Digital-to-Analog Converter Pre-Distortion for Active Channel Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication systems face issues with distortion caused by digital-to-analog converters, leading to unwanted spectral artifacts and increased power consumption and space requirements as the number of channels increases, due to the need for additional circuits.

Innovation Solution

A method and circuit configuration that includes a pre-distorter to compensate for distortion caused by digital-to-analog converters, dynamically reconfiguring based on the number of active channels to reduce unwanted frequency components and optimize resource usage, using a single digital-to-analog converter and programmable logic devices to selectively apply pre-distortion and up-conversion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional circuits are added to process more digital signals, then the number of channels increases, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of channelsVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple digital signals from different channels are combined into a single composite signal that is then processed by a single digital-to-analog converter. This merging approach allows multiple channels to be transmitted without requiring separate conversion circuits for each channel, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining adaptability to handle multiple channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

A single digital-to-analog converter is designed to handle multiple composite signals containing multiple channels simultaneously. This universal converter performs the conversion function for all channels through a unified processing path, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated converters and reducing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional circuits are added to process more digital signals, then the number of channels increases, but the space on integrated circuit increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of channelsVSAvoidspace on integrated circuit
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple channel processing functions are merged into a unified composite signal processing path. By combining multiple digital signals into one composite signal and using a single digital-to-analog converter, the physical space required on the integrated circuit is significantly reduced compared to having separate conversion circuits for each channel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

A single digital-to-analog converter is designed with universal capability to process multiple channels through composite signals. This multi-functional approach allows the converter to serve all channels without requiring additional dedicated circuits, thereby minimizing the space occupation on the integrated circuit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If digital signals are converted to analog signals by DAC, then transmission is enabled, but distortion occurs causing unwanted spectral artifacts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission capabilityVSAvoidspectral artifacts
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary processing by combining multiple digital signals into a composite signal before digital-to-analog conversion. This preliminary action of signal combination optimizes the conversion process and reduces distortion, thereby minimizing unwanted spectral artifacts while maintaining transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the potential harm of distortion into a benefit by using the composite signal structure. The composite signal approach, when properly designed, can actually reduce certain types of distortion and spectral artifacts compared to individual channel conversion, converting what could be a harmful effect into an advantageous one.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP2769501B1Systems and methods for digital processing based on active signal channels of a communication system
Publication Date: 2015.08.26 XILINX INC
  • EP2769501B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2769501B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2769501B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

A communication system includes digital signals that carry data and correspond to channels of a composite signal to be transmitted across a communication channel. Active channels are detected and used to configure digital processing. In one embodiment, active channels are detected, where a particular active channel corresponds to the presence of a particular one of the digital signals. Active channel detection may be used to configure pre-distortion of a composite signal to be transmitted to compensate for distortion in a digital- to-analog converter (155, 406, 505). Likewise, active channel detection may be used to optimize the configuration of an up-converter (161, 404, 503, 620, 631,632). In one embodiment, a programmable device (504, 630) is configured based on detected active channels into a plurality of different configurations.