SBIR Phase I: Novel Volumetric Efficient Design and Packaging of a Broadband Integrated Circulator-Antenna (BICA)

该小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目致力于开发一种新型体积高效宽带集成环行器天线（BICA）模块，用于无线和卫星通信以及雷达应用。Metamagnetics提出利用其在先进超材料和织构铁氧体复合材料开发方面的专业知识，实现宽带电子带隙（EBG）超材料，作为在平面天线中实现显著剖面减小（与ë/4相比，为ë/60）的一种手段。采用新颖的设计方法，低剖面天线与环行器相结合，将BICA作为单个组件生产，从而在通信和雷达系统中实现显著的体积节省和高效的功率传输，以及其他优点。第一阶段的活动重点是超宽带EBG超材料的开发，包括组件材料的设计和改进，例如在UHF到S频率范围内工作的专门设计的纹理铁氧体衬底。此外，宽带天线和铁氧体环行器设备被共同设计为单个组件，以实现高效的功率传输和增强的功率处理能力。这种原始设计方法与先进超材料开发的结合从未尝试过，代表了高度创新和使能的进步。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力包括满足商业和国防部（DoD）市场的关键需求。所提出的基于超材料的双用途集成环形天线技术有望在无线、卫星通信和雷达系统中的当前技术上在高度、面积和重量减少方面实现显著的性能改进。2011年，仅国防部发射接收模块和环行器市场的规模估计就超过6亿美元，未来5年将以7%的累计增长率增长。第一阶段在提高射频前端的带宽和容积效率方面的成功具有巨大的潜力，可以影响商业通信和国防部行业，并通过生产先进技术和高技能工作来刺激美国经济。第一阶段的工作将由一家退伍军人拥有的小企业进行。雇员包括一名妇女作为少数股东和首席运营官，以及两名积极攻读工程博士学位的学生。作为第一阶段的一部分，将涵盖课程期间发生的所有学费。另外三名攻读创业研究生课程的学生将参与进行市场研究以及与第一阶段计划相关的业务和产品开发活动。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project pursues the development of a novel volumetric efficient broadband integrated circulator antenna (BICA) module for wireless and satellite communication as well as radar applications. Metamagnetics proposes to leverage its expertise in advanced metamaterials and textured ferrite composite development to realize a broadband electronic bandgap (EBG) metamaterial as a means for achieving a dramatic profile reduction (ë/60 in contrast to ë/4) in planar antennas. Following a novel design approach, the low profile antenna is combined with a circulator to produce the BICA as a single component leading to significant volumetric savings and highly efficient power transfer in communication and radar systems, among other figures of merit. Phase I activities focus on development of the ultra wideband EBG metamaterial including the design and refinement of component materials, such as specially designed textured ferrite substrates operating in the UHF to S frequency range. Further, broadband antenna and ferrite circulator devices are co-designed as a single component to achieve efficient power transfer and enhanced power handling capability. This combination of an original design approach with the development of advanced metamaterials has never been attempted and represents a highly innovative and enabling advance.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project includes addressing the critical needs of both commercial and Department of Defense (DoD) markets. The proposed dual use metamaterial-based integrated circulator-antenna technology holds promise of significant performance improvements in height, area, and weight reduction over current technologies in wireless, satellite communication, and radar systems. The size of DoD transmit receive module and circulator markets alone is estimated at more than $600M in 2011 poised for growth at a cumulative aggregate rate of 7 percent over the next 5 years. The success of Phase I in improving the bandwidth and increasing volumetric efficiency of radio frequency front ends has an enormous potential to impact commercial communications and DoD industries and stimulate the U.S. economy by producing advanced technologies and, importantly, high-skilled jobs. The Phase I effort will be performed by a veteran-owned small-business. Employees include a woman as minority-owner and COO and two students actively pursuing engineering doctorates. As part of this Phase I, all tuition expenses incurred during the length of program will be covered. Three additional students pursuing graduate studies in entrepreneurship will participate in conducting market research as well as business and product development activities associated with this Phase I program.