Ultra-Wideband Radio Frequency (RF) Vector Signal Generator with Channel Emulation Capability via Frequency Sampling and Parallel Processing Technolog

ABSTRACT: This project designs and demonstrates the feasibility of an innovative ultra-wideband radio frequency vector signal generator with channel emulation capability through frequency domain sampling theory and parallel processing FPGAs. Emerging RF applications, especially military applications, have been increasing their signal bandwidths and waveform complexity. To analyze and evaluate performances of such RF applications, it is highly desirable to have vector signal generators that can create precise digital representations of very complex wideband to ultra-wideband waveforms. Current off-the-shelf RF vector signal generators only offer a limited bandwidth (e.g., 50MHz on Tektronix Arbitrary Waveform Generators), making them not suitable for emerging wideband and ultra-wideband RF applications. This project studies the feasibility of a ultra-wideband RF vector signal generator that offers (1) high sampling rate (larger than 10 G samples/second); (2) ultra-wide bandwidth (larger than 3 GHz); (3) high center frequency (larger than 20 GHz); (4) capability of accepting both baseband complex (I & Q) input and passband real input (in analog domain and digital domain); (5) capability of emulating ultra-wideband RF channels. Frequency sampling theory is used to generate the wideband and ultra-wideband signals. Non-uniform Doppler shift distribution is exploited to emulate the wideband RF channels accurately. The proposed ultra-wideband RF vector signal generator is based on newly developed powerful FPGAs with parallel processing capabilities to generate the signal and to emulate channel effects and other distortion in real time. BENEFIT: This innovative ultra-wideband RF vector signal generator has many significant military applications as well as commercial applications. Such military applications include electronic warfare, military communication, ultra-wideband radar, cognitive radio, and cognitive radar. With the wideband and ultra-wideband signal generation capability, the proposed system has tremendous commercial market as well. As shown by the letter of support, a leading player in the signal generator and wireless testing solution market has shown strong interests in our technology and will collaborate with us in both technology development and market strategy development.