Method and apparatus to detect and decode information

• US 20040062325A1
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Green, Evan R., England, David G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/340
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/71637 Receiver aspects H04B1/7183 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/00 Modulated-carrier systems

Abstract

Briefly, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a method and apparatus to detect and decode information is provided, wherein the method includes sampling a radio frequency (RF) impulse signal to generate a sample signal and storing the sample signal for a predetermined amount of time.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

sampling a radio frequency (RF) impulse signal to generate a sample signal; and

storing the sample signal for a predetermined amount of time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein sampling occurs during a sampling period and wherein the predetermined amount of time is greater than the sampling period.

3. The method of claim 1, correlating the sample signal with a template signal to detect the presence and phase of the RF impulse signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF impulse signal is a continuous-time waveform and wherein sampling comprises:

sampling the RF impulse signal at a first predetermined point in time to generate a first discrete value;

sampling the RF impulse signal at a second predetermined point in time to generate a second discrete value; and

generating the sample signal using the first discrete value and the second discrete value.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

multiplying the first discrete value by a first coefficient value to generate a first output value;

multiplying the second discrete value by a second coefficient value to generate a second output value; and

summing the first output value and the second output value to generate an output signal.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising converting the output signal to a digital value.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising monitoring the output signal to adjust when the sampling of the RF impulse signal occurs.

8. A method, comprising:

converting a pulsed radio frequency (RF) signal to a baseband signal, wherein converting includes using at least one sample-and-hold device to process the pulsed RF signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein converting further includes using a second sample-and-hold device to process the pulsed RF signal.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein converting includes using the sample-and-hold device to sample the pulsed RF signal and generate a sample signal and further including correlating the sample signal with a template signal to detect the presence the pulsed RF signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a multiplier having an input terminal coupled to an output terminal of the sample-and-hold device.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a correlator having an input terminal coupled to an output terminal of the sample-and-hold device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a summing device having an input terminal coupled to an output terminal of the correlator

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter having an input terminal coupled to an output terminal of the summing device.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a delay locked loop (DLL); and

a delay device coupled between the DLL and the sample-and-hold device.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a sample-and-hold device adapted to process a radio frequency (RF) signal having a bandwidth of at least about 500 megahertz (MHz).

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a second sample-and-hold device adapted to process the RF signal, wherein the sample-and-hold device and the second sample-and-hold device are connected in a parallel arrangement to process the RF signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sample-and-hold device is adapted to sample the RF signal at a first predetermined point in time, generate a first discrete value, and store the first discrete value for a predetermined amount of time and wherein the second sample-and-hold device is adapted to sample the RF signal at a second predetermined point in time, generate a second discrete value, and store the second discrete value for the predetermined amount of time.

19. A system, comprising:

a communication device adapted to wirelessly transfer information at a distance of less than about 10 meters, wherein the communication device comprises;

a sample-and-hold device adapted to process a radio frequency (RF) signal having a bandwidth of at least about 500 megahertz (MHz)

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the communication device further includes a second sample-and-hold device adapted to process the RF signal, wherein the sample-and-hold device and the second sample-and-hold device are connected in a parallel arrangement to process the RF signal.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the communication device further includes:

a correlator having an input terminal coupled to an output terminal of the sample-and-hold device.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the communication device further includes an antenna having an output terminal coupled to an input terminal of the sample-and-hold device, wherein the antenna is adapted to receive the RF signal.