U.S. patent application number 14/753317 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-20 for method and apparatus for cross polarization and cross satellite interference cancellation.
The applicant listed for this patent is Entropic Communications, LLC. Invention is credited to Branislav PETROVIC, Michail TSATSANIS.
Application Number | 20160309114 14/753317 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45526708 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160309114 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
PETROVIC; Branislav ; et
al. |
October 20, 2016 |
Method and Apparatus for Cross Polarization and Cross Satellite
Interference Cancellation
Abstract
A method and apparatus in which a Tap-Weight Computer (TWC)
calculates a Tap-Weight Vector (TWV). The TWV is coupled to a
register in each of a plurality of adaptive filter modules. Each
such adaptive filter module includes several adaptive filters that
each include a tapped delay line. The input to the tapped delay
line of each such adaptive filter is one of a plurality of
potential interfering signals. The TWV controls the weighting of
the outputs from the taps off the delay line. The weighted outputs
from each tapped delay line are then subtracted from a received
signal which potentially includes interference from the potential
interfering signals. The TWC is multiplexed to each of the
plurality of adaptive filters so that each adaptive filter is
loaded with a TWV calculated by the TWC to reduce the amount of
interference contributed by a particular potential interfering
signal coupled to an input to that particular adaptive filter. In
one embodiment, a plurality of such adaptive filter modules share
the same TWC.
Inventors: |
PETROVIC; Branislav; (La
Jolla, CA) ; TSATSANIS; Michail; (Huntington Beach,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Entropic Communications, LLC |
Carlsbad |
CA |
US |
|
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150350596 A1 |
December 3, 2015 |
|
|
Family ID: |
45526708 |
Appl. No.: |
14/753317 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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|
14082593 |
Nov 18, 2013 |
9071314 |
|
|
14753317 |
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|
13192821 |
Jul 28, 2011 |
8615061 |
|
|
14082593 |
|
|
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|
61368795 |
Jul 29, 2010 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 7/18513 20130101;
H04N 21/4382 20130101; H04B 1/10 20130101; H04N 21/426 20130101;
H04N 21/6143 20130101; H04N 7/0806 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/08 20060101
H04N007/08; H04N 5/44 20060101 H04N005/44 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A method comprising: receiving, in a receiver, a plurality of
satellite signals, each of said satellite signals being encoded
with multiple television signals in multiple channels; generating,
by circuitry of a receiver, an interference vector based on a
function to which a first unwanted one of said plurality of
satellite signals and an output signal generated by said circuitry
are input; performing, by said circuitry, an adaptive iteration
process comprising: generating an error-correcting signal based on
said interference vector; modifying said output signal based on
said error-correcting signal; and determining whether interference
with a desired one of said plurality of satellite signals is
reduced to a negligible level when a change in power of said
error-correcting signal in response to an update of said
interference vector is below a preset threshold.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein said preset threshold is
programmable.
23. The method of claim 21 further comprising stopping said
iteration process after a predetermined number of iterations.
24. The method of claim 21 wherein said function is based on a
least-mean square algorithm.
25. A method comprising: receiving, in a receiver, a plurality of
satellite signals, each of said satellite signals being encoded
with multiple television signals in multiple channels; generating,
by circuitry of said receiver, an interference vector based on a
difference between a first, unwanted one of said plurality of
satellite signals and an output signal generated by said circuitry;
performing, by said circuitry, an adaptive iteration process for a
predetermined number of iterations, said adaptive iteration process
comprising: generating an error-correcting signal based on said
interference vector; modifying said output signal based on said
error-correcting signal and determining whether interference with a
desired one of said plurality of satellite signals is reduced to a
negligible level as a result of said modifying.
26. The method of claim 25 wherein said predetermined number of
iterations is programmable.
27. A method comprising: receiving, in a receiver, a plurality of
satellite signals, each of said satellite signals being encoded
with multiple television signals in multiple channels; applying
undesired ones of said satellite signals to an adaptive filter;
testing for the amount of interference each of said undesired ones
of said satellite signals inflicts on a desired one of said
satellite signals; determining, for each of said undesired ones of
said satellite signals, whether an amount of interference from each
of said undesired ones of said satellite signals is above a
determined threshold; and performing interference cancellation for
only those of said undesired ones of said satellite signals for
which said amount of interference is above said predetermined
threshold.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein said testing comprises
evaluating a value of a correction signal.
29. The method of claim 26 wherein said determined threshold is
programmable.
30. The method of claim 26 comprising disconnecting from said
adaptive filter those of said undesired ones of said satellite
signal for which said amount of interference is below said
determined threshold.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 14/082,593 filed Nov. 18, 2013 and patented as U.S. Pat. No.
