Signal processing

The general model for Digital Signal Processing (DSP) system is shown below

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Display keyboard
Signal conditioning smoothing filter

DAC
ADC CPU
Low pass filter output

PS DS MODEM To other DSP

PS-Program store

DS-Data store

From a high level point of view, DSP system performs the following functions:

 Accepts an analog signal as input

 Converts this analog signal to numbers
 Performs computations using the numbers
 Converts the results of the computations back into an analog signal

Optionally, different types of information can be derived from the numbers used in this process. This
information may be analyzed, stored, displayed, transmitted or otherwise manipulated.

This model can be rearranged in several ways. For example, a CD player will not have the analog input
section. A laboratory instrument may not have the analog output. The truly amazing thing about DSP
systems, however is that the mode will fit any DSP application.

 The system could be sources of radar system, voice mail system, video camera or a host of other
applications.
 The uses of the individual key elements may change but their function will remain the same.
 In order to understand the overall DSP system, lets begin with a qualitative discussion of the key
elements.

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INPUT

All signals processing begins with an input transducer. The input transducers take the input signal and
converts it to an electrical signal. In signal processing application, transducers can take many forms. A
common example of input transducers is a microphone. Others are geophones for seismic work, radar
antennas and infra sensors.

 Generally, the output of a transducers is quite small, a few micro volts or several milli volts.

SIGNAL-CONDITIONING CIRCUIT

 The purpose of signal-conditioning circuit is to take the few mV of the output from the input
transducers and convert it to levels usable by the following stages. Generally this means
amplifying the signal to somewhere between 3 and 12 V.
 The signal conditioning circuit also limits the input signal to prevent damage to following stages.
In some circuits, the conditioning circuits provides isolation between the transducers and the rest
of the system circuitry.
 Typically signal conditioning circuits are based on operational amplifiers or instrumentational
amplifiers.

ANTI-ALIASING FILTER

 The anti-aliasing filter is a low-pass filter. The job of the anti-aliasing filter is to control or limit
the rate of change of the input signal.
 It ensures that the rest of the system will be able to trace the signal
 If the signal changes too rapidly the rest of the system could miss critical parts of the signal.

ANALOG-TO DIGITAL CONVERTER

 The purpose of ADC is to convert the signal from its analog form to a digital data representation.
 Most of ADCs require input of at least several volts for their full range input.
 Two of the most important characteristics of an ADC are the conversion rate and resolution.
 The conversion rate defines how fast the ADC can convert analog value to digital value.
 The resolution defines how close the value is converted.
 The output of the ADC is a binary number that can be manipulates mathematically

PROCESSOR

 The processors perform the calculations required for processing the signal. For example, if our
DSP system is simple amplifier, the input value is literally multiplied by the gain constant.

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  A wide variety of specialized high speed processors are dedicated to DSP. These processors are
designed to achieve very high data throughput, using a combination of high- speed specialized
architecture, and dedicated instrumentation sets.
 All of these functions are designed to efficiently implement DSP algorithms.

PROGRAM STORE / DATA STORE

 The program store stores the instrumentations used in implementing the required DSP algorithms.
In general-purpose computers, data and instruments are stored together.
 In most DSP system the data is stored separately from the data since this allows faster executive
of the instructions
 This means data can be moved on its own bus at the same time that instructions are being fetched.
 Often the data bus and the instruction bus have different width.

DATA TRANSMISION

 DSP data is commonly transmitted to other DSP systems. Sometimes the data is stored in bulk
form on magnetic tapes, optical discs (CDs) or other media.
 This ability to store and transmit data to digital form is one of the key benefits in DSP operations.
 An analog signal no matter how it is stored, will immediately begin to degrade.
 A digital signal, however, is much more robust since it is composed of ones and zeros.
 Furthermore, the digital signal can be protected with error detection and corrections code

DISPLAY AND USER INPUT

 Not all DSP system have display or user input. However, it is often handy to have some visual
representation of the signal. If this purpose of the system is manipulated the signal then
obviously the user needs a way to input common to the system.
 This can be accomplished with a specialized, keypad, a few discrete switches, or a full key board.

DIGITAL- TO- ANALOG CONVERTER (DAC)

 In many DSP systems, the signal must be converted back to analog form after it has been
processed. This is the function of the DAC. DAC are quite straight forward: a binary number
put on the input causes a corresponding voltage on the output.
 One of the key aspects of the DAC is how fast the output voltage settles to the commanded value.
 The slow rate of the DAC should be matched to the acquisition rate of the ADC.

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OUTPUT SMOOTHING FILTER

 The purpose of the smoothing filter is to take the edges off the waveform coming from the DAC.
This is necessary since the waveform will have a ‘stair-step’ shape, resulting from the sequence
of discrete inputs applied to the DAC.
 Generally, the smoothing filter is a simple low-pass system.
 Often a basic RC circuit does the job

OUTPUT AMPLIFIER

 The output amplifier is generally a straight forward amplifier with two main purpose
o It matches the high impedance of the transducer
o It boost the power to the level required

OUTPUT TRANSDUCER

 Like the input transducer, the output transducer can assume a variety of forms. Common
examples are speakers, antennas etc

SUMMARY

The overall idea digital signal processing is to:

1) Acquire the signal

2) Convert it to a sequence of digital numbers
3) Process the numbers as required
4) Transmit or save the data as may be required
5) Convert the processed system of numbers back to analog signal