About LVDS Front-End


The LVDS Front-End provides the Low-Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) Data/Clock interfaces (electrical and protocol) to satellite flight equipment and can be used on all assembly, integration, and testing (AIT) levels (bread-boarding, module, unit, instrument, panel, and satellite).

Typically, the LVDS Front-End connects to a Payload, Mass Memory Unit, Laser Communication Terminal or RF Transponders. This Front-End can operate as a data source (transmit), data sink (receiver) or both at the same time.

LVDS Front-End back angle
LVDS Front-End back
LVDS Front-End front angle
LVDS Front-End front

Click image to enlarge

Key Features


  • Up to 4 Parallel LVDS Inputs and 4 Parallel LVDS Outputs (8-bits Data and Clock)
  • Up to a data rate in excess of 1Gbps per channel in each direction in 8- bit mode
  • Teaming of 2 channels (inputs or outputs) to 16-bit Parallel Interfaces
  • TIA/EIA-644-A Compliant Interfaces
  • Input clocking in excess of 125MHz
  • Output clock programmable down to 1MHz and in excess of 125MHz in 1Hz steps
  • Hardware timestamping (CUC) of received data (synchronized to PPS or IRIG)
  • All LVDS I/O’s to/from the Unit Under Test (UUT) are electrically isolated
  • Optional Flow Control for all input and output channels supported
  • Gigabit LAN for Control and Monitoring via TCP/IP (using RJ45)
  • 10Gbit LAN for Data Streaming via TCP/IP (using SFP+)
  • Provided with software to control and archive the data
  • FMEA Report Available

Key Features


  • Up to 4 Parallel LVDS Inputs and 4 Parallel Outputs (8-bits Data and Clock)
  • Up to a data rate in excess of 1Gbps per channel in each direction in 8- bit mode
  • Teaming of 2 channels (inputs or outputs) to 16-bit Parallel Interfaces
  • TIA/EIA-644-A Compliant Interfaces
  • Input clocking in excess of 125MHz
  • Output clock programmable down to 1MHz and in excess of 125MHz in 1Hz steps
  • Hardware timestamping (CUC) of received data (synchronized to PPS or IRIG)
  • All LVDS I/O’s to/from the UUT are electrically isolated
  • Optional Flow Control for all input and output channels supported
  • Gigabit LAN for Control and Monitoring via TCP/IP (using RJ45)
  • 10Gbit LAN for Data Streaming via TCP/IP (using SFP+)
  • Provided with software to control and archive the data
  • FMEA Report Available

The system consists of a 19″ 2U rack-mountable unit that is controlled and monitored by a software application that allows the system to be used stand-alone or controlled via a CCS.

Providing up to four (4) bi-directional 8-bit LVDS channels or two (2) 16-bit LVDS channels, this Front-End interfaces directly to the unit under test (UUT) on one side using LVDS data/clock (front-end) and exchanges user data on the other side using a 10G TCP/IP streaming interface (back-end).

This Front-End enables the user to transmit or receive data (such as CCSDS Frames, Packets, etc.) to/from any source. Using a commercial server platform data recorded from the LVDS channel(s) is offloaded using a standard 10Gbit TCP/IP interface and stored to disk and vice-versa. The commercial 10Gbit ethernet interface allows both copper or optical interfaces between the Front-End and the server platform. This allows the data to be transported over long distances (300 meters or longer) between front- and back-end.

Proving electrically isolated LVDS interfaces, this Front-End provides satellite level fault voltage emissions and tolerances.

The Front-End is the second generation of LVDS EGSE released in Q4 2018, since the release of the first generation in 2010. Previous generations have been used on wide range of programs (ESA and non-ESA), such as Sentinel-1, SeoSAT, EarthCare, and various commercial programs and delivered to major European prime contractors such as Airbus and Thales Alenia Space.