Wireless receiver using low resolution analog-to-digital converters
View Patent ↗A wireless receiver is disclosed. The wireless receiver includes a phased array antenna panel having a plurality of antennas, and a low resolution analog-to-digital (A/D) converter coupled to each of the plurality of antennas, where the low resolution A/D converter is configured to provide a digital output based on comparing a reference value with a sum of noise value and signal value of an analog input received by the corresponding one of the plurality of antennas. Noise signals received by the plurality of antennas are uncorrelated, and a signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the analog input can be less than one. The low resolution A/D converter can be a one-bit A/D converter. The one-bit A/D converter can be a comparator receiving the sum of noise value and signal value as one comparator input, and receiving the reference value as another comparator input.
1. A wireless receiver comprising:
an antenna panel comprising a plurality of antennas;
a plurality of one-bit analog-to-digital (A/D) converters;
at least some of said plurality of antennas being coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of one-bit A/D converters;
wherein said plurality of one-bit A/D converters are configured to provide digital outputs based on comparing a respective reference value with a respective sum of noise value and signal value of a respective analog input received by each said plurality of one-bit A/D converters;
wherein said respective reference value is selected based on said noise value.
2. The wireless receiver of claim 1 , wherein each said plurality of one-bit A/D converters comprises a respective comparator receiving said respective sum of noise value and signal value as one comparator input, and receiving said respective reference value as another comparator input.
3. The wireless receiver of claim 1 , wherein a signal to noise ratio (SNR) of said respective analog input is less than one.
4. The wireless receiver of claim 3 , wherein said respective reference value is substantially above said signal value.
5. The wireless receiver of claim 1 , wherein said respective reference value is substantially above said signal value.
6. The wireless receiver of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of antennas receive uncorrelated noise.
7. The wireless receiver of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of antennas receive signals from a single wireless transmitter accompanied by uncorrelated noise.
8. The wireless receiver of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of antennas receive signals from a single wireless transmitter accompanied by uncorrelated noise, and wherein a signal to noise ratio (SNR) at said respective analog input is less than one.
9. The wireless receiver of claim 1 further comprising a digital beamforming block coupled to said digital outputs of said plurality of one-bit A/D converters.
10. A wireless receiver comprising:
an antenna panel comprising a plurality of antennas;
a plurality of one-bit analog-to-digital (A/D) converters;
at least some of said plurality of antennas being coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of one-bit A/D converters;
wherein said plurality of one-bit A/D converters are configured to provide digital outputs based on comparing a respective reference value with a respective sum of noise value and signal value of a respective analog input received by each said plurality of one-bit A/D converters;
wherein said respective reference value is selected based on said noise value;
wherein said plurality of antennas receive signals from multiple wireless transmitters, and wherein a signal to noise ratio (SNR) at said respective analog input is greater than one.
11. The wireless receiver of claim 10 , wherein said one-bit A/D converter comprises a comparator receiving said sum of said noise value and said signal value as one comparator input, and receiving said reference value as another comparator input.
12. The wireless receiver of claim 10 , wherein said plurality of antennas receive uncorrelated noise.
13. The wireless receiver of claim 10 further comprising a digital beamforming block coupled to said digital outputs of said plurality of one-bit A/D converters.