Synchronous Analog Digital Radio Receiver Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital radio broadcasting systems face complexity in processing analog and digital pathways asynchronously, leading to increased implementation complexity and difficulties in time aligning signals for blending, due to separate task scheduling and context switching.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method for synchronous processing of digital and analog components of a digital radio broadcast signal, using an asynchronous sample rate converter to adjust the sampling frequency and synchronize the receiver audio sampling clock with the transmitter clock, allowing for simultaneous processing of both pathways.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If analog and digital pathways are processed asynchronously using separate task scheduling, then processing flexibility is maintained, but implementation complexity increases and time alignment becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation complexityVSAvoidtime alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the processing of analog and digital pathways into a single synchronous processing framework. By using a common sampling clock and processing both signal types together in the same computational loop, the system eliminates the need for separate task scheduling mechanisms, thereby reducing implementation complexity while improving time alignment between the two pathways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal processing architecture that handles both analog and digital signals through the same processing pipeline. The baseband processor is designed to universally process different signal types (analog and digital) using unified algorithms and data structures, eliminating the need for pathway-specific processing logic and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If separate task scheduling is used for analog and digital demodulation, then processing independence is maintained, but context switching increases implementation complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontext switching complexityVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines analog and digital demodulation tasks into a single processing loop that runs without context switching. By integrating both demodulation processes into one continuous execution flow with a unified sampling clock, the system eliminates the overhead of task switching while maintaining the ability to process both signal types independently when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If asynchronous processing is used, then processing flexibility is maintained, but signal time alignment for blending becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal blendingVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal processing approach where both analog and digital signals are processed through the same synchronous pipeline. This unified processing framework automatically maintains time alignment between signals, making the blending operation straightforward while reducing overall processing complexity compared to asynchronous approaches that would require additional synchronization logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3332495B1System and method for synchronous processing of analog and digital pathways in a digital radio receiver
Publication Date: 2021.03.24 IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORP
  • EP3332495B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3332495B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3332495B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A method of processing a digital radio broadcast signal in a digital radio receiver includes: receiving baseband signal samples at a first sample rate; adjusting the sample rate of the baseband signals based on a difference between a receiver clock and a transmitter clock to produce adjusted baseband signal samples at a second sample rate; filtering the adjusted baseband signal samples to separate a digital component of the samples and an analog component of the samples, wherein the digital component and the analog component are synchronous; and separately demodulating the digital component and the analog component to produce a digital output signal and an analog output signal. A receiver that uses the method is also provided.