A Multimode FPGA-based Modem with Embedded Σ-Δ Analog-to-Digital Converter for Software Defined Radio

Abstract

Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) have been widely used in applications involving hard signal processing with reconfiguration capabilities. One promising application that requires those capabilities is Software Defined Radio (SDR). In this work a novel design of SDR modem based on FPGA is proposed. Using an experimental setup with an embedded sigma-delta A/D converter and a multimode (ASK, FSK and PSK) modem as proof of concept and with most of the tasks running in FPGA. The modem was tested and proved to be efficient using just about 1 % of available logic blocks of the adopted FPGA with a maximum operating frequency as high as 148 MHz for low cost devices, being possible the implementation in several models of FPGAs available in the market.