METHODS FOR DETERMINING A REFERENCE SIGNAL AT ANY LOCATION ALONG A TRANSMISSION MEDIA

• US 20100124302A1
• Filed: 11/19/2008
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Martin, G. Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,170,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/376
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/10 Distribution of clock signals , e.g. skew
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/02 Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas RAKE receivers H04B1/7115

Abstract

Methods (200, 300) for determining a reference signal (V_ref). The methods involve (202, 204, 302, 304) sensing at a first location along the transmission media (108, 502) a first signal (V_f) propagated thereover in a forward direction and a second signal (V_r) propagated thereover in a reverse direction opposed from the forward direction. The second signal being a reflected version of the first signal. A sum signal (S) is determined (206, 306) by adding the first and second signals together. A difference signal (D) is determined (208, 308) by subtracting the second signal from the first signal. Thereafter, a first exponentiation signal (E_S) is determined (210, 310) using S. A second exponentiation signal (E_D) is determined (212, 312) using D. The first exponentiation signal is subtracted (214, 314) from the second exponentiation signal to obtain a reference signal (V_ref). V_ref can be determined at any location along the transmission media. V_ref can be used to control the phases and/or amplitudes of communication signals.

Claims

1. A method for determining at least one reference signal at any location along a transmission media, comprising the steps of:

sensing at a first location along the transmission media a first signal propagated over the transmission media in a forward direction and a second signal propagated over the transmission media in a reverse direction opposed from the forward direction, the second signal being a reflected version of the first signal;

determining a first sum signal by adding the first and second signals together and a first difference signal by subtracting the second signal from the first signal;

determining a first exponentiation signal using the first sum signal and a second exponentiation signal using the first difference signal; and

determining a first reference signal by subtracting the first exponentiation signal from the second exponentiation signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first reference signal has a first frequency equal to a second frequency of the first signal.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first reference signal has a first frequency different than a second frequency of the first signal.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of processing the first reference signal to obtain an adjusted reference signal with a third frequency equal to the second frequency of the first signal.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

sensing at a second location different from the first location along the transmission media the first and second signal; and

determining a second reference signal using the first and second signals sensed at the second location;

wherein the second reference signal has the same phase as the first reference signal.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of determining a second reference signal comprises

determining a second sum signal by adding the first and second signals sensed at the second location together and a second difference signal by subtracting the second signal sensed at the second location from the first signal sensed at the second location,

determining a third exponentiation signal using the second sum signal and a fourth exponentiation signal using the second difference signal, and

determining the second reference signal by subtracting the third exponentiation signal from the fourth exponentiation signal.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of using at least one of the first and second reference signals to adjust a phase or amplitude of a communication signal.

8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising using the first and second reference signals to determine a phase offset of the first signal.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first reference signal is determined in accordance with a reference frame of a reflective termination or intermediary device moving relative to a signal source.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of using the first reference signal to adjust a phase or amplitude of a communication signal.

11. A method for determining at least one reference signal at any location along a transmission media, comprising the steps of:

sensing at a first location along the transmission media a first signal propagated over the transmission media in a forward direction and a second signal propagated over the transmission media in a reverse direction opposed from the forward direction, the second signal being a reflected version of the first signal;

sensing at a second location different from the first location along the transmission media the first and second signal;

determining a first sum signal by adding the first and second signals sensed at the first location together and a first difference signal by subtracting the second signal sensed at the first location from the first signal sensed at the first location;

determining a first exponentiation signal using the first sum signal and a second exponentiation signal using the first difference signal;

determining a first reference signal by subtracting the first exponentiation signal from the second exponentiation signal; and

determining a second reference signal using the first and second signals sensed at the second location;

wherein the second reference signal has the same phase as the first reference signal.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first reference signal has a first frequency equal to a second frequency of the first signal.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first reference signal has a first frequency different than a second frequency of the first signal.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of processing the first reference signal to obtain an adjusted reference signal with a third frequency equal to the second frequency of the first signal.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of determining the second reference signal comprises

determining a second sum signal by adding the first and second signals sensed at the second location together and a second difference signal by subtracting the second signal sensed at the second location from the first signal sensed at the second location,

determining a third exponentiation signal using the second sum signal and a fourth exponentiation signal using the second difference signal, and

subtracting the third exponentiation signal from the fourth exponentiation signal to obtain the second reference signal.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprises the step of processing the second reference signal to obtain an adjusted reference signal with a first frequency equal to a second frequency of the first signal.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of using at least one of the first and second reference signals to adjust a phase or amplitude of a communication signal.

18. A method for determining at least one reference signal at any location along a transmission media, comprising the steps of:

sensing at a first location along the transmission media a first signal propagated over the transmission media in a forward direction and a second signal propagated over the transmission media in a reverse direction opposed from the forward direction, the second signal being a reflected version of the first signal;

determining a first sum signal by adding the first and second signals together and a first difference signal by subtracting the second signal from the first signal;

determining a first exponentiation signal using the first sum signal and a second exponentiation signal using the first difference signal;

determining a first reference signal by subtracting the first exponentiation signal from the second exponentiation signal; and

using the first reference signal to adjust the phase or amplitude of a communication signal.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the first reference signal has a first frequency equal to a second frequency of the first signal.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the first reference signal has a first frequency different than a second frequency of the first signal.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of processing the first reference signal to obtain an adjusted reference signal with a third frequency equal to the second frequency of the first signal.

22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

sensing at a second location different from the first location along the transmission media the first and second signal; and

determining a second reference signal using the first and second signals sensed at the second location;

wherein the second reference signal has the same phase as the first reference signal.