
Embeddable software-defined radio for mobile data/video links
The board integrates Simpulse’s patented PULSAR DSP co-processor, a scalable and programmable hardware architecture designed for flexibility and to support eveolving needs in the end-application. The PULSAR-B325x2-MV mobile video modem board offers high levels of radio performance for long-range and highly mobile transmissions.
“The scalable and fully programmable PULSAR co-processor that is included on the modem board enables adaptation to the transmitted bit-rate,” says Emmanuel Hamman, founder and president of Simpulse., “The system can be optimised depending on cost, power and performance constraints, thanks to this hardware architecture running advanced signal processing algorithms. As a result, data transmission robustness is drastically improved.”
The modem features optimised multi-carrier (COFDM) and single-carrier waveforms, as well as multi-antenna processing and a multi-user option. The board offers support for multiple data-links in one modem, and supports frequency agility for frequency carriers from 70 MHz to 6 GHz. Useful bitrates from 500 kbit/sec to 15 Mbit/sec are offered. The board comes in two hardware versions for high (ref. PULSAR-B325x2) and medium (ref. PULSAR-B160x2) processing capabilities.
Targeted applications are specialised mobile video transmissions, such as Air-Ground data-links, in Drones, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), connected robots and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication systems, as well as Outdoor events broadcasting.
Bandwidth supported is from 3 to 8 MHz; RF from 70 MHz to 6 GHz; advanced signal processing handles high Doppler and long range transmission. There is LDPC error correction and support of multi-waveforms: COFDM, Single Carrier, SC-OFDM. Multiple antenna techniques inlcude Rx diversity, options for Tx diversity and spatial multiplexing. An optional long time interleaver counters long fading. For a bi-drectional link there is a TDD option, and feedback to adapt waveform & coding. Multi-user options include TDMA.
Software-defined radio architecture allows evolution by software upgrade. Digital interfaces include; Ethernet, USB3 and options for high-speed serial link and LVDS IOs. Radio interfaces comprise 2 Tx and 2 Rx RF connectors.
The board integrates Simpulse’s patented PULSAR DSP co-processor; there are two FPGA versions for high processing capabilities (PULSAR-B325x2) and medium processing capabilities (PULSAR-B160x2); and a 2×2 RF Transceiver covering RF frequencies from 70 MHz to 6 GHz.
The product concept is also deliverable as an IP block for FPGA or ASIC.
Simpulse specialises in embedded Software-Defined Radio (SDR) solutions, targeting PHY-layer designs of innovative communication systems, with a portfolio of ready-to-go and customisable embedded SDR modems for a variety of data transmissions including mobile video, long-range communications, DVB-T2/NGH standards support and Internet of Things (IoT) data concentrators.
The company also provides an Open development platform based on PULSAR technology. www.simpulse-dsp.com
