SBIR-STTR Award

Two critical components of LADAR projector technology that require extensive development to make feasible are the Arbitrary Waveform Generators (AWG) and the Level Shifting Amplifiers (LSA). Signals of 2 GHz bandwidth and at least 60dB dynamic range will be required. The LSA will need to take in signals as small as 500mV and amplify them to 7V without distortion or noise reducing the dynamic range. In order to reduce risk of project failure and to enhance commercial viability, the AWS will require a flexible digital architecture, such as an embedded FPGA. Euvis has extensive experience with the necessary technologies to research and develop the critical electrical components. Euvis has developed analog and mixed signal product lines in SiGe BiCMOS and InGaAs/GaAs HBT technologies. Our main products include Digital to Analog Converters (DAC), Multiplexer integrated DACs (MuxDACs), Direct Digital Synthesizers (DDS), and Laser Modulator Drivers. Our DACs and DDS's have been demonstrated with sample rates higher than 2 GHz and spur free dynamic range greater then 60 dB within the Nyquist band. Euvis proposes for phase I of this topic to research the feasibility of developing the AWG and LSA components based on our existing products and technologies

Based on the initial investigation during the Phase I effort, prototype components for Hardware-In-The-Loop (HWIL) LADAR testing will be fabricated and evaluated. The prototypes include a high voltage output mulitplexer integrated with DAC (MuxDAC) and a high speed MuxDAC, a Level Shifting Amplifier (LSA), and a RAMDAC module for testing. The high voltage MuxDAC will need sample rates of 2.5 GHz and single ended output swings of 5 Volts. The high speed MuxDAC will need a sample rate of at least 4 GHz. The LSA will require 5 Volts single ended out put and a DC to 2 GHz bandwidth. All components require 60 dB linear dynamic range. The integration technique and limitations with regard to full HWIL construction will be assessed. A LADAR projector proof of concept demonstrator will be developed.

Keywords:
Arbitrary Waveform Generator, Digital To Analog Converter (Dac), Multiplexer, Direct Digital Synthesizer, Modulator Driver, Ladar, Fpga, Broadband Li