Digital bit rate synchronizer for digital echo cancellers and similar signal processing devices

Claim 2

A digital signal processing device for receiving and processing first and second digital input signals at first and second device inputs, respectively, said second digital signal comprising at least first and second consecutive samples representing first and second values, respectively, said device comprising: a signal processor (e.g. 18, 20) having first and second signal processor inputs and for processing signals received at said first and second processor inputs, said first signal processor input comprising said first device input; and coupling means, including interpolation and synchronization means, for receiving said at least first and second consecutive samples of said second digital input signal and for providing a signal to said second signal processor input which is derived from said second digital input signal, is synchronized in time with said first digital input signal and represents a value between said first and second values.

Claim 3

A digital signal processing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said interpolation and synchronization means comprises: means for generating from said second digital input signal an interpolated signal representing at least one intermediate value between said first and second values; and sampling means synchronized with said first digital input signal for sampling said interpolated signal and providing an interpolated signal sample to said second signal processor input.

Claim 4

A digital signal processing device as defined in claim 2, wherein said means for generating said interpolated signal comprises: digital to analog conversion means for converting said second digital input signal to a first analog signal having at least first and second levels corresponding to said first and second values, respectively; and interpolating means for receiving said first analog signal and generating therefrom a second analog signal having gradual transitions between said first and second levels; and wherein said sampling means comprises: means for sampling said second analog signal in synchronism with said first digital input signal; and analog to digital conversion means for converting said second analog signal samples to digital form and for supplying said digital form samples to said second input of said signal processor.

Claim 5

A signal processing device as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for sampling said second analog signal comprises: clock recovery means for generating a recovered clock signal synchronized with said first digital input signal; and sample-and-hold means clocked by said recovered clock signal for sampling said second analog signal.

Claim 6

A signal processing device as defined in claim 3, wherein said interpolating means is a low pass filter.

Claim 7

A signal processing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said interpolation and synchronization means comprises: means for generating from said second digital input signal a third digital signal representing at least one intermediate value between said first and second values; and sampling means synchronized with said first digital input signal for sampling said third digital signal and providing third digital signal samples to said second input of said signal processor.

Claim 8

A signal processing device as defined in claim 6, wherein said means for generating said third digital signal comprises: means for determining a difference Δ between said first and second values; means for generating an incremental value signal representing an incremental value Δ/m, where m is an integer; and means for repetitively adding said incremental value signal to said first value to generate said third digital signal changing from said first to said second values in increments of Δ/m.

Claim 9

A signal processing device as defined in claim 7, wherein said means for determining comprises: a first register for storing said first consecutive sample of said second digital input signal; a second register for storing said second consecutive sample of said second digital input signal; and comparison means for comparing the contents of said first and second registers.

Claim 10

A signal processing device as defined in claim 7, wherein said means for repetitively adding comprises: an accumulator receiving said incremental value signal as an accumulator input and providing an accumulator output, said accumulator adding said accumulator input and output in response to an accumulator clock signal; clock means for generating clock pulses at a rate of m fsi , where f si is the sample rate of said second digital input signal; and comparison means for comparing said accumulator output to said second value, said comparison means enabling said clock means when said accumulator output and second value are different and disabling said clock means when the value of said accumulator output reaches said second value.

Claim 11

A digital signal processing device as defined in claim 9, wherein said clock means comprises: clock recovery means receiving said second digital input signal and generating a clock signal having a rate f si ; clock multiplication means for receiving the output of said clock recovery means and providing a clock signal having a rate m fsi ; and gate means for passing the output of said clock multiplication means to said accumulator when enabled, said gate means being controlled by said comparison means.

Claim 12

A digital signal processing device as defined in claim 9, wherein m=2 n , where n is an integer.

Claim 13

A digital signal processing device as defined in any one of claims 3-5, wherein said signal processor is an echo canceller for predicting an echo from a receive signal and subtracting said predicted echo from a send signal, said first digital input signal comprising said send signal and said second digital input signal comprising said receive signal.

Claim 14

An echo canceller for receiving a receive digital signal having at least first and second consecutive samples representing first and second values, respectively, and predicting an echo from said receive digital signal and for subtracting said predicted echo from a send digital signal, said echo canceller comprising: a signal processor (e.g. 18, 20) having first and second signal processor inputs, said signal processor generating a predicted echo signal in accordance with a signal received at said second signal processor input and subtracting said predicted echo signal from a signal received at said first signal processor input, said signal processor receiving said send digital signal at said first signal processor input; and coupling means, including interpolation and synchronization means, for receiving said at least first and second consecutive samples of said receive digital signal and for providing a signal to said signal processor input which is derived from said receive digital signal, is sychronized in time with said send digital signal and represents a value between said first and second values.

