Direct radiofrequency-to-information converter for rapid, wideband signal detection
This technology is a direct radiofrequency-to-information converter (DRFIC) for data reception and rapid wideband signal detection in a single reconfigurable structure.
Unmet Need: Wireless terminals with a compact unified system architecture capable of signal reception and rapid wideband signal detection
As more electronic devices rely on access to the wireless network, spectrum congestion is expected to intensify and will need to be managed by more flexible spectrum use and access. Current solutions are not suited for mass-market applications, as they are often implemented as signal reception and signal detection (aka sensing) in separate and bulky hardware blocks. There is a need for wireless terminals (cell phones and AR/VR/XR headsets), infrastructure equipment (base stations and access points), and consumer electronics (game consoles and other set top boxes) with a compact unified system architecture capable of signal reception and rapid wideband signal detection. Therefore, a compact and cost-effective, energy-efficient, and reconfigurable architecture could unify signal reception and detection.
The Technology: Rapid wideband signal detection
The DRFIC is a flexible architecture that combines data reception, narrowband detection, and rapid wide-bandwidth signal detection in one system. In addition to achieving the three critical functions of a cognitive radio receiver (interferer-robust and high-sensitivity information reception, rapid wideband spectrum sensing and high-sensitivity narrowband spectrum sensing), the technology has flexible local oscillator modulation, allowing opportunistic signal information transmission and reception from a wider RF input spectrum to become accessible. The DRFIC is compact and does not consume high amounts of electricity. This technology can be used to alleviate the increasing issue of RF spectrum congestion.
Applications:
- Wireless signal receiver by serving as a circuit for identifying interferers
- Multi-tiered dynamic shared-spectrum access communication system
- High bit-rate wireless network access
- Interference mitigation circuitry for navigation (GPS) and cell phones.
Advantages:
- Unifies data reception, narrowband detection, and wide-bandwidth signal detection
- Flexible and reconfigurable
- Rapid and compact
- Cost-effective
- Low electricity use and scan time (energy-efficient)
Lab Director:
Patent Information:
Related Publications:
Tech Ventures Reference:
IR CU17085, CU18364
Licensing Contact: Greg Maskel