Synchronising Non-Synchronous Data Streams Using Alignment Pulses
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Solution Overview
Problem
High sampling rates in data processing systems lead to significant timing uncertainties between processing chains, causing data streams received by different antenna feeds to be non-coherent, resulting in errors when combined and processed.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for synchronizing non-synchronous input data streams using an analogue to digital converter arrangement and a synchronization processing arrangement, which generates alignment pulses to align sample sequences and delivers them coherently to a common processor, allowing for coherent processing even when components cannot operate at high sampling rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high sampling rates are used in data processing systems, then productivity is improved, but timing uncertainties between processing chains increase causing data streams to become non-coherent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by generating alignment pulses at the ADC stage (before main processing) that encode timing reference information. These alignment pulses are inserted into each data stream in advance, allowing the digital processor to later identify and correct timing offsets between non-coherent streams without requiring the entire system to operate synchronously at high sampling rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment pulses serve as an intermediary mechanism between the independent processing chains. Each processing chain generates its own alignment pulses based on its local clock, and these pulses act as mediators that allow the digital processor to measure and compensate for timing differences between chains, enabling coherent processing despite operating independently.
2Device complexity
If separate processing chains with separate clock signals are used for different data streams, then device complexity is reduced, but timing synchronization between chains deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Alignment pulses act as intermediary reference signals inserted into each independently clocked processing chain. These pulses carry timing identification information that allows the digital processor to measure the relative timing offsets between chains and apply appropriate correction, maintaining both independence and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of timing reference from requiring absolute synchronization to using relative timing measurement. By encoding timing information in alignment pulses and measuring offsets in terms of sample periods, the system adapts to independent clocking while maintaining measurement precision through software-based timing correction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures that data streams are delivered coherently to the digital processor, reducing errors and enabling successful beamforming in satellite communication systems by aligning alignment pulses and sample sequences, even at high sampling rates.
Implementation Method 1
an analogue to digital converter arrangement for digitising the input data streams into a plurality of sequences of samples
Implementation Method 2
a synchronisation processing arrangement for generating alignment pulses for each sequence, for arranging each sequence of samples with respect to the alignment pulses for the sequence and for synchronising the delivery of said plurality of sequences of samples to a common processor with respect to the respective alignment pulses
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for aligning non-synchronous input data streams received in the apparatus, the apparatus comprising an analogue to digital converter arrangement for digitising the data streams into a plurality of sequences of samples; and a synchronisation processing arrangement for generating alignment pulses for each sequence of the plurality of sequences of samples, for arranging each sequence of samples with respect to the alignment pulses for the sequence and for synchronisation the delivery of said plurality of sequences of samples to a common processor with respect to the respective alignment pulses. The synchronisation processing arrangement may comprise a processing chain for each antenna feed of said plurality of antenna feeds and each processing chain may comprise an alignment pulse generator for generating an alignment pulse for the sequence of samples corresponding to the processing chain. The input data streams may be received by a plurality of antenna feeds.