Codechamp

WHO WE ARE

CODECHAMP was created in 1980, following the development, within the SEMIP company (precision potentiometers) of the first optical encoder for the on-board radar of the Mirage 2000. The company was installed in the commune of Champagnat in the Creuse.
CODECHAMP's vocation is to respond efficiently to the increasingly specific needs of its customers by developing its products.
CODECHAMP has always accompanied its customers in the success of major programs in Defense, Space, civil and industrial nuclear in France and abroad.
The performance of our design office; strength of proposal, technical reactivity, competitive solutions and the requirement of our customers have allowed many innovations.

Such as :

• reduction of space requirements,
  
• improvement of the performances of resolution,
  
• precision,
  
• pancake configuration,
  
• development of several generations of ASICs,
  
• …
  

All our technological innovations are protected by patent registration.

Our know-how, recognized by the major prime contractors in the most advanced technological fields, who have trusted us since our creation, has enabled CODECHAMP optical encoders to be positioned on ground and on-board radars, satellite mechanisms (antenna pointing, change of sights, solar panel piloting, etc.), tank turrets, helicopter turrets, missile homing devices, optronic balls, handling systems in irradiated areas, etc.

Codechamp is the leader in high precision digital output angular position sensors.

EXPERTISE / KNOW-HOW

The performance of our design office is based on the skills of a dynamic team whose leitmotivs are: flexibility of proposal, technical reactivity, constant innovation, competitive solutions. Thanks to the flexibility of our structure, we offer you a close partnership to define the best technical and economical solutions. The conditions of productive investments and human skills are gathered to ensure the best guarantees of follow-up in the reliability of the products.

ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS

CODECHAMP is familiar with the standards of current use:
• Military such as RTCA/DO160D, MIL STD 810 F, MIL STD 461 E, GAM EG13, GAM EG13A, GAM EG13B / AIR 7306,
• Civil Aeronautics such as ARINC 600, ARINC 601, ISO2669, ISO2671, ISO2685...,
• Space applications of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the National Center for Space Studies (CNES) CODECHAMP is able to adapt to any other environmental standard.

RIGOROUS QUALITY CONTROLS

All the phases of the encoder production (storage of parts, manufacturing and control) are carried out in a "dust-free" ISO 8 class room.

All our encoders undergo reliability programs:

• Burn-in,

• Inter-operation checks,
  

• Thermal cycling.

All our encoders are individually tested and delivered with a PVRI (Procès Verbal de Recette Individuel) which records all test results:

• In dynamics at the specified temperature ranges,
  

• In precision.
  

Among our services, we offer a Product Assurance file including MTBF calculations, FMECA, and stress analyses in compliance with the standards applicable to the Defense, Aeronautics and Space industries.

AN EFFICIENT QUALITY SYSTEM

Certified NF EN 9100 version 2018, CODECHAMP organization meets the requirements of its customers whose prestigious names are references. CODECHAMP is also qualified by the European and French space agencies (ESA, CNES). Our factory is equipped with test and control means adapted to the manufacturing process.

The relevance and the rigor of quality controls at all stages of design and production are the basis of our success.

TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS

1976 : First encoder manufactured by SEMIP (precision potentiometers) : 13 bits for on-board radar on Mirage 2000, 
1980 : Creation of CODECHAMP in Champagnat,
1981 : First absolute encoder on board a satellite,
1984 : Hollow axis encoder, light and flat, 14 bits for the new Mirage 2000 radar,
1985 : 18-bit hollow axis encoder for ground antenna : TDF1 satellite control,
1986 : Absolute and multiturn encoders for TIGRE helicopter turret,
1990 : 23-bit encoders for PRONAOS telescope,
1992 : CNES qualification of a 21 bits absolute encoder with integrated cold redundancy,
1994 : Size 11 encoder (diam. 28 mm) for missile seeker,
           21 bits encoder for SUMER instrument on SOHO satellite,
1996 : Feasibility of an incremental encoder for operation at +200°C,
           Conclusive test of an absolute encoder operating at -180°C,
1999 : Qualification of the CANARIS encoder, nuclear application, 15 Mrad,
           Miniature encoders, size 9 (diameter 23 mm) 16 bits and size 15 (diameter 38 mm) 21 bits for missile application,
1998 to 2000 : New improvement of the principles for :

• Pancake encoder,
• High resolution,
• Miniaturization,

           Development of a 26 bits encoder for space application,
2000 : Creation of a second manufacturing site,
2003 to 2005 : Further improvement of the reading principle and miniaturization by the realization of a new ASIC,
2005 : Qualification of the CANARIS encoder, nuclear application, > 100 Mrad,
           Development and qualification of an encoder for civil aeronautic application,
           Development of encoders with different fieldbus interfaces,
2006 to 2007 : Development and qualification of high resolution space encoders used for the Pleiades and TerraSar programs...,
2008 to 2009 : Creation of 2 new ASICs,
           The FPCOA15-01 encoder reaches a resolution of 22 bits,
           Development of the polarimetric encoder with the support of CNES,
           Development of the encoder size 08 (diam.19mm) with 16 bits resolution,
           Hardening of the space encoders with CNES leading to the creation of new specific components,
2010 : Development of the pancake encoder size 13 (diam 33mm) hollow axis, extra flat, with 19 bits resolution,
           High volume production of low-cost industrial encoders,
           Development and qualification of the FPCOA13-01 encoder (33.5mm) with 23 bits resolution,
           Qualification of the CANARIS encoder, with AREVA for the civil nuclear activity, up to 200 Mrad,
           Filing of a CODECHAMP-CNES patent for the development of the polarimetric encoder,
2011 to 2012 : Development and qualification of space encoders used for the CNES CSO program,
           Development of a new military grade ASIC for missile homing applications,
2013 to 2014 : Development and qualification of space encoders used for the ESA MTG program,
           Development with CNES of a new space grade ASIC for future programs,
           Development and qualification of the FPCOA12-01 encoder (29.85mm) with a 22-bit resolution and an accuracy of ± 10'',
2015 to 2016 : Development of a new mixed technology ASIC (analog/digital) for encoders equipping onboard optronic systems and new missile seekers,
2017 to 2019 : With the support of CNES and Airbus Defense and Space Toulouse, qualification and manufacturing of a flight batch of the new space Asic, which will equip the new space encoders for the future instruments of satellite programs.