Lucix maintains exceptional in house capability spanning the range from systems and subsystems engineering, RF Active and Passive hardware and integrated assembly design, product design and analysis, survivability analysis, and test engineering.

Our engineering and management teams have over 350 years combined experience with Space Payload RF Hardware Design & Development, including rapid analysis, breadboarding, and qualification.

Lucix engineers are experienced with hardware from 0.01 to 60 GHz in Hi-Reliability Space and Military environments.

RF Active microwave design capabilities utilize thin and thick-film MIC implementations incorporating both MMIC and discrete devices utilizing chip-and-wire technology within hermetic hybrids, as well as packaged parts on soft board.

RF Passive capabilities involve complex cavity filters including dielectric input multiplexers, Antenna Array Diplexers, multi-channel Output Multiplexers, and a wide variety of circulators and ancillary hardware. Passive expertise covers the full range from UHF to 60 GHz.

Component and System design, development, production and modeling capabilities include these hardware types:

  • Payload Low Power Section Active Hardware and Subsystems
    • Frequency Converters and Receivers
    • Reference Generators & Beacons
    • Master Local Oscillators
    • Ultra Stable and Low Phase Noise Master Reference Oscillators (US-MROs)
    • Ultra low noise phase locked dielectric oscillators (PLDROs)
    • Amplifiers – Low Noise Amplifiers and Broadband Amplifiers
  • Solid State Power Amplifiers
  • Payload Cavity Low- and High-power / High Q Passive Assemblies
    • Bandpass Filters
    • Diplexers & Multiplexers
    • Array Filters
    • Isolators and Circulators
  • Power Monitors
  • Central Power Supplies
  • Multi-Function Subsystems, involving converters and amplifiers interconnected with switches and filters – formed into microwave repeaters and signal processing assemblies.

State of the Art RF, Circuit, and System design modeling and analysis tools are utilized allowing rapid design convergence for quick turn solutions. Some of these tools include:

  • CAD Tools

    • Solid Works 3D Solid Modeling
    • AutoCAD
    • OrCAD / Cadence Allegro

  • Simulation & Analysis Tools

    • Solid Works Thermal and Structural FEA
    • NOVICE Radiation Analysis
    • Advanced Design System – ADS
    • Microwave Office
    • 3-D electromagnetic simulator (HFSS)

  • Internally Developed Analysis Tools

    • Converter / Amplifier Analysis Tool
    • Noise Figure, C/3IM, P1dB, IP3
    • Gain / Loss / Noise Figure / C/3IM
    • Conversion Spurious Products
    • AM/PM Transfer and Conversion
    • Phase Noise / Integrated Jitter
    • Filter Synthesis
    • Communications Link
    • Mass & Power
    • Spark 3D for multipactor analysis

Detailed survivability analyses are frequently required to provide assured long-life system success. Lucix engineers are highly experienced at performing such analyses, and iterating designs to achieve specification compliance. Analyses include:

  • Worst Case Circuit (WCCA)
  • Thermal
  • Parts Stress and Derating
  • Reliability / MTBF
  • Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality (FMECA)
  • Single Event Effects
  • Radiation / Total Dose
  • Internal Electrostatic Discharge Analysis
  • Electrostatic Discharge Input / Output Analysis
  • Mass Properties
  • Mechanical Stress
  • Volatile Condensable Material Mass (Outgassing)