Implementation Strategies for a 16-Point FFT Processor

The Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is a cornerstone algorithm in digital signal processing, enabling efficient frequency-domain analysis across applications such as communications, multimedia, radar, and biomedical systems. While software-based FFTs offer flexibility, they often lack the speed and power efficiency required for real-time embedded applications. This paper presents an ASIC implementation of a 16-point FFT processor that leverages pipelining, butterfly unit optimization, and custom memory architecture to achieve improved performance in terms of speed, area, and power. Through a review of existing hardware FFT designs and the application of targeted architectural techniques, this work aims to advance the development of low-power, high-performance FFT solutions for embedded DSP systems