TELSIKS 2011

Serbia, Nis, October 5 - 8, 2011

Design of Optimized Multistage Decimation Filter Chain

Based on Optimal Factorization of Decimation Ratio
Milena Stojnic1, Djordje Babic2
Abstract In this paper we analyze method for the design of
the optimized multistage decimation filter chain based upon the
minimization of computational load. Decimation ratios for each
of K stages are obtained with respect to the optimal number of
FIR filter multiplications. We evaluate performances of the
optimized multistage filter chain for two and three stage cases
and compare the obtained results with single stage decimation
structure. Performances are measured by using number of
multiplications per output sample.
Keywords Computational load, decimation, FIR filter design,
minimization, multistage processing, objective function,
optimization.

I. INTRODUCTION
It is well known in signal processing theory that there are
numerous applications where it is advantageous or even
necessary to change (increase or decrease) the sampling rate
[1]. The process of decreasing of an original signal sampling
rate to a lower sampling rate by some integer factor is a
combination of lowpass filtering and decimation process.
From the design of the decimation filter point of view it is
more efficient if the sample rate-change operations are done
in multiple stages then in one-stage process, [1], [2].
However, the best way to split mentioned operations into its
component stages is not completely known yet. A possible
solution for the design of multistage decimators using finite
impulse response (FIR) filters based upon the minimization of
the computational load is presented in [3] and [4]. In [3] and
[4], it has been demonstrated that even for an arbitrary number
of stages K, an explicit solution can be found for each stage
integer decimation ratio with respect to the optimal number of
FIR filter multiplications and additions.
Starting from the method for determination of multistage
decimation ratios published in [3], we analyze method for
design of the optimized multistage decimation filter chain for
two- and three-stages. Our aim is to minimize overall
computational load which can be achieved by reducing overall
number of multipliers, and by shifting the most of multipliers
to the lower sampling rate. We evaluate performances of the
optimized multistage filter chain in comparison to one-stage
decimation structures and present the obtained results.

Milena Stojnic is with the School of Electrical Engineering,

University of Belgrade, Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 73, 11120
Belgrade, Serbia, E-mail: milena.stojnic@gmail.com
2
Djordje Babic is with the School of Computung, University
Union, Knez Mihailova 6/6, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia, E-mail:
djbabic@raf.edu.rs

978-1-4577-2019-2/11/$26.00 2011 IEEE

II. OPTIMIZED MULTISTAGE DECIMATION

If the overall sampling rate decimation ratio N can be
factored into the product N k 1 N k , where Nk is an
K

integer, then the decimators can be implemented using K

stages as it is shown in Fig. 1(a), where x(n) and y(n) denote
discretized input and discretized output signal and H(z) is the
transfer function. For the design and analysis purposes,
diagram shown in Fig. 1(a) can be redrawn into the equivalent
single-stage form given in Fig. 1(b) [1], [2].
x ( n)

fs

x( n)

fs

H1 ( z )

H2 ( z)

N1

N2

H K ( z)

NK

y ( m)
fs / N

(a)

H1 ( z ) H 2 ( z N1 ) H 3 ( z N1N 2 ) H K ( z N1N2N K 1 )

y ( m)
fs / N

(b)
Fig. 1. (a) Multistage and (b) equivalent single-stage decimation
model

Let us first introduce the necessary notation. Let

f=(fcfp)/fs denotes the normalized transition bandwidth,
where fc stands for the stopband edge, fp stands for the
passband edge, and fs denotes sampling frequency. In order to
minimize total number of multiplications and additions per
second we used approximate objective function, [5],
RT N f r 0 S ,

(1)

where N(p/K,s) depends only upon the stopband s, and

passband p ripple levels, fr0 denotes initial sampling rate, and
variable S is given by
S ( N , f , K , N1 , N 2 , , N K 1 )

2
f

K 1

N
i 1

f
k 1
N i 1

2N
i 1

K 1

k 1

Ni

i 1

(2)

It is obvious that we obtain minimal value of function RT if we

minimize the multivariate function S, for a given number of
stages, K.
Now, we give short description how optimized decimation
ratios can be analytically determined for two- and three-stage
cases. This method is adopted from [3] and applied to our
case. When number of stages equals two, K=2, the optimal
decimation ratios can be found from after setting dS/dN1=0
and can be calculated as follows [3]:

273

N1

2N
1
,
2 f (1 N f /(2 f )

N 2 N / N1 ,

K 2

Pi 1

(3a)

K 2.

(3b)

2
1

fN1 N 2 1 pN1 / 2 N
+

1
N1 (1 pN1 N 2 / 2 N )

(4)

PK 1

N12
S
2
p

N1
fN 2 2 N (1 pN1 / 2 N ) 2

(5a)

N 22
S
2
p

0.
N 2
fN1 2 N (1 pN1 N 2 / 2 N ) 2

(5b)

N1 N 2
p
1

0
(1 pN1 N 2 / 2 N ) 2 N (1 pN1 N 2 / 2 N ) 2

N 22

If we introduce =p/2N, from (5b) we can express explicit

solution
N 2 ( N1 )

( N1 f / 2 N1 )

K 3.

i 1, , K 3 .

