Mercury Systems, Inc. announced the Model 5503 Sensor Open Systems Architecture™ (SOSA) aligned high speed 3U VPX synchronizer module (a SOSA plug-in-card). The Model 5503 is an optimized commercial-off-the-shelf solution that simplifies complex synchronization tasks for beamforming and phased-array applications used in radar, electronic warfare and communications, maximizing reception and transmission of signals and reducing development costs and design time. The module can synchronize up to 32 channels across four RF system-on-chip (RFSoC) Quartz® modules, satisfying the growing need for synchronization in multi-element systems with high channel counts.

“Clocking and synchronization are often the hardest challenges of subsystem design,” said Ken Hermanny, general manager, Mercury Microwave and Mixed Signal Assemblies. “Customers prefer a fully optimized, tested and supported solution that eliminates the risk and time typically involved with developing a proprietary design. The Model 5503 is highly integrated and optimized for RFSoC designs, allowing engineers to focus on the application itself, saving valuable development time and cost. Its SOSA aligned architecture facilitates interoperability, re-use and rapid technology insertion, all consistent with the SOSA Consortium's approach and vision.”

Four sets of programmable clock and timing signals for synchronizing, triggering and gating functions are routed to each Quartz module across the backplane, eliminating front-panel connections, while a rear transition module delivers synchronization signals to four additional modules. A conduction-cooled option is available for more rugged operating environments.