Programmable RF Front-End for Monobit ADC Blocker Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing broadband interference detection systems face limitations in instantaneous bandwidth, frequency resolution, latency, dynamic range, and system size, weight, and power consumption, particularly in congested electromagnetic environments, necessitating improved blocker identification methods for adaptive radios.
Innovation Solution
A high-speed monobit ADC system with a programmable on-chip RF front-end that operates in the negative signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime, utilizing programmable attenuation and amplification to condition signals within the dynamic range of the monobit ADC, enabling efficient blocker detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional ADCs are used for broadband interference detection, then frequency resolution and dynamic range are improved, but power consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the broadband signal detection task into multiple narrowband channels, each processed by a simple monobit ADC. By dividing the wide bandwidth into smaller frequency bins and processing them in parallel, the system achieves high frequency resolution without requiring a single complex high-resolution ADC, thus reducing overall system complexity and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/approach of using high-resolution ADCs with a signal processing approach that uses simple monobit ADCs combined with digital signal processing techniques. This substitution allows the system to achieve the same measurement precision through computational methods rather than hardware complexity.
2Reliability
If high-resolution ADCs are used for blocker detection, then dynamic range is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the dynamic range requirement across multiple parallel monobit ADC channels rather than using a single high-resolution ADC. Each monobit ADC operates at low power, and the collective system achieves high dynamic range through the combination of multiple channels, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple copies of simple monobit ADC circuits operating in parallel to achieve the dynamic range that would otherwise require a single complex high-resolution ADC. This copying approach allows the system to maintain the reliability and dynamic range performance while significantly reducing the power consumption of individual ADC units.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the main receiver is used for interference detection, then detection capability is improved, but receiver performance deteriorates due to resource diversion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal detection architecture where the same receiver chain and monobit ADC system can serve both primary communication functions and interference detection functions simultaneously. By making the system multi-functional, there is no need to divert resources from the main receiver to a separate detection system, thus maintaining receiver performance while achieving interference detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the interference detection function with the main receiver architecture by using the same signal path and processing resources for both communication and detection tasks. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate detection hardware that would divert resources, thereby maintaining receiver performance while enabling interference detection.
4Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If dispersive frequency-to-time mapping detection is used, then detection capability is improved, but instantaneous bandwidth and latency are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mapping frequency to time as in traditional dispersive methods, the patent inverts the approach by directly sampling the broadband signal in the time domain using monobit ADCs and then performing frequency analysis through digital processing. This inversion allows the system to maintain high instantaneous bandwidth while achieving blocker detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the physical dispersive mapping mechanism with a direct digital sampling and processing approach. By substituting the mechanical frequency-to-time mapping with electronic monobit ADC sampling followed by digital signal processing, the system achieves faster response times and higher instantaneous bandwidth while maintaining detection capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A monobit analog-digital converter (ADC) system and method are disclosed, the system comprising a front-end signal conditioning system equipped with a programmable attenuator and amplifier for processing analog signals, where the attenuator, which may include a cascade of programmable attenuator cells, is controlled by an attenuation control signal to adjust signal attenuation to cause a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the negative domain, after which an amplifier amplifies the attenuated signal with the suitable SNR, where the amplified signal is then converted to a monobit signal by a monobit ADC, thereby achieving an ADC system that enables conditioning and digitizing of RF signals over a wide range of input signal powers with control over the output spectrum signal power and harmonics to achieve low-power real-time general-purpose broadband blocker detection for adaptive radios and for interference detection, main beam radar signal detection, and instantaneous frequency measurement, among other fields requiring general-purpose blocker identification with low size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C).