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Technology Trends, High Performance Radio Evolution and Smart IntegrationIan HillDRS Signal SolutionsDirector, OA Product Developmentihill@drs.com
1960 Bethesda, Maryland 1973-2014 Gaithersburg, Maryland
2015- Germantown, Maryland
1960 Communications Electronics Incorporated1967 Watkins-Johnson1999 Marconi North America1999 BAE Systems2002 Integrated Defense Technologies2003 DRS Technologies
Company History
RF Performance increases over time.(Smaller low performance radios exist.)
Density vs. Time
Chart1
19851985
19861986
19871987
19881988
19891989
19901990
19911991
19921992
19931993
19941994
19951995
19961996
19971997
19981998
19991999
20002000
20012001
20022002
20032003
20042004
20052005
20062006
20072007
20082008
20092009
20102010
20112011
20122012
20132013
20142014
20152015
Tactical
Rack Mount
Year
Volume, Cubic Inches per Channel
V/UHF Channel Density, Volume vs. Year
1683
410
126
88
17
24
11.25
9.4
12
Sheet1
yearv/uhf tactv/uhf oaHF
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
19851683
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990410
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995126
1996
1997
199888
1999
2000
200117
200224
2003
2004
2005
2006
200711.25
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
20159.412
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Sheet1
Tactical
Rack Mount
Year
Volume, Cubic Inches per Channel
V/UHF Channel Density, Volume vs. Year
The Sparrow architecture is designed for high dynamic range with excellent Intercept Point, Image and IF Rejection, low Mixer Spurious,
and very low internally generated spurs.
NEXT GENERATION MICROWAVESI-9170 Sparrow
Sparrow: 3U VPXIMPROVEMENTS Two channels in a single 3U VPX
Extended frequency range Independent or coherent capability across 3U VPX
cards Dynamic Range Performance 6 dB improvement 55% size reduction single version (80% dual) 35% power reduction for single version (55% dual) 37% reduction in weight Extended Temperature Range Modular approach allows 6U, Brick, or Rack mount
QTY 2SI-9158
One of these is not like the other.
Consider Two Red Cars
Noise Figure
Overload
Spurious
Three Key RF Specifications
Spur Free Dynamic Range
Image Rejection
Specifications:
Some Specifications are Not Very Useful
Get the signals you want and reject the rest!
ADC full scale
dB below
full scale(dBfs)
Small Signal
ADC full scale
dB below
full scale(dBfs)
Small Signalin the noise
Large Signal
Tuner at full gainTuner gain reduced
by large signal
25 MHz BW
BIG Signal Interference
The Sparrow architecture is designed for high dynamic range with excellent Intercept Point, Image and IF Rejection, low Mixer Spurious,
and very low internally generated spurs.
NEXT GENERATION MICROWAVESI-9170 Sparrow
Sparrow: 3U VPXIMPROVEMENTS Two channels in a single 3U VPX
Extended frequency range Independent or coherent capability across 3U VPX
cards Dynamic Range Performance 6 dB improvement 55% size reduction single version (80% dual) 35% power reduction for single version (55% dual) 37% reduction in weight Extended Temperature Range Modular approach allows 6U, Brick, or Rack mount
QTY 2SI-9158
A Third Important Consideration:
SWAP
Performance
System Longevity
System design and funding
AcquisitionInstallation
Training
Operation and Maintenance
End of Life(Start Over)
Life of a System
Does not meet new mission requirementsToo expensive to operateLack of partsNo manufacturer support
System End of Life
End of Life
System design and fundingAcquisition
InstallationTraining
Operation and Maintenance
Upgrade Extended Capability
Extended service
System Upgrade Life Extension
Cell Phone:
2 years!
Rapidly Moving Technology
Hammer> 50 Years!
Long Lifetime
Support multi-mission capability.
COMINT
ELINT
Electronic Support
Electronic Attack
COMMS
IO & Cyber
This requires hardware architectures to be developed scalable and more flexible.
