Burst-Sampling ADC Conversion for Low-Power High-SNR Signals
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed and high-resolution analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) in communications systems consume excessive power and occupy large chip areas, making them difficult to design and implement effectively.
Innovation Solution
The method involves burst-sampling analog impulse signals based on their impulse patterns, which include duty cycle information, to generate digital signals using multiple power-efficient ADCs, reducing sampling activity and power consumption by only sampling during impulse periods and not during quiet periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-speed and high-resolution ADCs are used to improve signal quality, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by using burst sampling mode where the ADC operates only during impulse signal periods and remains inactive during quiet periods. This periodic operation pattern allows the system to maintain high signal-to-noise ratio during active sampling while dramatically reducing average power consumption compared to continuous sampling operation.
2Measurement precision
If high-speed and high-resolution ADCs are used to improve signal quality, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but chip area increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By utilizing periodic burst sampling operation, the patent enables the use of lower-resolution ADC hardware that would be insufficient for continuous high-speed conversion. The periodic activation allows simpler, smaller ADC circuits to achieve the same effective signal-to-noise ratio by concentrating sampling resources only when signal energy is present, thereby reducing overall chip area.
3Speed
If ADC speed is increased to handle high-frequency signals, then sampling rate is improved, but power consumption increases exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by synchronizing ADC operation with the impulse signal pattern, enabling high effective sampling rates during impulse periods while keeping the ADC inactive during quiet periods. This approach achieves high sampling performance when needed without the continuous power consumption that would result from maintaining high sampling rates at all times.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the ADC sampling rate adaptive rather than fixed. The sampling rate dynamically adjusts based on the presence of impulse signals, operating at high speeds during impulse periods and remaining inactive during quiet periods. This dynamic operation allows the system to achieve high effective sampling rates without the continuous power consumption of a fixed high-speed ADC.
4Measurement precision
If ADC resolution is increased to improve accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but design complexity increases exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic burst sampling to achieve high measurement precision with lower-resolution ADC hardware. By concentrating sampling efforts only during impulse signal periods when energy is present, the system can use simpler ADC designs with fewer bits of resolution while still achieving accurate measurements, thereby reducing design complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Methods and systems for performing analog-to-digital conversion are described. In one embodiment, a method for performing analog-to-digital conversion involves processing an analog impulse signal to obtain an impulse pattern of the analog impulse signal in a first signal processing path and converting the analog impulse signal into a digital signal based on the impulse pattern in a second signal processing path that is in parallel with the first signal processing path. The impulse pattern of the analog impulse signal includes duty cycle information of the analog impulse signal. Other embodiments are also described.