Newport, Isle of Wight, UK - 16 July 2007 -- RF Engines
Limited (RFEL), the specialists in high performance signal
processing design, has won another research grant from the
UK Government. This latest grant by the South East
Development Agency (SEEDA) is to undertake research into a
novel and flexible receiver architecture that is
reconfigurable 'on-the-fly'. The project draws on RFEL's
world-leading techniques in signal processing on FPGAs and
world class RF design expertise.
The architecture will be used to create a portable
digital receiver that will be capable of scanning the
spectrum from zero up to 5.84 GHz. Typically such devices
only extend to 3 GHz but with the expanding use of higher
frequencies for WiFi etc, an increased frequency range is
required. The application areas for the fully flexible
wideband receiver, range from commercial wireless
communications such as wireless base stations, through to
test and measurement applications. RFEL also anticipates
that there may be future use for the architecture in
hand-held media devices that are using an increasingly wide
range of RF frequencies for WiMax, GPS, 3G, Bluetooth,
Wireless LAN, Mobile TV, etc and thus a reconfigurable
receiver provides a more cost effective and smaller
solution than a number of dedicated receiver circuits.
Traditionally, radio receivers have been designed as a
series of discrete 'building blocks' each addressing
specific frequencies, which can add up to a large amount of
silicon real estate. RFEL's design approach is focussed on
the combination of flexible analogue and digital elements
in such a way as to allow re-configurability of the
complete system for different applications as required, via
software/firmware. The resulting Software Defined Radio
(SDR) increases the amount of digital signal processing to
move the analogue/digital boundary closer to the antenna,
thus reducing the complexity and limitations of the RF
front-end. It should also deliver a solution that has
lower power consumption, smaller size, wideband performance
and enhanced system performance.
The project is likely to lead to the development and
production of a number of receivers. This is a progressive
move for RFEL, which has, until now, been focussed on
complex firmware intellectual property (IP) designs. "For
some time now, customers have been asking us to provide
complete turnkey solutions which integrate our firmware
designs," explained John Summers, RFEL's CEO. "We've
already done this for certain key customers, but we've now
reached a stage in the growth of the company where we feel
that we can extend this added-value service, as it enables
us to exploit our RF and systems expertise to deliver
complete product solutions to a wider audience."
Commenting on the award, Jeff Alexander, SEEDA Executive
Director for Global Competitiveness said "RF Engines has
shown a remarkable ability to commercialise its innovative
designs. We are confident that RFEL will follow through to
similar commercial success with its latest project. This
will create and support regionally-based high value jobs in
the process."
RF Engines
RF Engines Limited (RFEL) is a UK-based electronic
systems designer, providing high specification signal
processing solutions for FPGAs, as well as receiver and
complete product solutions for the homeland security,
defence, communications and instrumentation markets.
Applications include communications base stations,
satellite communications systems, test and measurement
instrumentation, and bespoke wideband
receivers/transceivers.
|
Further Information
RF Engines Limited
Web: www.rfel.com
Email: info@rfel.com
Tel: +44 (0)1983 550330
|
Press Information
Nigel Robson - Vortex PR
Web: www.vortexpr.com
Email: nigel@vortexpr.com
Tel: +44 (0) 1481 233080
|
About SEEDA
The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)
is the Government funded Agency responsible for the
sustainable economic development and regeneration of the
South East of England - the driving force of the UK's
economy. Our aim is to create a prosperous, dynamic and
inspirational region by helping businesses compete more
effectively, training a highly skilled workforce,
supporting and enabling our communities while safeguarding
our natural resources and cherishing our rich cultural
heritage.
The Regional Economic Strategy
(RES) for South East England 2006 -2016: a world class
region achieving sustainable prosperity.
The RES has three headline targets. Progress towards all
three of these will provide evidence of overall progress
against the vision:
Global Competitiveness: Achieving an average
annual increase in GVA (Gross Value Added) per capita of at
least 3%.
Smart Growth: Increasing productivity per worker
by an average 2.4% annually, from £39,000 in 2005 to
at least £50,000 by 2016 (in constant prices).
Sustainable Prosperity: Reducing the rate of
increase in the region's ecological footprint (from 6.3
global hectares per capita in 2003, currently increasing at
1.1% per capita per annum), stabilizing it and seek to
reduce it by 2016.