Full duplex ultrawide-band communication system and method

• US 5,687,169 A
• Filed: 04/27/1995
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alereon Incorporated (PNG Telecommunications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Fullerton, Larry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TON, DANG T
• Application Number:
  US08/428,489
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 370/24, 370/18, 370/50, 370/84, 370/26, 370/27, 370/29, 370/30, 370/31, 370/36, 370/45, 370/8, 370/9, 370/10, 370/12, 370/69.1, 370/68, 370/77, 370/100.1, 370/110.1, 370/108, 370/115.1, 370/227-282, 370/294-296, 370/301, 370/302, 370/307, 370/320, 370/317, 370/319, 370/321, 370/324, 370/441, 370/520, 370/512, 370/329-331 , 370/335-337, 370/344, 370/347, 370/350, 370/515-517, 370/508-510, 370/527, 370/204, 370/205, 370/212, 370/213, 370/503, 370/500, 375/205, 375/208, 375/219, 375/220, 375/222, 375/225, 375/227, 375/237, 375/238, 375/239, 375/243, 375/254, 375/265, 375/284, 375/285, 375/354, 375/356, 375/359, 375/362, 375/364, 375/200, 455/13.2, 455/15, 455/16.5, 455/1, 455/23, 455/18, 455/19, 455/21, 455/24, 455/42, 455/51.1, 455/49.1, 455/54.1
• US Class Current: 370/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/56 with provision for simultaneous communication in two directions
• 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 1/7183 Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/719 Interference-related aspects
• 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 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex

Abstract

An impulse radio transceiver for full duplex ultrawide-band communications. The transceiver comprises an impulse radio transmitter to transmit impulse radio signal pulses, an impulse radio receiver to receive impulse radio signal pulses. Either or both of the impulse radio transmitter and the impulse radio receiver, synchronizes the transmission and the reception of the impulse radio signal pulses for pulse interleaved communications. Pulse interleaving avoids self-interference between the transmitted impulse radio signal pulses and the received impulse radio signal pulses. In addition to pulse interleaved communications, bursts of pulses can be transmitted between two transceivers in an interleaved fashion. Alternatively, two different pulse repetition rates are be used to transmit and receive impulse radio signal pulses simultaneously. Still further, selected pulses of the received or transmitted impulse radio signal pulses are blanked to avoid interference.

Claims

1. A method for full duplex transmission between at least two impulse radio transceivers, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a periodic timing signal at a first of the at least two impulse radio transceivers;

b. modulating said periodic timing signal using an information signal to output a coded timing signal;

c. time delay modulating said coded timing signal to output a modulated, coded timing signal;

d. generating an impulse radio signal using said modulated, coded timing signal;

e. transmitting said impulse radio signal to the other of the at least two impulse radio transceivers;

f. receiving said transmitted impulse radio signal at the other of the at least two impulse radio transceivers;

g. generating and transmitting, at the other of the at least two impulse radio transceivers, a further impulse radio signal in response to step f; and

h. repeating steps a-g in a synchronous manner for pulse interleaved communications between the at two impulse radio transceivers to avoid self-interference at each of the at least two impulse radio transceivers.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said generating step comprises generating electromagnetic impulse radio signal pulses.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said generating step comprises generating acoustic impulse radio signal pulses.

4. A method for full duplex transmission between at least two impulse radio transceivers, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a periodic timing signal at a first of the at least two impulse radio transceivers;

b. modulating said periodic timing signal using an information signal to output a coded timing signal;

c. time delay modulating said coded timing signal to output a modulated, coded timing signal;

d. generating impulse radio signals using said modulated, coded timing signal;

e. transmitting said impulse radio signals as a burst to the other of the at least two impulse radio transceivers;

f. receiving said transmitted burst at the other of the at least two impulse radio transceivers;

g. generating and transmitting, at the other of the at least two impulse radio transceivers, a further burst of impulse radio signals in response to step f; and

h. repeating steps a-g in a synchronous manner for full duplex burst interleaved communications between the at least two impulse radio transceivers.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said generating step comprises generating electromagnetic impulse radio signal pulses.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said generating step comprises generating acoustic impulse radio signal pulses.

