Frequency Domain Signal Simulation for RF Spectrum Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for simulating realistic radio frequency spectra for testing radio direction finders require high memory and computational resources, and are inefficient for real-time configuration changes, especially when trying to simulate a broad frequency spectrum.
Innovation Solution
The method involves transforming individual signals from the time domain to the frequency domain using a short FFT, processing them based on signal channels, and then combining them in the frequency domain before transforming back to the time domain using an inverse FFT with a longer length, allowing for efficient simulation of multiple emitters with reduced resource requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard measurement technology with AWG and frequency converter is used to generate emitter signals, then realistic signal content can be achieved, but memory requirements become comparatively high
Solution Approach 1:
The frequency spectrum is divided into multiple sub-bands, with each sub-band processed separately through individual FFT channels. This segmentation allows the total spectrum to be simulated using smaller, manageable memory blocks rather than requiring one large memory to hold the entire broadband signal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the signal processing approach from time-domain storage to frequency-domain processing. By using FFT to convert time signals to frequency spectra, processing signals in the frequency domain, and then using IFFT to convert back, the system achieves efficient memory usage while maintaining realistic signal characteristics.
2Reliability
If standard measurement technology with AWG and frequency converter is used, then signal simulation is possible, but calculation time becomes long and is normally by orders of magnitude above the actual duration of the emitter signal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses block-based processing where the emitter signal is divided into multiple blocks that are processed periodically and independently. Each block undergoes FFT, frequency domain processing, and IFFT in a standardized sequence, enabling efficient parallel processing and reducing total calculation time while maintaining signal accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-calculates and stores the frequency spectra of individual emitter signals in memory. During actual simulation, these pre-computed spectra are retrieved and combined in the frequency domain, eliminating the need for real-time computation of individual signal transformations and significantly reducing calculation time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If one AWG with variable clock frequency and frequency converter with variable center frequency per emitter is used to avoid disadvantages, then real-time configuration changes become possible, but device complexity and efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal signal processing architecture where a single AWG and a shared frequency converter serve multiple emitter signals simultaneously. By using parallel FFT channels and frequency domain processing, the system can handle different center frequencies and configurations for multiple emitters without requiring separate hardware chains, thus reducing complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies of emitter signals in the frequency domain through FFT processing. These frequency domain representations can be manipulated, combined, and transformed without affecting the original time-domain signals, enabling flexible real-time configuration changes through software control rather than hardware reconfiguration.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for simulating a signal composed of a plurality of individual signals from respective signal locations at a simulation location, having a provider for providing the plurality of individual signals in the time domain, a transformer for transforming the individual signals to the frequency domain, a processor for processing the individual signals transformed to the frequency domain each depending on a signal channel existing between the simulation location and the respective signal location, a combiner for combining the processed individual signals transformed to the frequency domain to a combined signal, and a transformer for transforming the combined signal to the time domain for generating the simulated combined signal at the simulation location.