Anticipation of Future Needs
Multi-mission Capability Rapidly Customized Flexible, Extensible, Upgradeable
MOSA (Modular Open System Architecture)
Software configurable: Mission Ware
Service Oriented Architectures
Plug in modularity requires appropriate interface partitions
Goal More with Less
Enabling Technologies
Higher Density SMT
Improved Semiconductor Parts
Improved packaging
Improved Interfaces and Standards
WAIT!!! What About the Upgrade Impact Of WHIZ-BANG Technologies?
DRS has extensively evaluated a potential next generation laser optical RF converter in the lab.
The converter had a 4 GHz instantaneous bandwidth at microwave
Unfortunately, current state-of-the-art optical converters have a spur free dynamic range of only about 56 dB.
Temperature and vibration of optical systems are also major technical challenges
Dont expect this technology for at least 5 years, probably longer.
Laser Optical RF Converters
This technology touts dramatic size and cost reductions.
The Zero IF direct I/Q conversion to baseband technique is over 60 years old.
Unfortunately, it still has the same major spurious signal problems.
This is a physical constraint of the analog elements.
Dont expect this to replace wide bandwidth, broad coverage high performance receivers.
Zero-IF (I/Q) Receiver On A Chip
Performance Comparison of Superheterodyne Vs. Zero IF (I/Q) Radio
TEST SIGNAL
SPURS
NOISE FLOOR
10 DB/ DIV
DRS SI-9150 POLARIS Best-In-Class Zero IF Radio
Test Conditions:Equal level test signals, receiver gains set for equal sensitivity.
High-Speed ADCs for Direct RF Digitization
A/D Digitized RF
State-of-the-art A/Ds can directly digitize HF, but acceptable performance above 100 MHz is not currently available.
Performance above 1 GHz is orders of magnitude worse than superheterodyne based converters.
High performance direct digitization of most RF is not in the foreseeable future.
High-Speed ADCs Dynamic Range
Best-In-Class A/Ds
SMART INTEGRATIONDefining Breakpoints and Interfaces
Due to physics constraints, the analog portions of the RF converter change more slowly than the rest
of the system.
A/DRFConverterDigital Signal Processing User
RF Converter
Dynamic Range for Best A/D's
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
1.E+04 1.E+05 1.E+06 1.E+07 1.E+08 1.E+09 1.E+10 1.E+11
Nyquist Bandwidth, Hz
SNR,
dBFS
/Hz
current limit
future limit
Bandwidth is increasing, but maximum dynamic range is not.
A/DRFConverterDigital Signal Processing User
Analog to Digital Converter
Chart1
39000
64000
1250000
3000000
5000000
10000000
50000000
100000000
200000000
500000000
1000000000
1300000000
2500000000
13000000000
Nyquist Bandwidth, Hz
SNR,dBFS/Hz
Dynamic Range for Best A/D's
156.6
157.9
159.5
157.5
155
153
158
159.3
152.9
146.4
145.9
150
134
120.2
Sheet1
3.90E+04156.6
6.40E+04157.9
1.25E+06159.5
3.00E+06157.5
5.00E+06155
1.00E+07153
5.00E+07158
1.00E+08159.3
2.00E+08152.9
5.00E+08146.4
1.00E+09145.9
1.30E+09150
2.50E+09134
1.30E+10120.2
Sheet1
Nyquist Bandwidth, Hz
SNR,dBFS/Hz
A/D Dynamic Range
Sheet2
Sheet3
A/DRFConverterDigital Signal Processing User
Digital Processing is Improving Rapidly
Computer Servers are a Commodity Item
A/DRFConverterDigital Signal Processing User
Breakpoint
Quickly changing technology
Relatively stable technology
The Logical System Breakpoint
Standardizing the InterfaceFor Rapid Integration
Data Formats
Electrical Interface
Mechanical Interface
A/DRFConverterDigital SignalProcessing
VITA 49Formatting
AdditionalProcessing
Storage
I/O
Controller
UserLINK
GPSTimebase
TimeTag
TUNER
Basic System Detail
Breakpoint
VITA 49 is the ANSI approved, industry adopted standard for digitally formatting RF signal data.
