V-Band Switch (65-70 GHz)

Building on successful proof-of-principle hardware developed in Phase I, Millimeter Wave Systems, LLC proposes to design, fabricate, and demonstrate the performance of two 65-70GHz latching waveguide ferrite circulator configurations: 1) An innovative Multimode Latching Circulator (MLC), exploiting two circulating Eigenmodes in a ferrite junction, and 2) latching turnstile ferrite circulators with extended bandwidth using matching networks. The MLC takes advantage of the small dimensions, scaling by wavelength, at millimeter wave frequencies to quickly switch the magnetic field. The driver circuitry for both configurations were demonstrated in Phase I and will be enhanced in Phase II. Both topologies have different strengths providing options to the radar designer. The MLC innovation allows for a scaling the switch to higher frequencies where the decreasing waveguide dimensions benefit the design trades rather than becoming prohibitive as they do with traditional approaches. With our current fabrication methods, we are confident in reaching frequencies beyond 200GHz. Surface Level Pressure measurements will greatly improve hurricane forecasts (intensification and track predictions) and provide direct measurement of fundamental meteorological dynamics using instruments such as differential absorption radar.  Critical components for differential absorption radar include broadband transmitter and receiver switches that protect the receiver during the transmit interval and mute transmitter noise during the receive interval. These switches must be low loss (<0.5dB), high isolation (>35dB) and have high power handling (2W average).  State-of-the-art solid-state switch technology is insufficient due to high loss insufficient power handling at these frequencies. Current millimeter-wave switching junction ferrite circulators are available with low loss and high-power handling (up to 20W average, and >10kW peak), but are inherently narrow band (~1 GHz). This project will make available novel latching switching circulators that are broadband (>5 GHz) while maintaining high isolation and low loss. The overall technical objective of the Phase II effort is to produce two latching circulator products with bandwidths 65-70GHz. •    Design and Fabrication of an optimized and integrated multimode latching circulator, building on demonstrated performance in Phase I. •    Design and Fabrication of alternative broadband single-mode latching circulator using impedance matching. •    Demonstration of the performance for each variant of latching circulator – Bandwidth>5GHz, Isolation>35dB, Switching Speed<500ns, Power Handling>2W, and Insertion Loss<0.5dB. •    Analysis and/or testing of both approaches within the relevant environment moving towards TRL 5, to include an investigation into radiation hardened components for the driver electronics. •    Deliverable prototypes of both architectures, along with driver electronics, will be delivered at the end of Phase II.  

The proposed work will provide NASA with millimeter wave latching switches for use in remote sensing applications like differential absorption radar for measuring surface level pressure. With low SWAP, the resulting switch would benefit cubesat/smallsat instruments such as RainCube. This work would also benefit high power tube-based radars and radars operating above 200 GHz. Commercial weather radar companies would benefit from an off-the-shelf solution for high power radar applications.  Redundancy switching in hi-reliability communications applications would also benefit from high frequency latching circulators. Recent advances in NMR instrumentation have also created a demand for >200GHz circulators that could be addressed using the developed technology.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 1) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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