Ultrawide-band communication system and method

• US 7,983,320 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2004
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Humatics Corporation
• Original Assignee: TDC Acquisition Holdings, Inc (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Cowie, Ivan A., Fullerton, Larry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSE, YOUNG TOI
• Application Number:
  US10/784,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20040233973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,702 Days
• Field of Search: 375/130, 375/132, 375/135, 375/141, 375/146, 375/260, 370/206, 370/208, 370/320, 370/335, 370/342
• US Class Current: 375/130
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/69 Spread spectrum techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/707 using direct sequence modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/70753 Partial phase search
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/708 Parallel implementation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/71632 Signal aspects H04B1/7172 and H04B1/7176 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/71635 Transmitter aspects H04B1/7174 takes precedence
• 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: H04B 2001/6908 using time hopping
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2201/70707 Efficiency-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2601 Multicarrier modulation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2602 Signal structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An impulse radio communications system using one or more subcarriers to communicate information from an impulse radio transmitter to an impulse radio receiver. The impulse radio communication system is an ultrawide-band time domain system. The use of subcarriers provides impulse radio transmissions added channelization, smoothing and fidelity. Subcarriers of different frequencies or waveforms can be used to add channelization of impulse radio signals. Thus, an impulse radio link can communicate many independent channels simultaneously by employing different subcarriers for each channel. The impulse radio uses modulated subcarrier(s) for time positioning a periodic timing signal or a coded timing signal. Alternatively, the coded timing signal can be summed or mixed with the modulated subcarrier(s) and the resultant signal is used to time modulate the periodic timing signal. Direct digital modulation of data is another form of subcarrier modulation for impulse radio signals. Direct digital modulation can be used alone to time modulate the periodic timing signal or the direct digitally modulated the periodic timing signal can be further modulated with one or more modulated subcarrier signals. Linearization of a time modulator permits the impulse radio transmitter and receiver to generate time delays having the necessary accuracy for impulse radio communications.

Claims

1. A transmitter, said transmitter comprising:

(a) an output stage that generates a monocycle pulse;

(b) a filter that spectrally modifies the monocycle pulse to create a spectrally modified ultra wideband signal having more zero crossings than the monocycle pulse in the time domain; and

(c) an antenna coupled to said filter that radiates said spectrally modified ultra wideband signal.

2. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein said filter is a bandpass filter.

3. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein said output stage generates said monocycle pulse based upon a trigger signal.

4. The transmitter of claim 3, wherein said trigger signal is based on at least one of an information signal, a code signal, and a subcarrier signal.

5. A method of transmitting, comprising:

(a) generating a monocycle pulse;

(b) spectrally modifying the monocycle pulse to create a spectrally modified ultra wideband signal having more zero crossings than the monocycle pulse in the time domain; and

(c) radiating the spectrally modified ultra wideband signal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a filter is used to spectrally modify the monocycle pulse.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said filter is a bandpass filter.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said generating the monocycle pulse is based on a trigger signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said trigger signal is a based on at least one of an information signal, a code signal, and a subcarrier signal.

10. A method of transmitting, comprising:

(a) generating a monocycle pulse;

(b) filtering the monocycle pulse to create a filtered ultra wideband signal having more zero crossings than the monocycle pulse in the time domain; and

(c) radiating the filtered ultra wideband signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said filtering is by a bandpass filter.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said generating the monocycle pulse is based on a trigger signal.