UWB Receiver Correlation Architecture for Multipath Signal Combining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultra-wideband (UWB) communications face limitations due to low transmit power output, which restricts the effective range of UWB links, especially in multipath environments where signals from different paths interfere, making it challenging to maintain reliable data transmission.
Innovation Solution
A UWB receiver system that digitizes incoming signals before correlation, allowing for time multiplexing and the use of multiple correlators to combine energy from multipath components, reducing size, cost, and power consumption while enhancing signal-to-noise ratio through efficient processing of wideband signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple correlators are used to combine energy from multipath components, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple correlators into a single correlator by time-multiplexing the correlation process. The received signal is digitized and stored in a buffer, allowing a single correlator to process multiple multipath components sequentially by correlating with differently delayed versions of the reference signal. This merging approach maintains the signal-to-noise ratio improvement while reducing device complexity and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the time dimension by buffering the digitized received signal, enabling a single correlator to effectively become multiple correlators operating at different time instances. By storing signal samples and retrieving them with different delay offsets, the system achieves multi-path correlation capability without requiring multiple simultaneous correlator hardware units.
2Productivity
If analog-to-digital conversion is performed before correlation, then processing efficiency is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing function into distinct stages: analog-to-digital conversion, buffering/storage, and correlation. By separating these functions, the system can use a single A/D converter that operates continuously at a fixed rate, converting the entire received signal to digital form. This segmented approach improves processing efficiency by enabling flexible digital correlation while the converter operates at optimal fixed parameters rather than dynamically adjusting to signal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary analog-to-digital conversion of the entire received signal before correlation processing. The digitized signal is stored in a buffer memory, making all subsequent correlation operations purely digital. This preliminary conversion enables efficient digital signal processing while allowing the A/D converter to operate at a fixed, optimized rate independent of the correlation processing requirements.
3Length of moving object
If transmit power is increased to extend UWB link range, then communication range is improved, but power consumption and interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful multipath interference into a beneficial resource by combining energy from multiple reflected and scattered signal paths. Instead of treating multipath components as noise to be rejected, the system correlates each multipath component with appropriately delayed reference signals and combines them coherently. This transforms the previously harmful effect into a signal strength enhancement, extending communication range without increasing transmit power.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the correlation process to adaptively combine multipath components. By correlating received signals with reference signals at different delays and combining the correlation outputs, the system effectively feedback-adjusts the signal combination to maximize the received signal-to-noise ratio, thereby extending effective communication range without additional transmit power.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention generally relates to wired and wireless ultra wideband (UWB) data communications apparatus and methods, and in particular to UWB receiver systems and architectures.An ultra wideband (UWB) receiver system comprising: a receiver front end to receive a UWB signal; an analogue-to-digital converter coupled to said receiver front end to digitize said received UBW signal; and a correlator coupled to said analogue-to-digital converter to correlate said digitized UWB signal with a reference signal.