Phasor, developer of enterprise-grade electronically steered antenna (ESA) systems for satellite-based mobile broadband applications, has worked with Vicor to develop a power solution for its new ESA system that improves connectivity speeds and bandwidth.
Factorised Power Architecture (FPA) from Vicor is said to improve the reliability of mobile satellite broadband connectivity by delivering extremely high current at low voltage, for more robust mobile communications.
The Phasor ESA will support satellite connectivity in aeronautical, maritime, land mobile and defence applications.
Phasor’s modular, flat or conformal, solid-state electronically steered antenna systems are less than 1.5in (3.81cm) thick, and designed to match the performance of larger parabolic dish antennas. The Phasor antenna uses low-profile components operating at high power density, which rely on Vicor’s FPA.
“Vicor is a valued partner in supporting the technical innovation helping to differentiate Phasor’s products,” said Mike Warren, senior vice president of operations at Phasor. “The FPA technology plays an integral role in our ESAs and we look forward to continuing our work with Vicor as we start to roll out our products commercially.”
Vicor’s FPA package consists of a Pre-Regulator Module (PRM) and a Voltage Transformation Module (VTM)/Current Multiplier which together deliver the full, regulated, isolated DC-DC converter function. The VTM is a resonant converter and Vicor says it therefore has very low noise when compared to a hard switched converter.
The company adds that the ability of its systems to transform a 48V supply into a 1.5V supply (1V in the next generation of antenna with even higher current) is key to realising performance targets in small and large aperture Phasor ESAs.
Phasor wanted to make this transformation at 65A (or even 80A) which posed a design challenge for powering its application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Vicor’s approach to transforming voltage eliminates the need for multiple hard-switching converters with several different phases to attain 65A.
Image: Phasor
