FINDERLITE OVERVIEW
The FinderLite system is a multiband airborne system which detects, tracks and identifies pulsed RF and IF signals. The nominal configuration consists of RF and Server subsystems, with optional interfaces for additional Receivers, all housed in a single 9U (15.25") high, 22" deep, 19" rackmount enclosure. The RF subsystem is used for general acquisition and characterization of signals of interest, which can then be further scrutinized using narrowband (IF) receivers. FinderLite can cue ancillary systems such as precision direction finding to provide additional information on a given signal.

FINDERLITE RF SUBSYSTEM
The RF subsystem covers a frequency range of 2-18 GHz. As shown in the System Block Diagram, it can be fed by an existing bank of antennas selected by a switch, which is controlled by the Server Subsystem of the FinderLite.

FINDERLITE SERVER SUBSYSTEM
The Server subsystem consists of a VME subrack which houses the data processing hardware, and a disk drives which provide the operating system and archival mechanism for the processor card(s). The Server is responsible for the overall control of the FinderLite system – it controls the receivers and collects, measures and processes the pulse information from them. Time and pulse width measurements are made within the Server subsystem, whereas amplitude and frequency measurements are provided by the receivers directly.

The processing portion of this unit consists of one processor card which runs the applications for identifying and archiving the pulse information (to an onboard disk or the network) and provides the user interface for the system. The Server subsystem also includes an ARINC interface for receiving navigation information, controls for the external RF switch, and can either include a precision GPS Receiver internally or supports an external GPS Receiver for cross system time correlation.

BUILT-IN TEST CAPABILITIES
All components of the FinderLite system include built in test (BIT) capabilities, which enable the FinderLite system to isolate a failure to the subsystem level. This includes test signal generation, which can be injected as far forward as the input to the wideband RF receiver. This BIT capability is implemented as a combination of power-on self tests, periodic BIT tests which can be run during system operation, and more extensive fault isolation tests which are run offline.

General Pulse Measurement Specifications

• Pulse Width: Min. 50 nsec, no maximum
• PRF/PRI: Instantaneous > 1.5 MHz PRF on a single band.

RF Subsystem

• 4 Bands
• Sensitivity: Dependent on RFD Feeding Unit
• Instantaneous DynamicRange: >35 dB
• Attenuation Range: up to 64 dB in 1 dB Steps
• Amplitude: < 0.1 dB Resolution
• Frequency: 1 MHz Resolution

Server Subsystem

• Nominal Configuration: 8 Channel (Band) collection system organized as one custom channel digitization card.
• Precision P(Y) Code GPS Receiver for Time Correlation (optional)
• Synchronizes to external 5/10 MHz Precision Reference Input
• VME 64x Based System
• One Ultra Sparc Processor (440 MHz w/ 128 MB RAM)
• Removable Disk Drive for OS/Applications/Data Archival
• 10/100BT Ethernet, RS232 Serial Ports, USB, ARINC, Switch Controls

Enclosure

• 9U (15.25”) x 22” Deep x 16.8” Wide (19” Rackmount)
• Power: 120 VAC, 47-440Hz, 450 Watts
• Weight: 110 lbs.