ARRAY SYSTEM FOR SEGMENTING SIGNALS AND GENERATING A COMPLEX WAVEFORM AT A FOCAL POINT USING RECOMBINATION OF SEGMENTED SIGNALS

• US 20140105329A1
• Filed: 10/15/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Whitaker, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,908,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/299
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/17 the primary radiating source comprising two or more radiating elements H01Q19/15, H01Q25/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/22 Antenna units of the array energised non-uniformly in amplitude or phase, e.g. tapered array or binomial array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/225 Finite focus antenna arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/06 at the transmitting station
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are provided to realize an input waveform using wavelet processing and reconstruction via separated antenna array systems having different beam paths and different frequency components which can include phased array transmitters to recreate the input waveform. One aspect of the invention can include a wavelet function used for the examples shown herein which includes a first and second moments of a statistical function, i.e. the mean and variance used with an inverse wavelet to create rectangular pulses that lend themselves to use in the invention herein. Other embodiments of the invention can use other input waveform separation functions paired with signal separation and recombination at a focus point. A selected function can be matched to its application associated with avoidance of sending the input waveform along a single beam path, a desired a focus point, and separation of an input signal.

Claims

1. A signal transmission system comprising:

an input device adapted to receive a first plurality of signals comprising an initial input waveform;

a plurality of spaced apart transmitters;

a plurality of antenna respectively coupled to said plurality of spaced apart transmitters, wherein each said plurality of antennas are adapted to operate at a different frequency than other said plurality of antennas, each of said plurality of antennas are oriented to have a different beam path than another said transmitter;

a Target Acquisition, Tracking, Control, and Pointing (TATCP) system adapted to control orientation and operation said plurality of transmitters and antennas, said TATCP system adapted to orient and control said plurality of transmitters and said plurality of antennas;

a first processing section adapted to read input data comprising antenna data associated with said plurality of spaced apart transmitters, transmitter data associated with said plurality of spaced apart transmitters, target location data, pointing vector data associated with each of said antennas, frequency data associated with said spaced apart transmitters, steering data associated with said transmitters, and target data including a position data of a focus point associated with said target, said processing section is further adapted to communicate said input data to said TATCP system; and

a second processing section adapted to read at least some of said input data and said initial input waveform and perform signal segmentation, said signal segmentation comprises separating out frequency components of the initial input waveform based on number of said spaced apart antennas, frequencies used by each of said antennas, and wavelet processing, said second processing section is further adapted to sort said frequency components into frequency bins associated with each of said antennas, said second processing section outputs a plurality of second signals to said plurality of spaced apart transmitters comprising said frequency bins and respective said frequency components each saved into each associated said frequency bin;

a first data storage device adapted to store said plurality of second signals and said input data;

wherein said TATCP is further adapted to operate said plurality of spaced apart transmitters and focus said plurality of antennas adapted for outputting said second signals at said focus point of said target location based on said input data, said TATCP and said second section is operable to substantially reproduce said first plurality of signals at said target location;

wherein said TATCP is further adapted to phase correct said plurality of second signals and steer said spaced apart transmitters towards said focal point determined by said TATCP system.

2. A signal transmission system as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of transmitters and said plurality of antennas are adapted to output one of a group comprising acoustics, radio-frequency (RF), laser, or ultrasonics.

3. A signal transmission system as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of transmitters and said plurality of antennas comprises a focused wide band phased array system.

4. A method of manufacturing a signal transmission system comprising:

providing an input device adapted to receive a first plurality of signals comprising an initial input waveform;

providing a plurality of spaced apart transmitters;

providing a plurality of antenna respectively coupled to said plurality of spaced apart transmitters, wherein each said plurality of antennas are adapted to operate at a different frequency than other said plurality of antennas, each of said plurality of antennas are oriented to have a different beam path than another said transmitter;

providing a Target Acquisition, Tracking, Control, and Pointing (TATCP) system adapted to control orientation and operation said plurality of transmitters and antennas, said TATCP system adapted to orient and control said plurality of transmitters and said plurality of antennas;

providing a first processing section adapted to read input data comprising antenna data associated with said plurality of spaced apart transmitters, transmitter data associated with said plurality of spaced apart transmitters, target location data, pointing vector data associated with each of said antennas, frequency data associated with said spaced apart transmitters, steering data associated with said transmitters, and target data including a position data of a focus point associated with said target, said processing section is further adapted to communicate said input data to said TATCP system;