9,071,314, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
13/192,821, filed Jul. 28, 2011, which claims benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application 61/638,795 filed Jul. 29, 2010. Each of the
above referenced documents is hereby incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD
[0002] The disclosed method and apparatus relate to interference
cancellation in communication systems. Some embodiments relate to
cancellation of cross satellite and cross polarization
interference.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Communications engineers face a number of challenges today,
including maximizing the amount of information that can be
communicated over the limited resources available. With limited
frequencies available over which to communicate radio signals, and
with the amount of information that people wish to communicate
growing rapidly, it is important to use the available frequencies
as efficiently as possible. In order to do so, it is necessary to
provide means by which signal interference can be reduced to
minimum levels in order to allow modulation of a maximum amount of
information onto signals that are transmitted over those
frequencies.
[0004] One area that has been of interest is that of satellite
communications, especially satellite communications for delivery of
media for consumer consumption, such as television signals, or the
like. As the number of satellites increase, the spacing, or
separation between satellites decreases, and the increase in demand
for more and more content to be delivered from the same or multiple
satellites, interference between the satellite signals has become
an issue.
[0005] One type of interference is due to the reception of signals
transmitted from a first satellite at the same frequency or
frequencies as signals received from a second satellite. If a
receiver receives both signals without being able to sufficiently
discriminate between them, the signals will interfere with one
another. This is commonly referred to as cross-satellite
interference. The closer the spacing between the satellites, the
more cross-satellite interference may occur. Conversely, the wider
the antenna beam-width (which is equivalent to lower antenna gain,
i.e. a smaller antenna dish size), the more potential
cross-satellite interference.
[0006] Another type of interference is due to signals on a first
polarization of a first satellite being transmitted at the same
frequency as desired signals on a second polarization of the first
satellite. If the receiver receives both and cannot sufficiently
discriminate between the two, then each will interfere with the
other. This is referred to cross-polarization interference.
[0007] One way by which cross satellite and cross polarization
interference can be reduced is to put as much separation as
possible between each pair of potentially interfering signals. Such
separation may be, for example, by separating the signals by
frequency, physical distance, or the like. However, separating
signals in these ways can reduce the amount of information that can
be transmitted between a transmitter and a receiver, because the
efficiency with which information can be transmitted over the
communication system may be diminished. Accordingly, it would be
desirable to have effective means capable of reducing the amount of
cross satellite and cross polarization interference.
SUMMARY
[0008] The following presents a simplified summary of one or more
embodiments in order to provide a basic understanding of some
aspects of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive
overview of the one or more embodiments, and is intended to neither
identify key or critical elements of the embodiments nor delineate
the scope of such embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some
concepts of the described embodiments in a simplified form as a
prelude to the more detailed description that is presented
later.
[0009] One embodiment of the presently disclosed method and
apparatus provides a system in which a Tap-Weight Computer (TWC)
calculates a Tap-Weight Vector (TWV) that is coupled to a register
in each of a plurality of adaptive filters. Each such adaptive
filter includes a tapped delay line. The input to the tapped delay
line of each such adaptive filter is one of a plurality of a
potential interfering signals. The TWV controls the weighting of
the outputs from the taps off the delay line. The weighted output
from the tapped delay line are then subtracted from a received
signal which potentially includes interference from the potential
interfering signals. The TWC is multiplexed to each of the
plurality of adaptive filters so that each adaptive filter is
loaded with a TWV calculated by the TWC to reduce the amount of
interference contributed by a particular potential interfering
signal coupled to an input to that particular adaptive filter.
[0010] Because the interference is relatively time insensitive
(i.e., does not change significantly over short time intervals),
the TWVs provided to each adaptive filter can be calculated one at
a time while holding each of the other TWVs constant. Using several
adaptive independent adaptive filters allows the length of the TWV
to be relatively small, making it relatively simple to calculate
the next TWV in the iterative process.
[0011] In one embodiment, the input to the delay line is a received
signal that includes both the desired signal and one or more
interfering signals from the same satellite or from other
satellites. Each potentially interfering signal is weighted in
accordance with the value of the TWV and subtracted from the
received signal. An adaptive algorithm is used to determine whether
the weighting is ideal and to determine how to adjust the weighting
to improve the cancellation of the interference from each of the
interfering signals.
[0012] Various embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus
for channel equalization are presented. Some of these embodiments
are directed toward systems and methods for cross polarization and
cross satellite interference cancellation in a satellite
environment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The disclosed method and apparatus, in accordance with one
or more various embodiments, is described with reference to the
following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of
illustration only and merely depict examples of some embodiments of
the disclosed method and apparatus. These drawings are provided to
facilitate the reader's understanding of the disclosed method and
apparatus. They should not be considered to limit the breadth,
scope, or applicability of the claimed invention. It should be
noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are
not necessarily made to scale.
