There is a growing demand for the high quality TV programs such as High Definition TV (HDTV). The CATV network is often a suitable solution to address this demand using a CATV modem delivering high data rate digital signals in a cost effective manner, thereby, utilizing a complex digital modulation scheme is inevitable. Exploiting complex modulation schemes, entails a more sophisticated modulator and distribution system with much tighter tolerances. However, there are always distortions introduced to the modulated signal in the modulator degrading signal quality.<p> In this research, the effect of distortions introduced by the RF band pass filter in the modulator will be considered which cause degradations on the quality of the output Quadrature Amplitude Modulated (QAM) signal. Since the RF filter's amplitude/group delay distortions are not symmetrical in the frequency domain, once translated into the base band they have a complex effect on the QAM signal. Using Matlab, the degradation effects of these distortions on the QAM signal such as Bit Error Rate (BER) is investigated.<p> In order to compensate for the effects of the RF filter distortions, two different methods are proposed. In the first method, a complex base band compensation filter is placed after the pulse shaping filter (SRRC). The coefficients of this complex filter are determined using an optimization algorithm developed during this research. The second approach, uses a pre-equalizer in the form of a Feed Forward FIR structure placed before the pulse shaping filter (SRRC). The coefficients of this pre-equalizer are determined using the equalization algorithm employed in a test receiver, with its tap weights generating the inverse response of the RF filter. The compensation of RF filter distortions in base band, in turn, improves the QAM signal parameters such as Modulation Error Ratio (MER). Finally, the MER of the modulated QAM signal before and after the base band compensation is compared between the two methods, showing a significant enhancement in the RF modulator performance.

There is a growing demand for the high quality TV programs such as High Definition TV (HDTV). The CATV network is often a suitable solution to address this demand using a CATV modem delivering high data rate digital signals in a cost effective manner, thereby, utilizing a complex digital modulation scheme is inevitable. Exploiting complex modulation schemes, entails a more sophisticated modulator and distribution system with much tighter tolerances. However, there are always distortions introduced to the modulated signal in the modulator degrading signal quality.<p> In this research, the effect of distortions introduced by the RF band pass filter in the modulator will be considered which cause degradations on the quality of the output Quadrature Amplitude Modulated (QAM) signal. Since the RF filter's amplitude/group delay distortions are not symmetrical in the frequency domain, once translated into the base band they have a complex effect on the QAM signal. Using Matlab, the degradation effects of these distortions on the QAM signal such as Bit Error Rate (BER) is investigated.<p> In order to compensate for the effects of the RF filter distortions, two different methods are proposed. In the first method, a complex base band compensation filter is placed after the pulse shaping filter (SRRC). The coefficients of this complex filter are determined using an optimization algorithm developed during this research. The second approach, uses a pre-equalizer in the form of a Feed Forward FIR structure placed before the pulse shaping filter (SRRC). The coefficients of this pre-equalizer are determined using the equalization algorithm employed in a test receiver, with its tap weights generating the inverse response of the RF filter. The compensation of RF filter distortions in base band, in turn, improves the QAM signal parameters such as Modulation Error Ratio (MER). Finally, the MER of the modulated QAM signal before and after the base band compensation is compared between the two methods, showing a significant enhancement in the RF modulator performance.

L’émergence des satellites très haut débit pour la couverture des zones rurales s’accompagne de nombreuses contraintes technologiques. Dans le cadre du plan France très haut débit, le projet THD-sat proposé par le CNES se base sur l’utilisation des bandes Q et V pour assurer les liaisons avec les stations au sol et libérer de la ressource sur la bande Ka communément utilisée par les satellites ancienne génération. Avec la montée en fréquence, les besoins en termes de filtrage deviennent très stricts nécessitant des considérations particulières. Le premier chapitre reprend le contexte de l’étude et expose les différents éléments permettant de justifier le choix de la technologie SIW qui profite à la fois des bons facteurs de qualité des modes volumiques se propageant dans le substrat et de l’aisance du procédé technologique et de l’intégration des structures planaires. Les performances des cavités SIW restent néanmoins intimement liées à l’épaisseur de substrat qui doit être augmentée pour atteindre de meilleurs facteurs de qualité. L’augmentation de l’épaisseur de substrat s’accompagne de deux principales limitations : le rallongement des fils de « bonding » utilisés pour le câblage du filtre à son environnement MIC d’épaisseur 254 μm et l’élargissement de la ligne d’accès 50 Ω induisant des problèmes de discontinuités et d’excitations de modes parasites. L’approche suivie consiste à considérer des formes 3D permettant l’adaptation de mode et d’épaisseur entre une ligne microruban sur substrat de 254 μm d’épaisseur et le SIW d’épaisseur plus importante. Une nouvelle transition 3D est dès lors imaginée. Le chapitre II reprend les différents procédés technologiques utilisés pour la mise en forme et la métallisation des substrats 3D. Les substrats considérés sont l’alumine et la silice fondue mis en forme par ablation laser et le thermoplastique COP mis en forme par moulage. La principale limitation de l’ablation laser concerne les épaisseurs de substrat accessibles. Nous nous limitons à 635 μm dans le cas de l’alumine et à 500 μm dans le cas de la silice fondue. Le moulage polymère permet de s’affranchir de cette limitation et de viser des substrats plus épais (2 mm pour la solution COP).Le chapitre III reprend les étapes de conception des différentes solutions de filtrage avec la nouvelle transition 3D. Des résultats de mesures de différents prototypes réalisés sont par ailleurs présentés. Ces résultats sont globalement encourageants mais nécessitent d’être davantage développés pour être mieux exploitables. / The emergence of satellite high-speed internet for the coverage of rural zones is accompanied by numerous technological constraints. The current trend is to use higher frequency bands to release the satellite capacity for users. The increasing frequency requires new considerations especially for filtering needs which become notably strict in terms of performance and integration in small integrated circuits. This work introduces filtering solutions based on high quality factor Substrate Integrated Waveguides (SIW) using a novel 3D transition for a better integration in widely planar Hybrid ICs.The first chapter introduces the study’s context and the different elements justifying the use of the SIW technology.In fact, these structures profit from both the good quality factors of TE-modes propagating in the substrate and the easy fabrication process and integration of planar circuits. However, to increase the SIW quality factor, the substrate’s height should be increased which induces interconnection limitations such as long bond wires with high parasitic effects and large microstrip access lines with discontinuity problems and the propagation of parasitic modes. The adopted approach consists in imagining 3D shapes providing both mode and thickness matching between a microstrip line etched on a thin substrate and a high substrate SIW.The second chapter introduces the different manufacturing processes used for the substrate’s shaping and metallization. Three substrates are considered: Alumina, fused Silica and Cyclo Olefin Polymer COC. Alumina is widely used in space applications and has a well-mastered process. For equivalent dielectric losses, fused silica has a lower permittivity for bigger structures with less manufacturing tolerance sensitivity. Both Alumina and fused silica substrates are shaped using a laser ablation. The reachable substrate’s height using this machining method is relatively low. The polymer solution (COP) is elaborated using a molding process allowing higher substrates heights.The last chapter outlines the design steps of the different solutions and the measurement results of the first prototypes. These results are on the whole encouraging but require further development.