Spread Spectrum Receiver Buffer Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spread spectrum signal receivers are limited by their inability to efficiently process multiple signal formats and frequency bands due to hardware-specific designs, making them inflexible and costly when trying to accommodate different standards like GPS, Galileo, and GLONASS, which requires multiple receiver chains and increases device size and expense.
Innovation Solution
A software-based receiver with a primary buffer unit integrated with a digitizing circuit, allowing efficient data transfer and processing of multiple signal formats, including separate signal processing modules for different formats, and a flexible interface for asynchronous or synchronous clock operations, along with secondary buffers for efficient data handling and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple receiver chains are included to receive signals from different standards, then the ability to receive multiple signal formats is improved, but the device becomes expensive, bulky and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single receiver chain that can process multiple signal formats (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS) by using a programmable software receiver approach. The front-end unit is designed with universal components including a digitizing circuit that can handle different frequency bands and a primary buffer unit that stores sample values for flexible processing. The processing unit executes different software programs to adapt to various signal standards, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated hardware receiver chains while maintaining the ability to receive and process signals from different satellite navigation systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a software-based receiver is used to process multiple signal formats, then adaptability is improved, but the interface flexibility and handling of varying signal characteristics becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a primary buffer unit as an intermediary component between the digitizing circuit and the processing unit. This buffer unit stores sample values from the digitizing circuit and provides them to the processing unit in a standardized manner, decoupling the interface requirements. The buffer unit acts as a mediator that handles the variability in signal characteristics (frequency bands, bandwidth, modulating principles) by providing a consistent data interface, thereby simplifying the software receiver's interface requirements while maintaining adaptability to multiple signal formats.
3Ease of operation
If hardware receiver design is used, then the interface to radio front-end is standardized, but the ability to coexist with other signal receivers and software applications is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional hardware-based signal processing system with a software-based processing unit that executes different software programs. This substitution allows the receiver to adapt to multiple signal formats and coexist with other signal receivers and software applications through programmable logic rather than fixed hardware circuitry. The processing unit can be reconfigured via software to handle different satellite navigation standards, enabling flexible coexistence with other applications while maintaining a standardized interface through the buffer unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A proposed spread spectrum signal receiver includes a radio front-end unit and a processing unit. The radio front-end unit, in turn, has an antenna, a digitizing circuit and a primary buffer unit. The antenna is adapted to receive radio signals (SHF) from a plurality of signal sources, and the digitizing circuit is adapted to downconvert and filter the received signals (SHF), and generate sample values (SBP-D) thereof. The primary buffer unit is adapted to temporarily store the sample values (SBP-D) from the digitizing circuit and allow the processing unit to read out a first set of stored sample values (SBP-D) contemporaneously with the storing of a second set of sample values (SBP-D) in the primary buffer unit. The processing unit is adapted to receive the sample values (SBP-D) from the primary buffer unit, and based thereon, produce position/time related data (DPT).