FIR Coefficient Scaling to Reduce Quantization Noise Overflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional FIR filters face significant computation errors due to quantization noise and large filter coefficients, which cannot be adequately reduced by existing techniques, leading to deterioration in filter characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A filter device comprising delay units, multiplication units, a coefficient adjustment unit, a signal conversion unit, and a division unit, where filter coefficients are adjusted by multiplying design values with a factor and dividing by a maximum representation value to minimize computation errors, and signals are processed to reduce errors associated with multiplication and addition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If filter coefficients are adjusted by multiplying with a large multiplying factor to reduce quantization noise, then quantization noise is reduced, but the multiplication result exceeds the maximum representation range causing overflow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantization noiseVSAvoidcoefficient representation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the filter coefficient adjustment process into two separate stages: first multiplying the design value by the multiplying factor to get an intermediate result, then dividing by the maximum representation range value. This segmentation allows the multiplication to use a larger factor for noise reduction while the subsequent division brings the result back within the representable range, preventing overflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediate value (the multiplication result before division) that temporarily exceeds the maximum representation range. This intermediate value serves as a mediator that allows the use of a larger multiplying factor for better precision, while the final division operation ensures the stored coefficient remains within valid bounds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of substance

If the range in which filter coefficients are represented is kept small to maintain low quantization bit rates, then transmission and storage efficiency is improved, but the multiplying factor for error correction cannot be sufficiently large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantization bit rateVSAvoidcomputation error
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the computation space by allowing intermediate multiplication results to exceed the maximum representation range. This dimensional extension in the computation domain enables the use of larger multiplying factors for better error correction, while the final result is folded back into the original representation range through division, maintaining low bit rates for storage and transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If filter coefficients are rounded to fit within the representation range, then storage and transmission are simplified, but computation error increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoefficient storageVSAvoidcomputation error
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary multiplication of the design value by the multiplying factor before rounding or truncation to fit the representation range. This preliminary action with an enlarged scale allows for better precision in the intermediate result, and the subsequent division by the maximum representation range value ensures the final stored coefficient is within valid bounds while retaining improved precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4044433B1Finite impulse response filter (FIR)
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP4044433B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4044433B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4044433B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A filter device (100) includes: a plurality of delay units (1-1 to 1-N) connected in series to give a delay to an input signal and output a delayed signal; a plurality of multiplication units (2-0 to 2-N) that multiply the delayed signal by a filter coefficient generated based on a predetermined value and a multiplying factor adjustment value; a coefficient adjustment unit (3) that, when a multiplication result obtained by multiplying the predetermined value by the multiplying factor adjustment value exceeds a maximum value of a representation range of the filter coefficient, divides the multiplication result exceeding the maximum value by the maximum value, and outputs a quotient of the division as a coefficient adjustment value; a signal conversion unit (4) that outputs a signal obtained by adding after-filter-coefficient-multiplication signals outputted by the multiplication units and an adjusted signal obtained by adjusting a corresponding delayed signal using the coefficient adjustment value; and a division unit (5) that generates an output signal by dividing the signal outputted by the signal conversion unit by the multiplying factor adjustment value.