Abstract
Technosystem operates since 1977, year of its foundation, in
the area of Television and radio transmitters, apparatus for line telephony
and telegraphy (prodcom code 3220)
Technosystem manufacturing facilities are based in Rome and Orvieto with
a total workforce of 80 people. Current production relies on Surface Mount
Technology (SMT) of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) for professional UHF broadcasting
systems; FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) are also included in digital
assemblies such as microprocessor controllers.^
Technosystem broadcasting system business is worth of 30 MEUR. Only 12%
of the overall sales is represented by the Italian niche; the basic UHF
and VHF distribution system market is represented by exporting in European,
Asiatic and far-east countries. Before the AE, Technosystem expertise
was mainly concentrated on VHF and UHF equipment (maximum frequency 862MHz
!).
The broadcasting transmitter is a product used by public and private TV
service providers for the building up of transmission systems and networks
capable of providing TV contents on a local, regional or national area;
the broadcast TV signal is capable to be directly received from a consumer
TV set.
The objective of the AE was to upgrade the previous classes of transmitters
- based on traditional RF discrete components - into Base Station Equipment
of a MVDS (Multipoint Video Distribution System) by the inclusion of some
hardware, basically a millimeter wave up-converter and a power amplifier,
for the distribution of multiple analogue and digital video channels.
In this way, an increasing number of channels will be introduced, digital
channels will be implemented, and the covered output frequency band will
raise.
The rationale for the experiment was threefold:
1. the up-grade of present Broadcasting Transmitter generation, opening
a new market, strengthening the position of the company in relation to
its competitors with a new and competitive product;
2. the recovering, in a very short term, of the original development investment;
3. the extension of Technosystem market penetration with a new class of
products, represented by cost-effective high-technology down converters.
The adopted Hybrid MCM technology represents the "only solution" to successfully
implement this kind of demonstrator unit. The MCM has an high frequency
performance due to short conductors, materials more suitable for high
frequency, less inductances in the interconnects The only possible alternative,
represented by a single GaAs Monolithic Millimetre-wave IC, i.e. a single
device performing up-conversion, filtering and millimeter wave amplification,
is not suitable for the enormous development associated cost, compared
with the limited number (some hundreds) of predicted production units.
The AE was based on a 18 months timeframe, featuring a 1.000 kEUR total
investment, being 165 kEUR the amount of funding for the electronics.
Conservative sales projections lead to estimated payback period (36 months)
and ROI (1355% on the FUSE investment; 223% on the total 1 MEUR investment)
figures; a dedicated CAD software (Touchstone millimetre and microwave
design tool) was acquired to add microwave design to the co. in-house
capability, in order to design millimetre products. The main lessons learnt
from AE concern the planning of the budget breakdown and the management
of the relationships with Subcontractors; among the positive aspects,
the successful completion of the project within the planned timeframe,
the possibility of opening a new market and the knowledge acquired, that
will be used in the future, in order to replicate and extend the job,
may be evidenced.
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| You can also benefit from microelectronics
MCM technology provided Technosystem S.p.A. with the means of improving
its products and enhancing its market position. You can also achieve significant
benefits by acquiring the right microelectronics technology and utilising
it in your product or manufacturing process. You can get help from FUSE
to realise this.
FUSE is a technology transfer programme, funded by the European Commission to stimulate the wider use of microelectronics technologies by European enterprises to increase their competitiveness and enhance their economic growth. The demonstrator described here is one of many examples in the public FUSE portfolio covering the whole spectrum of microelectronics technologies and spanning a wide range of applications and industry sectors.
FUSE provides you with:
- Best practice in acquiring specific microelectronics technologies and conducting full development projects through the FUSE portfolio of real life demonstrator documents.
- Local training and expert support to plan your innovation realistically and help you conduct your project successfully.
Further information and support relating to this and other demonstrators can be obtained from the addresses below. |
