Time domain radio transmission system

• US 6,933,882 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Fullerton, Larry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Application Number:
  US10/338,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20030095063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 380/270, 380/33, 380/34, 375130-153, 375/239, 375/256, 375/259, 375/316, 375/340, 375/343, 342 42- 51, 342 89-103, 342/21, 342/118, 342/120, 342/123, 342/124, 342/125, 342127-146, 342/175, 342/195, 342/15, 342/27, 342/28
• US Class Current: 342/118
• 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: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/69 Spread spectrum techniques
• 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 1/7183 Synchronisation
• 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 time domain communications system wherein a broadband of time-spaced signals, essentially monocycle-like signals, are derived from applying stepped-in-amplitude signals to a broadband antenna, in this case, a reverse bicone antenna. When received, the thus transmitted signals are multiplied by a D.C. replica of each transmitted signal, and thereafter, they are, successively, short time and long time integrated to achieve detection.

Claims

1. In a wideband radio system that measures a distance traveled by wideband burst signals from a transmitter that transmits said wideband burst signals, said wideband burst signals having a time spacing, a receiver, comprising:

an antenna that converts said wideband burst signals impingent thereon into received signals;

a delay component, said delay component outputting a delay timing signal relating to said distance;

a local waveform generator responsive to said delay timing signal and configured to generate local signals, said local signals being substantially similar to said received signals and affected by said delay timing signal;

a coincidence detector responsive to said received signals and to said local signals such that said received signals and said local signals synchronously arrive at said coincidence detector in accordance with said time spacing, said coincidence detector generating a product signal; and

an integrator means responsive to said product signal and providing a integrated signal, wherein said integrator means is comprised of;

a first integrator, responsive to said product signal output from said coincidence detector;

said first integrator providing a first integrated signal; and

a second integrator responsive to said first integrated signal, said second integrator providing a second integrated signal, said second integrated signal being the integral of a plurality of said first integrated signals.

2. The receiver according to claim 1, wherein said integrator means outputs to a display.

3. The receiver according to claim 1, wherein said time delay signal is variable.

4. The receiver according to claim 3, wherein said time delay signal may be varied incrementally.

5. The receiver according to claim 1, wherein said receiver shares said antenna with said transmitter.

6. The receiver according to claim 1, wherein said wideband burst signals are reflected from an object.

7. In a wideband radio system that measures a distance traveled by wideband burst signals from a transmitter that transmits said wideband burst signals, said wideband burst signals having a time spacing, a receiver, comprising:

an antenna that converts said wideband burst signals impingent thereon into received signals;

a delay component, said delay component outputting a delay timing signal relating to said distance;

a local waveform generator responsive to said delay timing signal and configured to generate local signals, said local signals being substantially similar to said received signals and affected by said delay timing signal;

a coincidence detector responsive to said received signals and to said local signals such that said received signals and said local signals synchronously arrive at said coincidence detector in accordance with said time spacing, said coincidence detector generating a product signal;

an integrator means responsive to said product signal and providing a integrated signal; and

a memory unit having an input from said integration means, said input being said integrated signal, wherein said wideband burst signals are reflected from an object.

8. The receiver according to claim 7, further comprising a comparator responsive to said memory unit that compares said integrated signal having a given time of receipt to another integrated signal having a different time of receipt.

9. The receiver according to claim 8, further comprising a display responsive to said comparator, that displays an output of said comparator in terms of a characteristic of said object.

10. The receiver according to claim 9, wherein said characteristic is at least one of size, reflectivity, and movement with respect to said receiver.

11. In a wideband radio system, a method of measuring a distance traveled by wideband burst signals from a transmitter that transmits said wideband burst signals, said wideband burst signals having a time spacing, to a receiver comprising the steps of:

generating a local signal, said local signal being substantially similar to one of said wideband burst signals;

synchronizing output of said local signal, said local signal being delayed in accordance with a delay signal, said delay signal relating to said distance, with one of said wideband burst signals;

multiplying said one of said wideband burst signals by said local signal to obtain a product signal;

integrating said product signal to obtain a first integrated signal; and

integrating a plurality of said first integrated signals to obtain a second integrated signal.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said time delay signal is variable.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said time delay signal is varied incrementally.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein said receiver shares an antenna with said transmitter.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein said wideband burst signals are reflected from an object.

16. In a wideband radio system, a method of measuring a distance traveled by wideband burst signals form a transmitter that transmits said wideband burst signals, said wideband burst signals having a time spacing, to a receiver comprising the steps of:

generating a local signal, said local signal being substantially similar to one of said wideband burst signals;

synchronizing output of said local signal, said local signal being delayed in accordance with a delay signal, said delay signal relating to said distance, with one of said wideband burst signals;

multiplying said one of said wideband burst signals by said local signal to obtain a product signal;

integrating said product signal to obtain an integrated signal; and

storing said integrated signal as a received signal and a time of receipt of said integrated signal, wherein said wideband burst signals are reflected from an object.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of comparing said stored integrated signal to another integrated signal.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of displaying an output of said step of comparing in terms of a characteristic of said object.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said characteristic is at least one of size, reflectivity and movement with respect to said receiver.