Description du projet
Une nouvelle approche des convertisseurs analogique-numérique
Les systèmes de traitement numérique des signaux (DSP pour Digital signal processing) analysent et remodèlent les signaux pour améliorer leurs performances. Les récents progrès des DSP en termes de performance ont donné naissance à des processeurs numériques qui permettent le traitement des signaux en temps réel et à très haut débit avec des largeurs de bandes passantes analogiques de plusieurs centaines de GHz. Toutefois, il est actuellement impossible de sécuriser ces signaux dans la mesure où la capacité d’évolution de la largeur de bande des convertisseurs analogique-numérique (ADC) classiques reste limitée. Le projet TeraSlice, financé par l’UE, étudiera et testera des concepts novateurs destinés à résoudre ce problème. Il entend pour cela appliquer la parallélisation spectrale photonique des interfaces ADC afin de convertir les formes d’onde avec des largeurs de bandes supérieures à 300 GHz, ouvrant ainsi la voie à de nouvelles possibilités d’évolution. Le concept disruptif proposé par TeraSlice pourrait avoir un fort impact sur un large éventail d’applications, notamment dans les domaines des systèmes radar et des communications sans fil.
Objectif
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.
Champ scientifique
- 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)
Régime de financement
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinateur
1015 Lausanne
Suisse