Wavelet Time-Delay Conversion for High-Resolution Signal Timing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining time delays in signal transmission suffer from noise and quantization errors, leading to limited resolution and increased complexity in digital data processing systems.

Innovation Solution

A device and method using wavelets with controlled delay to convert time delays into digital values by generating and analyzing wavelet signals, employing a scalar product unit and time-to-digital converter to determine the delay in a single step, eliminating amplitude discretization and focusing on temporal intersections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If amplitude-controlled delta-sigma conversion is used to convert time delays into digital values, then the conversion process is simple, but noise and quantization errors heavily affect the amplitude, limiting resolution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconversion process complexityVSAvoidtemporal resolution
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces amplitude-controlled conversion with temporal control. Instead of regulating amplitude values to determine time delay, the invention controls the temporal position (time point) of wavelet signals. This substitution of the control parameter from amplitude to time domain eliminates the noise and quantization errors that plague amplitude-based methods, achieving higher temporal resolution while maintaining conversion simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the fundamental parameter being controlled from amplitude to temporal position. By regulating when the wavelet signal occurs (time point control) rather than how strong it is (amplitude control), the system achieves superior measurement precision. The temporal position of the wavelet's zero crossing or peak is used to determine time delay, which is far less susceptible to noise than amplitude measurements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If three independent steps are used to determine delay (generating digital transmission signal, forming amplitude-discrete output signal, comparing signals), then the conversion process is systematic, but each stage introduces processing errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystematic conversion processVSAvoidprocessing error accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the time delay determination and amplitude comparison steps into a single integrated process. By using temporal control of the wavelet signal, the system determines time delay directly at the point where the scalar product signal crosses a reference value, eliminating the need for separate amplitude discretization and comparison stages. This consolidation reduces the number of error-introducing interfaces while maintaining systematic processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the time delay information directly from the temporal position of the wavelet signal without requiring full amplitude processing. By focusing only on the time point when the scalar product crosses the reference value, the system removes the unnecessary amplitude discretization step that introduces quantization errors, keeping only the essential temporal measurement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3423859B1Device for converting a temporal delay of a signal transmitted between a transmitter and a receiver
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 ELMOS SEMICON AG
  • EP3423859B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3423859B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3423859B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The device executes a method for determining the delay time of a first wavelet in a transmission path (I1). For this purpose, the first wavelet is transmitted into the transmission path (I1) at a time after a reference time. After passing through the transmission path (I1), the delayed and typically deformed transmission wavelet is scalar-multiplied with a second (analysis) wavelet. The result is compared to a reference value. The scalar product value adopts the reference value at a time (ts). The delay of the first and/or second wavelet in relation to the reference time is adjusted according to said time (ts) in relation to the reference time. An amplitude adjustment is not carried out.