Design and realization of new and compact gyromagnetic components with optimized performances – INO-GYRO

The Joint Laboratory project presented in this document associates the UMR CNRS / University of Limoges Xlim with the company INOVEOS. Its’ goal is to develop a conception methodology, to make and measure new non-reciprocal components (circulators, isolators, phase shifters...) using ferrite materials. These components, widely used within the microwave field, are very tricky to develop (especially the circulators). There are no reliable methods to do this. Manufacturers, in order to answer to technical specifications, are still obliged to work from existing designs which they modify step by step in function of the requests thanks to the know-how of some specialists. These adjustments are lengthy, tedious, expensive and don’t guarantee an optimal solution. Furthermore, it is almost impossible to imagine new designs. The company who would have a method and a conception tool would have a big advantage over its competitors. This is why, the company INOVEOS who designs and markets this type of components, and the laboratory Xlim who has been working for several years on the modelization of ferrite based devices (antennas, circulators…) have decided to associate themselves to meet this challenge.
The scientific program will be divided into several phases and will be primarily focused on the designing of the circulators.
1. The first phases’ goal will be to develop a reliable methodology for the design of massive circulators (stripline type for example…). It will go via :
• the mastering of the magnetostatics and a reliable modelization of the ferrite (appropriate tensor model, homogeneity of the field, …)
• the mastering of the electromagnetic phenomena. For these two “steps” we will rely on the software of the CST suite.
• Validation by comparison simulation / measurement on a known device.
• The establishment of a methodology of conception (choice of the materials and magnets, topology, …) and the answer, thanks to this methodology, to a specification review provided by INOVEOS.
• This new methodology will have to, amongst other things, enable to answer faster to specific needs not covered by the standard designs widely diffused worldwide and hence be performant for either wide band or narrow band needs but with higher performances.
At completion of this first step, we will have to be able to reliably create innovative designs. It should take approximately 30 months.

2. The second phase will be aimed at initiating the work leading to the miniaturization of the non-reciprocal devices. This will require the utilization of ferrites in thin layers, self-magnetized if possible. To achieve this we will have to establish cooperation with laboratories specialized in magnetic materials (LabSticc, …).
3. A third phase will aim at approaching the modelization of power devices.

Phases two and three will be launched during the last year of the Joint Laboratory (in parallel with phase 1). They will be intended to sustain the laboratory by giving it new perspectives.
The Joint Laboratory needs to be an accelerator for the cooperation already underway regarding this subject between Xlim and INOVEOS (will be developed in the document). It will be a means to engage more human resources, software and materials to reach higher levels of Technology Readiness Level than with a simple thesis. The phases two and three will be a means of going quickly towards the miniaturization and the power handling, these aspects will not be addressed in a near future without this project.