[0014] FIG. 1 is an illustrative example of an environment in which
an adaptive filter module that is controlled by a tap-weight
computer may be advantageously employed for reducing interference
between a plurality of satellite signals.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a high-level block diagram illustrating an
embodiment of an adaptive filter module that is controlled by a
tap-weight computer for reducing or eliminating interference among
received satellite signals.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating additional aspects of
the embodiment of an adaptive filter module that is controlled by a
tap-weight computer of FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment in
which error-corrected signals are tapped at the output of each
stage and routed to the computational block via a third
multiplexer.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating details of an
adaptive filter embodiment that may be used in the adaptive filter
module that is controlled by a tap-weight computer of FIG. 2.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the
disclosed method and apparatus in which interference is cancelled
from a plurality of desired signals.
[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates the details of one particular adaptive
filter module in the context of a plurality of desired signals.
[0021] FIG. 8 is an electrical schematic diagram illustrating an
example of an embodiment of a digital switch matrix.
[0022] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for
determining which satellite signals are interfering and need to be
cancelled.
[0023] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating embodiment of a
method for testing for the amount of interference inflicted on the
desired signal by the undesired signals.
[0024] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating yet another
embodiment in which a predetermined or programmable subset of
interference sources are processed.
[0025] FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating one implementation
of a tap-weight computer.
[0026] In the various figures of the drawings, like reference
numerals are used to denote like or similar parts.
[0027] The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit
the claimed invention to the precise form disclosed. It should be
understood that the disclosed method and apparatus can be practiced
with modification and alteration, and that the invention should be
limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] One illustrative environment 10 of an environment in which
an adaptive filter module that is controlled by a tap-weight
computer may be advantageously employed for reducing interference
between a plurality of satellite signals is shown in FIG. 1. The
environment 10 is a typical home-cable-system installation;
however, apparatuses and methods of the type described herein may
be equally advantageously employed in many other environments, as
well.
[0029] The environment 10 illustrates a system having two
integrated receiver/decoder (IRD) devices 12 and 14. An IRD
converts radio-frequency signals to a form that can be used in
content displays, or the like. IRD devices include, for example,
television tuner-receivers, single or twin tuner digital video
recorders (DVRs), television receivers, single or multiple set-top
boxes (STBs), servers that distributes video signals to client
boxes that feed display devices, or the like. The IRDs 12 and 14
may be of conventional construction in order to operate in the
cable distribution installation.
[0030] The IRDs 12 and 14 respectively receive intermediate
frequency (IF) signals from an outdoor unit (ODU) 28 on cables 20
and 22 from a power divider 24. The power divider 24 is a two-way
splitter which allows bi-directional passage of both RF and DC
signals to feed a signal having combined user bands (UBs) to each
IRDs 12 and 14 in one direction and to provide for the passing of
command signals (for example DiSEqC.TM. signals of the type
described by the CENELEC EN 50494 standard command structure)
between the ODU 28 and IRDs 12 and 14 in the other direction. The
power divider 24 receives its input signal from a cable 26, which
is connected to the ODU 28, mounted, for example, on the roof or
other appropriate location on the house 11. The cables 20, 22, and
26 may be of any suitable cable construction, such as a coaxial
cable, plastic optical fiber (POF), or the like.
[0031] Typical ODUs include a parabolic dish or reflector and a
low-noise block (LNB) 30 mounted on the feed of the dish. The LNB
30 may include an RF front-end, a multi-switch, and/or other signal
processing and distribution equipment. The multi-switch and at
least some of signal processing and distribution equipment may
reside in a module remote from the LNB. The parabolic dish directs
satellite microwave signals on which multiple television signals
are encoded into the RF front end. These signals are encoded with
multiple television signals in multiple channels, or transponders
(typically 20-40 MHz wide each), over a very wide bandwidth
(typically 500 MHz or 2 GHz wide bands). Also, the RF signals are
received in two polarizations (vertical and horizontal, or left and
right circular polarizations), effectively doubling the
bandwidth.
[0032] The ODU 28 converts the received satellite microwave signals
to a lower frequency over a smaller bandwidth that can be
demodulated by an associated IRD. In traditional systems the RF is
converted down to IF bands. In the example illustrated, the ODU 28
includes an LNB 30, which receives microwave signals from one or
more satellites 32-34 in a satellite constellation 35. The LNB 30
includes circuitry to receive the satellite microwave signals and
down-converts them to channels and frequency-stacks them to
appropriate UBs for delivery on cables 20 and 22 to IRDs 12 and 14.
This is referred to herein as "channelizing."
[0033] As mentioned above, cross-satellite interference is due to
the reception of desired signals 36 transmitted from satellite 32
at the same frequency or frequencies as unwanted signals 38
received from the satellite 34 (and/or other satellites in the
constellation, not shown). If a receiver receives both signals
without being able to adequately discriminate between them, the
signals will interfere with one another. Cross-polarization
interference is due to unwanted signals 40 on a first polarization
from satellite 32 being transmitted at the same frequency as the
desired signals 36 on a second polarization from the satellite 32.
