Analog Signal Processing

In order to realize the promise of Gbps data rates for every user in future 5G wireless networks a completely new approach to data processing is needed to reduce size, weight, power and cost (SWAP-C). A traditional approach is to up/down-convert the RF signal from/to baseband and sample with high speed, high fidelity DACs/ADCs (>=12-bits). This approach is not viable at GHz data rates because the power draw of such a data converter is several watts and the effective number of bits drops to <8, reducing the dynamic range of the transceiver. We are developing analog signal processing blocks capable of performing e.g., correlation and non-reciprocal functions capable of operating at GHz data rates without Gbps sampling. This approach allows for dramatic size reduction, lower cost, and lower power draw.