FM Signal Demodulation With Joint Offset and Modulation Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing demodulation methods suffer from inaccuracies due to frequency mismatch and incorrect modulation index estimation, particularly in systems like Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy, leading to reduced sensitivity and phase errors in receivers.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for jointly estimating frequency-offset and modulation-index using an optimization process that minimizes a cost function, allowing for accurate demodulation by determining these parameters simultaneously.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple separate circuits are used to compensate for different signal degradation effects, then signal quality can be improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate compensation circuits (equalization circuit, carrier recovery circuit, timing recovery circuit) into a single integrated circuit that performs all functions. This integration maintains the signal quality benefits of multiple compensation mechanisms while reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for separate circuits for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated circuit is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - equalization, carrier recovery, and timing recovery - within a single device. This multi-functional approach allows the system to maintain high signal quality through comprehensive compensation while avoiding the complexity of implementing separate dedicated circuits for each compensation type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If complex modulation schemes are used to increase data rate, then productivity improves, but susceptibility to signal degradation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rateVSAvoidsignal degradation susceptibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies equalization compensation before carrier recovery and timing extraction in the signal processing chain. This preliminary equalization action pre-compensates for signal degradation effects on complex modulated signals before they undergo further processing, thereby enabling high data rate transmission while mitigating the susceptibility to degradation through advance correction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4165843B1Demodulating modulated signals
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 NORDIC SEMICONDUCTOR
  • EP4165843B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4165843B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4165843B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus (17) for demodulating a frequency-modulated signal comprises a joint frequency-offset & modulation-index estimator (34), and a signal demodulator (37, 39). The joint estimator (34) receives data representative of a preamble portion of the signal, modulated with predetermined preamble data. It jointly determines (311) a frequency-offset estimate and a modulation-index estimate by using an optimization process that minimizes a cost function that is a function of the received data and that is parameterised by a frequency-offset parameter and by a modulation-index parameter. The signal demodulator (37, 39) receives data representative of a message portion of the signal, modulated with message data, and uses the frequency-offset estimate to demodulate the message.