Input/output front-end electronics for a payload data chain

A drawer with plug-in boards carrying the telecommand and telemetry interfaces to an observation payload's data chain, with a motherboard and purpose-built daughter boards, one per signal family.

Drawer front panel: per-line status and board-fault indicators, card bay open on the plug-in daughter boards
Rear panel: telecommand and telemetry interface field, grouped and labelled by signal family
Unit operator interface: per-slot line status, self-test commands and analogue and status telemetry values
Three-dimensional render of an input/output board: isolated power converters, switching relays and the interface connector at the front

A front-end electronics unit — the first interface towards the signal, before any processing — for a European space prime contractor. At the rear it presents the telecommand and telemetry interface field towards the payload data handling and transmission chain, each group labelled and ordered by family; at the front, per-line status and board-fault indication, because the first diagnostic requirement in a test campaign is knowing which board failed without opening the drawer.

The architecture is a motherboard with plug-in daughter boards, one per signal family — high-power command, discrete signals, analogue and status telemetry — which makes the unit extensible and repairable by replacement rather than by intervention. IN SY TO designed and built the boards, developed the software and supported AIT.

Role

R2 — Subsystem or component responsible, with R5 — specialist support to AIT. Scale: 19" drawer with plug-in boards, new build. Customer: a European space prime contractor.

Work performed

  • Subcomponent design
  • Electronic board design and build
  • Software development
  • Support to AIT activities

Sector

Space