Analog Fourier channelizer for low-power OFDM reception
This technology is a hardware circuit that performs the mathematical heavy lifting of wireless signal processing—specifically, breaking apart an OFDM wireless signal into its individual data channels—using analog electronics rather than digital computation. In standard wireless receivers (like Wi-Fi or LTE), this channelization step is done in digital chips after an analog-to-digital converter, which consumes significant power and introduces latency. Here, a lattice of analog multipliers and adders performs the equivalent of a Fourier transform directly on the analog signal before any digitization, outputting individual channel signals that can then be decoded. The result is a receiver architecture that could operate at much lower power and potentially higher speed than conventional digital approaches.
What you could build
A low-power OFDM receiver chip or module for embedded wireless applications—think satellite terminals, military radios, or IoT base stations—where power consumption and latency must be minimized; defense electronics integrators and specialized wireless chipmakers would be the primary buyers.
Who in Virginia should care
Defense electronics primes and contractors in Northern Virginia (e.g., firms supporting DoD communications and signals intelligence programs) would have direct interest in low-power receiver architectures.
Readiness: Concept
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Mark Lehne, Sanjay Raman
- Granted
- September 21, 2010
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 7801228
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.