UWB

The modular ultra-wideband (UWB) pseudo noise (PN)-sequence sensor was introduced to showcase the capabilities of the EMS-developed integrated circuits (ICs) Xampling Generator 1 (XG1) and Xampling Frontend 1 (XF1) which were specifically designed to demonstrate the paradigm of compressive sampling implemented on real silicon hardware¹. The sensor system divides into two main units - modular multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) transceiver (TRx) frontend and corresponding data acquisition backend.

Bräunlich, Niklas and Wagner, Christoph W. and Sachs, Jürgen and Del Galdo, Giovanni.

In this article, we propose an evolved system design approach to ultra-wideband (UWB) radar based on pseudo-random noise (PRN) sequences, the key features of which are its user-adaptability to meet the demands provided by desired microwave imaging applications and its multichannel scalability. In light of providing a fully synchronized multichannel radar imaging system for short-range imaging as mine detection, non-destructive testing (NDT) or medical imaging, the advanced system architecture is presented with a special focus put on the implemented synchronization mechanism and clocking scheme. The core of the targeted adaptivity is provided by means of hardware, such as variable clock generators and dividers as well as programmable PRN generators.

Wagner, Christoph W. and Semper, Sebastian and Römer, Florian and Schönfeld, Anna and Del Galdo, Giovanni.

We propose a compact hardware architecture for measuring sparse channel impulse responses (IR) by extending the M-Sequence ultra-wideband (UWB) measurement principle with the concept of compressed sensing. A channel is excited with a periodic M-sequence and its response signal is observed using a Random Demodulator (RD), which observes pseudo-random linear combinations of the response signal at a rate significantly lower than the measurement bandwidth. The excitation signal and the RD mixing signal are generated from compactly implementable Linear Feedback Shift registers (LFSR) and operated from a common clock. A linear model is derived that allows retrieving an IR from a set of observations using Sparse-Signal-Recovery (SSR).

The multidimensional characterization of the radio channel and models derived from it are a core component in the development of radio systems for newly accessible frequency ranges. An important focus of current research is the (sub-)THz frequency range, which promises high data rates and low latency for future mobile communications standards (6G)¹. Due to significant changes compared to the familiar sub-6 GHz or mm-wave bands, metrology, i.e., the verification and characterization of measurement equipment, is also an important research topic that must deliver concepts for the calibration and certification of measurement technology in parallel with the actual applications. As part of the DFG-funded research group “METERACOM – Metrology for THz Communication,” the EMS group is developing metrological concepts for the multidimensional characterization of the radio channel.

The multidimensional characterization of the radio channel and models derived from it are a core component in the development of radio systems for newly accessible frequency ranges. An important focus of current research is the (sub-)THz frequency range, which promises high data rates and low latency for future mobile communications standards (6G)¹. Due to significant changes compared to the familiar sub-6 GHz or mm-wave bands, metrology, i.e., the verification and characterization of measurement equipment, is also an important research topic that must deliver concepts for the calibration and certification of measurement technology in parallel with the actual applications. As part of the DFG-funded research group “METERACOM – Metrology for THz Communication,” the EMS group is developing metrological concepts for the multidimensional characterization of the radio channel.

It has been shown¹ that Linear Feedback Shift Registers (LFSR) can serve as a Radar sensor by random demodulation that enables significantly lower data-rates than dictated by the Nyquist-Sampling Theorem. At the same time they can be implemented very efficiently in silicon, while still allowing high configurability. This makes this approach a prime candidate for a wide range of Radar and inspection applications, but it requires a thorough study of the resulting theoretically achieveable performance.