Suboptimal detection of telemetry signals: functional simulation and VLSI implementation

Utility telemetry service allows utility providers to minimize their expenses and maximize service quality and competitiveness, using public switched telephone networks. The newly emerging IEEE standard 1390 defines alert signals for network to telemetry interface, which activate the telemetry interface unit. Since this standard is on a relatively specific subject, VLSI detectors for the IEEE 1390 signals are not widespread on the market. Instead of using optimal detection methods, a detector of these signals is suggested here, based on suboptimal detection methods. The analysis has been performed in several steps: (a) mathematical modeling, (b) simulation analysis, and (c) implementation analysis. The performed analysis indicates that suboptimal methods offer satisfactory performance, even with a relatively large quantization noise, which implies lower VLSI complexity and production cost.