Applications of Surface-Acoustic-Wave Devices in Satellite Communication Systems

Typical performances of surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) devices offer several advantages in the construction of digital communication networks. This paper describes the subunits of terrestrial equipments involved in a satellite communication link where some SAW devices improve significantly their design. Experimental examples of delay-lines, filters, oscillators, ...used for the modulation, the frequency conversion and the demodulation of n-phase-shift-keyed (PSK) digital signals are described and present results are reported. These SAW devices operate in the range 70 MHz to 1 GHz where the surface-acoustic-wave technology allows reduction in size and weight combined with ruggedness and reliability.