1. High Performance Applications and Solutions
SyncSmart 2018

2. History lesson Goal is for both clocks to always agree
ROYAL
OBSERVATORY
BIG BEN
Goal is for both clocks to always agree
Royal Observatory is always right (always drops the ball at the right time)
Big Ben has no influence on time… it just follows

3. Some Potential problems
ROYAL
OBSERVATORY
BIG BEN
Ball drops at the wrong time
Write down wrong timestamp
Too foggy to see ball (jamming)
Someone messes with the telegraph (spoofing)
Big Ben degrades

4. History repeats itself… ?
“BIG BEN”
is now
“CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE”
“ROYAL OBSERVATORY”
is now “GNSS”
Control Station errors
Errors in time transfer
GNSS jamming
GNSS Spoofing
Critical Infrastructure not constructed with adequate time resiliency

5. Secure PNT requires Detection, Resiliency and Visibility
GNSS sources
Secure
PNT
Secure
Sky
Reception
DETECTION
POSITION
Atomic Clocks +
Timescale technology
RESILIENCY
JAMMING, SPOOFING,
WEATHER ANOMOLIES,
ENVIRONMENT EFFECTS,
SATELLITE ERRORS,
GROUND STATION
MALFUNCTIONS,
OTHERS…
NAVIGATION
Measurement, Monitoring,
Analytics and Visualization
VISIBILITY
TIME

6. “Time World” is very different from “Frequency World”
Remote
Remote
Remote
Remote
Secondary
Secondary
Remote
Remote
TIME
FREQUENCY
Secondary
Remote
Remote
Remote
Remote
Remote
TIMESCALE
Remote
Remote
Remote
Secondary
Remote
Remote
Primary
Remote
Remote
Primary
Primary
Secondary
Remote
Remote
Remote
Secondary
Core of Critical Infrastructure
Remote
Remote
Primary
Secondary
Remote
Primary
Remote
Remote
Primary
Remote
Remote
Remote
Remote
Remote
Secondary
Remote
Remote
Remote
Secondary
Remote
Remote
Secondary
Secondary
Remote
Remote
Remote

7. Technical Drivers for new “Time Clock” standards
FREQUENCY
TIME
Fundamental changes in network complexity which makes
synchronization more difficult to manage and maintain +

8. Market drivers for new “Time Clock” standards
GNSS Vulnerabilities
Reliability
Fault Tolerance
Resiliency
NEW TIME CLOCK
STANDARDS
Network Bandwidth & Densification
Performance
Quality of Service
Scalability

9. G ePRTC

10. What/Why ePRTC What is an ePRTC?
Defined in ITU-T G (consented Sept 2016, published Feb 2017)
GNSS (time reference) and autonomous primary reference clock as required inputs
Why the ePRTC?
ePRTC attributes
Reliability: Immune from local jamming or outages
Autonomy: Atomic clock sustained timescale with & without GNSS connection
Coherency: 30ns coordination assures overall PRTC budget
Holdover: 14-day time holdover <= 100 ns

11. ePRTC stability: MTIE PRTC ePRTC
ePRTC MTIE: 4ns for low tau, 15ns for tau 100s to 10ks, 30ns above 300ks
ePRTC MTIE: everywhere below PRTC by nearly an order of magnitude

12. ePRTC Time Holdover
ePRTC: Hold better that 100ns for 14 days of holdover “Class A” (PRTC time holdover not defined)
ePRTC: Longer holdover under discussion (100ns for 80 days under discussion)
ePRTC: The longer the holdover, the better the “autonomous primary reference” required

13. History of the Primary Reference Clock
G.811 (1988) Timing requirements at the outputs of primary reference clocks suitable for plesiochronous operation of international digital links
MTIE (1,000s)= 3µs
G.811 (1997) Timing characteristics of primary reference clocks
MTIE (1,000s)= 300ns
G.8272 (2012) Timing characteristics of primary reference time clocks
MTIE (1,000s)= 100ns
G (2016) Timing characteristics of enhanced primary reference time clocks
MTIE (1,000s)= 15ns

14. Time Accuracy for ePRTC: ±30 ns vs. UTC
Setup for testing ePRTC against UTC:
TimeMonitor and TimeAnalyzer Software
Example measurement of
ePRTC vs. UTC measured
at a national lab:

15. Enhanced Primary Reference
ePRTC and ePRC
Performance = 100nS
(time & phase)
Performance = 30nS
(time & phase)
ITU-T G.8272 (Pub. 2012)
ITU-T G (Pub. 2016)
PRTC
Primary Reference
Time Clock
ePRTC
Enhanced Primary Reference
Time Clock 11 12
Performance = 1 part in 10
(frequency)
Performance = 1 part in 10
(frequency)
ITU-T G.811 (Pub. 1998)
ITU-T G (Pub. 8/2017)
PRC
Primary Reference
Clock
ePRC
Enhanced
Primary Reference
Clock
NEW

16. TimeSource ePRTC

17. TimeSource Enhanced PRTC
Support for TimeCesium 4400/4500
NEW
Smart
GNSS antenna
TimeSource Enhanced PRTC

18. TimeSource Enhanced PRTC redundant configuration
Same can be done with TimeCesium
Timing outputs (“A”)
Timing outputs (“B”)

19. TimeSource Enhanced PRTC connection with SSU-2000 and TimeProvider 5000
TOD (frequency, phase, time)
TOD
Distribution
E1 or DS1 (frequency)
SSU-2000e
TimeProvider® 5000

