T4.3: S band TX/RX active antenna front-end module detailed design including, DC, RF, thermal and structural interfaces

The proposed detailed design activities will follow sequential steps fed by output of previous WP4 tasks:

• Analysis [Leader: TAS – M18-M21]: As any pre-industrialisation of product, analysis (EMC, thermal, electrical, radiation) will previously be conducted to check its full compliance of the TX/RX active antenna front-end module with space environment as defined into Task 1.2.
• S band TX/RX active antenna front-end module design including DC, RF, thermal and structural interfaces [Leader: TAS Participant: SOI, INC– M18-M24]
Based on preliminary design available from task 4.1, TAS will design a single PCB that will allow full TX/RX S band RF chain from LNA input/ HPA output to external dual band radiating element. Preliminary description of the module is given in previous section. Key design features have been identified. Focus will be put, on insertion loss before the LNA and after the HPA. As a result, NF and PAE shall be kept to a minimum value. In addition, amplitude and phase balance between paths are critical for the antenna performance. Thermal management design of the TX RF chain shall be embedded into the PCB for cost reduction with a challenge of thermal insulation with the RX RF chain. Already performed at proposal stage, thermal analysis has put forward most of the power dissipation will come from the advanced POI based SAW filter. As a result, an accurate model of the saw filter vs power dissipation and temperature will be needed. Supporting expertise from SOI, UCL and INC for this work will be of prime importance.