Digital estimation of analog imperfections using blind equalization

The analog electronic circuits are always subject to some imperfections. Analog imperfections cause deviations from nominal values of electronic elements. In the case of Linear Time-Invariant (LTI) circuits, the coefficients of the transfer function include some deviations from related typical values leading to the differences between the typical (i.e. design) and the actual transfer functions. In this paper, the analog imperfections are digitally estimated using only the output samples, without any access to the input signal nor to the analog system (blind method). Super Exponential Algorithm (SEA) is used as the blind equalization technique, since it provides rapid convergence. The only assumption is that the input is a non-Gaussian independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) signal. Using this algorithm, the effects of analog imperfections in the analog circuits can be digitally estimated and possibly compensated without any dependance on the types and the sources of the analog imperfections. It provides the possibility to have an online compensation of the imperfections (realization errors, drifts, etc.). The analog imperfections have been estimated with a precision of ±0.2% and ±1.3% for the exemplary RC and RLC circuits respectively.