High frequency, low power, N-path sigma-delta modulator
AssigneeBeyond Semiconductor, D.O.O.
InventorsMatjaz Breskvar, Drago Strle
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Abstract
Systems and methods provide architectures for various applications, for example, for software defined radios and other high frequency (HF) application. Embodiments can provide novel multi path ΣΔ architectures that form the basis for novel N path Sigma Delta (NΣΔ) modulators, NΣΔ digital to analog converters (NΣΔ DAC) and NΣΔ analog to digital converters (NΣΔ ADC).
Claims20
A multi-path sigma delta modulator for generating a digital output signal from a high frequency input signal, the multi path sigma delta modulator converter comprising:
- an N-path down converter for downconverting the high frequency input signal, the N-path down converter further comprising a plurality of paths forming N signal propagation paths, each signal propagation path filtering and scaling the high frequency input signal via a plurality of programmable weight coefficients, wherein the programmable weight coefficients are configured to select a center frequency of the N-path down converter, wherein outputs of each of the signal propagation paths are combined to form a combined output;
- and
- a quantizer for digitizing the combined output to generate a digital output signal.
A multi-path sigma delta modulator for generating a desired high frequency analog output signal from a digital input signal, the multi path sigma delta modulator converter comprising:
- an N-path scaler for preparing the digital input signal such that an output of the sigma delta modulator is the desired high frequency analog output signal, the N-path scaler comprising a plurality of programmable weight coefficients to define a spectral characteristic of the N-path scaler;
- a quantizer operatively coupled to the N-path scaler, the quantizer having a digital input and a digital output, wherein the digital output has a lower number of bits than the digital input;
- and
- a DAC operatively coupled to the quantizer for converting the digital output of the quantizer to an analog signal.
A method for generating a digital output signal from a high frequency input signal using a multi path sigma delta modulator converter, the method comprising:
- downconverting, by an N-path down converter, the high frequency input signal, the N-path down converter comprising a plurality of paths forming N signal propagation paths, each signal propagation path filtering and scaling the high frequency input signal via a plurality of programmable weight coefficients, wherein the programmable weight coefficients are configured to select a center frequency of the N-path down converter, wherein outputs of each of the signal propagation paths are combined to form a combined output;
- and
- generating, by a quantizer, a digital output signal from the combined output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.