PAGE CONTENTS
Objectives
In a constant strive for an as generic as possible transceiver in satellite applications, several building blocks of the software-defined-radio (SDR) or cognitive radio (CR) have advanced dramatically. Not only in digital signal processing, but also on the data conversion side. This allows for improvements in the way RF and microwave satellite systems are being designed. For instance, sampling an RF signal at X-, Ku- or even Ka-band can be seen as a large leap in capability allowing greater system flexibility and reduction in power consumption as other components in the frequency conversion stages can be eliminated.
In the area of RF-to-digital conversion, a number of techniques (like subsampling/bandpass sampling), with an associated elimination of the frequency conversion stage (or increase of IF frequency) have been identified with a strong potential to improve performance and augment the level of integration of the analogue pre-processor chains. Antwerp Space aims with this project to develop a bandpass front-end for an analog pre-processor.
Challenges
The challenges that surround this project are in the identification of a sufficiently performant track-and-hold amplifier along with a clocking/sampling means which is versatile and easily modifiable or adjustable in terms of its output frequency.
System Architecture
See above.
Plan
The project started in March 2015 and finished in June 2017.
Current Status
The project is currently finished.
