Trigger Level Selection for Low-Jitter Analog Signal Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining trigger levels in digital signal processing systems often result in significant output jitter and false trigger events due to natural fluctuations in analog signals, especially when additional peaks or changes in signal amplitude occur.
Innovation Solution
A method that measures the minimum and maximum values of an analog signal over a predetermined time, defines multiple potential trigger levels between these extremes, evaluates jitter for each level, and selects the optimal trigger level based on the lowest jitter value, while also considering signal changes and using linear regression and weighting to refine the selection process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the trigger level is determined using the half point between minimum and maximum signal levels, then the trigger level determination is simple, but output jitter increases and false trigger events occur due to signal fluctuations and additional peaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the trigger level parameter from a fixed half-point calculation to a dynamically optimized value selected from multiple candidate levels. By evaluating jitter characteristics at different trigger levels and selecting the optimal one, the system achieves both simplicity and precision in trigger level determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary evaluation of multiple potential trigger levels by calculating jitter values for each candidate level before final selection. This advance assessment allows the system to identify the optimal trigger level that minimizes jitter and false triggers, rather than using a simple fixed calculation.
2Reliability
If the trigger level is adjusted frequently to adapt to signal amplitude changes, then the trigger detection reliability improves, but phase measurement jitter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic trigger level determination method that adapts to signal amplitude changes by periodically re-evaluating the optimal trigger level based on current signal characteristics. This dynamic adjustment maintains detection reliability while minimizing phase measurement jitter through optimized trigger level selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from jitter measurements to continuously optimize the trigger level. By monitoring the jitter characteristics at different trigger levels and selecting the optimal one based on measured performance, the system adapts to signal changes while maintaining low jitter and high reliability.
3Measurement precision
If the measurement time for determining minimum and maximum signal values is extended, then the accuracy of trigger level determination improves, but the response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent evaluates multiple potential trigger levels beyond the single half-point calculation, performing partial evaluations at different candidate levels. This approach achieves accurate trigger level determination without requiring excessively long measurement times, as the evaluation is performed efficiently across a limited set of candidate levels.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining a trigger level for a periodic analog signal in a digital signal processing system shall be provided that reduces output jitter as much as possible and avoids false trigger events. To this end, the method comprises the steps of: - measuring (1) the minimum and maximum values of the signal in a predetermined time, - defining (4) a plurality of potential trigger values between the minimum and maximum values, - assigning (5) to the respective potential trigger value a jitter value characteristic for the jitter created by processing the signal with the potential trigger value, and - determining (6) the optimal trigger level based on the lowest jitter value.