If the receiver receives both and cannot adequately discriminate
between the two, then each will interfere with the other.
[0034] To address this issue, an example of an adaptive filter
module that is controlled by a tap-weight computer 50, shown in
FIG. 2, may be employed to substantially reduce or eliminate the
interference among the received satellite signals, including cross
polarization and cross satellite interference. The adaptive filter
module that is controlled by a tap-weight computer 50 of FIG. 2 is
a high-level block diagram, showing an instantiation of an adaptive
filtering scheme applied to one of a plurality of channelized
signals. Each of the channelized signals may represent respective
channel data received from the satellites of the satellite
constellation 35. In a typical installation, the adaptive filter
module that is controlled by a tap-weight computer 50 would be
replicated for each received channelized signal. Typically, the
adaptive filter module that is controlled by a tap-weight computer
50 may be located in the LNB 30.
[0035] The adaptive filter module that is controlled by a
tap-weight computer 50 receives and channelizes signals from the
satellite constellation 35 by receiver and channelizer 52. The
receiver and channelizer 50 produce a number of outputs, each
corresponding to a signal of the satellite constellation 35. The
output of the satellite signal from which the interference effects
are to be removed is labeled d(n) and the potentially interfering
satellite signals are labeled x.sub.1(n) . . . x.sub.m(n). Each of
the potentially interfering satellite signals x.sub.1(n) . . .
x.sub.m(n) are connected to a respective adaptive filter 54 . . .
56. The adaptive filters 54 . . . 56 produce an error-correcting
value that is introduced into the desired signal d(n) by the
interfering satellite signals x.sub.1(n) . . . x.sub.m(n), that is
subtracted from the desired signal d(n) by a subtractor 58 to
produce a circuit output signal D(n) that is substantially without
interference.
[0036] Each of the adaptive filters 54 . . . 56 includes a tapped
delay line 60 and a register 62. A tap-weight vector (TWV) is
generated by a tap-weight computer (TWC) 64, in a manner described
in greater detail. The TWC receives an input from the output signal
D(n) and another input from the potentially interfering satellite
signals x.sub.1(n) . . . x.sub.m(n), multiplexed in turn by a
multiplexer 66 thereto. The TWVs generated by the TWC are
multiplexed in turn to the registers 62 by a multiplexer 68, which
is synchronized with the multiplexer 66. The TWVs serve to adjust
the magnitude and phase errors of the respective potentially
interfering satellite signals x.sub.1(n) . . . x.sub.m(n).
[0037] FIG. 3, to which reference is now additionally made, is a
block diagram illustrating additional aspects of the embodiment of
an adaptive filter module 80 that is controlled by a tap-weight
computer 64 of FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, an adaptive filter module 80 uses
the following signal nomenclature:
[0038] d(n) as the input desired signal with interference
signals,
[0039] x.sub.1(n), x.sub.2(n), . . . , x.sub.M(n) as the
interference signal inputs (i.e. digital samples),
[0040] and D(n) as the output desired signal with cancelled
interference signals.
[0041] The adaptive filter module 80 includes a plurality of
adaptive filters 54, 55, . . . , 56. The adaptive filters 54, 55, .
. . , 56 have respective output signals labeled y.sub.1(n),
y.sub.2(n), . . . , y.sub.M(n). Each of the adaptive filters 54,
55, . . . , 56 is optimized one at a time. That is, coefficients of
each of the adaptive filters 54, 55, . . . , 56 are sequentially
computed by a tap-weight computer (TWC) 64. The TWC 64 is connected
to sequentially receive a respective one of the inputs x.sub.1(n),
x.sub.2(n), . . . , x.sub.M(n) by a multiplexer 84 to compute a
"tap-weighting vector" (TWV), having components W.sup.1, W.sup.2, .
. . , W.sup.M, for the adaptive filter to which the respective
input signal x.sub.1(n), x.sub.2(n), . . . , x.sub.M(n) is
connected. Each TWV component W.sup.1, W.sup.2, . . . , W.sup.M, is
calculated to adjust the coefficients of a respective adaptive
filter 54, 55, . . . , 56 to result in the output D(n) 82 of the
adaptive filter module 80 having a minimum error power. A
least-mean-square (LMS) algorithm may be used to compute the TWV
components W.sup.1, W.sup.2, . . . , W.sup.M that carry the string
of values of the coefficients of the adaptive filters 54, 55, . . .
