Frequency stabilisation in the Extremely High Frequency band. All precision communication and measurement systems (i.e. radar and navigation) rely on high quality oscillator technology. Any improvement in oscillator performance has a direct impact on the performance of the system and hence is of potential economic benefit. This project will realise the most stable frequencies ever produced in the underused Extremely High Frequency band, which is also important for space communications and naviga ....Frequency stabilisation in the Extremely High Frequency band. All precision communication and measurement systems (i.e. radar and navigation) rely on high quality oscillator technology. Any improvement in oscillator performance has a direct impact on the performance of the system and hence is of potential economic benefit. This project will realise the most stable frequencies ever produced in the underused Extremely High Frequency band, which is also important for space communications and navigation technology. System enhancement will include, better angular resolution, higher bandwidths, faster transmission rates and narrower beam widths without the susceptibility of absorption apparent from the optical domain.Read moreRead less
High-Performance Microwave and Millimetre Wave Antennae Based on Multi-layer Periodic Structures. Broadband communication has created a rapidly growing market for innovative microwave communication systems such as WiFi and WiMAX. Millimetre-wave technology is expected to deliver the next leap in communication technology with much faster wireless links for 3D TV etc. By developing innovative, low-cost, planar antennas with high performance, the proposed research will create opportunities for Aust ....High-Performance Microwave and Millimetre Wave Antennae Based on Multi-layer Periodic Structures. Broadband communication has created a rapidly growing market for innovative microwave communication systems such as WiFi and WiMAX. Millimetre-wave technology is expected to deliver the next leap in communication technology with much faster wireless links for 3D TV etc. By developing innovative, low-cost, planar antennas with high performance, the proposed research will create opportunities for Australian industry to compete in this growing global market with advanced, cost-effective, microwave and millimetre-wave products. The Australian research community will benefit from new methods, techniques and trained researchers, while Australian consumers will benefit from improved quality and low cost of services.Read moreRead less
Hybrid-resonator antennas for wireless communication networks. The rapid emergence of modern wireless communication systems has led to a requirement for small, lightweight antennas. In this project, a new, broadband, low-cost, small and lightweight antenna architecture will be developed for wireless systems. The new architecture is based on a novel hybrid-resonator concept: a dielectric resonator tightly coupled to a metal patch resonator. The rapid design and optimisation of new antennas will b ....Hybrid-resonator antennas for wireless communication networks. The rapid emergence of modern wireless communication systems has led to a requirement for small, lightweight antennas. In this project, a new, broadband, low-cost, small and lightweight antenna architecture will be developed for wireless systems. The new architecture is based on a novel hybrid-resonator concept: a dielectric resonator tightly coupled to a metal patch resonator. The rapid design and optimisation of new antennas will be achieved by developing several new theoretical methods. Antennas targeted for the Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (UNII) band (5-6 GHz) commercial wireless communication systems will be designed, fabricated, tested and integrated with the systems.
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Broadband and Multiband Antenna Systems. Wireless communication has become essential in the modern information society and this has created a rapidly growing, multi-billion dollar market for innovative wireless products. Australia has a strong potential to gain from this market, as demonstrated by world-leading products, e.g. wireless computer microchips. By developing innovative antenna systems with new capabilities, the proposed research will create opportunities for Australian industry to com ....Broadband and Multiband Antenna Systems. Wireless communication has become essential in the modern information society and this has created a rapidly growing, multi-billion dollar market for innovative wireless products. Australia has a strong potential to gain from this market, as demonstrated by world-leading products, e.g. wireless computer microchips. By developing innovative antenna systems with new capabilities, the proposed research will create opportunities for Australian industry to compete in the global wireless market with advanced, low-cost, high-performance, and universal products. The Australian research community will benefit from new theoretical techniques and trained researchers, while wireless users will benefit from improved quality and low cost of services.Read moreRead less
Target Identification with Ultra-Wideband Polarimetric Radar. Radar reflecting objects resonate when electromagnetically and appropriately excited. These resonances can be extracted from the returned radar signal and used to identify the object. A simile is identifying a tuning fork from its sound rather than its image.
The techniques developed in this proposal are primarily to be used in security and defence applications for better screening of threat targets. The benefit is a safe and more ....Target Identification with Ultra-Wideband Polarimetric Radar. Radar reflecting objects resonate when electromagnetically and appropriately excited. These resonances can be extracted from the returned radar signal and used to identify the object. A simile is identifying a tuning fork from its sound rather than its image.
