A simplified I-Q digital multicarrier demodulator

An on-board (satellite) processing system which receives an input frequency-division multiple-access signal and supplies an output to interface the time-division multiplexed links is considered. The system separates each individual radio channel, its demodulation, and its correct switching to the appropriate downlink channel. An appropriate name for the on-board processing system performing the first two operations is the multicarrier demodulator (MCD). Two main functions are implemented by an MCD: demultiplexing and demodulation. The focus is on a digital implementation of the MCD, because it offers several advantages such as flexibility, VLSI integrability, and better efficiency.