Chirp Signal Receiver Using Fixed Gradient Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chirp receivers require significant power consumption and silicon area due to the need for programmable correlators to handle chirp signals with varying gradients, which is particularly problematic for battery-powered devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for receiving chirp signals using a fixed gradient correlator, where the received chirp signal is mixed with a reference chirp signal to align its gradient, allowing correlation with a fixed gradient correlating chirp signal, reducing the need for programmable registers and multipliers, thus minimizing power consumption and silicon area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a programmable correlator is used to handle chirp signals with varying gradients, then the receiver can accurately detect chirp signals with different gradients, but the power consumption and silicon area increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver is divided into two functional segments: a fixed gradient correlator that handles the bulk of correlation operations with constant gradient, and a separate gradient compensation mechanism that adjusts the received signal before correlation. This segmentation allows the majority of processing to be done with simple fixed hardware, while gradient adaptation is achieved through signal preprocessing rather than complex programmable correlation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter being adapted from the correlator's gradient parameter to the received signal's frequency offset parameter. By adjusting the frequency offset of the received signal to compensate for gradient differences, the fixed gradient correlator can still accurately detect chirps with varying gradients without requiring programmable gradient adjustment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a programmable correlator is used to handle chirp signals with varying gradients, then the receiver can accurately detect chirp signals with different gradients, but the silicon area increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver is divided into two functional segments: a fixed gradient correlator that handles the bulk of correlation operations with constant gradient, and a separate gradient compensation mechanism that adjusts the received signal before correlation. This segmentation allows the majority of processing to be done with simple fixed hardware, while gradient adaptation is achieved through signal preprocessing rather than complex programmable correlation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter being adapted from the correlator's gradient parameter to the received signal's frequency offset parameter. By adjusting the frequency offset of the received signal to compensate for gradient differences, the fixed gradient correlator can still accurately detect chirps with varying gradients without requiring programmable gradient adjustment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If reference chirps are regenerated and reloaded into programmable correlator registers every time there is a change in gradient, then the receiver can adapt to different gradients, but additional processing cycles are required which increases power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The gradient compensation is performed as a preliminary action on the received signal before it enters the fixed gradient correlator. By pre-adjusting the frequency offset of the received signal to account for gradient differences, the correlator can immediately process the compensated signal without requiring regeneration or reloading of reference chirps, thus eliminating additional processing cycles.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for receiving chirp signals at a receiver device according to a protocol in which each chirp signal has a gradient known to the receiver device, the method comprising: receiving a chirp signal having a first gradient g; generating a reference chirp signal having a second gradient g′, wherein the second gradient g′ differs from the first gradient g by a fixed value v; multiplying the reference chirp signal and the received chirp signal so as to form a mixed chirp signal; and detecting the received chirp signal by correlating the mixed chirp signal with a fixed gradient correlating chirp signal.