for this variable scenario, where the lineariser uses the HPA output signal to determine the nonlinear characteristics of the HPA and adapts the linearization technique as a function of the conditions and signal to be transmitted (i.e. modulation scheme, temperature of the HPA, level of back-off, bias point, etc.). This technique allows a dynamically optimised transfer function and enhance the overall HPA efficiency. The US has a commercial product (Maxim SC 1894) already available while no product yet exists in Europe. The work logic shall be as follows:1. Literature and market survey.2. Trade-off analysis on analogue and digital pre-distortion techniques.3. Design a flexible and adaptive single chip pre-distorter.4. Manufacture and test the single chip device for different telecom scenarios.5. Final reporting, conclusions and roadmaps towards higher TRLs.
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