Ultra wide band transmitter

• US 6,952,456 B1
• Filed: 06/21/2000
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 73 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Pulse-Link Incorporated
• Inventors: Aiello, Roberto, Rogerson, Gerald, Sparrell, Carlton, Tuft, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae, Temesghen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ahn, Sam K.
• Application Number:
  US09/599,969
• Time in Patent Office: 1,931 Days
• Field of Search: 375/295, 375/200, 375/210, 375/132, 375/219, 375/222, 375/237, 375/238, 375/239, 375/242, 375/256, 375/260, 375/261, 375/268, 375/300, 370/324, 342/28, 342/135, 455/103, 332/149, 332/151
• US Class Current: 375/295
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/6908 using time hopping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0008 arrangements for allowing a transmitter or receiver to use more than one type of modulation negotiating modulation type for two-way transmission paths H04L5/1453
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2003 for continuous phase modulation frequency shift keying H04L27/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/3405 Modifications of the signal space to increase the efficiency of transmission, e.g. reduction of the bit error rate, bandwidth, or average power

Abstract

A transmitter system is provided. In one embodiment, the transmitter system includes a data modulation unit, which generates a stream of data that is synchronized with a master clock. The transmitter system additionally includes a transmitter that transmits the stream of synchronized data by way of an attached antenna. In another embodiment the transmitter system includes a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer that includes a clock synchronization device, a frequency divider, a slot allocation unit, and a multiplexer/demultiplexer. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A transmitter system configured to transmit pulse amplitude modulated signals, comprising:

a clock interface configured to generate a clock signal;

a pulse generator system, operatively coupled to said clock interface, said pulse generator system configured to shape a plurality of incoming pulses;

a drive system operatively coupled to said pulse generator system, said drive system configured to amplify and combine said plurality of incoming pulses;

a data interface configured to generate a data signal; and

a variable gain amplifier operatively coupled to said data interface and operatively coupled to said drive system, said variable gain amplifier configured to provide an appropriate gain to said drive system to obtain a desired amplitude.

2. The transmitter system of claim 1 further comprising a pulse repetition frequency module, said pulse repetition frequency module operatively coupled to said pulse generator system and configured to generate variable pulse repetition frequencies.

3. A transmitter system configured to transmit pulse amplitude modulated signals, comprising:

a clock interface configured to generate a clock signal;

a pulse generator system, operatively coupled to said clock interface, said pulse generator system configured to shape a plurality of incoming pulses;

a drive system operatively coupled to said pulse generator system, said drive system configured to amplify and combine said plurality of incoming pulses to generate a plurality of output signals;

a data interface configured to generate a data signal; and

an attenuator operatively coupled to said data interface and operatively coupled to said drive system, said attenuator configured to reduce the amplitude of said plurality of output signals and provide a plurality of modified output signals having a desired amplitude.

4. The transmitter system of claim 3 further comprising a pulse repetition frequency module, said pulse repetition frequency module operatively coupled to said pulse generator system and configured to generate variable pulse repetition frequencies.

5. A transmitter system configured to generate base band signals capable of being modulated using pulse amplitude modulation, comprising:

a data modulation unit configured to generate a digital stream of pulse data which is synchronized with a master clock, said data modulation unit comprising;

a transmit module configured to generate a clock pulse; and

a pulse amplitude modulation module configured to generate a data stream for a desired pulse amplitude;

a transmitter unit coupled to said data modulation unit, said transmitter unit configured to receive said digital stream of pulse data and generate a radio frequency (RF) pulse stream;

an amplitude control system operatively coupled to said transmitter unit and said pulse amplitude modulation module, said amplitude control system configured to generate a modified amplitude of said RF pulse stream; and

an antenna coupled to said transmitter unit, said antenna configured to transmit said modified amplitude of said RF pulse stream.

6. A transmitter system, comprising:

a data modulation unit configured to generate a digital stream of pulse data which is synchronized with a master clock, the data modulation unit comprising a pulse amplitude modulation module, which is configured to vary the amplitude of the digital stream of pulse data and a transmit module operatively coupled between a pulse repetition frequency module and the pulse amplitude modulation module, said transmit module configured to distinguish between different modulation techniques;

a transmitter unit coupled to said data modulation unit, said transmitter unit configured to receive said digital stream of pulse data and generate a radio frequency (RF) pulse stream;

an antenna coupled to said transmitter unit, said antenna configured to transmit said RF pulse stream, wherein said RF pulse stream is an ultra wide band pulse stream;

wherein said transmitter unit comprises a pulse generator system operatively coupled to said transmit module, said pulse generator system configured to generate said ultra wide band pulse stream for transmission by said antenna;

wherein said pulse generator system is configured to generate a plurality of pull-up turn-on signals, a plurality of pull-up turn-off signals, a plurality of pull-down turn-on signals, and a plurality of pull-down turn-off signals;

wherein said transmitter unit further comprises a drive system operatively coupled to said pulse generator system and configured to combine said plurality of pull-up turn-on signals, said plurality of pull-up turn-off signals, said plurality of pull-down turn-on signals, and said plurality of pull-down turn-off signals to generate said ultra wide band pulse stream; and

wherein said drive system is operatively coupled to said pulse amplitude modulation module, said pulse amplitude modulation module is configured to generate a desired pulse amplitude for said digital stream of pulse data.