Called Pizzicato, the digital radio transmitter consists of an IC, which outputs a single stream of bits, and an antenna. Algorithms perform the necessary computations in real time, making it possible for standard digital technology to generate high frequency radio signals directly.
"Our first trial of the technology has created 14 simultaneous cellular basestation signals," said Monty Barlow, director of wireless technology. "But it is the potential which is so exciting. Like mainstream microprocessing, a Pizzicato based radio would directly benefit from Moore's Law – shrinking in cost, size and power consumption with each new generation of silicon fabrication.
"It could also be programmed to generate almost any combination of signals at any carrier frequency, adapting its behaviour in a way that is impossible in conventional radios. It is early days for this technology, but we believe radio design has reached a turning point."