A/DRFConverterDigital Signal Processing
VITA 49Formatting
AdditionalProcessing
Storage
I/O
Controller
UserLINK
GPSTimebase
TimeTag
TUNER
VITA Radio Transport (VRT)
RFConverter
Digital IF Signal Data Packets
Context Data PacketsFrequencyPrecision time tagsGeo-location dataGain Etc.
VITA Radio Transport (VRT)
A/DRFConverterDigital Signal Processing
VITA 49Formatting
AdditionalProcessing
Storage
I/O
Controller
UserLINK
GPSTimebase
TimeTag
TUNER
Physical Data Transport
Connecting the Modules:
Well established industry standard (IEEE 802.3)Standard speeds up to 10 Gbps100 Gbps now availableTCP/IP for crowded links UDP for high throughput (>90% of nominal rate)Wire Ethernet suitable for short distanceFiber optic for long distance, 80km and more
Ethernet
Physical Data Transport
A few standard coax types are widely used.
There are adapters for most types.
Connecting the RFStandard connectors simplify long term integration
Common Plug-in Module Standards:
VMEVXIVPX
Relatively compactConduction cooledHigh speed back planeCoax plugability using Vita 67.3
3U VPX or 6U VPX
3U VPX 6U VPX
VITA 67.3 Backplane RF Connector Insert
Standard Outline
Supports high performance RF to beyond 20 GHz
Provides plug-in module servicing
Allows simple functional upgrades using an RF insert
Easy to implement without high cost
Does not constrain RF innovation with rigid packaging rules.
VITA 67.3 Benefits
45
Problems with Over-Constrained Standards
RF integration needs to be defined at an appropriate break-point.
RF technology is very different from digital technology, particularly with regard to spurs.
Rigidly specifying the details of the RF integration within the VPX module is technically dangerous.
With VITA 67.3 plugability, this sort of constraint is unnecessary.
A well designed break-point allows the maximum of flexibility and innovation.
DRS is now offering RF tuners with higher the density than what is possible with some proposed internal module standards.
Future cost reductions could also be imperiled with rigid standards.
2 MHz to 6000 MHz Frequency Range6U, 1 Pitch, VPX UHF/VHF Tuner Module100 MHz Digitized Bandwidth10 Channels Independent Tuning or Phase Coherent
Vesper SI-9173x Multi-Channel 6U VPX Tuner
Identify core system elements: Antenna Tuner Processor
Identify easy to upgrade parameters: Bandwidth (anticipate) Frequency range (anticipate) Number of channels Signal processing
Choose good system interface break points RF Data
Upgrade Planning in Advance
You may be living with your choice for a long time.
Choose Carefully for the Future
Slide Number 1Slide Number 2Slide Number 3Slide Number 4Slide Number 5Slide Number 6Slide Number 7Some Specifications are Not Very Useful Slide Number 9Slide Number 10Slide Number 11A Third Important Consideration:SWAPPerformance System LongevitySlide Number 13Slide Number 14Slide Number 15Slide Number 16Slide Number 17Slide Number 18Slide Number 19Enabling TechnologiesWAIT!!! What About the Upgrade Impact Of WHIZ-BANG Technologies?Slide Number 22Slide Number 23Slide Number 24Slide Number 25Slide Number 26SMART INTEGRATIONDefining Breakpoints and InterfacesSlide Number 28Slide Number 29Slide Number 30Slide Number 31Slide Number 32Slide Number 33Slide Number 34Slide Number 35Slide Number 36Slide Number 37Slide Number 38Slide Number 39Slide Number 40Slide Number 41Slide Number 42VITA 67.3 Backplane RF Connector InsertSlide Number 44Slide Number 45Slide Number 46Slide Number 47Slide Number 48
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