7. A method for full duplex transmission between at least two impulse radio transceivers, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a periodic timing signal of a first pulse repetition rate at a first of the at least two impulse radio transceivers;

b. modulating said periodic timing signal using an information signal to output a coded timing signal;

c. time delay modulating said coded timing signal to output a modulated, coded timing signal;

d. generating an impulse radio signal using said modulated, coded timing signal;

e. transmitting said impulse radio signal to the other of the at least two impulse radio transceivers;

f. receiving said transmitted impulse radio signal at the other of the at least two impulse radio transceivers;

g. generating and transmitting, at the other of the at least two impulse radio transceivers, a further impulse radio signal at a second pulse repetition rate, wherein said second pulse repetition rate is different than said first pulse repetition rate; and

h. repeating steps a-g for full duplex communications between the at least two impulse radio transceivers.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of blanking selected pulses of associated with said received or transmitted impulse radio signals to avoid interference.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said generating step comprises generating electromagnetic impulse radio signal pulses.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein said generating step comprises generating acoustic impulse radio signal pulses.

11. A system for performing full duplex transmission between at least two impulse radio transceivers, comprising:

(a) first means for providing a periodic timing signal at a first of the at least two impulse radio transceivers;

(b) second means, coupled to said first means, for modulating said periodic timing signal using an information signal to output a coded timing signal;

(c) third means, coupled to said second means, for time delay modulating said coded timing signal to output a modulated, coded timing signal;

(d) fourth means, coupled to said third means, for generating an impulse radio signal using said modulated, coded timing signal;

(e) fifth means, coupled to said fourth means, for transmitting said impulse radio signal to the other of the at least two impulse radio transceivers;

(f) sixth means, at the other of the at least two impulse radio transceivers, for receiving said transmitted impulse radio signal; and

(g) seventh means, associated with said sixth means, for generating and transmitting a further impulse radio signal;

wherein the at least two impulse radio transceivers repeat transmission and reception of impulse radio signals in a synchronous manner for pulse interleaved communications therebetween without self-interference.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said impulse radio signals are electromagnetic.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said impulse radio signals are acoustic.

14. A system for performing full duplex transmission between at least two impulse radio transceivers, comprising:

(a) first means for providing a periodic timing signal at a first of the at least two impulse radio transceivers;

(b) second means, coupled to said first means, for modulating said periodic timing signal using an information signal to output a coded timing signal;

(c) third means, coupled to said second means, for time delay modulating said coded timing signal to output a modulated, coded timing signal;

(d) fourth means, coupled to said third means, for generating impulse radio signals using said modulated, coded timing signal;

(e) fifth means, coupled to said fourth means, for transmitting said impulse radio signals as a burst to the other of the at least two impulse radio transceivers;

(f) sixth means, at the other of the at least two impulse radio transceivers, for receiving said transmitted burst; and

(g) seventh means, associated with said sixth means, for generating and transmitting a further burst of impulse radio signals;

wherein the at least two impulse radio transceivers repeat transmission and reception of impulse radio signals in a synchronous manner for full duplex burst interleaved communications therebetween.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said impulse radio signals are electromagnetic.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein said impulse radio signals are acoustic.

17. A System for performing full duplex transmission between at least two impulse radio transceivers, comprising:

(a) first means for providing a periodic timing signal of a first pulse repetition rate at a first of the at least two impulse radio transceivers;

(b) second means, coupled to said first means, for modulating said periodic timing signal using an information signal to output a coded timing signal;

(c) third means, coupled to said second means, for time delay modulating said coded timing signal to output a modulated, coded timing signal;

(d) fourth means, coupled to said third means, for generating an impulse radio signal using said modulated, coded timing signal;

(e) fifth means, coupled to said fourth means, for transmitting said impulse radio signal to the other of the at least two impulse radio transceivers;

(f) sixth means, at the other of the at least two impulse radio transceivers, for receiving said transmitted impulse radio signal; and

(g) seventh means, associated with said sixth means, for generating and transmitting, at the other of the at least two impulse radio transceivers, a further impulse radio signal at a second pulse repetition rate, wherein said second pulse repetition rate is different than said first pulse repetition rate;

wherein the at two impulse radio transceivers repeat transmission and reception of impulse radio signals for full duplex communications therebetween.

18. The system according to claim 17, further comprising means for blanking selected pulses associated with said received or transmitted impulse radio signals to avoid interference.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said impulse radio signals are electromagnetic.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein said impulse radio signals.