Multi-Path ADC Signal Selection for Power-Noise Tradeoffs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multipath analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and analog front end (AFE) systems face a tradeoff between signal swing and noise, leading to increased power consumption and design costs, as they require separate optimization for large and small signal amplitudes, which can result in inefficiencies and artifacts during switching between processing paths.

Innovation Solution

A signal processing system with multiple processing paths and a controller that selects the appropriate digital signal based on the analog input signal's magnitude, allowing for dynamic power optimization and noise floor management, where each path has a distinct analog gain and consumes less power, with one path optimized for fidelity characteristics and subsequent processing requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single processing path is used to handle all signal amplitudes, then device complexity is reduced, but signal processing fidelity deteriorates for both large and small amplitude signals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing path configurationVSAvoidsignal processing fidelity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The signal processing system is divided into multiple processing paths, each optimized for specific signal amplitude ranges. The controller segments the signal processing task by routing different amplitude signals to appropriate paths, thereby maintaining high fidelity without requiring a single complex path to handle all cases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically selects between different processing paths based on the real-time amplitude characteristics of the input signal. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize signal fidelity for each amplitude range while maintaining overall system simplicity through controlled path selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If multiple processing paths with separate optimization are used, then signal processing fidelity is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal processing fidelityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The controller dynamically activates only the processing path最适合 for the current signal amplitude, rather than keeping all paths continuously active. This dynamic selection maintains high signal fidelity when needed while significantly reducing power consumption during normal operation by keeping other paths in a low-power state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Each processing path is locally optimized for specific signal characteristics (amplitude range), allowing the system to achieve high fidelity for each signal type without requiring all paths to be fully powered and active simultaneously. Only the locally appropriate path is activated for each signal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple processing paths are implemented, then dynamic range is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic rangeVSAvoidprocessing path configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple processing paths are implemented with distinct analog gain stages, allowing the system to universally handle a wide dynamic range of signal amplitudes. Each path serves multiple functions by being optimized for different amplitude ranges, thereby expanding overall system versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If analog gain is increased to improve signal processing, then noise is reduced, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise levelVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The analog gain function is segmented across multiple processing paths, with each path having its own optimized gain stage. This allows the system to apply high gain (and thus low noise) only when processing signals that require it, rather than maintaining high gain across all paths continuously, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining low noise performance when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10545561B2Multi-path digitation based on input signal fidelity and output requirements

Publication Date: 2020.01.28 CIRRUS LOGIC INC

AI summary

A system may include a plurality of processing paths and a controller. The processing paths may include a first processing path configured to generate a first digital signal based on an analog input signal and one or more other processing paths each configured to consume a smaller amount of power than the first processing path, and each configured to generate a respective digital signal based on the analog input signal, wherein one of the other processing paths has a noise floor based on fidelity characteristics of the analog input signal or subsequent processing requirements of a digital output signal generated from at least one of the first digital signal and the respective digital signals. The controller may be configured to select one of the first digital signal and the respective digital signals as the digital output signal of the processing system based on a magnitude of the analog input signal.