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Receiver System Design 9

Dynamic range defines the difference between the strongest and weakest signals a receiver system can receive. Modern reconnaissance receiver systems require 90 dB or more of instantaneous dynamic range. The dynamic range of an analog receiver system is determined by factors like the preamplifier's intercept points, where the second and third order intercept points impact the system's spurious free dynamic range. The dynamic range of a digital receiver depends on the number of bits used in the analog to digital conversion, with more bits providing a greater dynamic range.

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Barry Russell
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17 views

Receiver System Design 9

Dynamic range defines the difference between the strongest and weakest signals a receiver system can receive. Modern reconnaissance receiver systems require 90 dB or more of instantaneous dynamic range. The dynamic range of an analog receiver system is determined by factors like the preamplifier's intercept points, where the second and third order intercept points impact the system's spurious free dynamic range. The dynamic range of a digital receiver depends on the number of bits used in the analog to digital conversion, with more bits providing a greater dynamic range.

Uploaded by

Barry Russell
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Naylor Publications Pagina 1 di 3

RECEIVER SYSTEM DESIGN - PART 9 RECEIVER SYSTEM DYNAMIC RANGE


Thursday, March 1, 2007 - Dave Adamy

Receiver System Design Part 9


Receiver System Dynamic Range
Dave Adamy
March 2007

Dynamic range defines the difference between the strongest and weakest signals a receiver
system can receive. The instantaneous dynamic range is for signals received at the same time. In EW
applications, it defines the weakest signal that can be received in the presence of the strongest.
In communication systems and radars, automatic gain control (AGC) allows receivers to accept a
very wide range of signal strengths because the receiver is turned down to provide optimum reception of
the strongest signal in the receivers bandwidth. However, AGC is seldom (if ever) appropriate to EW
and reconnaissance receivers. It may be a matter of life or death to receive a weak threat signal while a
very strong non-threat signal is in band.
Reconnaissance receiver systems must sometimes have switched attenuators in their front ends to
allow a strong range and a weaker range of signals to be sequentially sampled. Many earlier systems
were specified at 60 dB instantaneous dynamic range, but modern systems typically require 90 or more
dB.

Analog vs. Digital Dynamic Range


Because many digital receivers are used in EW applications, it is important to understand that
digital receivers comprise an analog front end followed by an analog to digital receiver and then a
computer in which the digital receiver functions are performed. (See Figure 1.) Each section has a
defined dynamic range. We will discuss the dynamic range of the analog section first; then that of the
digital section. The two receiver sections should have the same dynamic range.

Analog Receiver Dynamic Range


The dynamic range is typically determined by a preamplifier, which is specified in terms of its
gain, noise figure and intercept points. We have already talked about the impact of preamplifier gain and
noise figure on system sensitivity. The intercept points impact the system dynamic range. Figure 2 is
used to determine the dynamic range from the intercept points.
This diagram relates to the output of the preamplifier. The ordinate and abscissa of the graph are
both logarithmic scales of preamplifier output power in dBm. The fundamental line represents the output
power of a single amplified signal from the amplifier. Note that it has a 1:1 slope. The second order
response line represents the second order spurious response at the output of the amplifier. This is the
level of the spurious signal produced at the output of the amplifier at a frequency that is double the
fundamental frequency, or at the sum or difference frequencies of two input signals. The second order
response line has a 2:1 slope and intersects the fundamental line at what is called the second order
intercept point (also called IP2). Starting at the output power of the one or two signals causing the
spurious response on the abscissa of the graph, move up to the second order line, then left to the ordinate
http://66.38.154.178/absolutenm/templates/default.aspx?a=2693&template=print-article.htm 11/11/2008
Naylor Publications Pagina 2 di 3

to read the level of the second-order spurious response output.

The third order response line is the level of third-order spurs. A third order spurious response is
output at two times the frequency of one input signal plus or minus the frequency of the second input
signal (or one frequency plus or minus twice the other frequency). This line has a 3:1 slope and
intersects the fundamental line at the third order intercept point (IP3).
For the example shown, the second order intercept point is +50 dBm and the 3rd order intercept
is at +20 dBm. Two input signals at -27 dBm would produce third and second order spurious outputs at -
100dBm and -112 dBm respectively.
A receiver design will normally eliminate the second order spurs by selection of intermediate
frequencies, and multiple conversions if necessary. However, the third order spurs often cannot be
avoided and limit the receivers spurious free dynamic range.
Note that there is an intercept validity limit line shown on the graph. This is the level at which
the amplifier is no longer well behaved. It is near the point at which compression in the amplifier
output (caused by saturation) causes the actual levels of the spurious outputs to vary significantly from
the second- and third-order line values. Thus, the dynamic range must be calculated to the left of this
validity limit.

Determining Dynamic Range


Figure 3 adds some information to the graph in Figure 2. The sensitivity line is the level of a
pre-amplifier output caused by a received signal (from the antenna) at the receiver system sensitivity
level. In this example, the sensitivity level output signal is -100 dBm. To calculate the dynamic range
limited by third-order spurs, draw a vertical line from the intersection of the third-order intercept line
and the sensitivity line up to the fundamental line. The vertical distance between these two lines (i.e., the
difference in output signal strength in dB) defines the output signal strength of strong signals that will
cause spurs at the sensitivity level. This means that if the signals causing spurs are at the fundamental
line level (-32 dBm), the third-order spurious outputs will be at -100 dBm (which is the sensitivity level
of the receiver at this point). So the dynamic range is 68 dB.

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Naylor Publications Pagina 3 di 3

Digital Dynamic Range


The dynamic range of the digital part of the receiver depends on the number of bits produced by
the analog-to-digital converter. The weakest signal is digitized as one in the least significant bit (all
other bits being zeros), while the strongest signal is digitized as all ones. The dynamic range is then:

DR = 20 Log10 (2n)
Where: DR is the dynamic range in dB
n is the number of bits to which the input signal is digitized

You will note that the conversion to dB has a 20 multiplier rather than the 10 multiplier when
signal power ratios are converted. This is because the digitizer quantizing levels that determine the
digital word produced are voltages. For example:
10 bits provides 60 dB dynamic range
12 bits provides 72 dB dynamic range
14 bits provides 84 dB dynamic range

Whats Next
Next month, well cover multiple receiver systems. For your comments and suggestions, Dave Adamy
can be reached at [email protected].

Naylor Publications
http://66.38.154.178/

http://66.38.154.178/absolutenm/templates/default.aspx?a=2693&template=print-article.htm 11/11/2008

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