Date: Sep 19, 2012 Author: Mark Anderson Source: bizjournals (
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Auburn-based Tahoe RF Semiconductor Inc. announced this week it was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research grant by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., to develop a miniaturized chip for spacecraft.
The chip will allow improved signal sensitivity to track craft above space-based global positioning system navigation systems. Most GPS is used to make earth-bound measurements. The new chip will allow NASA to more precisely track items in orbit, both in geostationary earth orbits and in highly elliptical orbits.
"Tahoe RF continues to demonstrate its leadership role in the development of next generation GNSS systems and technologies. In this innovative product, Tahoe RF has combined its two core strengths -- proven GPS design expertise and ability to support beam steering and beam forming in the RF IC. Tahoe RF is looking forward to transition this product into the upcoming NASA missions," Tahoe RF CEO Irshad Rasheed said in a statement.
The core team at Tahoe RF boasts some of the innovators of Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit technology. That technology enables the existence of multiple products, from Bluetooth headsets to global positioning systems.
The technology is vital to guidance, positioning and security systems, which is especially significant to the military and NASA.
The 2002 startup provides components which that can withstand radiation of being in orbit.
Tahoe RF engineers custom design devices that use state-of-the-art, radio-on-a-chip architecture.
Mark Anderson covers technology, banking and finance, medtech and biotech, venture capital, energy, mining, hotels, restaurants and tourism for the Sacramento Business Journal.