(9)

PK 2
f / 2 PK 2

(10)

Following discussion given in [3, Eq. (16)] it is obvious that

previous solution provides minimal solution for the function
S. Now, we have K-1 equations with K-1 variables Pi for
i=1,,K1 and we can simply determine values of P ratios
and finally obtain N ratios from Ni=Pi/Pi1.

where p=2f. In order to minimize function S we have to set

and solve S/N1=S/N1=0. Furthermore, we obtain
N12

(1 Pi ) 2

From the relation S/PK1=0 it can be written

If number of stages equals three, K=3, then function S is

given by [3]:
S ( N , f , N1 , N 2 )

1 Pi 1

2 Pi 2

III. DESIGN OF OPTIMIZED MULTISTAGE CHAIN

As it has been mentioned above and originally suggested in
[2] it is beneficial to factorize the overall sampling rate
alteration ratio according to (1). After factorization, the
overall sampling rate alteration is implemented using K FIR
filter stages as shown in Fig. 1(a). The main advantage of the
multistage implementation is in the fact that the number of
multipliers reduces due to filters of lower order in each stage,
and the most of multiplications is performed at lower
sampling rate. In this way the overall number of operations
per an input sample is significantly lower. For the design
purposes it is beneficial to express the transfer function of the
single stage equivalent shown in Fig. 1 (b). The overall single
stage frequency response can be expressed as [1], [2]:

(6)

H (e j ) H k (e jNk ) ,

(11)

k 1

After we have found solution for N2 in terms of N1, solution

for N1 can be obtained from (5a) following standard numerical
procedures.

where
k 1

N 1 1, N k N l , for k=2, 3,, K.

Now, we give general solution for an arbitrary number of

stages K with respect to the change of variable Pk i 1 N i ,

(12)

l 1

where it is obvious that P01 and Ni=Pi/Pi1, [3]. Function S

can be now written as:
S ( Pi )

K 1
2
1

.
fPK 1 k 1 Pk 1 (1 Pk )

(7)

In order to minimize function S, the next system of equations

must be satisfied S/Pk=0, for k=1,,K1. Furthermore, we
obtain Pi+1 in terms of Pi and Pi1, similarly as in [3], by
S
1
1
2
Pi
Pi (1 Pi 1 )

Pi 1 (1 Pi ) 2

Based on (11) and (12), it is possible to see that all filters in

decimation chain are periodic having several passbands and
stopbands in the range [0, fs/2] except for the first stage.
Taking into account this property, the design requirements for
K filters in multistage decimation chain can be stated as
follows. The passband region for the last, the Kth, stage is:
(pK ) [0, f p / N K ] ,

where fp is the passband edge. The stopband region can be

expressed as:

(8)
0,

(13)

i 1, , K 2

and
274

0
Amplitude in dB

Amplitude

1.05

(a)

0.95
0

0.005
0.01
Frequency normalized to input sampling rate

0.015

Amplitude in dB

Amplitude in dB

60
0.1

0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
Frequency normalized to input sampling rate

0.9

20

(b)
40
60
0.1

0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
Frequency normalized to input sampling rate

0.9

The passband region for stages k=1,2K1 is determined by:

(15)

and the stopband region is given by:

(sk )

Nk / 2

l 1

(2l k )
(2l k )
[
, min
, ] ,
Nk
Nk

(16)

where
N k 1 / N

k f p N k 1 / N
(2 f ) N / N
p
k 1

for Case A
for Case B

(b)
40
60
0.1

0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
Frequency normalized to input sampling rate

0.9

Fig. 3. Two stage decimation: (a) Amplitude responses of H1(z)

dashed line, and H2(z20) solid line. (b) Amplitude response of the
equivalent single stage filter H1(z)H2(z20)

for Case A
[ / N K , ]
N K / 2 ( 2l f )

(2l f p )

p
, min
, ] for Case B (14)
[
l 1
NK
N
K

( 2 f p )
, ]
for Case C.
[
NK

(pk ) [0, f p N k / N ] ,

20

Fig. 2. One stage decimation: (a) Passband details. (b) Amplitude

response of the filter for one stage decimation

(sK )

(a)

40

20

(17)

for Case C.

The passband and stopband ripples for K subfilters in

multistage decimation filter chain are p/K and s, where p
and s are ripples of the overall filter.
The design procedure for the optimized multistage
decimation is explained in a sequel. The system parameters
are determined by overall decimation ratio N, passband edge
fp, passband and stopband ripples p and s. The next step is to
choose the number of stages K, and to perform optimal
factorization according to procedure explained in Section II,
resulting in integer factors Nk for k=1,2K. The next step is

to design stage filters according to requirements given in (13)(17) using the design routine similar to remez.

