MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science EECS Event

Practical Design Considerations for the Globalstar Satellite Phone

Dr. Joel Schindall
Senior Vice President, Engineering and Development, and Chief Engineer, Globalstar Limited Partnership

Wednesday, May 16, 2001
1:30 PM (refreshments 1:15)
Grier Room, Room 34-401A
EECS Special Seminar

Abstract

Hand-portable satellite phones using low earth orbit satellites introduce some very difficult design issues. But the user does not care about complex satellite and system design issues. The user wants a phone that is small, easy to use, fully featured, and reliable. Achieving these goals in the midst of developing, testing, and fielding a 48 satellite CDMA-based communication system presented some interesting and unusual challenges. One example was packaging an antenna that would protrude over the user's head (needed to provide line of sight to the satellite) within a small cellular-like phone. The initial phone design worked technically but was not sufficiently robust for general usage. A period of several months was required to correct these deficiencies. Several of these issues will be discussed and illustrated with actual design examples. Sample phones will be available, and attendees will be welcome to make calls over the Globalstar phone after the talk.