Prototyping a pager-like device using FPGAs: design of an object finder

The use of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) devices for designing and prototyping a pager-like device is presented. The device executes the decoding tasks in a system, which also has a transceiver sending information at 1200 bit/s with a FSK modulator and a receiver/demodulator; the RF part operates in the 450 MHz range. The device was intended for "finding" and signaling, by light or sounds, objects such as cars, containers, or medical equipment in large environments. The traditional paging protocol POCSAG has been slightly modified to use minimal resources and provide new characteristics for the specific applications.