CMOS I and Q channel generalised filter kernel for digital radio

A generalised filter kernel (GFK) is described which may be configured to perform FIR, IIR and adaptive filtering with integer decimation and interpolation in the FIR mode. The GFK operates on two channels of up to 18 bit data, processing both the in-phase and quadrature (I and Q) signal components using shared coefficients. Previous experience in highly efficient, but specific, digital filter parts on chip provided the initial start to develop this similar but general purpose part. The kernel is intended as a parameterised building block, or `macrocell´, in a CMOS semicustom library and is aimed specifically at high performance ASICs for baseband processing in digital radio. The macrocell gives a fast and reliable route to the assembly on chip, of any stringent filtering interface requirements a digital processing system may have. A system designer can simply programme the GFK to provide the filter characteristics desired, an instance of the macrocell is then generated for inclusion in the ASIC layout