Translinear analog signal processing: a modular approach to large-scale analog computation with multiple-input translinear elements

Abstract

The author describes a general framework, called translinear analog signal processing (TASP), for implementing continuous-time analog signal processing systems that have a wide dynamic range and can operate with a low power-supply voltage. Such analog signal processing systems are highly modular, comprising only grounded capacitors, constant current sources, and simple circuit primitives called multiple-input translinear elements (MITEs). Moreover, the behavior of a TASP system is well described in terms of commonly used linear and nonlinear signal processing functions. Consequently, these systems should be highly amenable to behavioral-level descriptions and to computer-aided design automation techniques. The author briefly discusses the operation of MITEs and their circuit implementation. He describes the two classes of MITE circuits, MITE networks and MITE log-domain filters, that together make up the TASP framework and shows experimental data from a basic circuit from each class. The author then illustrates how we can interface these circuits in a seamless fashion to build large-scale TASP systems. Finally, he discuss the possibility of building adaptive and reconfigurable TASP systems.