Time domain radio transmission system

• US 6,882,301 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2002
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Fullerton, Larry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Application Number:
  US10/227,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20030001769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 375130-153, 375/147, 375/149, 375/150, 375/256, 370/324, 348/506, 348/539, 348/614, 380/34, 342/21, 342/27, 342/82, 342/89, 342 90-103, 342/175, 455/130, 455/334
• US Class Current: 342/21
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/0209 Systems with very large relative bandwidth, i.e. larger than 10 %, e.g. baseband, pulse, carrier-free, ultrawideband
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/18 wherein range gates are used
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/282 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/292 Extracting wanted echo-signals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/28 Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/71637 Receiver aspects H04B1/7183 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7176 Data mapping, e.g. modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7183 Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 14/026 using pulse time characteristics modulation, e.g. width, position, interval
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/103 Chirp modulation for spread spectrum techniques H04B1/69

Abstract

A time domain communications system wherein a broadband of time-spaced signals, essentially monocycle-like signals, are derived from applying stepped-in-amplitude signals to a broadband antenna, in this case, a reverse bicone antenna. When received, the thus transmitted signals are multiplied by a D.C. replica of each transmitted signal, and thereafter, they are, successively, short time and long time integrated to achieve detection.

Claims

1. In a wideband radio system, a receiver for receiving wideband burst signals, said wideband burst signals arriving at said receiver in accordance with a time spacing, comprising:

a local waveform generator for generating a local signal, said local signal resembling a received wideband burst signal;

a coincidence detector responsive to said received wideband burst signal and to said local signal, said coincidence detector generating a product signal, said product signal being the product of said received wideband burst signal and said local signal; and

a synchronizing signal generator responsive to said product signal and having an output, said output being a synchronizing signal provided to said local waveform generator such that said received wideband burst signal and said local signal synchronously arrives at said coincidence detector in accordance with said time spacing.

2. The receiver according to claim 1, further comprising an integrator means responsive to said product signal.

3. The receiver according to claim 1, wherein said time spacing is a varied time spacing.

4. The receiver according to claim 1, wherein said time spacing is in accordance with one of an analog pattern and a digital pattern.

5. The receiver according to claim 1, wherein said synchronizing signal generator is part of a phase lock loop.

6. The receiver according to claim 1, wherein said local signal is a replica of said received wideband burst signal.

7. The receiver according to claim 1, wherein said synchronizing signal is generated as a function of timing variations of reoccurrence of said received wideband burst signal.

8. The receiver according to claim 7, wherein said function is an average rate.

9. The receiver according to claim 7, wherein said timing variations occur as a result of modulation.

10. In a wideband radio system, a method of detecting wideband burst signals, said wideband burst signals having a time spacing, comprising:

generating a local signal, said local signal being substantially similar to one of said wideband burst signals;

synchronizing output of said local signal with one of said wideband burst signals;

multiplying said one of said wideband burst signals by said local signal to generate a product signal; and

integrating said product signal.

11. In a wideband radio system, a method of detecting wideband burst signals, said wideband burst signals having a time spacing, comprising:

generating a local signal, said local signal being substantially similar to one of said wideband burst signals;

synchronizing output of said local signal with one of said wideband burst signals; and

multiplying said one of said wideband burst signals by said local signal to generate a product signal, wherein said time spacing is a varied time spacing.

12. In a wideband radio system, a method of detecting wideband burst signals, said wideband burst signals having a time spacing, comprising:

generating a local signal, said local signal being substantially similar to one of said wideband burst signals; and

synchronizing output of said local signal with one of said wideband burst signals; and

multiplying said one of said wideband burst signals by said local signal to generate a product signal,

wherein said time spacing is in accordance with one of an analog pattern and a digital pattern.

13. In a wideband radio system, a method of detecting wideband burst signals, said wideband burst signals having a time spacing, comprising:

generating a local signal, said local signal being substantially similar to one of said wideband burst signals; and

synchronizing output of said local signal with one of said wideband burst signals; and

multiplying said one of said wideband burst signals by said local signal to generate a product signal,

wherein said step of synchronizing is performed by a phase lock loop.

14. In a wideband radio system, a method of detecting wideband burst signals, said wideband burst signals having a time spacing, comprising:

generating a local signal, said local signal being substantially similar to one of said wideband burst signals; and

synchronizing output of said local signal with one of said wideband burst signals; and

multiplying said one of said wideband burst signals by said local signal to generate a product signal,

wherein said local signal is a replica of said one of said wideband burst signals.

