Phase Noise Analysis Apparatus Using Folded Spectrum Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for analyzing phase noise in electronic signals lack comprehensive tools to accurately quantify and filter phase noise as signals propagate through electronic devices, hindering the identification and reduction of noise sources in application systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for analyzing phase noise involve measuring signal samples, applying filter data to derive filtered signal samples, and calculating noise measures, which include folding filter characteristics across spectrum boundaries to effectively filter and quantify phase noise in both one-port and two-port electronic devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If comprehensive tools for analyzing phase noise are developed, then measurement precision and noise identification capability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The analysis tool is segmented into distinct functional modules: a signal acquisition module for capturing input signals, a phase noise extraction module for isolating phase noise components, a filtering module for processing the extracted noise, and an analysis module for generating measurements. This modular segmentation enables precise phase noise measurement while managing complexity through organized, independent functional blocks that can be developed and maintained separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate processing stages including signal conditioning circuits and digital signal processing algorithms that act as mediators between the raw input signal and the final phase noise measurement. These intermediaries prepare the signal by removing artifacts, applying appropriate filtering, and transforming the signal into a form suitable for accurate phase noise analysis, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring direct complex interaction with the source signal.
2Measurement precision
If filtering is applied to phase noise signals, then noise quantification accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary filtering and signal conditioning to the input signal before phase noise extraction. By pre-processing the signal to remove known artifacts and condition it appropriately, the system reduces the complexity of subsequent phase noise analysis, achieving accurate noise quantification while minimizing total processing time through efficient staged processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements selective filtering that applies processing only to the necessary frequency ranges and signal components relevant to phase noise measurement. Rather than processing the entire signal spectrum uniformly, the system focuses computational resources on the specific frequency offsets and signal portions that contain phase noise information, thereby achieving accurate quantification with reduced processing time.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for analyzing phase noise in a signal. A plurality of signal samples, each signal sample representing a value of phase noise in a signal-under-test at a corresponding offset frequency, and filter data representing filter characteristics on a first side of a spectrum boundary, are used to derive filtered signal samples. A measure of noise is derived from the filtered signal samples. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.