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FPGA Implementation of Short Word-Length Algorithms

Short Word-Length refers to single-bit, two-bit or ternary processing systems. SWL systems use Sigma-Delta Modulation (SDM) technique to express an analogue or multi-bit input signal in terms of a high frequency single-bit stream. In Sigma-Delta Modulation, the input signal is coarsely quantized into a single-bit representation by sampling it at a much higher rate than twice the maximum input frequency viz. the Nyquist rate. This single-bit representation is almost exclusively filtered to remove conversion quantization noise and sample decimated to the Nyquist frequency in preparation for traditional signal processing. SWL algorithms have a huge potential in a variety of applications as they offer many advantages as compared to multi-bit approaches. Features of SWL include efficient hardware implementation, increased flexibility and massive cost savings. Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are SRAM/FLASH based integrated circuits that can be programmed and re-programmed by the end user. FPGAs are made up of arrays of logic gates, routing channels and I/O blocks. State-of-the-art FPGAs include features such as Advanced Clock Management, Dedicated Multipliers, DSP Slices, High Speed I/O and Embedded Microprocessors. A System-on-Programmable-Chip (SoPC) design approach uses some or all the aforementioned resources to create a complete processing system on the device itself, ensuring maximum silicon area utilization and higher speed by eliminating inter-chip communication overheads. This dissertation focuses on the application of SWL processing systems in audio Class-D Amplifiers and aims to prove the claims of efficient hardware implementation and higher speeds of operation. The analog Class-D Amplifier is analyzed and an SWL equivalent of the system is derived by replacing the analogue components with DSP functions wherever possible. The SWL Class-D Amplifier is implemented on an FPGA, the standard emulation platform, using VHSIC Hardware Description Languages (VHDL). The approach is taken a step forward by adding re-configurability and media selectivity and proposing SDM adaptivity to improve performance.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/210423
Date January 2008
CreatorsThakkar, Darshan Suresh, darshanst@gmail.com
PublisherRMIT University. Electrical and Computer Engineering
Source SetsAustraliasian Digital Theses Program
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Rightshttp://www.rmit.edu.au/help/disclaimer, Copyright Darshan Suresh Thakkar

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