Bidirectional wireless communication system, wireless communication apparatus, and bidirectional wireless communication method

• US 8,432,839 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2010
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Uno, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): RIYAMI, ABDULLAH A
• Application Number:
  US12/923,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20110075595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229, 370/230, 370/235, 370/295, 370/310, 370/324, 370/329, 370/431, 370/503, 398/183, 398/161, 398/154, 398/155, 398/156, 398/140, 455/73, 455/75, 455/76, 455/219, 455/260, 455/112, 455/41.2, 455/39, 455/344, 375/135, 375/136, 375/220, 375/219, 375/344, 375/356, 375/354, 375/358
• US Class Current: 370/281
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0008 using a central processing unit, e.g. a microprocessor digital tuning in general H03J5/0245
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/24 using a reference signal directly applied to the generator
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/50 using different frequencies for the two directions of communication

Abstract

A bidirectional wireless communication system includes: a first wireless communication apparatus for bidirectional communication configured to multiplex a modulated signal obtained by modulating an input signal by a reference carrier signal having a predetermined carrier frequency, and transmit a resultant transmission signal; and a second wireless communication apparatus, having an oscillator configured to oscillate a signal having a free-running oscillation frequency, configured to inject a reception signal received from the first wireless communication apparatus into the oscillator, receive the reception signal while variably controlling the free-running oscillation frequency of the oscillator of the second wireless communication apparatus, detect whether the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the oscillator of the second wireless communication apparatus has entered the frequency range up to the injection locking to be frequency-locked with a carrier frequency of the injected reception signal, and generate a communication enable signal.

Claims

1. A bidirectional wireless communication system comprising:

a first wireless communication apparatus configured to multiplex a modulated signal obtained by modulating an input signal by a reference carrier signal having a predetermined carrier frequency, and wirelessly transmit a resultant transmission signal; and

a second wireless communication apparatus, including;

a reception section configured to receive the transmission signal wirelessly transmitted by the first wireless communication apparatus and produce therefrom a reception signal,

a first oscillator configured to produce a signal having a free-running oscillation frequency upon which reception processing is based, where the reception signal is injected into the first oscillator,

a control unit configured to vary the free-running oscillation frequency of the first oscillator, and

a frequency locking detection unit configured to detect whether the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the first oscillator is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results;

wherein, when the frequency locking detection unit detects that the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the first oscillator is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results, the second wireless communication apparatus transmits a communication enable signal to the first wireless communication apparatus.

2. The bidirectional wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein

the first wireless communication apparatus has a second oscillator that is used by both a reception section and a transmission section of the first wireless communication apparatus,

the transmission section of the first wireless communication apparatus executes transmission processing on the basis of the reference carrier signal having a predetermined oscillation frequency, which is oscillated by the second oscillator,

the reception section of the first wireless communication apparatus executes reception processing on the basis of a local oscillator signal obtained by multiplying the reference carrier signal oscillated by the second oscillator,

the first oscillator is used by both the reception section and a transmission section of the second wireless communication apparatus,

the reception section of the second wireless communication apparatus executes reception processing on the basis of the free-running oscillation frequency of the first oscillator after injection locking, and

the transmission section of the second wireless communication apparatus executes transmission processing on the basis of a carrier signal obtained by multiplying the free-running oscillation frequency of the first oscillator after injection locking.

3. The bidirectional wireless communication system according to claim 2, wherein the carrier frequency in the transmission section of the first wireless communication apparatus is related to the carrier frequency in the transmission section of the second wireless communication apparatus by the equation

f₁=M/N·

f₂,

where the carrier frequency in the transmission section of the first wireless communication apparatus is designated by f₁, the carrier frequency in the transmission section of the second wireless communication apparatus is designated by f₂, and M and N are integers with M≠

N.

4. The bidirectional wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein

the second wireless communication apparatus includes a plurality of transmission sections,

the first oscillator is used by both the reception section and the plurality of transmission sections of the second wireless communication apparatus,

the reception section of the second wireless communication apparatus executes reception processing on the basis of the free-running oscillation frequency of the first oscillator after injection locking,

the plurality of transmission sections of the second wireless communication apparatus execute transmission processing on the basis of respective carrier signals obtained by multiplying the free-running oscillation frequency of the first oscillator after injection locking by respective amounts, and

a plurality of uplink signal transmission channels to the first wireless communication apparatus are configured from the second wireless communication apparatus.

