Advanced channelization for RF, microwave, and millimeterwave applications

An overview of the channelization function, the parallel signal processing techniques used in channelizers, the signal processing functions, and the critical channelizer parameters is given. Signal processing capabilities that use analog techniques suitable for channelized receivers are compared with those capabilities that can be obtained by using current or foreseen digital techniques. The receiver signal-processing needs are outlined, and the limitations of digital signal processing in terms of the overall receiver signal processing needs are discussed. Options and tradeoffs at the receiver and channelizer technology levels are discussed. Promising channelizer technologies, including components, that have been or potentially may be implemented with small volumes and moderate dynamic range are described. Parallel signal-processing methods, architectural techniques, and hardware for channelized receiver technologies that can be implemented in a small volume (tens of channels per in³) with a moderately high dynamic range (>50 dB) are discussed. These include the surface-acoustic-wave (SAW), bulk-acoustic-wave (BAW), magnetostatic-wave (MSW), and acoustooptical (AO) channelizer technologies. The critical signal preprocessing functions required in channelized receivers before the needed information is passed on to the host computer, so that the host computer can be operated at a possible computation rate, are discussed, and the first successful monolithic integrated circuit preprocessor component for channelizers, is presented