Wide band, complex microwave waveform receiver and analyzer, using distributed sampling techniques
First Claim
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1. A microwave signal receiving apparatus comprising:
- delay line means for receiving and distributing a microwave signal;
means for simultaneously sampling the microwave signal spatially along said delay line means and producing analog samples;
means for converting the analog sample to digital samples;
means for storing the digital samples;
means for retrieving and analyzing said digital samples to determine signal characteristics of said microwave signal.
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Abstract
A microwave signal receiving apparatus comprises a delay line for distributing a microwave signal, samplers for sampling the signal spatially along the delay line and producing analog samples, analog-to-digital converters for converting the analog samples to digital samples, and digital memories associated with each converter for storing the digital samples.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A microwave signal receiving apparatus comprising:
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delay line means for receiving and distributing a microwave signal; means for simultaneously sampling the microwave signal spatially along said delay line means and producing analog samples; means for converting the analog sample to digital samples; means for storing the digital samples; means for retrieving and analyzing said digital samples to determine signal characteristics of said microwave signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A microwave signal receiving apparatus comprising:
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an input terminal for applying an input signal to said apparatus; means for directing said signal along first and second paths; said first path including a processor and means for detecting the presence of RF energy at said input terminal; said second path including; means for delaying an input signal for a predetermined timed interval; a delay line for distributing a signal, said delay line having an input terminal; means for filtering out of said input signal signals of predetermined frequency, and producing a filtered input signal, said means for filtering having an output connected to said delay line input terminal; means for switching said input signal responsive to said processor for selectively bypassing said means for filtering the input signal and applying said input signal either to said delay line input terminal or to said means for filtering said input signal, as directed by said processor; a plurality of sampling gates spatially connected to said delay line for sampling the signal and producing a plurality of analog samples; a plurality of analog-to-digital converters corresponding in number to the number of said sampling gates, each said analog-to-digital converters being associated with one of said sampling gates for converting the analog samples output by its associated gate to digital samples; means for storing the digital samples, said means for storing including a memory means associated with each of said converters, each of said memory means having a plurality of storage locations for storing a plurality of sequential outputs of its associated converter; a controller responsive to said processor for activating said gates, analog-to-digital converters and said means for storing the digital samples; means for analyzing digital samples stored in said memory means, said means for analyzing also being capable of storing a digital representation and other predetermined parameters of said input signal, said processor being adapted to transfer digital samples from said memory means to said means for analyzing in predetermined sequence; and means for displaying signals responsive to said processor and to said means for analyzing digital samples, said means for displaying showing said input signal and/or one or more parameters of said signal.
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16. A method of acquiring and analyzing a microwave signal, comprising:
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distributing the microwave signal along a delay line; simultaneously sampling the delay line at a plurality of discrete points therealong to produce a plurality of analog samples; converting each of the analog samples to a digital sample; storing each of the digital samples in a predetermined memory location; and retrieving and analyzing said digital samples to determine signal characteristics of said microwave signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of acquiring a signal to be analyzed, comprising:
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(a) selecting a frequency range within which signals are to be acquired; (b) distributing signals within said range along a delay line; (c) simultaneously sampling the delay line at a plurality of discrete points therealong to produce a group of analog samples; (d) simultaneously converting each of the analog samples to a digital sample; (d) simultaneously storing each of the digital samples of the group of samples in predetermined memory locations; (e) repeating steps (c), (d) and (e).
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24. A method of a method of down-converting an RF signal having frequency components between f1 and f2, where f2 is greater than f1, to an IF signal, comprising:
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(a) filtering said RF signal to remove frequency components below f1 and above f2 ; (b) distributing the RF signal along a delay line; (c) simultaneously sampling the delay line at a sampling rate Sr which is greater than f1 and less than f2 and at a plurality of discrete points along said delay line to produce a group of analog sample; (d) simultaneously converting each of the analog samples to a digital samples; (e) simultaneously storing each of the digital samples in predetermined memory locations; (f) repeating steps (c), (d) and (e) until all of the RF signal has been sampled; (g) constructing a new signal by sequentially accessing the digital samples in said memory locations.
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25. A method of a method of down-converting an RF signal having frequency components between f1 and f2 is greater than f1, to an IF signal, comprising:
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(a) filtering said RF signal to remove frequency components below f1 and above f2 ; (b) distributing the RF signal along a delay line; (c) simultaneously sampling the delay line at a sampling rate Sr which is greater than the Nyquist sampling rate and at a plurality of discrete points along said delay line to produce a group of analog samples; (d) simultaneously converting each of the analog samples to a digital sample; (e) simultaneously storing each of the digital samples in predetermined memory locations; (f) repeating steps (c), (d) and (e) until all of the RF signal has been sampled; (g) constructing a new signal by sequentially accessing only predetermined ones of the digital samples in said memory locations.
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Specification