The Ultrabroadband Nanonetworking Laboratory
The Ultrabroadband Nanonetworking Laboratory
My Primary Work: Ground System Design
My Primary Work: Ground System Design
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As part of the TeraLink Satellite Mission, I’m contributing to the development of the Ground Station for a first-of-its-kind sub-terahertz LEO-ground communication link. My work focuses on designing the antenna shape, mount, and the connection between the feed and the rest of the RF chain. Our team is also in collaboration with others who are working on the front-end topologies. My primary role is to facilitate this collaboration and ensure that our link budget closes based on the components we choose to use in our total system.
Antenna Design
Antenna Design
Ignition System Redesign: Redesigned and improved the ZVS-based high-voltage ignition system, targeting better performance and manufacturability.
Component Sourcing & Selection:
Researched, sourced, and tested FET ICs that would be implemented into the design as the main switching FETs rated for 600V operation with a high repetitive avalanche energy capability
Sourced high-current inductors for the ZVS topology, replacing a 6-inductor configuration with a 4-inductor configuration by finding components with higher inductance and still above threshold saturation current. This reduced the board size by 20% and resolved end-of-life (EOL) concerns associated with previous inductors.
System Testing:
Performed maximum power testing to validate consistent inductor and FET performance
Conducted plasma ignition tests, capturing high-voltage waveforms and gate signals using an oscilloscope
Protection Circuit Design:
Developed robust analog overcurrent and overvoltage protection circuits using comparators and RS latches to prevent oscillatory failure loops
Designed a latched fault mechanism: faults persist until manually reset, preventing rapid toggling that had previously caused the electrical power system to fail
Added TVS diodes across the FETs (source to drain) to handle high-energy switching transients and protect against voltage spikes, with a focus on repetitive avalanche handling thereby protecting the main switching FETs
Tracking System
Tracking System
Ignition System Redesign: Redesigned and improved the ZVS-based high-voltage ignition system, targeting better performance and manufacturability.
Component Sourcing & Selection:
Researched, sourced, and tested FET ICs that would be implemented into the design as the main switching FETs rated for 600V operation with a high repetitive avalanche energy capability
Sourced high-current inductors for the ZVS topology, replacing a 6-inductor configuration with a 4-inductor configuration by finding components with higher inductance and still above threshold saturation current. This reduced the board size by 20% and resolved end-of-life (EOL) concerns associated with previous inductors.
System Testing:
Performed maximum power testing to validate consistent inductor and FET performance
Conducted plasma ignition tests, capturing high-voltage waveforms and gate signals using an oscilloscope
Protection Circuit Design:
Developed robust analog overcurrent and overvoltage protection circuits using comparators and RS latches to prevent oscillatory failure loops
Designed a latched fault mechanism: faults persist until manually reset, preventing rapid toggling that had previously caused the electrical power system to fail
Added TVS diodes across the FETs (source to drain) to handle high-energy switching transients and protect against voltage spikes, with a focus on repetitive avalanche handling thereby protecting the main switching FETs
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