UWB Signal Sampling with Variable Gain for Faster GPR Acquisition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for sampling Ultra Wide Band (UWB) signals in Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) require long acquisition and reconstruction times due to high sensitivity needs, while real-time sampling compromises dynamic range, and hybrid solutions are slower than desired.
Innovation Solution
A method that divides the signal into portions for separate amplification and sampling, using variable-gain amplifiers and multiple channels with controlled delays, allowing faster signal reconstruction with maintained or enhanced dynamic range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If equivalent-time sampling is used to achieve high dynamic range, then sensitivity is improved, but acquisition time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the full-scale signal range into multiple portions or segments. Each portion is sampled separately with appropriate gain settings, allowing the system to achieve high dynamic range without requiring excessively long acquisition times. The segmentation of the signal range enables parallel or sequential processing of different amplitude levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs variable gain amplifiers that can dynamically adjust their gain settings based on the signal portion being processed. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize the sampling range for each signal segment, achieving high dynamic range measurement without the time penalties of fixed-gain equivalent-time sampling.
2Productivity
If real-time sampling is used to reduce acquisition time, then productivity is improved, but dynamic range decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal acquisition process into multiple portions, each handled by sampling circuits with appropriate gain settings. This segmentation allows real-time sampling to be applied to each segment independently, maintaining high acquisition speed while achieving overall high dynamic range through the combination of segmented measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the gain parameter of amplifiers based on the signal portion being processed. By dynamically adjusting gain settings for different signal segments, the system maintains real-time sampling capability while expanding the effective dynamic range beyond what a single fixed-gain real-time sampler could achieve.
3Measurement precision
If higher sampling rate is used to satisfy Nyquist condition, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the full-scale signal range into multiple portions, each sampled at a lower rate appropriate for that segment's amplitude level. This segmentation allows the use of slower, less complex ADCs for each portion while still achieving accurate representation of the overall high-dynamic-range signal through combination of the segmented samples.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the sampling parameters (gain settings, sampling rate) based on the signal portion being processed. By adapting these parameters to each segment's characteristics, the system achieves Nyquist compliance for each segment without requiring a single ultra-high-speed converter that would be needed for the entire dynamic range at once.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for sampling an Ultra Wide Band signal comprising a step of prearranging a GPR antenna comprising at least one transmitter and one receiver, a variable-gain amplifier, or VGA, a A/D converter and a control unit. The method then comprises the steps of transmitting and receiving a primary Ultra Wide Band signal by the GPR antenna and sampling values of the primary signal relative to a first full-scale portion by the A/D converter. The method also comprises the steps of transmitting and receiving at least one secondary Ultra Wide Band signal by the GPR antenna, amplifying said or each secondary signal by the variable-gain amplifier, and sampling values of said or each secondary signal relative to full-scale portions different from the first portion by the A/D converter.