Multi-Channel DSP Using Shared FFT for Signal Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-channel signal processing systems, such as those used in radar and communication systems, are inefficient due to the need for separate FFT implementations and multiple filters for each channel, leading to suboptimal performance in mitigating channel-induced distortions and noise.
Innovation Solution
A multi-channel signal processing system that employs a shared FFT module using a complex signal input with one channel as the in-phase component and another as the quadrature component, followed by spectrum extraction and equalization modules to derive and correlate channel sample spectrums, thereby reducing the need for multiple filters and enhancing processing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate FFT implementations and multiple filters are used for each channel, then each channel can be processed independently, but the processing efficiency and computational overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate FFT implementations into a single shared FFT module that processes multiple channels simultaneously. By combining channel 1 and channel 2 into a single complex input signal for one FFT operation, the system eliminates redundant computational operations while maintaining independent channel processing capability through subsequent separation of real and imaginary components.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared FFT module performs multiple functions that would traditionally require separate dedicated FFT blocks for each channel. A single FFT operation serves both channels by utilizing the real and imaginary parts of the complex input signal, making the FFT module universal rather than channel-specific.
2Reliability
If multiple separate filters are implemented for each channel, then channel-specific filtering can be performed, but the device complexity and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple channel-specific filters into a single shared filter structure. By implementing filters that operate on the combined complex signal rather than separate real signals for each channel, the system reduces the total number of filter instances while maintaining the ability to perform channel-specific filtering operations through mathematical separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared filter structure serves multiple channels simultaneously, with a single filter implementation performing the filtering function for both channel 1 and channel 2 through the complex signal representation, eliminating the need for duplicate filter blocks.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional separate channel processing is used, then implementation is straightforward, but multipath distortion mitigation is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines channel 1 and channel 2 into a single complex input signal for processing, merging what would traditionally be separate processing paths into one unified operation. This combination enables better exploitation of signal relationships between channels, improving multipath distortion mitigation while maintaining implementation feasibility through standard DSP operations.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a multi-channel signal processing system that includes a fast Fourier transform (FFT) module configured to perform an FFT using a first channel time domain sample as the in-phase component of a complex signal input, and by using the second channel time domain sample as a quadrature component of the complex signal input. The FFT module provides a complex signal spectrum. A channel processing module is coupled to the FFT module. The channel processing module is configured to extract a channel sample spectrum as a function of the complex signal spectrum. A channel equalization module is coupled to the channel processing module. The channel equalization module is configured to multiply the channel sample spectrum by a channel reference spectrum to obtain a correlated and equalized channel sample spectrum.