Integrated FPGA architectures combining RF data converters and processing engines to revolutionise electronic warfare systems via eliminating complex frequency translation stages and improvising performance and efficiency.
FREMONT, CA: In recent times, there has been a significant increase in the deployment of highly integrated devices in electronic warfare (EW) systems. These devices represent transformative technology and bring about advancements in the field. One such advancement is the emergence of field-programmable gate array architectures (FPGA) that combine advanced radio frequency (RF) data converters with state-of-the-art processing engines in a single package. These architectures utilize advanced silicon processes and packaging technologies, offering both monolithic designs and multi-chip modules. By adopting these innovative modules, significant performance advantages can be achieved compared to the traditional approach of using discrete components found in previous architectures.
One of the most challenging requirements in modern electronic warfare systems is the ability to capture and generate high-frequency and wideband RF signals using high-speed data converters. These converters are typically connected to the antenna and require critical analogue frequency translation stages to convert RF antenna signal frequencies to lower intermediate frequencies that can be digitised by the data converters. These RF tuner stages often involve the use of mixers, filters, amplifiers, oscillators, and various discrete analogue components that need to be carefully packaged and shielded. This careful packaging and shielding help maintain signal integrity but also contribute to increased costs, size, power consumption, and complexities in electronic warfare systems.
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Meanwhile, the aim of boosting the sample rate and maximising the input signal frequency of monolithic data converters is to eliminate the need for cumbersome frequency translation stages. This enables efficient handling of RF signals directly, without any translation. As a result, the performance levels of these devices have steadily advanced and are often driven by the potential benefits they offer to commercial, industrial, and defence markets.
With the increasing availability of massive multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) phased antennas, the 5G commercial wireless market provides specialised incentives. These antennas require individual transmission/reception elements to steer the receive and transmit signal beam patterns. Achieving the directionality of the antenna involves precisely shifting the relative phase of signals to each element, which necessitates its signal processing channel.
Eliminating the frequency translation stage from each channel in such systems has several advantages. It helps save on size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements, as well as reduces costs in integrated electronic warfare systems. Additionally, it simplifies channel synchronization effectively. To address the challenges faced by the European military, it may be necessary to remove analogue components that are susceptible to component tolerances, ageing, temperature drift, reliability issues, and maintenance concerns. This enables a direct and efficient solution to the problems encountered.
In this context, discrete monolithic direct RF analogue-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analogue converters (DACs) play a crucial role. They possess high capabilities to directly digitize RF signals at one GHz. As a result, electronic warfare systems have been undergoing significant changes in response to these advancements for nearly a decade.
