Digital Signal Conditioning for Spectral Analysis Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing synthetic instrument technologies face challenges in precision, accuracy, and computational complexity, leading to a mismatch between operational units and test support systems, particularly in aviation support equipment, due to the dynamic nature of avionics and test technology.
Innovation Solution
A digital signal processing system comprising a digital down converter, interpolator, and series of down samplers, along with a multiplexer, that modulates and re-samples digital input signals to produce down converted and down sampled signals, enabling flexible spectral analysis and alignment with FFT transform sizes without altering the input clock rate or analog filter bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If synthetic instrument technology is used for spectrum analysis, then measurement capability is provided, but precision and accuracy are degraded compared to classic test equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the sample rate and bandwidth of the input signal through digital down conversion and interpolation. The system changes the sampling frequency and signal bandwidth parameters to optimize the balance between measurement precision and computational requirements, enabling high-accuracy spectrum analysis while managing system complexity.
2Device complexity
If digital signal processing is applied to spectrum analysis, then computational complexity is reduced, but precision and accuracy may be degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing task into distinct functional blocks: digital down conversion, interpolation, and spectrum analysis. By dividing the complex processing into manageable segments, the system reduces overall computational complexity while maintaining precision through careful design of each segment's parameters and operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts processing parameters including sample rate and bandwidth based on the input signal characteristics. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize the balance between computational complexity and measurement precision for different operating conditions, achieving high accuracy without excessive computational burden.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed sampling rate and bandwidth are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to changing operational units is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic sample rate and bandwidth adjustment capabilities that allow the system to adapt to different operational units and signal characteristics. The digital down conversion and interpolation stages enable flexible parameter changes without fundamentally redesigning the system, achieving high adaptability while managing complexity through software-based parameter adjustment rather than hardware reconfiguration.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems and other embodiments associated with pre-processing a signal for spectral analysis are presented. A system for pre-processing a digital input signal includes a digital down converter (DDC), an interpolator, and a series of down samplers. The DDC modulates the digital input signal to create a down converted signal. The interpolator re-samples the down converted signal to produce a re-sampled signal. The series of down samplers produces down sampled signals. The multiplexer selects one of the digital input signal, the down converted signal, and the down sampled signals and routes the selected signal to an output line.