IV. CASE STUDIES

In order to illustrate the effectiveness of the optimal
factorization we will use an example. We consider the case
with N=60, fp=0.4 scaled to a decimated sampling rate,
p=0.01 and s=0.001. In order to compare and see usefulness
of multistage decimation we will start with a single stage
decimation filter. After that we will find optimal factorization
for two and three stage cases. The performance is measured
by using number of multiplications per output sample.
The single stage decimation filter with system parameters
defined above can be designed with following requirements
for the FIR filter, the passband edge fp=0.4/N, the stopband
edge fc=1/N, p=0.01 and s=0.001. The required filter order
for Case A design is M=531, and number of multipliers in
overall system is (M+1)/2=266. Figure 2 illustrates the
characteristics of the one stage design showing the frequency
response of the design filter and passband details.
For two stages case, K=2, the optimal factorization for
given system parameters leads to N1=20, and N2=3. We
consider Case A filter specifications. In this case, see (11)(17), N 1 =1 and N 2 =20. The passband regions for H1(z) and
H2(z) are [0, fp/60] and [0, fp/3]. The parameter 1=1/3. The
stopband region of H1(z) is a union of
Fs(1)

20 / 2

[
l 1

(2l 1 / 3)
(2l 1 / 3)
, min
,1] ,
20
20

(18)

And the stopband region for H2(z) is [1/3, 1] according to

(14). The corresponding ripples for subfilters are p/K=0.01/2
and s=0.001. These requirements are met with H1(z) of order

275

TABLE I
COMPARISON OF SEVERAL DECIMATION PARAMETERS WITH OPTIMAL
(SHADOWED), IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF MULTIPLIERS AND OVERALL

Amplitude in dB

MULTIPLICATION RATE

20

(a)
40
60
0

0.1

0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
Frequency normalized to input sampling rate

0.9

Number of
stages

Decimation
ratios

Filter
orders

Number of
multipliers

Multiplication
rate

Single stage

60
20, 3
30, 2
15, 4
12, 5
10, 6
10, 3, 2
15, 2, 2
6, 5, 2
5, 4, 3

531
71, 17
127, 21
55, 15
47, 13
41, 13
23, 21, 21
51, 10, 21
13, 27, 21
10, 19, 17

266
45
75
36
31
28
34
43
32
25

266
117
139
120
127
133
105
127
109
111

Two stages
Amplitude in dB

0
20

(b)

40

Three stages

60
0

0.1

0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
Frequency normalized to input sampling rate

0.9

V. CONCLUSION

Fig. 4. Three stage decimation: (a) Amplitude responses of H1(z)

dot-dashed line, H2(z10) dashed line, and H3(z30) solid line. (b)
Amplitude response of the equivalent single stage filter
H1(z)H2(z10) H3(z30)

M1=71, and H2(z) of order M2=17. The total number of

multipliers is (M1+1)/2+(M2+1)/2=45, which is considerable
lower compared to the single stage case. The multiplication
rate is N2(M1+1)/2+(M2+1)/2=117. The amplitude responses
for H1(z), H2(z20), and the single stage equivalent H1(z)H2(z20)
are given in Fig. 3.
For K=3 stages case the optimal factorization for given
system parameters leads to N1=10, N2=3, and N3=2. We
consider Case A filter specifications. In this case, see (11)(17), N 1 =1, N 2 =10, and N 3 =30. The passband regions for
H1(z), H2(z), and H3(z) are [0, fp/60], [0, fp/6], and [0, fp/2].
The parameters 1=1/6 and 2=1/2. The stopband region of
H1(z) is a union of
Fs(1)

10 / 2

[
l 1

(2l 1 / 6)
(2l 1 / 6)
, min
,1] ,
10
10

(19)

stopband region for H2(z) is [(2-1/2)/3, (2+1/2)/3], and

stopband region for H3(z) is [1/2, 1]. The corresponding
ripples for subfilters are p/K=0.01/3 and s=0.001. These
requirements are met with H1(z) of order M1=23, H2(z) of
order M2=21, and H3(z) of order M3=21. The total number of
multipliers is M1/2+1+(M2+1)/2+M3/2+1=34, which is
considerable lower compared to the single stage case, but
comparable with two stage case. The multiplication rate is
N2N3(M1/2+1)/2+N3(M2+1)/2+M3/2+1=105, and this is lower
compared to two stage case. The amplitude responses for
H1(z), H2(z10), H3(z30) and the single stage equivalent
H1(z)H2(z10) H3(z30) are given in Fig. 4.

In this paper we have analyzed the optimization problem

for the design of multistage decimation filter chain. We
described procedure for determination of optimal factorization
of overall decimation ratio with respect to the optimal number
of multiplications. In order to show the effectiveness of the
optimal factorization we evaluated performances of the
designed optimized multistage filter chain for two and three
stage cases and presented the obtained results. The future
work will be focused on the problem of optimal factorization
of the overall decimation ratio allowing one stage to perform
non-integer decimation. This approach will provide more
flexibility in an arbitrary factorization of the overall
decimation factor even if it is prime number.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This work was supported by the Serbian Ministry of
Science under technology development projects: TR32028
Advanced Techniques for Efficient Use of Spectrum in
Wireless Systems and TR32023 Performance
Optimization
of
Energy-efficient
Computer
and
Communications Systems.

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