Time domain radio transmission system

• US 4,743,906 A
• Filed: 06/03/1986
• Issued: 05/10/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Charles A. Phillips
• Inventors: Fullerton, Larry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Application Number:
  US06/870,177
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 342/21, 342/22, 342/118, 342/120, 342/127, 342/132, 342/134, 342/145, 342/201, 342/27, 342/28, 375/1, 375/35
• US Class Current: 342/27
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/0209 Systems with very large relative bandwidth, i.e. larger than 10 %, e.g. baseband, pulse, carrier-free, ultrawideband
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/18 wherein range gates are used
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/282 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/292 Extracting wanted echo-signals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/28 Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/71637 Receiver aspects H04B1/7183 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7174 Pulse generation in general H04L25/03834
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 14/026 using pulse time characteristics modulation, e.g. width, position, interval
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/103 Chirp modulation for spread spectrum techniques H04B1/69

Abstract

A communications system wherein there is employed a signal mixer in which a received signal is multiplied by a template signal, and then the output of the mixer is integrated. By this process, usable signals are obtained which would be otherwise obscured by noise.

Claims

1. A time domain radar system comprising:

a transmitter comprising;

signal generating means for generating a series of trigger signals at spaced times,

a wideband transmitting antenna positioned for transmission into free space,

a source of D.C. power,

switching means responsive to said trigger signals and coupled to said source of D.C. potential and coupled to said transmitting antenna for abruptly switching between different states of a potential on said transmitting antenna, and transmitting a series of spaced, A.C., carrierless burst signals, each of which is generally monocyclic, into free space; and

a radio receiver comprising;

receiving means for receiving and providing an output responsive to wideband signals received from space between the times of transmission of said A.C. carrierless burst signals from said transmitting antenna,

detection signal generating means responsive to timing signals for locally generating time spaced local signals, each local signal including a single polarity up to the duration of one polarity of a said transmitted monocyclic burst signal as received,

timing means responsive to the times of transmissions of said series of said burst signals for generating, as a set, successive said timing signals and coupling them to said detection signal generating means, each said timing signal of a set occurring at a selected like time after the transmission of a said burst signal, wherein a said selected time is representative of the transit time from said transmitting antenna to a target at a selected distance and back to said receiving means,

output signal mixing and integration means responsive to a said output from said receiving means and a said local burst signal for providing an output signal which is a function signal from mixing a said output of said receiving means and a local burst signal and integrating this function signal for the discrete period of said local signal, and

integration means responsive to a successive set of output signals from said signal mixing and integration means responsive to a series of transmissions from said transmitting antenna, each of said last-named output signals being for an identical time of transmitted burst signal travel, for providing an integrated signal, said integrated signal being indicative of the presence of signals having been reflected from a target at a selected distance.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said timing means includes means for selectively delaying the production of timing signals of a discrete said set of successive said timing signals, whereby sensitivity of said radio receiver for different target ranges may be selected.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said timing means is responsive to said signal generating means.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said integration means includes means for sampling discrete output signals from said mixing and integration means and integrating the discrete samples.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said integration means includes:

an analog-to-digital converter responsive to said output signals of said mixing and integration means for providing digital signal values of successive said output signals; and

digital integration means for digitally integrating said digital signal values and providing said integrated signal.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said signal generating means includes means for providing said trigger signals at varingly spaced times.

7. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said switching means is positioned generally adjacent said transmitting antenna.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said switching means includes an impedance coupled in circuit with said transmitting antenna and switching means.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said impedance is electrical resistance.

10. A system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said transmitting antenna comprises two elements, and said switching means includes means in series with said electrical resistance and said two elements for discharging said elements.

11. A time domain radar system comprising:

a transmitter comprising;

control means for generating a first series of signals,

oscillator means for generating a second series of signals at a higher rate than said first series,

signal means responsive to said first and second series of signals for providing as an output a sequence of discrete signals of said second series of signals which are related to signals of said first series of signals, and said sequence of discrete signals provide trigger signals at spaced times,

a wideband transmitting antenna positioned for transmission into free space,

a source of D.C. power,

switching means responsive to said trigger signals and coupled to said source of D.C. potential and coupled to said transmitting antenna for abruptly switching between different states of a potential on said transmitting antenna, and transmitting a series of spaced, A.C., carrierless burst signals, each of which is generally monocyclic, into free space; and

a radio receiver comprising;

receiving means for receiving and providing an output responsive to signals received from space between the times of transmission of said A.C. carrierless burst signals from said transmitting antenna,

detection signal generating means responsive to timing signals for locally generating time spaced local signals, each local signal including a single polarity up to the period of one polarity of a said transmitted monocyclic burst signal as received,

timing means responsive to said sequence of discrete signals from said signal means for generating as a set, successive said timing signals and coupling them to said detection signal generating means, each said timing signal of a set occurring at a selected like time after the transmission of a said burst signal, wherein a said selected time is representative of the transit time from said transmitting antenna to a target at a selected distance and back to said receiving means,

output signal mixing and integration means responsive to a said output from said receiving means and a said local burst signal for providing an output signal which is a function signal from mixing a said output and said receiving means and a local burst signal and integrating this function signal for the discrete period of said local signal, and

integration means responsive to a successive set of output signals from said signal mixing and integration means and the occurrence of a series of transmissions from said transmitting antenna, each of said last-named output signals being for an identical time of transmitted burst signal travel, for providing an integrated signal, said integrated signal being indicative of the presence or absence of signals having been reflected from a target at a selected distance.

12. A time domain radar system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said signal means comprises means for effecting as an output signal of said signals of said last-named means the next signal from said oscillator means following a said signal of said first series of signals from said control means.

13. A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said timing means includes means for selectively delaying the production of timing signals of a discrete said set of successive said timing signals, whereby sensitivity of said radio receiver for different target ranges may be selected.

14. A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said integration means includes means for sampling discrete output signals from said mixing and integration means and integrating the discrete samples.

15. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said integration means includes:

an analog-to-digital converter responsive to said output signals of said mixing and integration means for providing digital signal values of successive said output signals; and

digital integration means for digitally integrating said digital signal values and providing said integrated signal.

16. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said switching means is positioned generally adjacent said transmitting antenna.

17. A system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said switching means includes an impedance coupled in circuit with said transmitting antenna and switching means.

18. A system as set forth in claim 17 wherein said impedance is electrical resistance.

19. A system as set forth in claim 18 wherein said transmitting antenna comprises two elements, and said switching means includes means in series with said electrical resistance and said two elements for discharging power between said elements.