5. The bidirectional wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to, in an injection locking control period:

repeatedly change the free-running oscillation frequency of the first oscillator by a predetermined incremental amount, and

stop changing the free-running oscillation frequency of the first oscillator when the frequency locking detection unit detects that the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the oscillator is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results.

6. The bidirectional wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the frequency locking detection unit includes:

a frequency discriminator configured to convert a frequency variation of a demodulated signal obtained by demodulating the reception signal into an amplitude value and outputting the amplitude value; and

a comparator configured to compare the amplitude value output by the frequency discriminator with a preset comparison reference value to determine whether the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the first oscillator is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results.

7. A bidirectional wireless communication system comprising:

a first wireless communication apparatus configured to multiplex a modulated signal obtained by modulating an input signal by a reference carrier signal having a predetermined carrier frequency, and wirelessly transmit a resultant transmission signal, the first wireless communication apparatus including;

a first oscillator configured to produce the reference carrier signal having a frequency upon which transmission processing is based, and

a control unit configured to vary the frequency of the first oscillator; and

a second wireless communication apparatus, including;

a reception section configured to receive the transmission signal wirelessly transmitted by the first wireless communication apparatus and produce therefrom a reception signal,

a second oscillator configured to produce a signal having a free-running oscillation frequency upon which reception processing is based, where the reception signal is injected into the second oscillator, and

a frequency locking detection unit configured to detect whether the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the second oscillator is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results,

wherein, when the frequency locking detection unit detects that the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the second oscillator is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results, the second wireless communication apparatus transmits a communication enable signal to the first wireless communication apparatus.

8. The bidirectional wireless communication system according to claim 7, wherein the control unit is configured to, in an injection locking control period:

repeatedly change the frequency of the first oscillator by a predetermined incremental amount, and

stop changing the free-running oscillation frequency of the first oscillator when the first wireless communication apparatus receives the enable signal transmitted by the second wireless communication apparatus.

9. A wireless communication apparatus executing wireless communication with another wireless communication apparatus on the transmission side that multiplexes a modulated signal obtained by modulating an input signal by a reference carrier signal having a predetermined carrier frequency, transmits a resultant transmission signal, and receives at least a communication enable signal, comprising:

a reception section configured to receive the transmission signal and produce therefrom a reception signal;

a first oscillator configured to produce a signal having a free-running oscillation frequency upon which reception processing is based, where the reception signal is injected into the first oscillator;

a control unit configured to vary the free-running oscillation frequency of the first oscillator; and

a frequency locking detection unit configured to detect whether the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the first oscillator is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results,

wherein, when the frequency locking detection unit detects that the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the first oscillator is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results, the second wireless communication apparatus transmits a communication enable signal.

10. A wireless communication apparatus executing wireless communication with another wireless communication apparatus on the transmission side that transmits a transmission signal resulting from multiplexing a modulated signal obtained by modulating an input signal by a reference carrier signal having a predetermined carrier frequency while variably controlling the carrier frequency of said reference carrier signal and receives at least a communication enable signal, comprising:

a reception section configured to receive the transmission signal and produce therefrom a reception signal;

a first oscillator configured to produce a signal having a free-running oscillation frequency upon which reception processing is based, where the reception signal is injected into the first oscillator; and

a frequency locking detection unit configured to detect whether the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the first oscillator is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results,

wherein, when the frequency locking detection unit detects that the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the first oscillator is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results, the second wireless communication apparatus transmits a communication enable signal.

11. A bidirectional wireless communication method comprising:

causing a first wireless communication apparatus to multiplex a modulated signal obtained by modulating an input signal by a reference carrier signal having a predetermined carrier frequency, and to wirelessly transmit a resultant transmission signal;

causing a second wireless communication apparatus to receive the transmission signal wirelessly transmitted by the first wireless communication apparatus and produce therefrom a reception signal;

causing a first oscillator in the second wireless communication apparatus to produce a signal having a free-running oscillation frequency upon which reception processing is based;

injecting the reception signal into the first oscillator;

varying the free-running oscillation frequency of the first oscillator;

detecting whether the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the first oscillator is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results; and

when the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the first oscillator is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results, causing the second wireless communication apparatus to transmit a communication enable signal to the first wireless communication apparatus.

