Power Trigger Time Qualified Sequential Event Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power triggers in real-time spectrum analyzers cannot detect signals with specified pulse widths or sequences of power thresholds, as they lack the capability to trigger on time-qualified and sequential events, failing to capture errant pulses or signals that violate trigger levels for specific durations or multiple power threshold changes.
Innovation Solution
A power trigger system that converts digital RF signals into power signals, compares them to trigger levels, and generates a trigger signal based on time-qualified and sequential events, allowing for triggering on signals that violate levels for specified time durations or sequences of violations, using a comparator and time qualifier to measure duration and a sequencer to manage sequences of trigger events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional power trigger is used to detect RF signals, then the trigger level can be violated immediately to generate a trigger signal, but the capability to detect signals with specific pulse widths or time-duration violations is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger level violation detection is segmented into multiple time-based stages. The system divides the detection process into an initial violation detection phase and a sustained violation confirmation phase, allowing it to distinguish between momentary fluctuations and genuine time-qualified events requiring trigger generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by initiating a time qualification measurement immediately when a trigger level violation is detected. This preliminary time measurement determines whether the violation persists for the required duration before committing to generate a trigger signal, preventing premature triggering on transient violations.
2Device complexity
If a conventional power trigger with a single trigger level is used, then the circuit complexity is low, but the capability to detect sequences of power threshold violations is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The single trigger level is segmented into multiple sequential trigger levels (first trigger level and second trigger level). Each level serves a specific function in the sequence detection process, allowing the system to identify complex signal patterns that require passing through or violating multiple power thresholds in a defined sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic action through sequential trigger level violations, where signals must periodically violate the first trigger level and then the second trigger level in a specific sequence. This periodic violation pattern enables detection of structured signal events that simple single-level triggers cannot identify.
3Speed
If the power trigger generates a trigger signal immediately upon trigger level violation, then the response time is minimal, but the ability to filter out transient or errant pulses with incorrect pulse widths is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Before generating a trigger signal, the system performs preliminary action by measuring the duration of the trigger level violation. This preliminary time measurement acts as a validation step that confirms the violating signal meets the required pulse width criteria, filtering out transient or errant pulses that would otherwise trigger falsely.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring the signal duration against the required pulse width threshold. When a violation occurs, the system feedback-loops to measure how long the violation persists, and only generates a trigger signal when the feedback confirms the duration meets specifications, thereby improving detection reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A power trigger is provided having time qualified and sequential event capability. Digital data representing an input signal is converted (42) into a power signal. The power signal is compared (44) to a trigger level. A trigger signal is generated when the power signal violates the trigger level for either at least or less than a specified time duration (48). Alternatively, the trigger signal may be generated on the occurrence of a sequence of such violations.