Frequency-shifted feedback cavity used as a phased array antenna controller and carrier interference multiple access spread-spectrum transmitter

• US 6,888,887 B1
• Filed: 09/10/1999
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arnold Alagar, Department 13, Inc. (Department 13 International Ltd.), Steve Shattil
• Original Assignee: Steve J. Shattil
• Inventors: Shattil, Steve J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSE, YOUNG TOI
• Application Number:
  US09/393,431
• Time in Patent Office: 2,062 Days
• Field of Search: 375/139, 375/214, 375/237, 375/238, 375/239, 375/353, 332/109, 332/112, 332/115
• US Class Current: 375/239
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7174 Pulse generation in general H04L25/03834
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0697 using spatial multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/12 Frequency diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 13/0077 Multicode, e.g. multiple codes assigned to one user
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0298 with sub-carrier multiplexing [SCM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/04 using frequency diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2637 with direct modulation of individual subcarriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2697 in combination with other modulation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0021 in which codes are applied as a frequency-domain sequences, e.g. MC-CDMA

Abstract

An optical processor for controlling a phased antenna array uses a frequency-shifted feedback cavity (FSFC), which includes a traveling-wave cavity. The FSFC incrementally delays and incrementally frequency shifts optical signals circulating in the traveling-wave cavity. Optical signals coupled out of the FSFC are separated by frequency, hence by delay, and processed to control either or both transmit and receive beam-forming operations. The FSFC provides a receiver with multiple receive signals which have incremental values of frequency. Each frequency corresponds to an incremental time sampling of optical signals input into the FSFC. Transmit signals coupled out of the FSFC have frequency and phase relationships that result in short time-domain pulses when combined. Controlling modulation and frequency of the transmit signals achieves carrier interference multiple access, a new type of spread-spectrum communications.

Claims

1. A multicarrier-signal generator including:

a pulse generator capable of generating a plurality of periodic pulses, the pulse generator adapted to generate and sum a plurality of carrier signals with respect to at least one predetermined phase relationship to produce the periodic pulses having at least one pulse period and a frequency spectrum comprising equally spaced frequencies, and

a frequency selector coupled to the pulse generator, the frequency selector capable of selecting the plurality of carrier signals to be within at least one predetermined frequency band.

5. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 1 wherein the pulse generator includes a modulator adapted to modulate at least one set of signals, including the plurality of carrier signals and the plurality of periodic pulses, with at least one information signal.

6. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 1 wherein the pulse generator includes a modulator adapted to modulate the plurality of periodic pulses with at least one information signal.

7. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 1 wherein the pulse generator includes a modulator adapted to modulate the carrier signals with information symbols having durations of up to the pulse period of the periodic pulses.

8. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 1 wherein the pulse generator includes a modulator, the modulator adapted to perform at least one of a set of modulations, including amplitude modulation, phase modulation, time-offset modulation, and frequency modulation.

9. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 1 wherein the pulse generator includes a coder and a modulator, the coder adapted to encode information signals, and the modulator adapted to modulate at least one coded information signal onto at least one of a set of signals, including the plurality of periodic pulses and the plurality of carrier signals.

10. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 1 wherein the pulse generator includes a carrier generator and a combiner, the carrier generator adapted to generate the plurality of carrier signals and the combiner adapted to combine the plurality of carrier signals to generate the periodic pulses.

11. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 1 wherein the pulse generator is adapted to generate pulses having carrier frequencies that include at least one or a set of frequencies, including intermediate frequencies, radio frequencies, and optical frequencies.

12. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 1 wherein the pulse generator is adapted to produce a continuous pulse train.

13. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one of the pulse generator and the frequency selector is adapted to provide a predetermined frequency-versus-amplitude window to the carrier signals.

14. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 13 wherein the at least one of the pulse generator and the frequency selector is adapted to provide the predetermined frequency-versus-amplitude window belonging to any of a set of tapered window functions, including Hanning, Hamming, Gaussian, triangular, Bartlett, Kaiser, and Chebyshev functions.

15. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 1 wherein the pulse generator is adapted to provide an identical time-dependent frequency variation to each of the carrier signals.

16. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 1 wherein the pulse generator is adapted to perform multiple access with respect to at least one of a set of multiple-access protocols, the set including frequency division multiple access, time division multiple access, and code division multiple access.

17. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of the pulse generator and the frequency selector is adapted to apply at least one set of coded time offsets to the carrier signals.

18. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 1 wherein the frequency selector is adapted to select a predetermined set of carrier frequencies allocated to a particular user in a communication system.

19. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 1 further including a coupler adapted to couple the carrier signals to a communication channel.

20. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 19 wherein the coupler includes a plurality of transceiver elements.

