Microwave & Millimeter Wave Technology
Micro- and millimetre wave activities at Micronova cover a wide range of applications such as telecommunications, radioastronomy and imaging systems. The research topics include integrated circuits, antennas, RF-MEMS and testing.
Timo Varpula, timo.varpula@vtt.fi, tel. +358 20 722 6418
Millimetre wave technology
Millimetre wave technology is presently living a strong break-through period. This is greatly due to the development in manufacturing of integrated circuits and microfabrication methods.
Micronova’s multidisciplinary research staff of RF Engineers and Physicists have a unique combination of experience for developing ultra-sensitive devices and detectors for the millimetre- and submillimetre wave range. Integrated circuit research comprises both compound semiconductor and silicon technologies.
Expertise in LTCC packaging and RF-MEMS gives a another dimension to system-level integration. Work done on microbolometers is put to use in THz imaging systems.
Tauno Vähä-Heikkilä, tauno.vaha-heikkila@vtt.fi, tel. +358 40 758 7941
MilliLab - Millimetre Wave Laboratory
MilliLab is an ESA external laboratory specialising in millimetre wave technology. In addition to R&D contract work, MilliLab offers testing services.
Arttu Luukanen, arttu.luukanen@vtt.fi, tel. +358 20 722 4674
Antennas and applied electromagnetics
Functionality requirements for antenna systems are increasing. Small handset antennas must nowadays operate with many different radio systems, the so-called multi radio concept. In addition, there is a need for a handset antenna to adapt to the location and position in which it is used. This means that the interaction between the handset antenna and the user must be taken into account.
In base station and radar antennas there is a need for flexible antenna beam steering and antenna beamwidth control. Furthermore, attempts are being made to minimise the effect of interfering signals in complex smart antenna systems by adaptive beam forming techniques. The idea in these systems is to maximise the antenna gain in the direction of the wanted signal and to minimise it in the directions of interfering signals. By this mean a larger communication capacity and a better signal to noise ratio is attained.
The antenna functionality is increased either by RF signal processing or by digital signal processing (DSP). The RF signal processing is performed by appropriate control components such as phase shifters, switches and varactors. In particular, emerging MEMS components seem to offer new possibilities in this respect. The capability of digital signal processing has advanced very rapidly and this technology can be utilised in complex antenna systems. The consequence is that antenna design, RF front-end design and DSP design will go increasingly hand-in-hand.
While the functionality requirement for antenna systems is increasing, the tendency to improve the antenna element performance continues (bandwidth / volume ratio). This target may be achieved by more complex antenna structures and matching circuits or by utilising new electromagnetic materials. In multi-antenna systems and antenna arrays the interaction between individual antenna elements easily degrades the performance of the antenna system. Mutual coupling between antenna elements can be effectively reduced by electromagnetic band-gap materials (EBG).
Jouko Aurinsalo, jouko.aurinsalo@vtt.fi, tel. +358 20 722 5606
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