The history, present status and future trends of high power microwave amplifiers for satellite communications
Abstract
During the early days of commercial satellite communications (satcom) service in the mid-1960s, high power amplifier (HPAs) designs were modifications of high power troposcatter amplifiers. However, the very broad band requirements of satcom service, as compared to troposcatter amplifiers, required the development of broadband klystrons. These requirements led to the development of traveling-wave tubes which were capable of amplifying carriers over the entire 500 MHz allocated bandwidth. In the early 1970s it was found that power levels for HPAs could be reduced considerably in most types of service. The decade from the early 1970s to today has been one of substantial maturation of the HPA industry. Attention is given to a typical HPA design, aspects of intermodulaton distortion, controls monitoring and protection, power supplies, electromechanical regulation, vacuum tube regulation, magnetic amplifier regulation, cost, and future trends.
- Publication:
-
10th Communication Satellite Systems Conference
- Pub Date:
- 1984
- Bibcode:
- 1984coss.conf..134S
- Keywords:
-
- Communication Equipment;
- Microwave Amplifiers;
- Spacecraft Communication;
- Technology Assessment;
- Block Diagrams;
- Design Analysis;
- Display Devices;
- Klystrons;
- Technological Forecasting;
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering