Integrated Broadband RF-Digital Link

Novel software configurable chip for the digitization of broadband Radio Frequency signals

Finalist 2008 WA Inventor of the Year Competition (Early Stage Category)

The Square Kilometre Array Radio (SKA) Telescope is the largest global scientific project of its kind. More than 100 'dish array stations' will collect more data in 6 hours than has ever been collected in the history of radioastronomy. The vast amount of data creates an incredible technical challenge - the conversion of massive amounts of radio waves into a digital format for transport and processing. Current methods being proposed are extremely expensive, have high power draw and result in "noisy" signals due to the transmission of analogue signals via fibre optics.

The technology, jointly developed by the WA Centre of Excellence for MicroPhotonic Systems and the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), enables the conversion of broadband radio frequency (RF) signals into noise-free digital data. In addition, the invention is software programmable and therefore can be tuned remotely to suit the signal bandwidth being targeted by the SKA and any other application.

Another significant application of the technology is in wireless broadband networks. Rapid growth in the number of wireless broadband subscribers globally (500 million by 2011) and each subscribers demand for more data, has resulted in the next generation of wireless internet standards (4G) specifying download rates up to 200 times faster than 3G. However, current infrastructure is not capable of supporting this increased network traffic creating a need for new base station infrastructure.

Specifically, 4G technologies will require smart antennas that can support more subscribers within a wireless network cell and simultaneously increase the upload and download capacity available to each subscriber. However, the cost of upgrading the existing infrastructure and rolling out new infrastructure using currently available technology is substantial and there is a demand for technology that reduces capital and operating costs.

The estimated market for RF components used in base stations is over USD 1 billion. In addition, mobile base station shipments are expected to grow at a compound annual average growth rate of over 69% between 2008 and 2013 creating a significant opportunity for new technologies.

The key advantages of this technology are its:

1. reduced physical size (requiring less supporting infrastructure);
2. high speed signal processing capability;
3. significantly lower cost;
4. lower power;
5. software programmable (facilitating tuning and upgrading of antennas); and
6. ability to support multiple 4G wireless broadband standards.

A narrow band discrete RF to digital converter has been developed, a provisional patent filed and the design of a broadband RF-digital Chip is underway. The next step will be to develop a prototype device based on this design for use in demonstrating the technology's capabilities to potential customers and licensees.