Programmable Digital Up-Conversion for Concurrent Multi-Band Radios
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional analog up-conversion systems are frequency-dependent and inflexible, requiring separate converters for different frequency bands, which increases costs and is prone to variability issues, and current digital up-conversion systems struggle with concurrent multi-band signals due to bandwidth limitations in ASIC and FPGA processing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A digital up-conversion system utilizing complex tuning, up-sampling, image selection filtering, and quadrature modulation across multiple digital up-converter chains to convert concurrent multi-band signals, allowing for flexible operation across a wide frequency range by configuring baseband and filter tuning frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional analog up-conversion architectures are used, then frequency-specific operation is achieved, but frequency flexibility and adaptability are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single up-conversion architecture that can operate across multiple frequency bands by using programmable digital signal processing. The system uses a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) to dynamically reconfigure the up-conversion process for different frequency bands, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated up-converters. This multi-functional approach allows the same hardware to serve multiple frequency-specific functions through software reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic reconfiguration capabilities where the up-conversion system can be programmatically adjusted to operate at different frequency bands. The FPGA-based architecture allows real-time or near-real-time reconfiguration of filtering, mixing, and frequency translation parameters, enabling the system to adapt its operating characteristics based on the desired frequency band without physical hardware changes.
2Reliability
If analog up-conversion is used, then simple architecture is maintained, but variability issues (component, temperature, voltage, aging) increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces analog/mechanical up-conversion components with digital signal processing implemented on an FPGA. Instead of using analog mixers, local oscillators, and filters that are subject to component variability, temperature drift, and aging effects, the system uses digital arithmetic operations, lookup tables, and algorithmic filtering that are inherently more stable and repeatable. This substitution of digital for analog processing fundamentally eliminates the variability issues associated with analog components.
3Productivity
If digital up-conversion treats concurrent multi-band signal as single wide-band signal, then processing flexibility is improved, but processing capabilities are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the concurrent multi-band signal into separate frequency band components for independent processing. Rather than attempting to process the entire wide bandwidth simultaneously as a single block, the system divides the signal into manageable frequency segments, applies appropriate filtering and up-conversion to each segment, and then combines the results. This segmentation reduces the processing load on the FPGA while maintaining the ability to handle multiple frequency bands concurrently.
Data Source
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AI summary
A digital up-conversion system for a concurrent multi-band signal is provided. The digital up-conversion system comprises a plurality of digital up-converter chains configured to provide digital up-conversion for different ones of a plurality of frequency bands of a concurrent multi-band signal, a digital combiner configured to digitally combine a plurality of up-converted digital signals output from the plurality of digital up-converter chains to provide a combined digital signal and one or more additional processing components configured to process the combined digital signal to provide the concurrent multi-band signal, the one or more additional processing components comprising a digital-to-analog converter. The one or more configurable parameters of each digital up-converter chain of the plurality of digital up-converter chains is selected based on a predetermined effective sampling rate of the digital-to-analog converter and a center frequency of a corresponding one of the plurality of frequency bands of the concurrent multiband signal, or one or more configurable parameters of the one or more additional processing components are selected based on predetermined configuration parameters for the plurality of digital up-converter chains and center frequencies of the plurality of frequency bands of the concurrent multi-band signal. Furthermore, a method of operation of a digital up-conversion system for a concurrent multiband signal is provided.