Polyphase Signal Converter for Low-Complexity Spectral Shifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional signal converters for telecommunications and high-frequency technology require high circuit complexity and cost due to the need for precise mixing components and substantial computational overhead, especially when handling multiple frequency sub-bands or frequency-hopping systems.
Innovation Solution
A signal converter that employs polyphase filtering and copying of start signals to achieve efficient spectral conversion with reduced circuit complexity, using multiple processing branches with different processing regulations to perform low-pass filtering and frequency shifting, thereby eliminating the need for expensive multiplexers and demultiplexers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional mixers with precise mixing components are used, then mixing precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The signal processing function is segmented into multiple processing branches, each handling different frequency sub-bands independently. This allows parallel processing of multiple signals without requiring complex sequential mixing operations, thereby reducing overall circuit complexity while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing branches are designed with universal low-pass filtering functionality that can handle multiple frequency sub-bands. By making the filtering components multi-functional rather than dedicated to single frequencies, the circuit achieves precise mixing across multiple bands without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Device complexity
If digital mixing is performed with a single mixer stage, then device complexity is reduced, but computational overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computational load is segmented across multiple processing branches that operate in parallel. Each branch processes a specific frequency sub-band with simpler computations, avoiding the need for a single complex mixer stage that would require substantial computational resources to handle all frequencies simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Each processing branch performs partial processing on specific frequency components rather than attempting to process the entire spectrum in one stage. This distributed partial action reduces the computational overhead per branch while maintaining overall processing capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If OFDM method with Fourier transformation is used for parallel transmission, then adaptability is improved, but computational overhead increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the computationally intensive Fourier transformation step from the system. Instead, it uses simpler filtering and frequency shifting operations in parallel branches to achieve frequency multiplexing, thereby maintaining adaptability while substantially reducing computational overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing branch structure is copied multiple times to handle different frequency sub-bands in parallel. Each copy performs identical filtering operations on different frequency components, enabling flexible frequency multiplexing without requiring complex transformations, thus reducing overall computational requirements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple processing branches with different regulations are used, then spectral conversion flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different processing regulations are applied locally in different processing branches rather than requiring a single complex universal processor. Each branch is optimized for its specific frequency sub-band with tailored filtering characteristics, providing spectral conversion flexibility while keeping individual branch complexity manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
A signal converter for converting a start signal into an end signal includes means for copying the start signal to obtain a plurality of copied start signals, wherein a copied start signal may be fed into a processing branch as a branch signal. Further, the signal converter includes a first branch processing means in a first processing branch for processing a first branch signal according to a first processing regulation to obtain a first processed branch signal. Further, the signal converter includes a second branch processing means in a second processing branch for processing a second branch signal according to a second processing regulation to obtain a second processed branch signal, wherein the second processing regulation is different from the first processing regulation and wherein the first processing regulation and the second processing regulation are implemented to cause a low-pass polyphase filtering of the copied start signals. Finally, the signal converter includes selection means for sequentially selecting the first processed branch signal and then the second processed branch signal in order to obtain the end signal.