20. SyncSystem 4380A

21. SyncSystem 4380A Highest performing timing system in the world
Built on a feature rich platform focused on timing performance and reliability
Modular platform has the scalability to accommodate future needs and the flexibility to address unique timing requirements
Uncompromising performance delivered in a robust package
High performance Rubidium standard (now RoHS 6/6)
Ultra-clean frequency outputs
Dual power supplies
Dual-frequency GPS receiver
Network security features
Ideal for customers with stringent timing requirements (outputs and input/measurement) supporting high-reliability applications

22. Radar systems require exceptional phase noise
Defense
Shipborne systems need to be synchronized for communications, radars, control systems, etc.
Next generation systems rely heavily on precise synchronization of sites
Radar systems require exceptional phase noise
SyncSystem 4380A
Local Area Augmentation Systems assist with precision landings and depend on synchronization
Missile defense systems are often used in conjunction with radar and require synchronization
Military systems rely heavily on precise synchronization and the 4380A delivers that performance

23. Product Applications and Target Customers
Timing Customers
Frequency Customers
sec
1e-10
1e-9
1e-8
1e-7
1e-6
1e-5
1e-4
1e-3
1e-2
1e-1
1e0
1e-15
1e-14
1e-13
1e-12
1e-11
VLB
Interferrf.
High Prec. Mil.
High Prec. Metrol.
Stratum 1 Comms
CDMA2000
Low Prec. Metrol.
Low Prec. Mil.
Oscill. Manuf.
Misc. Commercial
Apps.
Power Sys.
Dig. Time Serv.
Financial
Trans.
PTTI / R&D
Scientific / Exp.
Adv. Comms
High Speed Photom.
Wide Area
Data Logging,
Authentication
Astronomy,
Precision
Frequency
Applications
Time-Tagging
Hz/Hz
Higher Performance
High Performance Applications
Precision time-tagging applications
Precision frequency applications
Metrology/calibration
Scientific experiments
New product R&D activities
Satellite communications systems
Target Customers
National Metrology Labs
National R&D Centers
National Flight Test Ranges
High-tech companies, both domestic and international (e.g., defense and aerospace)
Universities and University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs)
Market is characterized as a small number of users with demanding requirements
Number of Users
Number of Users

24. Timing Control Station
USER SIGNALS
(10 MHz)
L1/L2 GPS
10 MHz Reference
SyncSystem 4380A
USER SIGNALS
(1 PPS)
9611B
5071A
9611B
USER SIGNALS
(IRIG-B)
L1/L2 GPS
10 MHz Reference
SyncSystem 4380A

25. Timing Control Station with 6300 Series
The 6300 series is a distribution amplifier and/or switch system
Very low noise
Low-temperature coefficient
4U or 1U form factor
L1/L2 GPS
10 MHz reference
SyncSystem 4380A
6300
USER SIGNALS
(10 MHz)
5071A
USER SIGNALS
(1 PPS)
USER SIGNALS
(IRIG-B)
L1/L2 GPS
10 MHz Reference
SyncSystem 4380A

26. Timing Control Station
Official Range Time
Satellite Control Facility
SyncSystem 4380A #1
SyncSystem 4380A #2
Dual Input Fault Switch
(Used for fault detection and fanout capability)
5071A Cesium References
(Provide enhanced holdover performance in the absence of GPS)
Launch Control Facility
Alarm Server / Keyboard / Monitor
(Provides complete visibility of entire range timing system)
Battery Backup
(Maintains timing in the event of a power outage)
Timing Control Station

27. Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI)
VLBI provides high resolution images of distant galaxies
Data collected using multiple telescopes looking at the same object
Telescopes are separated by 1000s of km
VLBI only works if the telescopes are coherent with one another
Requires precise timing at each of the telescopes in order to fuse the data into a single image
Radio Signal
Radio Signal
Radio Signal
By Antony-22 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
By Danieljr With a cameraPreviously published: CC BY-SA 3.0,
4380A
4380A
4380A

28. Radio Navigation
Radio navigation requires precise timing at each of the transmitter locations
Time stability and holdover capability is paramount to navigation performance
GPS alternatives are operated (e.g. eLORAN) by many countries and new initiatives are being explored for Local Area Navigation
4380A
4380A
5071A
5071A
5071A

29. Bi-static Radar
Bi-static radar is emerging as an important technology for air & missile defense
Bi-static or multi-static radar systems are different from traditional radar systems because they transmit and receive from different antennas
Enhances capability to track multiple objects and stealth objects
Radio Signal
Bi-static radars have stringent timing requirements
Require low phase noise references just like traditional radars
Additional timing requirement is for precise synchronization between the transmit and receive antennas (typically < 10 ns)
4380A
4380A

30. Calibration Laboratory
TimeMonitor and TimeAnalyzer Software
Off-the-shelf counters
Devices Under Test
L1/L2 GPS
SyncSystem 4380A
Device under test (DUT)
House Reference
DUT Output
Device under test (DUT)
10 MHz, 1PPS, etc.
10 MHz Reference
Device under test (DUT)
Device under test (DUT)
5071A

31. Summary Market and Application needs are driving new clock standards:
Transition from Frequency to Time
Ability to maintain high performance time in autonomous operation (independent of GNSS)
“Resiliency” is a key operational objective for our customers
There are many alternatives; however, ultimately the ability to embed Timescale technology into the network architecture provides the most robust solution
Microsemi provides a portfolio of Timescale enabled products

32. Thank You Eran Gilat – Systems Architect Engineer FTD eran
Thank You Eran Gilat – Systems Architect Engineer FTD