The advent of the signal microprocessor

Author

Hunsinger, Bill J.

fYear

1990

fDate

8-10 May 1990

Firstpage

1099

Abstract

The signal microprocessor (SMP) is a software controlled processor for analog RF and microwave signals which makes the implementation of new signal-based systems practical, much as the digital microprocessor did for data-based systems. The SMP is programmed using digital commands and processes analog RF and microwave signals without analog-to-digital conversion. The SMP, enabled by the ACT (acoustic charge transport) technology, is less complex and uses less power because it has the processing power of a multimillion-transistor ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) but its implemented with fewer than 3000 transistors. The SMP is operated by a natural-language software system.<>

Keywords

acoustic microwave devices; buffer storage; parallel processing; signal processing equipment; solid-state microwave devices; surface acoustic wave devices; ACT delay line; ACT technology; SAW devices; acoustic charge transport; analogue RF signals; buffer memory; microwave signals; natural-language software system; piezoelectric GaAs substrate; programmable transversal filter; signal microprocessor; software controlled processor; Acoustic applications; Analog-digital conversion; Application specific integrated circuits; Control systems; Integrated circuit technology; Microprocessors; Process control; RF signals; Radio frequency; Signal processing;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Microwave Symposium Digest, 1990., IEEE MTT-S International

Conference_Location

Dallas, TX

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/MWSYM.1990.99771

Filename

99771