providing a second processing section adapted to read at least some of said input data and said initial input waveform and perform signal segmentation, said signal segmentation comprises separating out frequency components of the initial input waveform based on number of said spaced apart antennas, frequencies used by each of said antennas, and wavelet processing, said second processing section is further adapted to sort said frequency components into frequency bins associated with each of said antennas, said second processing section outputs a plurality of second signals to said plurality of spaced apart transmitters comprising said frequency bins and respective said frequency components each saved into each associated said frequency bin;

providing a first data storage device adapted to store said plurality of second signals and said input data;

wherein said TATCP is further adapted to operate said plurality of spaced apart transmitters and focus said plurality of antennas adapted for outputting said second signals at said focus point of said target location based on said input data, said TATCP and said second section is operable to substantially reproduce said first plurality of signals at said target location;

wherein said TATCP is further adapted to phase correct said plurality of second signals and steer said spaced apart transmitters towards said focal point determined by said TATCP system.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein said plurality of transmitters and said plurality of antennas are adapted to output one of a group comprising acoustics, radio-frequency (RF), laser, or ultrasonics.

6. A method as in claim 4, wherein said plurality of transmitters and said plurality of antennas comprises a focused wide band phased array system.

7. A method of controlling a transmission system comprising:

reading a plurality of input data comprising antenna data, location data, pointing vector data, frequency data, and steering data, wherein said input data can include real time received from sensors or from memory, data can also include target type as well as data adapted to enable steering of arrays at a stationary or moving target or focus point;

determining a wavelet order comprising number of segments used in segmentation of an input signal into frequency bins for processing and transmission, wherein the number of segments determines a number of frequency bins;

receiving said plurality of input data and a) acquiring a target at a target location;

b) steering a plurality of antennas to a correct pointing vector; and

c) tracking said target if said target is moving;

creating a buffer with 2̂

N data elements where N is the wavelet order or the number of frequency bins;

performing wavelet transform processing based on the wavelet order to create a plurality of wavelet coefficient data;

separating and associating the wavelet coefficients with the N frequency bins based on said N frequency bins and reading the wavelet coefficient data to create frequency bin separated and associated wavelet coefficient data;

storing said frequency bin separated and associated wavelet coefficient data into an interim data structure;

performing wavelet decomposition and filtering including performing wavelet decomposition said interim data structure data to produce a plurality of decomposed wavelet data;

applying filtering processing to said plurality of decomposed wavelet data associated with each frequency bin and creating a plurality of filtered decomposed wavelet data;

performing a plurality of inverse wavelet transforms of said filtered decomposed wavelet data comprising performing inverse wavelet transforms of said filtered decomposed wavelet data based on at least N frequency bin data;

performing phase adjustment processing including performing phase adjustment/time delay for a plurality of respective data streams associated with each said filtered decomposed inverse wavelet data based on ANTENNA configuration and inputs from said ATP operable to ensure simultaneous or near simultaneous arrival of all signal transmissions from each said transmitters at a target or focus area;

performing output buffer processing including controlling each antenna or antenna element transmitting a different frequency bin data stream such that said antenna or antenna element is supplied each of the 2̂

N data elements from the respective filtered decomposed frequency bin; and

transmitting transmit data received from the output buffer processing using the transmitters and antennas.

8. A signal transmission system comprising:

a processor adapted to read and execute non-transitory machine readable instructions;

an input/output section;

a display section adapted to display results from processing associated with said processor and input/output section; and

a machine readable storage medium adapted to store and read said non-transitory machine readable instructions;

wherein said non-transitory machine readable instructions include;

a first plurality instructions including a data input module adapted to receive and store an input waveform and configuration data, said configuration data comprising antenna data, location data, and pointing vector data;

a second plurality instructions adapted to receive said configuration data and said input waveform then transform input waveform into inverse wavelet transforms of N frequency bins comprising a waveform to be transmitted;

a third plurality of instructions adapted to control a plurality of 1-N antenna elements and phase corrected outputs of said antenna elements so that individual waveforms transmitted from each antenna element would constructively combine to substantially reproduce the input waveform at the target location utilizing the configuration data.