12. A bidirectional wireless communication method comprising:

causing a first wireless communication apparatus to multiplex a modulated signal obtained by modulating an input signal by a reference carrier signal having a predetermined carrier frequency, and to wirelessly transmit a resultant transmission signal;

causing a first oscillator in a first wireless communication apparatus to produce the reference carrier signal having a frequency upon which transmission processing is based;

varying the frequency of the first oscillator;

causing a second wireless communication apparatus to receive the transmission signal wirelessly transmitted by the first wireless communication apparatus and produce therefrom a reception signal;

causing a second oscillator in the second wireless communication apparatus to produce a signal having a free-running oscillation frequency upon which reception processing is based;

injecting the reception signal into the second oscillator;

detecting whether the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the second oscillator is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results; and

when the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the second oscillator is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results, causing the second wireless communication apparatus to transmit a communication enable signal to the first wireless communication apparatus.

13. A bidirectional wireless communication system comprising:

a first wireless communication apparatus configured to multiplex a modulated signal obtained by modulating an input signal by a reference carrier signal having a predetermined carrier frequency, and wirelessly transmit a resultant transmission signal; and

a second wireless communication apparatus, including;

reception means for receiving the transmission signal wirelessly transmitted by the first wireless communication apparatus and producing therefrom a reception signal,

first oscillation means for producing a signal having a free-running oscillation frequency upon which reception processing is based, where the reception signal is injected into the first oscillation means,

control means for varying the free-running oscillation frequency of the first oscillation means, and

frequency locking detection means for detecting whether the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the first oscillation means is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results;

wherein, when the frequency locking detection means detects that the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the first oscillation means is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results, the second wireless communication apparatus transmits a communication enable signal to the first wireless communication apparatus.

14. A bidirectional wireless communication system comprising:

a first wireless communication apparatus configured to multiplex a modulated signal obtained by modulating an input signal by a reference carrier signal having a predetermined carrier frequency, and wirelessly transmit a resultant transmission signal, the first wireless communication apparatus including;

first oscillation means for producing a reference carrier signal having a frequency upon which transmission processing is based, and

control means for varying the frequency of the first oscillation means; and

a second wireless communication apparatus, including;

reception means for receiving the transmission signal wirelessly transmitted by the first wireless communication apparatus and producing therefrom a reception signal,

second oscillation means for producing a signal having a free-running oscillation frequency upon which reception processing is based, where the reception signal is injected into the second oscillation means, and

frequency locking detection means for detecting whether the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the second oscillation means is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results;

wherein, when the frequency locking detection means detects that the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the second oscillation means is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results, the second wireless communication apparatus transmits a communication enable signal to the first wireless communication apparatus.

15. A wireless communication apparatus executing wireless communication with another wireless communication apparatus on the transmission side that multiplexes a modulated signal obtained by modulating an input signal by a reference carrier signal having a predetermined carrier frequency, transmits a resultant transmission signal, and receives at least a communication enable signal, comprising:

reception means for receiving the transmission signal and producing therefrom a reception signal,

first oscillation means for producing a signal having a free-running oscillation frequency upon which reception processing is based, where the reception signal is injected into the first oscillation means,

control means for varying the free-running oscillation frequency of the first oscillation means, and

frequency locking detection means for detecting whether the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the first oscillation means is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results;

wherein, when the frequency locking detection means detects that the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the first oscillation means is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results, the wireless communication apparatus transmits a communication enable signal.

16. A wireless communication apparatus executing wireless communication with another wireless communication apparatus on the transmission side that transmits a transmission signal resulting from multiplexing a modulated signal obtained by modulating an input signal by a reference carrier signal having a predetermined carrier frequency while variably controlling the carrier frequency of said reference carrier signal and receives at least a communication enable signal, comprising:

reception means for receiving the transmission signal and producing therefrom a reception signal;

first oscillation means for producing a signal having a free-running oscillation frequency upon which reception processing is based, where the reception signal is injected into the first oscillation means; and

frequency locking detection means for detecting whether the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the first oscillation means is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results;

wherein, when the frequency locking detection means detects that the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the first oscillation means is in a frequency range in which injection locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal will occur such that frequency-locking with the carrier frequency of the reception signal results, the wireless communication apparatus transmits a communication enable signal.