Configurable FFT Circuit Multiplexer Reconfiguration

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing FFT architectures are inefficient in terms of area consumption and latency when performing multiple sizes of FFTs, as they require multiple instances of FFT components, leading to increased complexity and resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

A configurable Fourier transform circuit is designed, which includes input and output Fourier transform components with multiplexers that allow for reconfiguration to perform FFTs of different sizes. This architecture shares data paths for different transform sizes, reducing area consumption and enabling efficient multi-mode and multi-channel FFT computation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple instances of FFT components are used to perform multiple sizes of FFTs, then the capability to perform different FFT sizes is improved, but the area consumption and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to perform different FFT sizesVSAvoidarea consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a single FFT component that can perform multiple FFT sizes (e.g., 32-point, 64-point, 128-point, 256-point) by reconfiguring the connectivity of multiplexers and switches. This universal design eliminates the need for multiple separate FFT components, directly reducing area consumption while maintaining the capability to handle different transform sizes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic reconfiguration of the FFT component through control signals that switch between different connectivity configurations. The multiplexers and switches can be dynamically reconfigured to change the data flow paths, allowing the same physical hardware to adapt to different FFT sizes without requiring multiple static instances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple instances of FFT components are used to perform multiple sizes of FFTs, then the capability to perform different FFT sizes is improved, but the device complexity and resource utilization increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to perform different FFT sizesVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a single FFT component that can perform multiple FFT sizes (e.g., 32-point, 64-point, 128-point, 256-point) by reconfiguring the connectivity of multiplexers and switches. This universal design eliminates the need for multiple separate FFT components, directly reducing area consumption while maintaining the capability to handle different transform sizes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic reconfiguration of the FFT component through control signals that switch between different connectivity configurations. The multiplexers and switches can be dynamically reconfigured to change the data flow paths, allowing the same physical hardware to adapt to different FFT sizes without requiring multiple static instances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple instances of FFT components are used to perform multiple sizes of FFTs, then the capability to perform different FFT sizes is improved, but the latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to perform different FFT sizesVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic reconfiguration of the FFT component through control signals that switch between different connectivity configurations. The multiplexers and switches can be dynamically reconfigured to change the data flow paths, allowing the same physical hardware to adapt to different FFT sizes without requiring multiple static instances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the FFT computation into stages using a pipelined architecture where different portions of the computation can be performed in parallel. This segmentation allows the system to maintain low latency by overlapping operations across different FFT sizes while using a single reconfigurable component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250190517A1Multi-mode multi-channel streaming fast fourier transform (FFT) architecutre

Publication Date: 2025.06.12 SYNOPSYS INC

AI summary

Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards a configurable Fourier transform circuit. The circuit includes a first input Fourier transform component having a first set of multiplexers, wherein the first input Fourier transform component is configurable to perform Fourier transforms of different sizes and different number of channels by controlling the first set of multiplexers; a first set of multiplier circuits having inputs coupled to outputs of the first input Fourier transform component; and a first output Fourier transform component having inputs coupled to outputs of the first set of multiplier circuits and having a second set of multiplexers, wherein the first output Fourier transform component is configurable to perform Fourier transforms of different sizes and different number of channels by controlling the second set of multiplexers.