Digital Signal Processing Unit for Sensor Sensitivity Enhancement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor systems face limitations in sensitivity enhancement due to the inability to linearly attenuate white noise without simultaneously attenuating the desired signal, with prior methods relying on non-linear processing or cooling techniques, and assuming noise outside the designated frequency cell is irrelevant.
Innovation Solution
A digital signal processing system that uses a matrix digital signal processor to transform digital signals from a time domain to a frequency domain, allowing for the estimation and compensation of white noise energy within the designated cell by utilizing noise energy from other frequency domain cells, thereby enhancing sensitivity without affecting the signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If linear signal processing is used to attenuate white noise, then noise attenuation is achieved, but the signal is simultaneously attenuated
Solution Approach 1:
The frequency spectrum is segmented into multiple frequency bins, with one designated cell containing the signal of interest and other cells containing only noise. This segmentation allows independent processing of signal and noise components, enabling noise attenuation without signal loss by applying different operations to each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The noise component is extracted from the designated cell by comparing it with noise estimates obtained from other frequency cells that contain only noise. This extraction process separates the noise from the signal, allowing the noise to be attenuated while preserving the signal integrity.
2Measurement precision
If non-linear signal processing is used for sensitivity enhancement, then sensitivity improvement is achieved, but the processing becomes complex and ineffective for most applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex non-linear signal processing mechanisms with linear signal processing operations. By using linear operations such as frequency domain transformation, noise estimation from other cells, and linear combination, the system achieves sensitivity enhancement without the complexity and limitations of non-linear processing.
3Reliability
If the reception bandwidth is matched to the signal bandwidth, then the signal to noise ratio is optimized, but the ability to use noise energy from other frequency regions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The frequency domain processing system is designed to handle multiple functions: it processes the designated cell containing the signal while simultaneously utilizing other frequency cells that contain only noise. These other cells serve the universal purpose of providing noise estimates that can be applied to enhance the signal detection in the designated cell, making the system versatile in noise utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor system is provided having a front end (81) and a digital signal processing unit (82) adapted for providing sensitivity enhancement. The front end (81) includes a sensor (10) whose output signal is digitized (11) and coupled to the digital signal processing unit (82). The digital signal processing unit (82) has a matched filter function to measure the signal's energy with minimum statistical error energy caused by white noise. The digital signal processing unit (82) also includes a matrix digital signal processor (12) that linearly utilizes the white noise values in the input's wider band spectrum to further suppress the white noise statistical error energy in the matched filter, to enhance the system sensitivity. The digital signal processing unit (82) also includes mode digital signal processors (13) to combine multiple event inputs in a manner that further improves sensitivity over extended time periods.