15. In a wideband radio system, a method of detecting wideband burst signals, said wideband burst signals having a time spacing, comprising:

generating a local signal, said local signal being substantially similar to one of said wideband burst signals; and

synchronizing output of said local signal with one of said wideband burst signals; and

multiplying said one of said wideband burst signals by said local signal to generate a product signal,

wherein said step of synchronizing output of said local signal is performed as a function of timing variations of said wideband burst signals.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said function is an average rate.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said timing variations occur as a result of modulation.

18. In a wideband radio system, a receiver for receiving wideband burst signals, said wideband burst signals arriving at said receiver in accordance with a time spacing, comprising:

a means for generating local signals, said local signals resembling said received signals;

a means for generating a product signal responsive to said received signals and to said local signals, said product signal being the product of one of said received signals and one of said local signals;

a means for synchronizing the occurrence of said one of said local signals with one of said received signals, said means for synchronizing being responsive to said product signal and having an output, said output being provided to said means for generating local signals; and

an integrator means responsive to said product signal.

19. A wideband radio system, comprising:

a. a transmitter for generating pulse signals having a time spacing and transmitting wideband burst signals in accordance with said pulse signals; and

b. a receiver for receiving and synchronously detecting said wideband burst signals by multiplying said received wideband burst signals by like waveforms in accordance with said time spacing to produce a product signal and integrating said product signal, wherein said receiver effects synchronization by adjusting the positioning in time of said like waveforms to maintain lock of said received wideband burst signals over time.

20. A wideband radio system, comprising:

a transmitter for generating pulse signals having a time spacing and transmitting wideband burst signals in accordance with said pulse signals; and

a receiver for receiving and synchronously detecting said wideband burst signals by multiplying said received wideband burst signals by like waveforms in accordance with said time spacing, wherein said receiver effects synchronization by adjusting the positioning in time of said like waveforms to maintain lock of said received wideband burst signals over time, wherein said receiver effects synchronization as a function of variations of a characteristic of said received wideband burst signals.

21. The wideband radio system of claim 20, wherein said characteristic of said received wideband burst signals is a timing characteristic.

22. The wideband radio system of claim 21, wherein said timing characteristic is an average rate.

23. The wideband radio system of claim 22, wherein said average rate varies as a function of modulation applied to said wideband burst signals.

24. A wideband radio system, comprising:

a transmitter for generating pulse signals having a time spacing and transmitting wideband burst signals in accordance with said pulse signals; and

a receiver for receiving and synchronously detecting said wideband burst signals by multiplying said received wideband burst signals by like waveforms in accordance with said time spacing, wherein said receiver effects synchronization by adjusting the positioning in time of said like waveforms to maintain lock of said received wideband burst signals over time, wherein said like waveforms are replicas of transmitted wideband burst signals generated by a template generator.

25. A wideband radio system, comprising:

a transmitter for generating pulse signals having a time spacing and transmitting wideband burst signals in accordance with said pulse signals; and

a receiver for receiving and synchronously detecting said wideband burst signals by multiplying said received wideband burst signals by like waveforms in accordance with said time spacing, wherein said receiver effects synchronization by adjusting the positioning in time of said like waveforms to maintain lock of said received wideband burst signals over time, wherein said like waveforms and said received wideband burst signals are identical.

26. A method of transmitting and receiving wideband burst signals, comprising:

a. generating pulse signals having a time spacing;

b. transmitting said wideband burst signals in accordance with said pulse signals;

c. receiving said wideband burst signals to produce received wideband burst signals; and

d. synchronously detecting said received wideband burst signals by multiplying said received wideband burst signals by like waveforms in accordance with said time spacing, wherein synchronization of said like waveforms is effected to maintain lock of said received wideband burst signals over time.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said synchronization is effected as a function of variations of a characteristic of said received wideband burst signals.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said characteristic of said received wideband burst signals is a timing characteristic.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said timing characteristic is an average rate.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said average rate varies as a function of modulation applied to said wideband burst signals.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein said like waveforms are replicas of transmitted wideband burst signals.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein said like waveforms and said received wideband burst signals are identical.

33. A method of receiving wideband burst signals having a time spacing, comprising:

a. receiving said wideband burst signals to produce received wideband burst signals; and

b. synchronously detecting said received wideband burst signals by multiplying said received wideband burst signals by like waveforms in accordance with said time spacing, wherein synchronization of said like waveforms is effected to maintain lock of said received wideband burst signals over time.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said synchronization is effected as a function of variations of a characteristic of said received wideband burst signals.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said characteristic of said received wideband burst signals is a timing characteristic.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said timing characteristic is an average rate.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said average rate varies as a function of modulation applied to said wideband burst signals.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein said like waveforms are replicas of transmitted wideband burst signals.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein said like waveforms and said received wideband burst signals are identical.