Flexible FPGA-based BPSK signal generator for space applications

This paper presents the implementation of a versatile BPSK (Binary Phase Shift Keying) signal generator targeted to FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The proposed model, taking advantage of the intrinsic flexibility of reprogrammable logic devices, allows adjustments to be made to the BPSK signal parameters such as amplitude, carrier frequency and bit rate. It additionally allows the insertion of the following propagation channel effects: frequency shift, phase shift, time delay and additive noise. Following a practical and fast methodology for the FPGA design flow, the attained results show that the signal generator architecture can be efficiently developed and reconfigured according to the application requirements. Another remark of this BPSK signal generator is the excellent balancing of phase and amplitude, a property that is hardly feasible with traditional modulators. These achievements represent a technological improvement from the perspective of applications that demand robust communication systems to be tested and validated against space channel impairments. © 2014, North Atlantic University Union. All right resurved.