, 56. Other algorithms, such as "method of steepest descent,"
"recursive least square," "Newton's method," or the like, may also
be used to determine the TWV. Once the coefficients of the adaptive
filters 54, 55, . . . , 56 have been calculated, a TWV component
W.sup.1, W.sup.2, . . . , W.sup.M, is routed via a multiplexer 86
to the corresponding adaptive filter 54, 55, . . . , 56. The
multiplexers 84, . . . , 86 are synchronously operated by a clock
and timing circuit 88.
[0042] The outputs y.sub.1(n), y.sub.2(n), . . . , y.sub.M(n) of
the adaptive filters 54, 55, . . . , 56 are subtracted from the
input signal d(n) by subtractors 90, 92, . . . , 94, producing
respective error-corrected signals e.sub.1(n), e.sub.2(n), . . . ,
e.sub.M(n). The error-corrected signals e.sub.1(n), e.sub.2(n), . .
. , e.sub.M(n) are the residue values, i.e., the square value of
one term at a time is being minimized. Thus, the error-corrected
signals are:
e 1 ( n ) = d ( n ) - y 1 ( n ) , e 2 ( n ) = e 1 ( n ) - y 2 ( n )
, . . . e M ( n ) = e M - 1 ( n ) - y M ( n ) = d ( n ) - y 1 ( n )
- y 2 ( n ) - - y M ( n ) = D ( n ) ##EQU00001##
[0043] It should be noted that the error-corrected signals
e.sub.1(n), e.sub.2(n), . . . , e.sub.M(n) at the outputs of the
subtractors 90, 92, . . . , 94 from individual adaptive filter 54,
55, . . . , 56 are not multiplexed. Rather the error-corrected
signals are cascaded, providing a savings in multiplexers. This is
possible because only one component of the composite
error-corrected signal at a time is responsive to the corresponding
filter coefficient adjustments.
[0044] In the circuit of FIG. 3, a delay circuit 96 provides a
delay that approximately matches the delay in the adaptive filters
54, 55, . . . , 56. In one embodiment, the delay of the delay
circuit 96 is preset as a design parameter. In another embodiment,
the delay is programmable. The value of the delay can be set
anywhere from zero to NT, where N is the length of an adaptive
filter 54, 55, . . . , 56 and the T is the length of a clock cycle.
A typical delay may be, for example, 1/2 NT (i.e. half the length
of the adaptive filter). In the case in which satellite
interference is being cancelled, the time delay between the desired
signal and signals from interfering satellites is not expected to
be sufficiently significant as to warrant delay values outside the
length of the filter N. In other embodiments however, a larger
delay may be warranted.
[0045] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment in which error-corrected
signals e.sub.1(n), e.sub.2(n), . . . , e.sub.M(n) in the adaptive
filter module 80' are tapped at the output of each stage and routed
to the computational block via a third multiplexer 91. All three
multiplexers are synchronously operated. Clock and timing for the
three multiplexers 84, . . . , 86 and 91 are not shown for the sake
of simplicity.
[0046] FIG. 5 shows the details of one of the adaptive filters 54,
55, . . . , 56, for example adaptive filter 54. The Z.sup.-1 term
denotes a delay by one clock cycle T. The TWV components W.sup.1,
W.sup.2, . . . , W.sup.M are stored by the TWC 64 in weight setting
registers 100 in corresponding adaptive filters 54, 55, . . . , 56.
Each TWV component W.sup.1, W.sup.2, . . . , W.sup.M is then
provided by the weight setting registers 100 to a plurality of
weighting circuits 102, 104, . . . , 106 in each of the
corresponding adaptive filters 54, 55, . . . , 56. Each of the
weighting circuits 102, 104, . . . , 106 adjusts the amount of the
signal x(n) at each delay point that is to be summed together in a
summing circuit 110 based on the particular value of the TWV
components W.sup.1, W.sup.2, . . . , W.sup.M associated with that
weighting circuit 102, 104, . . . , 106. Accordingly, the output
signal y(n) is the weighted sum of the various delays of x(n):
[0047] In FIG. 5:
y(n)=w.sub.0*(n)x(n)+w.sub.1*(n)x(n-1)+ . . .
+w.sub.N-1*(n)x(n-N+1);
W(n+1)=W(n)+2.mu.e*(n)x(n); [0048] where e(n) is the residue
error-corrected value, [0049] .mu.>0 is the adaptation step
size, where typical values are between 2.sup.-9 to 2.sup.-6 (design
parameter, programmable), [0050] W(n)=[w.sub.0(n), w.sub.1(n), . .
. , w.sub.N-1(n)] is the tap-weight vector value at time n, and
[0051] W(n+1) is the tap-weight vector next value at time n+1,
[0052] and where W is generalized representation of vectors
W.sup.1, W.sup.2, . . . , W.sup.M.
[0053] It should be noted that in FIG. 3, the individual components
(W.sup.1, W.sup.2, . . . , W.sup.M) of the TVW are represented, and
in FIG. 5, only one of the vector components is shown as an input
to the weight setting register 100, having its own complex
composition.
