An FPGA Scalable Software Defined Radio Platform Design for Educational and Research Purposes

In a digital modem design, the integration of the Analog to Digital Converters (ADC) and Digital to Analog Converters (DAC) with the core processor is usually a major issue for the designer. In this paper an FPGA scalable Software Defined Radio platform based on a Spartan-6 as a control unit is pres...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Hervás, Marcos, Alsina-Pagès, Rosa Ma, Salvador Marín, Martí
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:España
Institución:Universitat Ramon Llull (URL)
Repositorio:DAU Arxiu Digital de la Universitat Ramon Llull
OAI Identifier:oai:dau.url.edu:20.500.14342/3447
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14342/3447
https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics5020027
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ràdio definida per programari
Matrius de portes programables per l'usuari
Compatibilitat electromagnètica
Descripción
Sumario:In a digital modem design, the integration of the Analog to Digital Converters (ADC) and Digital to Analog Converters (DAC) with the core processor is usually a major issue for the designer. In this paper an FPGA scalable Software Defined Radio platform based on a Spartan-6 as a control unit is presented, developed for both educational and research purposes, which can fit the different application requirements in terms of analog front-end performance, processing unit and cost. The resolution and sampling frequency of the analog front-end are its main adjustable parameters. The processing core requirements involve the FPGA and the communication ports. A multidisciplinary working group was required to design a high performance system for both analog front-end and digital processing core in terms of signal integrity and electromagnetic compatibility. The platform has 5 different peripheral ports ranging from 16 kbps to 2.5 Gbps. The communication ports allow our students to develop a high range of applications for both on-site and online courses applying teaching methodology based on learning by doing using a real system to help them to reach other transversal skills