Development of on Board, Highly Flexible, Galileo Signal Generator ASIC

Abstract

Alcatel Alenia Space is deeply involved in the Galileo program at many stages. In particular, Alcatel Alenia Space has successfully designed and delivered the very first navigation signal generator, based on a 0.35mum Atmel ASIC technology, which has been launched in the satellite demonstrator GIOVE-A in December 2005. The Galileo project is now in a second phase including the development of four of the thirty satellites of the final constellation. The new navigation signal generator requires both high performance and high flexibility (various waveforms to cope with the different Galileo services: open, commercial, governmental ...) for a very long life time system. Besides, the challenge is increased due to the specific space constraints such as mass, volume and power consumption. These requirements will be achieved through the implementation of a 3 million gates ASIC in a 0.18mum European Radiation Tolerant Atmel technology. This paper will, after a brief description of Galileo system, present the constraints of space environment and technologies challenges. It will then present the ASIC and the development flow of this project, emphasizing the up to date tools that have been used (architectural synthesis, physical synthesis). A conclusion will then be drawn on the requirements on technology and tools for space domain