Hardware-irrelevant parallel processing system

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel parallel processing system that remains unaffected by hardware deviations by using a convolutional recurrent autoencoder, enabling high-performance analog-to-digital conversion in photonic systems.

Contribution

The paper proposes a hardware-irrelevant parallel processing system utilizing CRAE to compensate for hardware deviations, applicable across various fields and system types.

Findings

Successfully implemented in a photonic sampling system for microwave signals.

Can compensate for hardware mismatches across different signal categories.

Demonstrates robustness against hardware deviations in high-bandwidth systems.

Abstract

Parallel processing technology has been a primary tool for achieving high-speed, high-accuracy, and broadband processing for many years across modern information systems and data processing such as optical and radar, synthetic aperture radar imaging, digital beam forming, and digital filtering systems. However, hardware deviations in a parallel processing system (PPS) severely degrade system performance and pose an urgent challenge. We propose a hardware-irrelevant PPS of which the performance is unaffected by hardware deviations. In this system, an embedded convolutional recurrent autoencoder (CRAE), which learns inherent system patterns as well as acquires and removes adverse effects brought by hardware deviations, is adopted. We implement a hardware-irrelevant PPS into a parallel photonic sampling system to accomplish a high-performance analog-to-digital conversion for microwave signals with high frequency and broad bandwidth. Under one system state, a category of signals with two different mismatch degrees is utilized to train the CRAE, which can then compensate for mismatches in various categories of signals with multiple mismatch degrees under random system states. Our approach is extensively applicable to achieving hardware-irrelevant PPSs which are either discrete or integrated in photonic, electric, and other fields.