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StatusCompleted
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Status date2013-01-08
The aim of the proposed development is to improve the frequency flexibility of the Thales Alenia Space France (TAS-F) generic Command Receiver Product.
At system level, the main interest is to offer flexibility to the operators in the following cases:
- Satellite co-location
The evolution of the satellite fleets in the same orbital position can lead to TCR frequency coordination difficulties. The implementation of TCR sub-systems with command frequency flexibility capability can ease the coordination process.
- Satellite re-location
The change of orbital position can also lead to coordination difficulties for TCR frequencies. The possibility to change them is, in that case, a strong advantage.
- Jammer/interference avoidance
In case the current command frequencies are interfered or jammed, it is possible to select another command frequency far enough from the current one in order to avoid any interference/jamming.The objective is to propose this frequency flexibility capability keeping roughly the same recurring price at unit level.
The current Thales Alenia Space product has a capability in terms of frequency agility limited to some frequency in the range of 7.5MHz. For higher range, a dual front end version can be proposed.
The target of the development was to widen the frequency range agility up to 750MHz with a single front end receiver in order to cover, for example, the whole RF Ku band 13.75GHz to 14.5GHz.
Such frequency flexibility can easily be considered for the C, K or Ka band version of the TAS product without major impact.
The frequency step obtained is 100kHz which covers all the operators step requirement.
To implement wide band flexible local oscillator based on fractional synthesizer in the current TAS command receiver without any drawback on performances.
Moreover all modules of standard product are re-used and the new LO has no impact on the housing of the unit.
The flexibility extension of the TAS-F standard product has been successfully demonstrated through this development.
This new version FF TTC Rx has been successfully proposed in a new satellite program for a major telecom operator.
The proposed solution consists in modifying some functions of the current standard product.
These functions are highlighted in green in the next block diagram:
The development aims:
- To replace the first fixed local oscillator by a synthesized oscillator using the same area as current LO without impact on the IF/LO/Demo board.
- To widen the receiver input filter bandwidth.
The interface will be developed in the frame of specific programs as it is dedicated to a specific platform.
The TO of the contract was in May 2010. The development plan was as follows:
- Fractional synthesizer development and bread boarding,
- IF/LO/Demo board development (implementing the Fractional LO),
- IF/LO/Demo board EQM manufacturing,
- RF input filter development and EQM manufacturing,
- FF TTC Rx EQM integration and tuning,
- Qualification of the FM version,
- Delta qualification of the PM version.
The final review was successfully held in December 2012.
The FF receiver has successfully passed the qualification (electrical test in thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, EMC) in frequency modulation mode. It has been retrofit in PM mode and successfully passed the delta acceptance test.
This development has already resulted in the first commercial sales of the FF TTC Rx.