[0054] In general, all terms in above equations are complex; the
asterisk (*) denotes "conjugate complex number". All multipliers
are complex, as is the case when the signals are complex (I, Q),
such as with zero-IF or direct down conversion in preceding stages.
In most cases, the I and Q signals are sent on separate wires;
however, in some embodiments, the I and Q signals can be
multiplexed using sophisticated timing to synchronize with the
samples of the desired signals. There is a special case when all
quantities above are real, as may be the case with real IF (not I,
Q), e.g. with Low IF
[0055] In one embodiment in which only phase and amplitude of
cancelling signal needs to be adjusted, an adaptive filter of
length N=1 may be used, degenerating to a single weight coefficient
w.sub.0(n), which can be realized with a single complex
multiplier.
[0056] In one embodiment, the weight coefficients (i.e., the TWV
components W.sup.1, W.sup.2, . . . , W.sup.M) are incremented
(updated) only after P number of samples, averaging the values over
P clock cycles to reduce the noise in the error-corrected signal
and improve the resolution. P is a programmable integer number in
the range from 1 to 100 or more. A sliding window can be used in
which one or more of the oldest sample from among the P samples is
dropped and the newest added to the P samples to be averaged.
[0057] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the disclosed method and
apparatus in which interference is cancelled from a plurality of
desired signals. The desired signals (with the associated
interference) are designated as d.sub.1, d.sub.2, . . . , d.sub.K.
The desired outputs with cancelled interference are designated as
D.sub.1, D.sub.2, . . . , D.sub.K. The interference associated with
each desired signal d.sub.1, d.sub.2, . . . , d.sub.K is cancelled
by a signal generated in a respective one of a plurality of
adaptive filter modules 80.sup.1, 80.sup.2, . . . , 80.sup.K. In
the example shown in FIG. 6, K different adaptive filter modules
80.sup.1, 80.sup.2, . . . , , 80.sup.K are shown, where K is a
variable having an integer value.
[0058] In the embodiment shown, digitized bands from all satellites
and interference sources are channelized by channelizers 120 to
extract all of the desired channels d.sub.1, d.sub.2, . . . ,
d.sub.K and all of the interfering channel vectors x.sub.1(n),
x.sub.2(n), . . . , x.sub.M(n) (for example satellite transponders)
and output them to a switch matrix 122. The channelizers 120,
however, are optional. In another embodiment, the entire band of
desired and interfering signals may be processed, without
channelization into individual channels.
[0059] The interference vectors x.sup.i=[x.sub.1i, x.sub.2i, . . .
x.sub.Mi], i=1, 2, 3, . . . , K include a multiplicity of
interfering signals x(n), as formulated below:
x _ 1 ( n ) = [ x 11 ( n ) , x 21 ( n ) , , x M 1 ( n ) ]
##EQU00002## x _ 2 ( n ) = [ x 12 ( n ) , x 22 ( n ) , , x M 2 ( n
) ] . . . x _ K ( n ) = [ x 1 K ( n ) , x 2 K ( n ) , , x M K ( n )
] ##EQU00002.2##
[0060] where in x.sub.ji(n), (j=1, 2, 3, . . . , M; i=1, 2, 3, . .
. , K) are digital samples of interfering signals, e.g. from
adjacent satellite transponders. While these signals interfere into
desired signals d.sub.i(n), they may at the same time be also the
desired signals, i.e. one or more of the d.sub.i(n) signals that
are processed in other filtering modules 80.sup.1, 80.sup.2, . . .
, 80.sup.K.
[0061] Each of the K different adaptive filter modules 80.sup.1,
80.sup.2, . . . , 80.sup.K share one TWC 64. Interference signal
vectors x.sup.1, x.sup.2, . . . , x.sup.K, are of different lengths
where there are K adaptive filter modules 80.sup.1, 80.sup.2, . . .
, 80.sup.K used. That is, each interference signal vector x.sup.1,
x.sup.2, . . . , x.sup.K comprises a set of interfering signals,
the length M of each vector indicating the number of such
interfering signals in the vector. Accordingly, the vector
x.sup.i=[x.sub.1i, x.sub.2i, . . . x.sub.Mi]; where i=1, 2, . . . ,
K. All terms (x) in this equation are a function of n (sample
time), which is not shown for simplicity.
[0062] Three multiplexers 124, 126, and 128 provide an example of
one embodiment by which the TWC 64 may be shared among the
plurality of adaptive filter modules 80.sup.1, 80.sup.2, . . . ,
80.sup.K. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the interference vectors
x.sub.1i, x.sub.2i, . . . , x.sub.Mi that are applied to each
adaptive filter module 80.sup.1, 80.sup.2, . . . , 80.sup.K are
coupled to the TWC 64 through the first multiplexer 124. The TWV
components W.sup.1, W.sup.2, . . . , W.sup.M are coupled to each of
the adaptive filter modules 80.sup.1, 80.sup.2, . . . , 80.sup.K
through the second multiplexer 126. The outputs D.sub.1, D.sub.2, .
