Multi-Level Signal Receiver Sampling for Wideband ADC Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional analog-to-digital conversion processes in communications are complex, time-consuming, and power-intensive, often introducing errors or distortions, especially when handling very wideband signals.
Innovation Solution
A multi-layer time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter (ADC) system that samples RF signals in multiple stages with reduced sampling rates, using a single-chip architecture to integrate RF front-end, baseband, and digital signal processing, thereby reducing clocking and sampling mismatch errors and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional analog-to-digital conversion is used, then signal conversion is achieved, but the process is complex, time-consuming, and power-intensive with errors or distortions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the analog signal into multiple parallel bands using filter banks, with each band processed by a separate lower-rate ADC. This segmentation allows the overall high-resolution conversion to be achieved through multiple simpler, parallel conversion paths, reducing the complexity and sampling rate requirements of individual converters while maintaining overall accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single high-rate conversion path to a multi-dimensional parallel processing architecture. By adding the dimension of parallelism through multiple ADCs processing different frequency bands simultaneously, the system achieves high effective sampling rates without requiring any single converter to operate at the full rate, thereby reducing complexity and power consumption.
2Reliability
If high sampling rate is used for wideband signals, then signal integrity is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wideband signal into multiple narrower frequency bands, each processed by a separate ADC operating at a lower sampling rate. The total power consumption is distributed across multiple lower-power converters rather than concentrated in a single high-rate converter, achieving signal integrity through parallel processing while reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Each individual ADC performs partial conversion of only its assigned frequency band at a reduced sampling rate, which is sufficient for that band's requirements. The combination of all partial conversions achieves the overall high-rate conversion effect without any single converter needing to operate at the excessive full bandwidth sampling rate, thereby reducing power consumption.
3Ease of manufacture
If single-chip architecture is used, then integration is improved, but clocking and sampling mismatch errors may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple ADCs, filter banks, and processing units onto a single chip, achieving high integration. The synchronized parallel architecture ensures that all components operate in coordination with precisely controlled clocking, maintaining sampling accuracy despite the integrated design by using synchronized sampling clocks and coordinated processing across all parallel paths.
Data Source
AI summary
A signal receiver may comprise a first sampling circuitry that is operable to sample in a first level at a particular main sampling rate; a second sampling circuitry that is operable to sample in a second level, an output of the first sampling circuitry, at a second sampling rate that is reduced compared to the main sampling rate; a third sampling circuitry that is operable to sample in a third level, one or more outputs of the second sampling circuitry, at a third sampling rate that is reduced compared to the second sampling rate; and an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuitry for applying analog-to-digital conversion to one or more outputs of the third sampling circuitry.