Architecture for ultra-wideband radio

• US 8,351,483 B1
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of South Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of South Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Tucker, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Guarino, Rahel
• Application Number:
  US11/958,960
• Time in Patent Office: 1,848 Days
• Field of Search: 375/130, 375/132, 375/135, 375/134, 375/239, 375/146, 375/237, 375/238, 375/E1.001, 342/83, 342/131, 342/132, 342/134, 342/137, 342/202, 370/205, 370/212, 370/213, 327/31, 327/38, 327/141, 327/61
• US Class Current: 375/130
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/71632 Signal aspects H04B1/7172 and H04B1/7176 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7172 Pulse shape in general H04L25/03834

Abstract

Provided are transmitter topology, receiver topology and methods for generating and transmitting a radio signal at a transmitter and detecting and processing a radio signal at a receiver. The radio signals are transmitted across a wireless interface using Ultra Wideband (UWB) pulses. A transmitted reference approach is utilized. The radio signal include pairs of UWB pulses with each pair of pulses separated by a fixed time delay. The two pulses are then combined to provide for improved noise immunity.

Claims

1. A transmitter, comprising:

a sequence generator to generate and output a timing sequence; and

an output stage to generate an impulse radio signal using the timing sequence, wherein the impulse radio signal comprises a plurality of dual pulses spaced in time, wherein the output stage comprises a buffer to generate a first output and a second output, a delay line to delay the first output or the second output, and a multiplier to combine the delayed first output and the second output.

2. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein the sequence generator modulates the timing sequence using a data signal and outputs the modulated timing sequence.

3. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein the sequence generator performs a type of modulation chosen from the group comprising On-Off Keying and Pulse Position Modulation.

4. The transmitter of claim 1, further comprising a high-speed serializer to create a high-speed timing sequence.

5. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein the output stage generates the impulse radio signal using the high-speed timing sequence.

6. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein the output stage is selected from the group comprising PIN diodes, Schottky diodes, varactor diodes, step recovery diodes, avalanche transistors, and passive resonant circuits.

7. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein the delay line of the output stage delays the first output by about one pulse width.

8. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein the output stage further comprises an amplifier to amplify the generated radio signal.

9. The transmitter of claim 8, wherein the amplifier is a variable gain amplifier.

10. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein the output stage further comprises an antenna to transmit the radio signal into a propagation medium.

11. A method for generating and transmitting a radio signal in a transmitter-receiver environment, comprising the steps of:

generating a high-speed timing sequence; and

generating an impulse radio signal using the high-speed timing sequence, wherein the radio signal comprises a plurality of dual pulses spaced in time, wherein the step of generating the impulse radio signal using the high-speed timing sequence comprises the steps of;

generating a differential pair of sequences from the high-speed timing sequence, comprising a first differential sequence and a second differential sequence,

delaying the first differential sequence, and

multiplying the delayed first differential sequence and the second differential sequence.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of modulating the timing sequence using a data signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the type of modulation performed is chosen from the group comprising On-Off Keying and Pulse Position Modulation.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the high-speed timing sequence is generated using a high-speed serializer.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first differential sequence is delayed by about one pulse width.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of amplifying the generated radio signal.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of transmitting the radio signal into a propagation medium.