Fully programmable digital-to-impulse radiating array

• US 10,211,528 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2016
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rice University
• Original Assignee: Rice University
• Inventors: Assefzadeh, Mohammad Mahdi, Babakhani, Aydin
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu, Harry K
• Application Number:
  US15/157,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20160344108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 342372
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/085 Slot-line radiating ends
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/064 using horn or slot aerials slotted waveguides arrays H01Q21/005
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2682 Time delay steered arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/38 the phase-shifters being digital

Abstract

A fully-programmable digital-to-impulse radiator with a programmable delay is discussed herein. The impulse radiator may be part of an array of impulse radiators. Each individual element of the array may be equipped with an integrated programmable delay that can shift the timing of a digital trigger. The digital trigger may be fed to an amplifier, switch, and impulse matching circuitry, whereas the data signal path may be provided from a separate path. An antenna coupled to the impulse matching circuitry may then radiate ultra-short impulses. The radiating array may provide the ability to control delay at each individual element, perform near-ideal spatial combing, and/or beam steering.

Claims

1. A method for generating and radiating an impulse, the method comprising:

receiving a trigger signal and a data signal, wherein a trigger signal path is separated from a data signal path;

controlling the timing of a current applied to an antenna in accordance with the trigger signal; and

controlling the amplitude of the current applied to an antenna in accordance with the data signal, wherein an impulse that is outputted is from an impulse radiator of an array of impulse radiators, wherein at least one impulse radiator of the array comprises

an input for receiving the trigger signal,

a delay generator for delaying the trigger signal,

a current switch receiving the trigger signal, and

an antenna coupled to the current switch, wherein the antenna outputs the impulse in accordance with the trigger signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data signal is outputted without delay to the data signal path.

3. The methods of claim 1, wherein an edge-sharpening amplifier sharpens the edge of the trigger signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the impulse is a positive impulse that is locked to a rising edge of the trigger signal or a falling edge of the trigger signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein an edge-sharpening amplifier receives the trigger signal, wherein the edge-sharpening amplifier sharpens the edge of the trigger signal that is outputted to the current switch or the delay generator.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting at least another impulse from at least one other impulse radiator from the array of impulse radiators;

and setting desired delays for the another impulse radiator for beam steering or spatial combining.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the impulse and the at least another impulse combine to enable a broadband beamsteering of information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the array of impulse radiators is utilized for spectroscopy, imaging, or high-speed wireless communication.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a delay generator coupled to the trigger input controls a delay to the trigger signal.

10. An impulse radiator comprising:

a trigger input for receiving a trigger signal;

a data input for receiving a data signal, wherein a trigger signal path is separated from a data signal path;

a delay generator coupled to the trigger input, wherein the delay generator controls a delay to the trigger signal;

a digital-to-impulse (D2I) circuit receiving the trigger input and data signal, wherein the D2I circuit controls timing of a current applied to an antenna in accordance with the trigger signal that controls an output timing of an impulse, and the D2I circuit controls amplitude of the current applied to the antenna in accordance with the data signal that controls the amplitude of the impulse; and

an antenna coupled to the D2I circuit, wherein the antenna outputs the impulse in accordance with the trigger signal.

11. The radiator of claim 10, wherein the data signal is outputted to the D2I circuit without delay to the data signal path.

12. The radiator of claim 10, wherein the D2I circuit comprises:

an edge-sharpening amplifier, wherein the edge-sharpening amplifier sharpens the edge of the trigger signal; and

a current switch, wherein the current switch controls the current applied to the antenna.

13. The radiator of claim 10, wherein the D2I circuit comprises:

an impulse matcher outputting the trigger signal to the antenna; and

a digital to analog (DAC) converter receiving a delay control signal, wherein the DAC converter modulates the delay of the impulse in accordance with the delay control signal.

14. The radiator of claim 10, where the radiator is an integrated circuit.

15. The radiator of claim 10, wherein the impulse is a positive impulse that is locked to a rising edge of the trigger or a falling edge of the trigger.

16. The radiator of claim 10, wherein the impulse radiator is a component of an array of impulse radiators.

17. The radiator of claim 16, wherein setting a proper delay at each impulse radiator is utilized for beam steering or spatial combining.

18. The radiator of claim 16, wherein the array of impulse radiators is utilized for spectroscopy, imaging, or high-speed wireless communication.

19. A digital-to-impulse system comprising:

an array of impulse radiators with two or more impulse radiators, wherein at least one impulse radiator of the array comprises

a trigger input for receiving a trigger signal;

a data input for receiving a data signal, wherein a trigger signal path is separated from a data signal path;

a delay generator coupled to the trigger input, wherein the delay generator controls a delay to the trigger signal;

a digital-to-impulse (D2I) circuit receiving the trigger input and data signal, wherein the D2I circuit controls timing of a current applied to an antenna in accordance with the trigger signal that controls an output timing of an impulse, and the D2I circuit controls amplitude of the current applied to the antenna in accordance with the data signal that controls the amplitude of the impulse; and

an antenna coupled to the D2I circuit, wherein the antenna outputs the impulse in accordance with the trigger signal.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein at least another impulse from two or more impulse radiators is outputted, and the output timing of the impulse relative to said another impulse is utilized for beam steering or spatial combining.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein each of the impulse radiators in the array comprises a trigger input, data input, D2I circuit, and antenna, and beam-steering of radiated impulses is enabled by setting a proper delay at each of the impulse radiators.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein radiated impulses from the array enable broadband beamsteering of information.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the array of impulse radiators is utilized for spectroscopy, imaging, or high-speed wireless communication.