Method and device for receiving a signal the phase or frequency of which is modulated by a sequence of two-state symbols

• US 10,454,730 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2016
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UnaBiz Pte Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Sigfox, Inc. (UnaBiz Pte Ltd.)
• Inventors: Chalbos, Nicolas, Hubert, Loic, Fourtet, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Payne, David C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hassan, Sarah
• Application Number:
  US15/739,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20180191540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 375219, 380253
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/1563 using transition or level detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/20 Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2035 using a single or unspecified number of carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2071 in which the data are represented by the carrier phase, e.g. systems with differential coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2335 using temporal properties of the received signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2655 Synchronisation arrangements

Abstract

A method allowing a receiver device of a wireless communication system to receive a useful signal emitted by an emitter device. The useful signal corresponding to a signal, the phase or frequency of which is modulated by a sequence of two-state symbols corresponding to a sequence of binary data. A temporal envelope of the useful signal is detected and compared to a preset threshold value. Transitions between consecutive useful-signal symbols are detected, on the basis of the result of the comparison. A sequence of binary data is extracted from the useful signal depending on the detected transitions.

Claims

1. A method for receiving, by a receiver device of a wireless communication system, of a useful signal transmitted by a transmitter device, the method comprising steps of:

detecting a time-domain envelope of the useful signal, the useful signal corresponding to a signal that is phase-modulated or frequency-modulated by a sequence of two-state symbols corresponding to a binary data sequence;

comparing the detected time-domain envelope with a predetermined threshold value;

detecting transitions between consecutive symbols of the useful signal, a transition between two consecutive symbols, respective states of which are different, being detected when the detected time-domain envelope is less than the predetermined threshold value, and a transition between two consecutive symbols, the respective states of which are identical, being detected when the detected time-domain envelope is greater than the predetermined threshold value; and

extracting the binary data sequence from the useful signal as a function of detected transitions between different states and as a function of detected transitions between identical states.

2. The reception method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the symbols of a sequence are transmitted at a symbol period;

and the reception method further comprises steps of determining decision instants separated by the symbol period; and

detecting the transitions between consecutive symbols of the useful signal as a function of the decision instants.

3. The reception method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the decision instants are determined as a function of at least one instant of detection of a transition between different states.

4. The reception method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the decision instants correspond to instants for which the detected time-domain envelope is greater than the predetermined threshold value;

wherein the transition between different states is detected when the detected time-domain envelope becomes less than the predetermined threshold value between two consecutive decision instants; and

wherein the transition between identical states is detected when the detected time-domain envelope remains greater than the predetermined threshold value between two consecutive decision instants.

5. The reception method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the useful signal is an ultra-narrowband signal.

6. The reception method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the useful signal is a BPSK or DBPSK signal.

7. The reception method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the useful signal is a GFSK or DGFSK signal.

8. The reception method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time-domain envelope of the useful signal is detected and compared to the predetermined threshold value by the receiver device to receive amplitude-modulated signals.

9. The reception method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time-domain envelope of the useful signal is detected directly at an output of a low-noise amplifier of the receiver device.

10. A receiver device of a wireless communication system to receive a useful signal transmitted by a transmitter device, the receiver device comprising a processing circuit configured to:

detect a time-domain envelope of the useful signal, the useful signal corresponding to a signal that is phase-modulated or frequency-modulated by a sequence of two-state symbols corresponding to a binary data sequence;

compare the detected time-domain envelope with a predetermined threshold value;

detect transitions between consecutive symbols of the useful signal, a transition between two consecutive symbols, respective states of which are different, is detected when the detected time-domain envelope is less than the predetermined threshold value, and a transition between two consecutive symbols, the respective states of which are identical, is detected when the detected time-domain envelope is greater than the predetermined threshold value; and

extract the binary data sequence from the useful signal as a function of detected transitions between different states and as a function of detected transitions between identical states.

11. The receiver device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the processing circuit is configured to carry out time-envelope detection of the useful signal directly at an output of a low-noise amplifier of the receiver device.

12. The receiver device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the processing circuit comprises a processor and a memory.

13. The receiver device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the processing circuit comprises a programmable logic circuit.