Reconfigurable Logic Makes Software-Defined Radio Practical... At Last

March 17, 2003
A SOFTWARE-DEFINED RADIO (SDR) is any collection of hardware and software that enables a single radio to be quickly and easily reconfigured to a desired standard. Until now, software-defined radios (SDRs) were reconfigured by installing new software...

A Software-Defined Radio (SDR) is any collection of hardware and software that enables a single radio to be quickly and easily reconfigured to a desired standard. Until now, software-defined radios (SDRs) were reconfigured by installing new software on built-in RISC or DSP chips, creating multimode, multiband, multifunction radios. But a new approach called reconfigurable logic (RCL) is emerging.

RCL is essentially any IC whose function can be changed at the gate level by applying an external command. One example is an FPGA that can be reprogrammed on-the-fly. Today's very high-density gate arrays can easily handle the special DSP algorithms required by SDRs. They also can be quickly reconfigured to support any desired function.

Under the sponsorship of the SDR Forum, more than 50 companies met to swap insights and strategies for RCL in January. Altera, Intel, QuickSilver, Xilinx, and others examined the current state of the RCL architecture and functionality as it applies to SDR. Widespread adoption of RCL depends on the software tools and intellectual-property (IP) core software that implements the various radio functions and standards.

So far, SDRs have primarily served as military radios. Ultimately, though, their manufacturers have their sights set on much more, including cell-phone basestations and handsets and eventually public-service radios used by police and firefighting services.

SDR Forum
www.sdrforum.com

Sponsored Recommendations

Board-Mount DC/DC Converters in Medical Applications

March 27, 2024
AC/DC or board-mount DC/DC converters provide power for medical devices. This article explains why isolation might be needed and which safety standards apply.

Use Rugged Multiband Antennas to Solve the Mobile Connectivity Challenge

March 27, 2024
Selecting and using antennas for mobile applications requires attention to electrical, mechanical, and environmental characteristics: TE modules can help.

Out-of-the-box Cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity with AWS IoT ExpressLink

March 27, 2024
This demo shows how to enroll LTE-M and Wi-Fi evaluation boards with AWS IoT Core, set up a Connected Health Solution as well as AWS AT commands and AWS IoT ExpressLink security...

How to Quickly Leverage Bluetooth AoA and AoD for Indoor Logistics Tracking

March 27, 2024
Real-time asset tracking is an important aspect of Industry 4.0. Various technologies are available for deploying Real-Time Location.

Comments

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Electronic Design, create an account today!