The achieved work from the kick-off meeting to the midterm date is reported hereafter. We particularly emphasize the main achievements to demonstrate SAW filters on POI at TRL7 for Space applications.
WP1 - specifications - has been completed. WP leader TAS has specified the requirements of the demonstrators of the project. Detailed specifications of the SAW filters to be designed, manufactured and tested have been established according to the Space environment. TAS consolidated the specifications of S-band POI based, advanced SAW filters and disruptive TX/RX active antenna modules considering the market analysis of 5G NTN satellite constellation. Reliability tests have been prepared.
Deliverables D1.1 D1.2 and D1.3 were validated. The evolution of 5G NTN requirements pushed to consider a dual L+S-band filter solution. The system specifications have been detailed and agreed by the consortium. On that basis, filter requirements have been set to initiate WP2, 3 and 5.
In task T1.4 the alternative market addressable using the project foreground was challenged by the Security Advisory Board (SAB) and the final D1.4 version was validated.
WP2 - Front-end and back-end R&D - Tasks 2.1 2.2 2.3 and 2.4 have been completed. WP leader SOITEC has delivered D2.1 and D2.3 covering all the filter designs. The capability of the proposed solutions to perform the required filter functions has been demonstrated. Deliverable D2.2 - technological building blocks - was accepted. The GPS filters required to start WP5 were transferred accordingly.
The preliminary manufactured filters have also been provided to TAS to start task 2.6 - device packaging. RX and LNA dual band filter designs were fine-tuned and the final filter fabrication is engaged. Computations results show that the dual version is addressing the targeted function. This task also provided the TX S-band filter design.
Two subcontractors have been identified in task T2.6 for assessing the performance of our SAW filter in QFN packages. SOITEC is currently managing the corresponding purchase orders. UCL and Incize participated to the test vehicle definition.
WP3 - Expansion of POI substrate performance - is managed by UCL. Task T3.1 devoted to the analysis of current POI structure has been completed. A set of common test structures was defined to characterize the handle substrate in a wide frequency range and the characterisation of the reference POI structure and resonators was done. Deliverable 3.1 has been validated.
The development of alternative handling substrates is addressed in task T3.2. The P-N junction approach was abandoned due to contamination risks of the POI manufacturing line. Porous handle substrates are still addressed. This change induced a delay in the task development. Meanwhile, SOITEC has provided POI wafers with an alternative layer stack. Initial measurements have been made on resonators on these wafers as well as temperature sensitivity measurements, also performed for initial POI resonators within task T3.3.
For task T3.5 on substrate sensitivity to irradiation, as initial tests made by TAS on GPS filters were successful, irradiation of reference POI, new POI and alternative substrates will be carried out together, in the same run to improve result comparability.
WP4 - Demonstrator development, design and test - as has been initiated at T0+1 month. Although design tasks were initiated only in June 2024, WP leader TAS has provided the description of the future front-end radiating modules (FERM).
The LNA module and an antenna tile are the project demonstrators. A dedicated PCB has been designed. For the LNA function, self-biased circuits were selected for their properties. Tests have been performed using OTS parts. The noise factor has been optimized for the FERM and we are ready for the setup assessment. The whole RF processing chain is defined. Deliverable D4.1 has been submitted to the SAB and validated.
WP5 - Reliability - is managed by ALTER and was also started at the project beginning with task 5.1 and 5.2 devoted to the test plan preparation and development. described in the validated deliverable D5.1. Deliverable D5.2 was delayed to have a comprehensive vision of the test process development and is planned for next September. The test plan qualification - D5.3 - has been validated by the SAB.
Hermetic and non-hermetic filter samples were delivered in Spring 2024. Tests on 3.8SQ-packaged filters are ongoing, 7SQ-packaged filter tests require supplementary devices. The task T5.4 dedicated to TRL7 devices corresponding to the GPS (L-band) and S-band RX filters will start next October.
WP6 - Project management - is managed by SOITEC according to the project agenda despite difficulties defining the project advisory boards. This has generated delays in the delivery of D6.11 due to several reviews.
We also have set the collaborative plat-form and website of the project. The tool functionalities are described in deliverables D6.2 and D6.5. Data and Risk managements and the dissemination plan are detailed in deliverables validated D6.3 D6.4 and D6.7. The exploitation plan proposed in D6.9 was reviewed. For the deliverable D6.8 corresponding to the next year (2025) Workshop, SOITEC has contacted EUMA for the 2025 EUMW issue.
Milestones M1 (SAW specifications), M15 (Grant and Consortium Agreement), M16 (communication, data and risk), M4 (sensitivity to radiation) and M9 (Successful preliminary design) have been passed. Milestone M6 is the next one to reach but it is yet postponed due to delay in WP3 development. The closure of the first reporting period at M18 has been achieved.
