Recent communication satellites are much more than mirrors in space. Take the Hispasat36W-1 for example, launched in 2017. It uses ‘regenerative technology’ to:
- Correct errors in the uplink signal before sending the information back to earth.
- Adapt its downlink signal power to the circumstances.
This on-board computation simplifies ground-station processing, and results in a simpler network and better real-time services.
But this added intelligence is not possible without the addition of literally hundreds of ASICs, which need to be hardened against space travel. And that’s where imec.IC-link’s DARE platform comes in.
By offering digital cell libraries, methodology support for analog design and the re-use of previously designed analog IP blocks, DARE enables you to design and fabricate chips that guarantee reliable operation in even the most challenging circumstances.
Published on:
5 March 2017