. . , D.sub.K from each adaptive filter module 80.sup.1, 80.sup.2,
. . . , 80.sup.K are then coupled back to the TWC 64 in order to
allow the TWC 64 to determine whether further correction to the TWV
components W.sup.1, W.sup.2, . . . , W.sup.M is required (i.e.,
whether minimum error power has been achieved).
[0063] FIG. 7 shows the details of one embodiment of an adaptive
filter module 80 when used with a plurality of other adaptive
filter modules of the type shown in FIG. 6 It should be noted that
the adaptive filter module 80 of FIG. 7 may be identical to that of
FIG. 3; however, the embodiment of FIG. 7 includes a coupling of
the adaptive filter module 80 to the multiplexers 124, 126, and 128
of FIG. 6 The multiplexers inside adaptive filter module 80 are
clocked synchronously at one rate (e.g., the rate at which the TWV
components W.sup.1, W.sup.2, . . . , W.sup.M are updated). The
multiplexers 124, 126, and 128 outside of the adaptive filter
module 80 are synchronously clocked, but at a different rate than
the multiplexers 84, . . . , 86 inside the adaptive filter module
80 (e.g., the rate at which the processing individual desired
signals D(n) are updated).
[0064] FIG. 8 shows an example embodiment of a digital switch
matrix 122 that may be used in the circuit of FIG. 6. As noted
above, the digital switch matrix routes desired and interference
signals to the processing adaptive filter modules 80.sup.1,
80.sup.2, . . . , 80.sup.K 150. The digital switch matrix operates
by allowing any input to be connected to one or more outputs
simultaneously. However, each output can be connected to only one
input at a time. A series of cross-point switches 130 allows each
input to be connected to one output. Sixteen such cross-point
switches 130 are shown in FIG. 8; however, it should be understood
that the number of such cross-point switches is K times the number
of channelized inputs, where K is the number of desired channels
from which interference is to be cancelled.
[0065] FIG. 9, to which reference is now made, is a flow diagram
140 of an embodiment of a method for determining which satellites
are interfering, i.e. which sources need to be cancelled. In this
embodiment, the interference from one adjacent satellite is
initially evaluated, box 142. An adaptive iteration process is used
to evaluate whether the interference is stopped when the amount
that the error power changes with each update of the TWV is below a
preset threshold, or when the number of iterations reaches a preset
value, box 144. Both the threshold for the change in error power
and the number of iterations may be programmable. These two
parameters can be used either alternatively or concurrently. Next,
the interference from a second adjacent satellite is evaluated, box
146. Next, the interference from a third satellite is evaluated,
box 148, and so on.
[0066] FIG. 10, to which reference is now additionally made, is a
flow diagram 150, illustrating another embodiment. In this
embodiment, interfering signals are applied to an adaptive filter
80 and tested for the amount of interference they inflict on the
desired signal, box 152. A predetermined (programmable) threshold
value may be used as a criteria to decide whether to process
particular interference signal in the adaptive filter or not, box
154. Signals that do not cross the threshold, i.e. when
interference is negligible or nonexistent, are disconnected from
the filter, box 156, thus reducing the power and processing time of
the computations.
[0067] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram 160 illustrating yet another
embodiment in which a predetermined or programmable subset of
interference sources are processed, box 162. A lookup table, for
example, may be used with stored information on interfering signals
may be used, box 164.
[0068] FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating one implementation
of a TWC 64. In the implementation of FIG. 12, the TWC 62 includes
an input/output section 170 to receive at least the error-corrected
signals e.sub.1(n), e.sub.2(n), . . . , e.sub.M(n) and the input
signals x.sub.1(n), x.sub.2(n), . . . , x.sub.m(n), and to deliver
the TWV components W.sup.1, W.sup.2, . . . W.sup.M. The input and
output signals are processed by a processor 172 in conjunction with
a memory 174. The memory 174 may contain computer program steps to
perform the methods and to produce the signals in a manner as
described above. The term processor is intended to encompass any
processing device capable of operating the system or parts thereof.
This includes microprocessors, microcontrollers, embedded
controllers, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs),
digital signal processors (DSPs), state machines, dedicated
discrete hardware, or the like. It is not intended that the
processor be limited to any particular type of hardware component
implementation. For example, these devices may also be implemented
as combinations of computing devices, for example, a combination of
a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or
more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other
such configuration. Moreover, the processing and controlling
devices need not be physically collocated with the part of the
system it serves. For example, a central processing unit or
programmed computer may be associated with and appropriately
connected to each of the various components of the system to
perform the various actions described herein.
