Apparatus, system and method for flip modulation in an impulse radio communications system

• US 7,526,250 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2005
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alereon Incorporated (PNG Telecommunications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Fullerton, Larry W., Dickson, David M., Jett, Preston, Richards, James L., Cowie, Ivan A., Brethour, Vernon R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, SIMON
• Application Number:
  US11/213,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20060007988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 455/76, 455/91, 455/102, 455255-265, 375/256, 375/261, 375/295, 375/130, 375/141, 375/146, 375/135, 375/147, 375/145, 375326-327, 375/340
• US Class Current: 455/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7095 Sliding correlator type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/71632 Signal aspects H04B1/7172 and H04B1/7176 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7174 Pulse generation in general H04L25/03834
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7176 Data mapping, e.g. modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7183 Synchronisation

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems and methods for transmitting and receiving modulated impulse radio signals. An impulse radio receiver includes a time base, a precision timing generator, a template generator, a delay, first and second correlators, a data detector and a time base adjustor. The time base produces a periodic timing signal that is used by the precision timing generator to produce a timing trigger signal. The template generator uses the timing trigger signal to produce a template signal. A delay receives the template signal and outputs a delayed template signal. When an impulse radio signal is received, the first correlator correlates the received impulse radio signal with the template signal to produce a first correlator output signal, and the second correlator correlates the received impulse radio signal with the delayed template signal to produce a second correlator output signal. The data detector produces a data signal based on at least the first correlator output signal. The time base adjustor produces a time base adjustment signal based on at least the second correlator output signal. The time base adjustment signal is used to synchronize the time base with the received impulse radio signal.

Claims

1. A method of generating an ultra wideband signal, comprising:

generating an information signal comprising a plurality of different data states; and

generating one of a plurality of different ultra wideband waveforms in accordance with a corresponding one of said plurality of different data states of the information signal, said plurality of different ultra wideband waveforms including a first ultra wideband waveform that is an impulse waveform and said plurality of different ultra wideband waveforms including a second ultra wideband waveform that is an inverse of the first ultra wideband waveform;

wherein only one of said plurality of different ultra wideband waveforms is generated based upon any one of said plurality of different data states of the information signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each one of said plurality of ultra wideband waveforms is generated in response to a corresponding one of a plurality of trigger signals.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein two of said plurality of trigger signals comprise complimentary signals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each one of said plurality of ultra wideband waveforms is generated in response to a corresponding one of a plurality of enable signals.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein two of said plurality of enable signals comprise complimentary signals.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a differential circuit is used to generate each of said plurality of ultra wideband waveforms.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said differential circuit is triggered by a plurality of complimentary trigger signals.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said differential circuit is enabled by a plurality of complimentary enable signals.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said differential circuit is manufactured on-chip.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a first ultra wideband waveform having a first polarity is generated in accordance with a first data state of said plurality of different data states and a second ultra wideband waveform having a second polarity is generated in accordance with a second data state of said plurality of different data states.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a delayed first ultra wideband waveform having said first polarity is generated in accordance with a third data state of said plurality of different data states and a delayed second ultra wideband waveform having said second polarity is generated in accordance with a fourth state of said plurality of different data states.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of different data states comprises one or more bits of data.

13. A system for generating an ultra wideband signal, comprising:

an information signal generator for generating a plurality of different data states of an information signal; and

a pulse generator that receives said information signal and generates one of a plurality of different ultra wideband waveforms in accordance with a corresponding one of said plurality of different data states, said plurality of different ultra wideband waveforms including a first ultra wideband waveform that is an impulse waveform and said plurality of different ultra wideband waveforms including a second ultra wideband waveform that is an inverse of the first ultra wideband waveform, wherein only one of said plurality of different ultra wideband waveforms is generated based upon any one of said plurality of different data states of the information signal.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said pulse generator comprises:

a current source;

a steering network that receives complimentary enable signals;

a switching circuit that receives complimentary trigger signals;

load resistors; and

a high pass circuit.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said current source produces edges in said load resistors.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said pulse generator comprises a differential circuit.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein a first ultra wideband waveform having a first polarity is generated in accordance with a first data state of said plurality of different data states and a second ultra wideband waveform having a second polarity is generated in accordance with a second data state of said plurality of different data states.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein a delayed first ultra wideband waveform having said first polarity is generated in accordance with a third data state of said plurality of different data states and a delayed second ultra wideband waveform having said second polarity is generated in accordance with a fourth state of said plurality of different data states.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of different data states comprises one or more bits of data.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein said pulse generator is manufactured on-chip.