Non-Orthogonal Signal Separation for Compact Multi-Channel Links
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-channel communication systems face inefficiencies due to the need for large group channel sizes, noise immunity issues, and low transmission rates, primarily because they rely on orthogonality properties that result in excessive use of time-frequency resources.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for combining and separating non-orthogonal signals using a set of non-orthogonal signal generators, an adder, band pass filter, analog-to-digital converter, and a solver-separator, which employs differences in signal start times, durations, and frequency spectra to reduce the required frequency-time resource and enhance noise immunity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If orthogonality property is used to separate multiple signals in multi-channel systems, then signal separation is achieved, but the group channel size becomes excessively large due to guard intervals and guard times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of signal separation from orthogonality to non-orthogonality. By using non-orthogonal signals with different spectral characteristics, the system eliminates the need for guard intervals and guard times, thereby reducing group channel size while maintaining signal separation capability through spectral filtering and computational separation techniques
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of following the conventional approach of using orthogonal signals to avoid interference, the patent inverts the approach by deliberately using non-orthogonal signals that do overlap, then applying computational methods and filtering to separate them at the receiver, thus achieving both compact channel size and reliable signal separation
2Reliability
If orthogonality is used in multi-channel systems, then signal separation is possible, but noise immunity deteriorates due to mutual crosstalk and inter symbol interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the signal separation mechanism from relying on temporal orthogonality (which is susceptible to timing errors and interference) to relying on spectral characteristics of non-orthogonal signals. This allows the use of frequency-selective filtering and adaptive processing that are more robust against noise and interference
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/time-domain separation approach (guard intervals, synchronized time slots) with a frequency-domain and computational approach using spectral filtering and signal processing algorithms, which provide better noise immunity and are less sensitive to timing synchronization errors
3Reliability
If orthogonality is used to transmit multiple signals, then signal separation is achieved, but transmission rate is limited by Shannon's Capacity due to excessive resource usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes from orthogonal signaling with large guard intervals to non-orthogonal signaling with overlapping spectra, effectively increasing the spectral efficiency. This allows more signals to be transmitted simultaneously in the same time-frequency resource, thereby increasing the transmission rate beyond conventional Shannon capacity limits for orthogonal systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs excessive action by allowing signals to overlap significantly in time and frequency (beyond what traditional orthogonal systems permit), then uses computational separation methods to extract the individual signals, thereby achieving higher transmission rates by utilizing the channel capacity more fully
4Volume of stationary object
If non-orthogonal signals are combined and separated, then group channel size is reduced, but signal separation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces difficult time-domain separation of non-orthogonal signals with frequency-domain filtering and computational signal processing. By exploiting the different spectral characteristics of non-orthogonal signals, the system uses filters and algorithms to separate signals more easily than time-domain methods would allow
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces spectral filtering and computational processing as intermediary steps between signal reception and separation. These intermediaries transform the complex non-orthogonal signal mixture into separable components, reducing the overall difficulty of signal separation despite the non-orthogonal nature of the input signals
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for combining and separating non-orthogonal signals. A transmitting component includes a set of generators of non-orthogonal signals and an adder for forming a group mixture. A receiving component includes a band-pass selective filter, an analog-to-digital converter and a calculator-solver for separating signals or channels. The system and method are designed to provide an almost ideal channels separation due to a new original group mixture processing procedure performed by the calculator-solver. The system and method provide significant increase in noise-immunity and the achievement of transmission rates that are exceeded the Shannon's Capacity of the group path.