Claim 15

An echo canceller for receiving a receive digital signal having at least first and second consecutive samples representing first and second values, respectively, and predicting an echo from said receive digital signal and for subtracting said predicted echo from a send digital signal, said echo canceller comprising: a signal processor (e.g. 18, 20) having first and second signal processor inputs, said signal processor generating a predicted echo signal in accordance with a signal received at said second signal processor input and subtracting said predicted echo signal from a signal received at said first signal processor input, said signal processor receiving said send digital signal at said first signal processor input; and coupling means, including interpolation and synchronization means, for receiving said at least first and second consecutive samples of said receive digital signal and for providing a signal to said signal processor input which is derived from said receive digital signal, is sychronized in time with said send digital signal and represents a value between said first and second values.

Claim 16

An echo canceller as defined in claim 13, wherein said interpolation and synchronization means comprises: means for generating from said receive digital signal an interpolated signal representing at least one intermediate value between said first and second values; and sampling means synchronized with said send digital signal for sampling said interpolated signal and providing an interpolated signal sample to said second signal processor input.

Claim 17

An echo canceller for receiving a receive digital signal having at least first and second consecutive samples representing first and second sample values, respectively, and predicting an echo from said receive digital signal and for subtracting said predicted echo from a send digital signal, said echo canceller comprising: a signal processor (e.g. 18, 20) having first and second signal processor inputs, said signal processor generating a predicted echo signal in accordance with a signal received at said second signal processor input and subtracting said predicted echo signal from a signal received at said first signal processor input, said signal processor receiving said send digital signal at said first signal processor input; and coupling means, including interpolation and synchronization means, for receiving said at least first and second consecutive samples of said receive digital signal and for providing a signal to said second signal processor input which is derived from said receive digital signal, is synchronized in time with said send digital signal and represents a value between said first and second values, said interpolation and synchronization means comprising means for generating from said receive digital signal a third digital signal representing at least one intermediate value between said first and second values and sampling means synchronized with said send digital signal for sampling said third digital signal and providing third digital signal samples to said second signal processor input.

Claim 18

An echo canceller for receiving a receive digital signal having at least first and second consecutive samples representing first and second sample values, respectively, and predicting an echo from said receive digital signal and for subtracting said predicted echo from a send digital signal, said echo canceller comprising: a signal processor (e.g. 18, 20) having first and second signal processor inputs, said signal processor generating a predicted echo signal in accordance with a signal received at said second signal processor input and subtracting said predicted echo signal from a signal received at said first signal processor input, said signal processor receiving said send digital signal at said first signal processor input; and coupling means, including interpolation and synchronization means, for receiving said at least first and second consecutive samples of said receive digital signal and for providing a signal to said second signal processor input which is derived from said receive digital signal, is synchronized in time with said send digital signal and represents a value between said first and second values, said interpolation and synchronization means comprising means for generating from said receive digital signal a third digital signal representing at least one intermediate value between said first and second values and sampling means synchronized with said send digital signal for sampling said third digital signal and providing third digital signal samples to said second signal processor input.

Claim 19

An echo canceller as defined in claim 15, wherein said means for generating said third digital signal comprises: means for determining a difference Δ between said first and second values; means for generating an incremental value signal representing an incremental value Δ/m, where m is an integer; and means for repetitively adding said incremental value signal to said first value to generate said third digital signal changing from said first to said second value in increments of Δ/m.

Claim 20

An echo canceller as defined in claim 16, wherein said means for determining comprises: a first register for storing said first consecutive sample of said receive digital signal; a second register for storing said second consecutive sample of said receive digital signal; and comparison means for comparing the contents of said first and second registers.

Claim 21

An echo canceller as defined in claim 16, wherein said means for repetitively adding comprises: an accumulator receiving said incremental value signal as an accumulator input and providing an accumulator output, said accumulator adding said accumulator input and output in response to an accumulator clock signal; clock means for generating clock pulses at a rate of m fsi , where fsi is the sample rate of said receive digital signal; and comparison means for comparing said accumulator output to said second value, said comparison means enabling said clock means when said accumulator output and second value are different and disabling said clock means when the value of said accumulator output reaches said second value.

Claim 22

An echo canceller as defined in claim 18, wherein said clock means comprises: clock recovery means receiving said receive digital signal and generating a clock signal having a rate f si ; clock multiplication means for receiving the output of said clock recovery means and providing a clock signal having a rate m fsi ; and gate means for passing the output of said clock multiplication means to said accumulator when enabled, said gate means being controlled by said comparison means.

Claim 23

An echo canceller as defined in claim 18, wherein m=2 n , where n is an integer.