High-performance advanced filter bank analog-to-digital converter for universal RF receivers

Abstract

The advanced filter bank analog-to-digital converter (AFB ADC) is a breakthrough approach to very high-speed, high-resolution analog-to-digital conversion which improves the speed of conversion by up to six times the state-of-the-art by using a parallel array of individual converters (patent pending). The AFB ADC uses multirate filter bank signal processing to improve performance. Because of its unique architecture, the AFB ADC is continuously upgradeable as new analog-to-digital converter chips become available, thereby maintaining its performance advantage. This paper describes the architecture and provides hardware prototype results for a 12-bit, 80 MSa/s system for use in a universal, software-reconfigurable radio frequency (RF) receiver for cellular, satellite, or military communications. A 14-bit, 325 MSa/s system is currently being developed.