The techniques developed in this proposal are primarily to be used in security and defence applications for better screening of threat targets. The benefit is a safe and more secure environment. Read moreRead less
Microwave Frequency Standards: Testing Fundamental Physics and Developing New Devices. Highly frequency stable oscillators may be used as frequency or timing standards (clocks) and have commercial application as well as application of testing fundamental physical principles. This project is to continue the development of novel frequency standards in collaboration with some of the best research institutes in France funded by the French Space Agency (CNES). With the advent of the International Spa ....Microwave Frequency Standards: Testing Fundamental Physics and Developing New Devices. Highly frequency stable oscillators may be used as frequency or timing standards (clocks) and have commercial application as well as application of testing fundamental physical principles. This project is to continue the development of novel frequency standards in collaboration with some of the best research institutes in France funded by the French Space Agency (CNES). With the advent of the International Space Station and new atomic clocks, the physics community is embarking on an experimental program that will make use of the microgravity environment of space. Combined with the new improved timing it will be possible to perform new experimental tests of general and special relativity, tests for drifts in the fine structure constant and tests for a preferred direction of the speed of light at unprecedented sensitivity.Read moreRead less
Novel High-Q Resonant Structures for Space and Telecommunications. High-Q microwave resonators with low spurious mode density have important applications in telecommunications, radar, navigation, precision metrology and time standards. We will develop high-Q resonators by constructing a dielectric Bragg resonators using monocrystalline sapphire loaded in a copper cavity with new cylindrical and spherical geometries. Based on these devices, compact and economical state-of-the-art ultra-low noise ....Novel High-Q Resonant Structures for Space and Telecommunications. High-Q microwave resonators with low spurious mode density have important applications in telecommunications, radar, navigation, precision metrology and time standards. We will develop high-Q resonators by constructing a dielectric Bragg resonators using monocrystalline sapphire loaded in a copper cavity with new cylindrical and spherical geometries. Based on these devices, compact and economical state-of-the-art ultra-low noise microwave oscillators and hydrogen masers will be built for the telecommunications market and space applications.Read moreRead less
Radio Frequency Microelectromechanical Systems for Wireless Communications. Current and future Wireless appliances require increased functionality, frequency of operation, and component integration along with reduced manufacturing costs, size, weight, and power consumption. Micro electro mechanical systems for radio frequency with versatility to integrate both electronic (2-D) and microelectro-mechanical (3-D) devices represent the technology that can offer wide operational bandwidths, on-chip p ....Radio Frequency Microelectromechanical Systems for Wireless Communications. Current and future Wireless appliances require increased functionality, frequency of operation, and component integration along with reduced manufacturing costs, size, weight, and power consumption. Micro electro mechanical systems for radio frequency with versatility to integrate both electronic (2-D) and microelectro-mechanical (3-D) devices represent the technology that can offer wide operational bandwidths, on-chip passive components, negligible interconnections, almost ideal switches and resonators, in a planar fabrication process, compatible with existing integrated circuits and monolithic microwave integrated circuits. The outcomes of this project will be of significant benefit to the Australian Telecommunication industry.Read moreRead less
Delivering Next-Generation Broadband Internet Access to Australia: Integration of Broadband Optical and Wireless Networks. Provision of broadband services is a high priority for the Australian government as evidenced by a range of initiatives costing more than $4 billion. Especially, the integration of optical and wireless broadband access will potentially provide inexpensive and efficient solutions to customers. Building on the strength of existing photonics and wireless industries in Australia ....Delivering Next-Generation Broadband Internet Access to Australia: Integration of Broadband Optical and Wireless Networks. Provision of broadband services is a high priority for the Australian government as evidenced by a range of initiatives costing more than $4 billion. Especially, the integration of optical and wireless broadband access will potentially provide inexpensive and efficient solutions to customers. Building on the strength of existing photonics and wireless industries in Australia, direct and indirect outcomes of this project can lead to new business opportunities and will further strengthen the growing local telecommunication industries. It is also anticipated that national and international collaboration will generate further research activities and significantly enhance the existing reputation of Australian research capabilities.Read moreRead less
Radio Frequency Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Switch Applications for Reconfigurable Multifunctional Communication Systems. Recent advances in modern ultra wideband radar and wireless communications applications demanded high performance and reconfigurable Radio Frequency subsystems that simplify multiple complex functions using common hardware. These trends impose drastic requirements on passive and active devices. The reported performance of Radio Frequency Micro Electro Mechanical System ....Radio Frequency Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Switch Applications for Reconfigurable Multifunctional Communication Systems. Recent advances in modern ultra wideband radar and wireless communications applications demanded high performance and reconfigurable Radio Frequency subsystems that simplify multiple complex functions using common hardware. These trends impose drastic requirements on passive and active devices. The reported performance of Radio Frequency Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (RF MEMS) switches, with extremely low loss and high isolation, microsopic, have lead to their applications in reconfigurable circuits. The proposal deals with the development of RF MEMS based reconfigurable devices that will enable flexible interconnections between various ports and channels and optimize the usage of bandwidth. The outcomes of this project will be of significant benefit to the Australian Telecommunication industry.Read moreRead less