Flexible loop filter design for spacecraft phase-locked receivers

A flexible loop filter design for spacecraft phase-locked receivers is proposed. The loop filter is implemented as digital hardware with coefficients that are set by registers. Either a perfect or an imperfect integrating loop filter can be effected. This flexibility is important since not one type of loop filter is preferred for all circumstances. An imperfect integrator is preferred when, as is often the case for spacecraft receivers, it is important to minimize the best-lock frequency drift of an idling loop. A perfect integrator is preferred when the tracking performance of the loop is the most important consideration.