Escape Communications, a developer of advanced wireless signal processors, eliminates analog circuitry with their just released all-digital Multi-rate Multi-mode Demodulator (MMD) for use in extremely high-capacity wireless links such as satellite downlinks and crosslinks, avionics ISR applications, and terrestrial backhaul applications.
The company’s multi-gigabit MMD is a versatile solution that provides substantial performance, size, weight, power and cost advantages for ground, air, and space terminals by eliminating analog circuitry, thus reducing parts count and lowering power consumption, according to Michael Stewart, president and chief executive officer. “The all-digital MMD approach provides near theoretical performance and unprecedented flexibility. MMD covers an extremely wide range of bandwidths and operating modes compared with application-specific architectures,” said Stewart. He also noted that MMD improves reliability and lowers operating and maintenance costs compared to traditional analog costas-loop approaches which require periodic tuning and component replacement.
The MMD platform can support bandwidths from 1 MHz up to 1 GHz and modulation schemes from BPSK to 32-APSK with corresponding data rates from 1 Mbps to 4 Gbps. The MMD has several advanced features such as a digital receiver front-end, an extensive adaptive equalizer, and simultaneous hard-decision and soft-decision outputs. The MMD is packaged in a highly integrated, low-cost 2RU rack-mount design and offers support for web-based remote management . Although currently implemented in FPGA, the design easily fits within a single radiation-hardened ASIC.
These most recent advancements in MMD technology were made in conjunction with Northrop Grumman Corporation’s [NYSE:NOC] Space Technology sector in Redondo Beach, California, as part of its efforts to work with smaller companies to develop innovative solutions for the space and defense industries. “Small businesses are important contributors to our future as a global company. We will continue to seek the full involvement of innovative companies like Escape Communications whose vision and technologies are aligned with our strategic plans,” said Peter Hadinger, vice president of business development for Northrop Grumman’s Space Technology sector. Escape Communications provides communications electronics solutions to major space and defense contractors and to commercial telecommunications equipment original equipment manufacturers. The company offers state-of-the-art design services as well as a range of telecommunications products such as high-speed modems, microwave radio indoor units, and satellite communications terminals.
