RF Pulse Measurement System Using Parallel Signal Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in accurately measuring low-level RF signals due to high instantaneous dynamic range, which is compounded by noise limitations, making it difficult to capture RF pulses with fast rise and fall times and varying power characteristics without distortion.
Innovation Solution
The enhanced dynamic range RF pulse measurement system employs multiple separate RF receiving, sampling, and recording systems with individually set reference levels to cover the overall system dynamic range, allowing for simultaneous high dynamic range and wide RF analysis bandwidth by dividing the signal power segments and using precision timing pulse insertion for accurate data capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single RF receiving system is used to measure RF signals, then the system structure is simple, but the dynamic range is limited by the noise floor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the RF receiving system into multiple parallel channels (at least two), each with its own RF receiver, ADC, and processing unit. Each channel is optimized for different signal power levels, with reference levels spaced apart to avoid mutual interference. This segmentation allows the system to measure signals across a wide dynamic range by selecting the appropriate channel based on signal strength, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the RF analysis bandwidth is increased to capture fast RF pulses, then the signal capture capability is improved, but the noise floor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring different RF receivers with different reference levels and bandwidth settings optimized for specific signal conditions. Each receiver channel is tailored to handle specific power levels and bandwidth requirements, allowing the system to capture fast RF pulses with high bandwidth while maintaining low noise floors by selecting the appropriately configured channel for each measurement scenario.
3Measurement precision
If multiple RF receivers with different reference levels are used, then the dynamic range is extended, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple RF receiver channels into a unified measurement system with centralized control logic that automatically selects the appropriate channel based on signal power levels. The system combines the capabilities of multiple receivers while presenting a single integrated interface, reducing the operational complexity despite having multiple physical receivers. The reference levels are carefully spaced to ensure smooth transitions between channels and avoid measurement gaps.
4Measurement precision
If the reference levels of multiple receivers are closely spaced, then the dynamic range coverage is improved, but mutual interference between channels occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary selection mechanism that chooses which receiver channel to use based on the incoming signal power level. This intermediary control logic prevents mutual interference by ensuring that only one receiver is active at a time for a given signal, selecting the channel whose reference level is most appropriate for the signal strength. The reference levels are spaced sufficiently apart to create clear separation between the operational ranges of different channels.
Data Source
AI summary
The enhanced dynamic range RF pulse measurement system accepts an RF source for spectral analysis. The system includes an RF splitter accepting the RF source under analysis as input. The split output connects to identical precision timing insertion units (TIU) 1 and 2, each time tagging its respective RF signal stream. TIU 1 feeds a first real-time spectrum analyzer (RSA 1) set for strong signals at an exemplary −3.00 dBm reference level. TIU 2 feeds a second real-time spectrum analyzer (RSA 2) set for weak signals at an exemplary −15.00 dBm reference level. Outputs of RSA 1 and RSA 2 are then fed to a multi-channel recorder which records the respective time tagged RF signal streams. For each signal stream real-time PDW processing is performed. Output of the recorder feeds a workstation that for any given time tag selects and processes the channel having the highest quality signal.