2. A multicarrier-signal generator including:

a pulse generator capable of generating a plurality of periodic pulses, the periodic pulse having at least one pulse period and a frequency spectrum comprising a plurality of carrier signals having equally spaced frequencies with a frequency spacing that is a function of the at least one pulse period,

a modulator coupled to the pulse generator, the modulator adapted to modulate at least one information signal onto at least one of the periodic pulses, and

a frequency selector coupled to at least one of the modulator and the pulse generator, the frequency selector capable of selecting the plurality of carrier signals to be within at least one predetermined frequency band.

21. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 2 wherein the modulator is adapted to modulate the carrier signals with the at least one information signal.

22. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 2 wherein the modulator is adapted to modulate one or more superpositions of the carrier signals with the at least one information signal.

23. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 2 wherein the modulator is adapted to modulate the carrier signals with information symbols having durations of up to the pulse period of the periodic pulses.

24. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 2 wherein the modulator is adapted to perform at least on of a set of modulation types, including amplitude modulation, phase modulation, time-offset modulation, and frequency modulation.

25. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 2 further including a coder adapted to encode information signals prior to modulation to generate a plurality of coded information signals, the modulator being adapted to modulate the coded information signals onto at least one of a set of signals, including the plurality of periodic pulses and the plurality of carrier signals.

26. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 2 wherein the pulse generator includes a carrier generator adapted to generate the plurality of carrier signals, and a combiner adapted to combine the plurality of carrier signals to generate the periodic pulses.

27. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 2 wherein the pulse generator is adapted to generate pulses having carrier signals that include at least one of a set of frequencies, including intermediate frequencies, radio frequencies, and optical frequencies.

28. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 2 wherein the pulse generator is adapted to produce a continuous train of pulses.

29. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 2 wherein the at least one of the pulse generator and the frequency selector is adapted to provide a predetermined frequency-domain window to the carrier signals.

30. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 2 wherein the at least one of the pulse generator and the frequency selector is adapted to provide a predetermined frequency-domain window belonging to any of a set of tapered window function, including Hanning, Hamming, Gaussian, triangular, Bartlett, Kaiser, and Chebyshev functions.

31. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 2 wherein the pulse generator is adapted to provide an identical time-dependent frequency variation to each of the carrier signals.

32. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 2 wherein the pulse generator is adapted to perform multiple access with respect to at least on of a set of multiple-access protocols, the set including frequency division multiple access, time division multiple access, and code division multiple access.

33. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 2 wherein at least one of the pulse generator and the frequency selector is adapted to apply at least one set of time offsets to the carrier signals.

34. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 2 wherein the frequency selector is adapted to select a predetermined set of carrier frequencies allocated to at least one particular user in a communication system.

35. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 2 further including a coupler adapted to couple the carrier signals to a communication system.

36. The multicarrier-signal generator recited in claim 35 wherein the coupler includes a plurality of transceiver elements.

3. A method of generating a multicarrier signal including:

providing for generating a plurality of information-modulated periodic pulses including generating a plurality of carrier signals having equally spaced carrier frequencies, summing the carrier signals to generate periodic pulses having at least one pulse period, and modulating information onto the periodic pulses, the information-modulated periodic pulses having at least one of a set of signal characteristics that is a function of at least one information signal, the set of signal characteristics including amplitude, phase, time, and frequency, and

providing for selecting the plurality of carrier signals to be within at least one predetermined frequency band.

37. The method of generating a multicarrier-signal recited in claim 3 wherein providing for generating the plurality of information-modulated periodic pulses includes providing for modulating each of the carrier signals with the at least one information signal.

38. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 3 wherein providing for generating the plurality of information-modulated periodic pulses including providing for modulating one or more superpositions of the carrier signals with the at least one information signal.

39. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 3 wherein providing for generating the plurality of information-modulated periodic pulses includes providing for modulating the carrier signals with information symbols having durations of up to the pulse period of the periodic pulses.

40. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 3 wherein providing for generating the plurality of information-modulated periodic pulses includes providing for performing at least one of a set of modulation types, including amplitude modulation, phase modulation, time-offset modulation, and frequency modulation.

41. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 3 further including providing for encoding information signals to generate a plurality of coded information signals and providing for modulating the coded information signals onto at least one of a set of signals, including the plurality of periodic pulses and the plurality of carrier signals.

42. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 3 wherein providing for generating the plurality of information-modulated periodic pulses includes providing for generating the plurality of carrier signals, and providing for combining the plurality of carrier signals to generate the periodic pulses.

43. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 3 wherein providing for generating the plurality of information-modulated periodic pulses includes providing for generating pulses having carrier signals that include at least one of a set of frequencies, including intermediate frequencies, radio frequencies, and optical frequencies.

44. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 3 wherein providing for generating the plurality of information-modulated periodic pulses includes providing for generating a continuous train of pulses.

45. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 3 wherein at least one of providing for generating the plurality of information-modulated periodic pulses and providing for selecting the plurality of the carrier signals includes providing for applying a predetermined frequency-domain window to the carrier signals.

46. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 3 wherein at least one of providing for generating the plurality of information-modulated periodic pulses and providing for selecting the plurality of the carrier signals includes providing for applying a predetermined frequency-domain window to the carrier signals, the frequency-domain window belonging to any of a set of tapered window functions, including Hanning, Hamming, Gaussian, triangular, Bartlett, Kaiser, and Chebyshev functions.

47. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 3 wherein providing for generating the plurality of information-modulated periodic pulses includes providing for applying an identical time-dependent frequency variations to each of the carrier signals.

48. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 3 wherein providing for generating the plurality of information-modulated periodic pulses includes providing for performing multiple access with respect to at least one of a set of multiple-access protocols, the set including frequency division multiple access, time division multiple access, and code division multiple access.

49. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 3 wherein at least one of providing for generating the plurality of information-modulated periodic pulses and providing for selecting the plurality of the carrier signals includes providing for applying at least one set of time offsets to the carrier signals.

50. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 3 wherein providing for selecting the plurality of the carrier signals includes providing for selecting a predetermined set of carrier frequencies allocated to a particular user in a communication system.

51. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 3 further including providing for coupling the carrier signals to a communication channel.

52. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 51 wherein providing for coupling the carrier signals to the communication channel includes providing for processing the carrier signals by a plurality of transceiver elements.

4. A method of generating a multicarrier signal including:

providing for generating a plurality of periodic pulses wherein the periodic pulses have at least one pulse period and a frequency spectrum comprising a plurality carrier signals having equally spaced frequencies selected to be within at least one predetermined frequency band, and

providing for modulating the periodic pulses with at least one information signal to generate a plurality of information-modulated periodic pulses, the information-modulated periodic pulses having at least one of a set of signal characteristics that is a function of the information signal, the set of signal characteristics including amplitude, phase, and frequency.

53. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 4 wherein providing for modulating the periodic pulses with at least one information signal includes providing for modulating each of the carrier signals with the at least one information signal.

54. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 4 wherein providing for modulating the periodic pulses with at least one information signal includes providing for modulating one or more superpositions of the carrier signals with the at least one information signal.

55. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 4 wherein providing for modulating the periodic pulses with at least one information signal includes providing for modulating the carrier signals with information symbols having durations of up to the pulse period of the periodic pulses.

56. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 4 wherein providing for modulating the periodic pulses with the at least one information signal includes providing for performing at least one of a set of modulation types, including amplitude modulation, phases modulation, time-offset modulation, and frequency modulation.

57. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 4 further including providing for encoding the at least one information signal to generate a plurality of coded information signals wherein providing for modulating the periodic pulses with at least one information signal comprises providing for modulating the plurality of coded information signals onto at least one of a set of signals, including the plurality of periodic pulses and the plurality of carrier signals.

58. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 4 wherein providing for generating the plurality of periodic pulses includes providing for generating the plurality of carrier signals, and providing for combining the plurality of carrier signals to generate the periodic pulses.

59. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 4 wherein providing for generating the plurality of periodic pulses includes providing for generating pulses having carrier signals that include at least one of a set of frequencies, including intermediate frequencies, radio frequencies, and optical frequencies.

60. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 4 wherein providing for generating the plurality of periodic pulses includes providing for generating a continuous train of pulses.

61. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 4 wherein at least one of providing for generating the plurality of periodic pulses and providing for modulating the periodic pulses includes providing for applying a predetermined frequency-domain window to the carrier signals.

62. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 4 wherein at least one of providing for generating the plurality of periodic pulses and providing for modulating the periodic pulses includes providing for applying a predetermined frequency-domain window to the carrier signals, the frequency-domain window belonging to any of a set of tapered window functions, including Hanning, Hamming, Gaussian, triangular, Bartlett, Kaiser, and Chebyshev functions.

63. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 4 wherein providing for generating the plurality of periodic pulses includes providing for applying an identical time-dependent frequency variation to each of the carrier signals.

64. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 4 wherein providing for generating the plurality of periodic pulses includes providing for performing multiple access with respect to at least one of a set of multiple-access protocols, the set including frequency division multiple access, time division multiple access, and code division multiple access.

65. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 4 wherein at least one of providing for generating the plurality of information-modulated periodic pulses and providing for modulating the periodic pulses includes providing for applying at least one set of time offsets to the carrier signals.

66. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 4 further includes providing for selecting a predetermined set of carrier frequencies allocated to a particular user in a communication system.

67. The method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 4 further including providing for coupling the carrier signals to a communication channel.

68. method of generating a multicarrier signal recited in claim 67 wherein providing for coupling the carrier signals to the communication channel includes providing for processing the carrier signals by a plurality of transceiver elements.