Digital Transmission Channel Property Determination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for determining properties of transmission channels require analog circuits, limiting the use of simple digital ICs and making them more sensitive to process fluctuations, necessitating a purely digital circuit design that minimizes external components.

Innovation Solution

A device with a one-bit analog-digital converter, inverter, low-pass and high-pass filters, dot product unit, and digital-to-analog converter to process signals digitally, allowing for the determination of transmission channel properties with minimal external components and reduced sensitivity to process fluctuations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If analog circuits are used for signal processing in transmission channel determination, then signal processing capability is maintained, but device complexity increases and manufacturing precision requirements worsen due to sensitivity to process fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensitivity to process fluctuationsVSAvoidcircuit design
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces analog electronic circuits with a digital circuit implementation. The analog signal processing functions are substituted by digital signal processing using a one-bit analog-digital converter, digital filters (low-pass and high-pass), a dot product unit, and digital-to-analog converter. This substitution eliminates the sensitivity to process fluctuations inherent in analog circuits while maintaining the required signal processing capabilities through purely digital logic operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of manufacture

If mixed-signal test systems are used to test integrated circuits, then testing capability is achieved, but testing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting requirementsVSAvoidcircuit type
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements a fully digital circuit architecture that can be tested using standard digital test equipment rather than requiring complex mixed-signal test systems. The one-bit analog-digital converter digitizes the receiver output signal, and all subsequent processing (low-pass filtering, high-pass filtering, dot product calculation, integration) is performed in the digital domain, enabling compatibility with simple digital test infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If purely digital circuit design is implemented, then sensitivity to process fluctuations is reduced, but signal processing capability may be limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess fluctuation sensitivityVSAvoidsignal processing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs parameter changes in the form of digital filtering operations (low-pass and high-pass filters) and signal modulation techniques (dot product with binary control signal) to maintain full signal processing capability in the digital domain. The one-bit analog-digital converter captures the essential signal information, and digital processing algorithms reconstruct and analyze the transmission channel properties with accuracy comparable to analog systems while benefiting from digital robustness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the determination of transmission channel properties using purely digital circuits, reducing chip area and sensitivity to process fluctuations, while maintaining effective signal processing and interference reduction.

Implementation Method 1

a low-pass filter for feedback of the output of the one-bit analog-digital converter to the inverter input

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLow-pass filtering: Filter (electronic)

Implementation Method 2

a high-pass filter, in particular in the form of a capacitor, between the input of the one-bit analog-digital converter and the inverter input

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHigh-pass filtering: Filter (electronic)

Implementation Method 3

an inverter having a switching threshold with an inverter with the Input of the one-bit analog-digital converter and an inverter output coupled to the output of the one-bit analog-digital converter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInversion with hysteresis:

Implementation Method 4

a filter with an integrating filter effect for forming the dot product result signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIntegration:

Data Source

PatentEP3657215B1Device for determining a property of a transmission channel between a transmitter and a receiver
Publication Date: 2022.05.18 ELMOS SEMICON AG
  • EP3657215B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3657215B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3657215B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The device for determining at least one property of a transmission channel between a signal transmitter (2) and a receiver (3) is provided with an analog-to-digital converter (22, 9, 10a, 10b, 10c) which has an input (6) for coupling to the signal transmitter (2) and an output (11). Furthermore, the device is provided with a capacitor (5) connected in series between the signal transmitter (2) and the input (6) of the analog-to-digital converter (22, 9, 10, a, b, c), and a scalar product unit (12) for determining the scalar product between the output signal of the analog-to-digital converter (22, 9, 10, a, b, c) and a reference clock signal (25, 27). The device includes a filter (13,14) for filtering the product result signal and a multiplication unit (26) for multiplying the output signal of the filter (13,14) with the reference clock signal (25,27).The device is provided with a digital-to-analog converter or a PWM unit (16) for converting the digital multiplication result signal into an analog signal, wherein the output signal of the digital-to-analog converter or the PWM unit (16) is coupled to the input of the analog-to-digital converter (22,9,10,a,b,c).