IP Library Granted Patent US 12,625,231
Granted Patent B2
US 12,625,231 · App. 18/535,177 · Granted May 12, 2026

Reduced latency look-ahead for signal detector

Inventors: Richard J. Lavery (Huntington, NY); Peter Ladubec, Jr. (Centereach, NY)
Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
G01S7/2922
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,625,231
App. No.
18/535,177
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques are provided for reduced latency look-ahead for signal detection. An example methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes down converting a digitized signal to a first baseband signal at a first decimation rate such that the first baseband signal is provided at a first latency with a first signal to noise ratio (SNR) based on the first decimation rate. The method also includes down converting the digitized signal to a second baseband signal at a second decimation rate, greater than the first decimation rate, such that the second baseband signal is provided at a second latency with a second SNR based on the second decimation rate, the second latency greater than the first latency and the second SNR greater than the first SNR. The method continues with generating a detection threshold based on the first baseband signal prior to completion of the second baseband signal generation.

Claims (46)

1 . A signal detection system comprising:

a first processing channel configured to down convert a digitized signal to a first baseband signal at a first decimation rate such that the first baseband signal is provided at a first latency with a first signal to noise ratio (SNR), the first latency and the first SNR based on the first decimation rate;

a second processing channel configured to down convert the digitized signal to a second baseband signal at a second decimation rate such that the second baseband signal is provided at a second latency with a second SNR, the second latency and the second SNR based on the second decimation rate, wherein the second decimation rate is greater than the first decimation rate, the second latency is greater than the first latency, and the second SNR is greater than the first SNR; and

a detection threshold calculator configured to generate a detection threshold based on the first baseband signal, the detection threshold generated prior to completion of the generation of the second baseband signal.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first processing channel comprises:

a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) configured to generate a down-conversion frequency signal;

a mixer configured to mix the digitized signal with the down-conversion frequency signal to generate a mixed signal;

a decimation circuit configured to decimate the mixed signal at the first decimation rate; and

a low pass filter configured to attenuate high frequency noise from the decimated mixed signal to generate the first baseband signal.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the low pass filter is an infinite impulse response filter.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second processing channel comprises:

a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) configured to generate a down-conversion frequency signal;

a mixer configured to mix the digitized signal with the down-conversion frequency signal to generate a mixed signal;

a decimation circuit configured to decimate the mixed signal at the second decimation rate; and

a low pass filter configured to attenuate high frequency noise from the decimated mixed signal to generate the second baseband signal.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the low pass filter is a finite impulse response filter.

6 . A radio frequency (RF) system-on-a-chip (SoC) comprising the signal detection system of claim 1 .

7 . A computer program product including one or more non-transitory machine-readable mediums encoded with instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause a process to be carried out for signal detection, the process comprising:

down converting a digitized signal to a first baseband signal at a first decimation rate such that the first baseband signal is provided at a first latency with a first signal to noise ratio (SNR), the first latency and the first SNR based on the first decimation rate;

down converting the digitized signal to a second baseband signal at a second decimation rate such that the second baseband signal is provided at a second latency with a second SNR, the second latency and the second SNR based on the second decimation rate, wherein the second decimation rate is greater than the first decimation rate, the second latency is greater than the first latency, and the second SNR is greater than the first SNR; and

generating a detection threshold based on the first baseband signal, the detection threshold generated prior to completion of the generation of the second baseband signal.

8 . The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the process further comprises:

generating a down-conversion frequency signal;

mixing the digitized signal with the down-conversion frequency signal to generate a mixed signal;

decimating the mixed signal at the first decimation rate to generate a first decimated signal;

filtering high frequency noise from the first decimated signal to generate the first baseband signal;

decimating the mixed signal at the second decimation rate to generate a second decimated signal; and

filtering high frequency noise from the second decimated signal to generate the second baseband signal.

9 . The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the process further comprises attenuating, using an infinite impulse response filter, a high frequency noise from the first decimated signal, and attenuating, using a finite impulse response filter, the high frequency noise from a second decimated signal.

10 . The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the digitized signal is a pulse modulated continuous wave signal, and the detection threshold is calculated as proportional to a peak sample value of the first baseband signal or as proportional to an average of sample values of the first baseband signal.

11 . The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the digitized signal is a spread spectrum signal, and the detection threshold is calculated as proportional to a correlation of the first baseband signal and a spreading function.

12 . The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the digitized signal is an identification friend or foe (IFF) interrogator signal, and the process comprises detecting an IFF suppression pulse based on the first baseband signal.

13 . A method for signal detection, the method comprising:

down converting, by a processor-based system, a digitized signal to a first baseband signal at a first decimation rate such that the first baseband signal is provided at a first latency with a first signal to noise ratio (SNR), the first latency and the first SNR based on the first decimation rate;

down converting, by the-processor based system, the digitized signal to a second baseband signal at a second decimation rate such that the second baseband signal is provided at a second latency with a second SNR, the second latency and the second SNR based on the second decimation rate, wherein the second decimation rate is greater than the first decimation rate, the second latency is greater than the first latency, and the second SNR is greater than the first SNR; and

generating, by the processor-based system, a detection threshold based on the first baseband signal, the detection threshold generated prior to completion of the generation of the second baseband signal.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

generating a down-conversion frequency signal;

mixing the digitized signal with the down-conversion frequency signal to generate a mixed signal;

decimating the mixed signal at the first decimation rate to generate a first decimated signal;

filtering high frequency noise from the first decimated signal to generate the first baseband signal;

decimating the mixed signal at the second decimation rate to generate a second decimated signal; and

filtering high frequency noise from the second decimated signal to generate the second baseband signal.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising attenuating, using an infinite impulse response filter, a high frequency noise from the first decimated signal, and attenuating, using a finite impulse response filter, a high frequency noise from the second decimated signal.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the digitized signal is a pulse modulated continuous wave signal, and the detection threshold is calculated as proportional to a peak sample value of the first baseband signal or as proportional to an average of sample values of the first baseband signal.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the digitized signal is a spread spectrum signal, and the detection threshold is calculated as proportional to a correlation of the first baseband signal and a spreading function.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 11, 2023
From: LAVERY, RICHARD J.; LADUBEC, PETER, JR.
To: BAE SYSTEMS INFORMATION AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS INTEGRATION INC.
Reel/Frame 065829/0053 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250189625A1 · Jun 12, 2025
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