Digital Negative Group Delay Generation Across Wide Frequency Ranges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current negative group delay (NGD) devices are limited to a narrow frequency range, suffer from significant attenuation, lack flexibility and adaptability, and are unreliable due to manufacturing variations and temperature drifts, making them unsuitable for practical applications.
Innovation Solution
A method using a programmable digital processing unit to generate a negative group delay by determining a difference equation based on sampling frequency and target group delay value, with adaptive coefficients to adjust for input signal variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If analog negative group delay devices are used, then negative group delay generation is achieved, but the frequency range is limited to a narrow band
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces analog electronic circuits with a digital signal processing system. A digital signal processor implements negative group delay generation through computational algorithms rather than physical analog components, enabling broad frequency coverage from DC to the processor's Nyquist frequency while maintaining reliable negative group delay generation across the entire operational bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses programmable digital processing to dynamically adjust processing parameters such as filter coefficients and sampling rates. This allows the system to adapt to different frequency ranges and signal characteristics by changing software parameters rather than hardware configurations, achieving versatility across multiple frequency bands while maintaining generation reliability.
2Reliability
If analog negative group delay devices are used, then negative group delay is generated, but significant signal attenuation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes digital signal processing for analog circuitry, where signal amplitude is maintained through numerical computation rather than physical signal propagation. The digital system processes signal samples mathematically, avoiding the inherent losses of analog components such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors, thereby generating negative group delay without significant signal attenuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent works with digital copies (samples) of the input signal rather than the continuous analog signal itself. By manipulating discrete signal representations through computational algorithms, the system generates the negative group delay effect on copied data without the energy losses associated with physical signal transmission through analog components.
3Reliability
If fixed topology analog devices are used, then a specific negative group delay value is obtained, but flexibility and adaptability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic, reconfigurable digital processing system where the negative group delay characteristics can be changed by updating software parameters and filter coefficients. The system transitions from fixed analog topology to programmable digital logic, allowing real-time adjustment of delay values and adaptation to different application requirements without hardware modifications, while maintaining consistent performance through controlled parameter settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal digital processing platform that can generate negative group delay across multiple configurations and applications. A single digital signal processor can be programmed to implement various filter types, bandwidths, and delay values, making the system adaptable to diverse frequency ranges and signal characteristics while maintaining reliable operation through standardized processing algorithms.
4Reliability
If analog negative group delay devices are used, then negative group delay is generated, but manufacturing variations and temperature drifts cause unreliable results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces sensitive analog components with robust digital logic and computational algorithms. Digital signal processors are not affected by manufacturing tolerances of passive components or temperature-induced parameter drifts that plague analog circuits. The negative group delay generation is achieved through mathematically precise digital operations, eliminating sensitivity to component variations and environmental conditions while maintaining generation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent processes digital copies of signals through computational algorithms rather than physical signal paths through analog components. This digital copying and processing approach eliminates the propagation of manufacturing variations and temperature drifts that occur in analog systems, as digital calculations are deterministic and immune to component tolerances, ensuring reliable and consistent negative group delay generation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for generating, by means of an electrical device based on an input signal, an output signal that exhibits a negative group delay. Said method comprises the following steps, carried out by a programmable digital processing unit of the device: - obtaining (13) a sampling frequency associated with a digital signal representative of the input signal; - obtaining (14) a target negative group delay value; - determining (15) a set of coefficients for a differential equation according to the sampling frequency and the target negative group delay value; - calculating (16), upon acquiring a current value of the digital signal, a corresponding current value of the output signal by means of the differential equation.