February 14, 2007 -- Designing high-reliability satellite communications systems is perhaps the most challenging mixed-signal design task. In addition to withstanding a wide range of temperatures and radiation, these systems also have to offer unprecedented levels of performance and reliability. Once the domain of only the military, space applications are now also fully entrenched in commercial markets, so cost and size have become key drivers for devices and components used in these applications as well. And, because of the lack of a ready power supply, one of the greatest concerns for satellite communications designers may be power consumption.

As a result, satellite system designers need devices with high levels of design flexibility and performance combined with low power consumption. By constructing their designs with devices built using UltraCMOS technology, a cost-effective silicon on insulator (SOI) technology on a sapphire substrate, they can satisfy design needs that could not be met with traditional GaAs and bulk CMOS alternatives.

Phase locked loops (PLLs), intermediate frequency (IF) integrated subsystems, and prescalers are some of the major mixed-signal (RF and digital) devices now being used in space applications. When implemented in UltraCMOS, they can lead to the design of lighter, smaller, higher-performing, lower-cost satellite systems that cost less to launch.

By Dr. Ronald Reedy. Reedy is CTO of Peregrine Semiconductor