DAC Feedback Loop Using Sub-Sampled ADC for DPD Training

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Digital-to-analog conversion systems face challenges in mitigating nonlinearity, leading to harmonic and inter-modulation distortions, which introduce interference in adjacent and distant signal channels, particularly in power amplifiers and digital-to-analog converters, necessitating improved Digital Pre-Distortion (DPD) training architectures.

Innovation Solution

A digital-to-analog conversion system utilizing a sub-sampled Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) feedback loop with a fixed cutoff frequency filter, allowing for reduced complexity, size, and cost, enables DPD training by generating a digital feedback signal at a lower sample rate, which is used to determine pre-distortion coefficients and model the nonlinearity of the digital-to-analog converter and power amplifier.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a full-rate ADC feedback loop is used for DPD training, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback signal accuracyVSAvoidfeedback path complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information needed for DPD training by using a sub-sampled ADC that operates at a reduced rate. Instead of capturing the complete high-rate feedback signal, the system extracts sufficient statistical characteristics and distortion components at a lower sampling rate, thereby reducing feedback path complexity while maintaining adequate measurement precision for DPD coefficient adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by using a sub-sampled ADC that captures a subset of the full-rate feedback signal. The sub-sampled feedback contains sufficient information for DPD training purposes without requiring the complete high-rate signal, thus reducing device complexity and power consumption while maintaining adequate measurement precision for the specific application of DPD adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Device complexity

If a sub-sampled ADC feedback loop is used, then device complexity and power consumption are reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback path complexityVSAvoidfeedback signal accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the sub-sampled ADC output is used to adapt DPD coefficients through iterative optimization. The feedback loop continuously adjusts the pre-distortion parameters based on the reduced-rate measurements, compensating for the lower measurement precision by using adaptive algorithms that converge to optimal coefficients despite the sub-sampled feedback quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of manufacture

If DPD training is implemented with sub-sampled feedback, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem implementation easeVSAvoidnonlinearity compensation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the sampling rate parameter of the ADC in the feedback path, operating it at a reduced rate compared to the main signal path. This parameter change simplifies the feedback path hardware and reduces power consumption while maintaining adequate performance for DPD training through adaptive coefficient adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3716476B1Digital-to-analog conversion system
Publication Date: 2024.03.27 INTEL CORP
  • EP3716476B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3716476B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3716476B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A digital-to-analog conversion system is provided. The digital-to-analog conversion system includes a digital-to-analog converter configured to receive a pre-distorted digital signal from a digital circuit, and to generate an analog signal based on the pre-distorted digital signal. Further, the digital-to-analog conversion system includes a feedback loop for providing a digital feedback signal to the digital circuit. The feedback loop includes an analog-to-digital converter configured to generate the digital feedback signal based on the analog signal, and wherein a sample rate of the analog-to-digital converter is lower than a sample rate of the digital-to-analog converter.