Digital Beamforming FPGA SerDes Monobit Phased Array Radar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital phase array systems face challenges in cost, size, weight, and power (SWaP) considerations, with high costs for fully digital phased array radar systems and limited availability of optimal SWaP modules for wide bandwidths, and existing designs require numerous external analog components.
Innovation Solution
A fully digital, wideband digital phased array system that integrates digital signal processing directly within a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) chip, using SerDes transceivers to convert monobit analog signals into multibit digital signals, phase align, and synchronize them for coherent beamforming with minimal external components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fully digital phased array systems are implemented, then measurement precision and beamforming accuracy are improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ADC functionality with the FPGA by using the FPGA's built-in SerDes transceivers to directly convert analog signals to digital signals. This integration eliminates the need for separate external ADC components and reduces the number of interconnections, thereby maintaining high beamforming accuracy while reducing system complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The SerDes transceivers within the FPGA are utilized for multiple purposes: they serve as both the analog-to-digital converters and the digital signal processing interface. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated ADC components and reduces the overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If numerous external ADCs and analog components are used, then analog signal conversion capability is improved, but size, weight, and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ADC functionality with the FPGA's SerDes transceivers, eliminating the need for separate external ADC components. This integration significantly reduces the number of external components, connections, and associated hardware, thereby reducing size, weight, and power consumption while maintaining signal conversion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The FPGA's SerDes transceivers are designed to perform analog-to-digital conversion as an inherent capability, eliminating the need for separate ADC components. This self-service approach allows the FPGA to handle both analog input and digital processing functions, reducing overall system SWaP.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate external ADCs are used with FPGA, then analog-to-digital conversion function is improved, but device complexity and component count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The SerDes transceivers are designed to perform multiple functions including analog-to-digital conversion, digital signal processing, and interface management within the FPGA. This multi-functionality maintains analog processing capability while eliminating the need for separate external ADC components, thereby reducing device complexity and component count.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the ADC functionality with the FPGA's internal resources by utilizing the SerDes transceivers' built-in analog-to-digital conversion capability. This integration eliminates the need for separate external ADC components and reduces the number of interconnections, thereby maintaining analog processing capability while reducing device complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If optimal SWaP modules are designed for wide bandwidth, then bandwidth capability is improved, but availability and cost-effectiveness worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The FPGA's SerDes transceivers are designed to handle wide bandwidth signals while performing analog-to-digital conversion and digital signal processing functions. This multi-functionality allows a single component to provide wide bandwidth capability without requiring specialized external modules, thereby improving availability and cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines wide bandwidth signal reception, analog-to-digital conversion, and digital processing capabilities within the FPGA's SerDes transceivers. This integration eliminates the need for specialized external modules, making the system more available and cost-effective while maintaining wide bandwidth capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of digital beamforming for a monobit phased array radar system includes providing a plurality of monobit analog signals received by at least one antenna to at least one field programmable gate array (FPGA). A plurality of monobit SerDes transceivers within the FPGA convert the plurality of monobit analog signals into a plurality of multibit digital signals, each of the multibit digital signals being modified according to a digital signal conditioning value to calibrate, phase align, and synchronize the digital signals. A digital beam is formed by coherently combining the plurality of digital signals within the FPGA.