Periodic Timing Reference Detection Against Noise Spikes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting periodic timing references in signals, such as those used in LTE cell search, often result in false positives due to noise spikes, which can degrade detection sensitivity and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize a correlator and integrator to correlate and accumulate delayed signal versions, omitting signals delayed by the periodic timing reference's period, resulting in a flatter peak profile for valid signals and distinguishing them from noise spikes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing methods are used to detect periodic timing references, then detection speed is maintained, but false positives occur due to noise spikes degrading detection sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by integrating delayed versions of the correlated signal back into the detection process. The integrator combines the current correlated signal with previous correlated signals delayed by integer multiples of the expected period, creating a feedback mechanism that reinforces periodic patterns while averaging out random noise spikes, thereby improving detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies periodic action by delaying the correlated signal by integer multiples of the expected periodic timing reference period and integrating these delayed versions. This periodic delay and integration process selectively amplifies signals that repeat at the expected period while suppressing non-periodic noise, resolving the contradiction between maintaining detection speed and improving accuracy
2Reliability
If delayed feedback integration is implemented to reduce false positives, then detection sensitivity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection process into distinct functional blocks: a correlator for initial signal matching, an integrator for accumulating delayed versions, and a decision unit for final detection. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function efficiently, improving detection sensitivity while managing complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The integrator serves as an intermediary component between the correlator and the decision unit. It processes the correlated signal by integrating delayed versions and produces a refined output that the decision unit can easily interpret. This intermediary structure improves detection sensitivity without requiring complex direct processing between the correlator and decision components
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for detecting a periodic timing reference in a received signal comprises a correlator and an integrator. The correlator is configured to correlate the received signal with a template to produce a correlated signal indicating the presence of the periodic timing reference in the received signal. The integrator is configured to produce an accumulated signal by overlaying one or more delayed versions of the accumulated signal onto the correlated signal, and is further configured to delay the accumulated signals by integer multiples L of a period of the periodic timing reference, the integer multiples L being at least two.