[0069] While various embodiments of the disclosed method and
apparatus have been described above, it should be understood that
they have been presented by way of example only, and should not
limit the claimed invention. Likewise, the various diagrams may
depict an example architectural or other configuration for the
disclosed method and apparatus. This is done to aid in
understanding the features and functionality that can be included
in the disclosed method and apparatus. The claimed invention is not
restricted to the illustrated example architectures or
configurations, rather the desired features can be implemented
using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations.
Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art how
alternative functional, logical or physical partitioning and
configurations can be implemented to implement the desired features
of the disclosed method and apparatus. Also, a multitude of
different constituent module names other than those depicted herein
can be applied to the various partitions. Additionally, with regard
to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and method claims, the
order in which the steps are presented herein shall not mandate
that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recited
functionality in the same order unless the context dictates
otherwise.
[0070] Although the disclosed method and apparatus is described
above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and
implementations, it should be understood that the various features,
aspects and functionality described in one or more of the
individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to
the particular embodiment with which they are described. Thus, the
breadth and scope of the claimed invention should not be limited by
any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.
[0071] Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations
thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as
open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing:
the term "including" should be read as meaning "including, without
limitation" or the like; the term "example" is used to provide
exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or
limiting list thereof; the terms "a" or "an" should be read as
meaning "at least one," "one or more" or the like; and adjectives
such as "conventional," "traditional," "normal," "standard,"
"known" and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as
limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item
available as of a given time, but instead should be read to
encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard
technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in
the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies
that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the
art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the
skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.
[0072] A group of items linked with the conjunction "and" should
not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be
present in the grouping, but rather should be read as "and/or"
unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items
linked with the conjunction "or" should not be read as requiring
mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read
as "and/or" unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore,
although items, elements or components of the disclosed method and
apparatus may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural
is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to
the singular is explicitly stated.
[0073] The presence of broadening words and phrases such as "one or
more," "at least," "but not limited to" or other like phrases in
some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is
intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may
be absent. The use of the term "module" does not imply that the
components or functionality described or claimed as part of the
module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all
of the various components of a module, whether control logic or
other components, can be combined in a single package or separately
maintained and can further be distributed in multiple groupings or
packages or across multiple locations.
[0074] Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are
described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and
other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary
skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated
embodiments and their various alternatives can be implemented
without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block
diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed
as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.
[0075] While various embodiments of the disclosed method and
apparatus have been described above, it should be understood that
they have been presented by way of example only, and should not
limit the claimed invention. Likewise, the various diagrams may
depict an example architectural or other configuration for the
disclosed method and apparatus. This is done to aid in
understanding the features and functionality that can be included
in the disclosed method and apparatus. The claimed invention is not
restricted to the illustrated example architectures or
configurations, rather the desired features can be implemented
using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations.
Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art how
alternative functional, logical or physical partitioning and
configurations can be implemented to implement the desired features
of the disclosed method and apparatus. Also, a multitude of
different constituent module names other than those depicted herein
can be applied to the various partitions. Additionally, with regard
to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and method claims, the
order in which the steps are presented herein shall not mandate
that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recited
functionality in the same order unless the context dictates
otherwise.
[0076] Although the disclosed method and apparatus is described
above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and
implementations, it should be understood that the various features,
aspects and functionality described in one or more of the
individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to
the particular embodiment with which they are described. Thus, the
breadth and scope of the claimed invention should not be limited by
any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.
[0077] Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations
thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as
open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing:
the term "including" should be read as meaning "including, without
limitation" or the like; the term "example" is used to provide
exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or
limiting list thereof; the terms "a" or "an" should be read as
meaning "at least one," "one or more" or the like; and adjectives
such as "conventional," "traditional," "normal," "standard,"
"known" and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as
limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item
available as of a given time, but instead should be read to
encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard
technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in
the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies
that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the
art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the
skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.
[0078] A group of items linked with the conjunction "and" should
not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be
present in the grouping, but rather should be read as "and/or"
unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items
linked with the conjunction "or" should not be read as requiring
mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read
as "and/or" unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore,
although items, elements or components of the disclosed method and
apparatus may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural
is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to
the singular is explicitly stated.
[0079] The presence of broadening words and phrases such as "one or
more," "at least," "but not limited to" or other like phrases in
some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is
intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may
be absent. The use of the term "module" does not imply that the
components or functionality described or claimed as part of the
module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all
of the various components of a module, whether control logic or
other components, can be combined in a single package or separately
maintained and can further be distributed in multiple groupings or
packages or across multiple locations.
[0080] Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are
described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and
other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary
skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated
embodiments and their various alternatives can be implemented
without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block
diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed
as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.
* * * * *