Project description
A new approach to analogue-to-digital converters
Digital signal processing (DSP) analyses and remodels a signal to improve its performance. The recent improvements in DSP performance have led to digital processors that permit real-time processing of ultra-broadband signals with analogue bandwidths of hundreds of GHz. However, securing such signals is still impossible as conventional analogue-to-digital converters (ADC) have limited bandwidth scalability. The EU-funded TeraSlice project will investigate and test concepts aimed at overcoming such limitations. It will apply photonically supported spectral parallelisation of ADC interfaces to convert waveforms with bandwidths over 300 GHz with possibilities for further scalability. The TeraSlice concept is disruptive and has a potential impact on a wide range of applications including radar systems and wireless communication.
Objective
High-speed digital signal processing (DSP) has seen tremendous performance increases over the last years, primarily driven by massive parallelization of logic operations in large-scale CMOS circuits. This has led to digital processors that would allow for real-time processing of ultra-broadband signals with analogue bandwidths of hundreds of GHz already today. Acquisition of such signals, however, is still impossible due to limited bandwidth scalability of conventional analogue-to-digital converters (ADC). Within TeraSlice, we will explore and demonstrate concepts that can overcome these limitations by photonically assisted spectral parallelization of ADC interfaces, thereby enabling conversion of waveforms with bandwidths in excess of 300 GHz with the potential for further scalability beyond 1 THz. The TeraSlice approach is disruptive both on a conceptual level and with respect to the underlying devices, comprising low-phase-noise Kerr comb generators and ultra-fast electro-optic modulators. The concept has the potential to disrupt a variety of highly relevant applications with substantial market potential, ranging from radar systems and wireless communications beyond 5G to electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. TeraSlice builds upon an interdisciplinary effort of internationally leading academic and industrial partners with highly complementary expertise. The project covers the theoretical base and the associated quantitative system models, the design, implementation, and test of crucial components and subsystems, as well as application demonstrations of the envisaged ADC scheme, for which we will reach out to other scientific fields such as medical diagnostics. Special focus will be on technological concepts for chip-scale integration – a key aspect for any technical application of the scheme. Based on a successful demonstration of the TeraSlice concept, foundation of a start-up is envisaged as a realistic scenario for exploitation of the results.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationstelecommunications networksmobile network5G
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsignal processing
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsradio technologyradar
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationssimulation software
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopy
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
1015 Lausanne
Switzerland