EP0033237A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Information gathering system multiplexing apparatus
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1981-01-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-01-23
Abstract
Abstract An information gathering system has a plurality of sensors (14a to 14n) whose outputs are passively multiplexed for transmission to a common receiver (17,18,19). The sensors (14a to 14n) are coupled to a common transmission line (13) by means of spaced couplers (15a to 15n) to receive, modify and return a portion of a modulated carrier signal. The consequent difference in propagation path lengths results in a sequence of time separable pulses being received at the receiver (17, 18,19). The carrier signal may be an optical signal provided by a laser (11), the transmission line an optical fibre (13), and the sensors (14 to 14n) reflective or transmissive acousto-optic transducers.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald Howland Mcmahon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:16
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04J; H04J14/00; H04J14/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
An information gathering system (10,20) including a multiplexing arrangement to transmit output information from each of a plurality of sensing means (14,34) to collective receiving circuits (17,18,19), characterised in that the multiplexing arrangement comprises outward and return signal propagating paths (13,25,31,3335,36) coupling a signal source (11,12) providing modulated carrier signals and the receiving circuits (17,18,19) respectively to the sensing means (14,34), each of which operates to modify and return a received carrier signal portion with its output information, and in that the total propagation path length is different for each of the sensing means (14a to 14n, 34a to 34n) thereby to supply the receiving circuits (17,18,19) with a sequence of modified modulated signal portions having time delays corresponding to the total propagation path lengths transversed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
An information gathering system (10,20) including a multiplexing arrangement to transmit output information from each of a plurality of sensing means (14,34) to collective receiving circuits (17,18,19), characterised in that the multiplexing arrangement comprises outward and return signal propagating paths (13,25,31,3335,36) coupling a signal source (11,12) providing modulated carrier signals and the receiving circuits (17,18,19) respectively to the sensing means (14,34), each of which operates to modify and return a received carrier signal portion with its output information, and in that the total propagation path length is different for each of the sensing means (14a to 14n, 34a to 34n) thereby to supply the receiving circuits (17,18,19) with a sequence of modified modulated signal portions having time delays corresponding to the total propagation path lengths transversed.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
64 words
A system as claimed in claiml in which the outward signal propagating path and the return signal propagating path each comprise a shared transmission line (31,36) provided at spaced intervals with branch connections (32,33,35,37) coupling the appropriate signal portions respectively to and from the sensing means (34) which are transmissive devices (34a to 34n) whose transmission coefficient is a function of external information input.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
58 words
A system as claimed in claiml in which the outward and return signal propagating paths comprise a common shared transmission (13) line provided at spaced intervals with branch connections (15,25) coupling the appropriate signal portion to and from the sensing means which are reflection devices (14a to 14n) whose reflection coefficient is a function of external information input.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
37 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the carrier signal is amplitude modulated by a series pulses each of a duration not greater than the propagation time difference between successively longer total propagation paths.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
90 words
A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to3 in which the carrier signal is amplitude modulated with a variable frequency signal having repetitive cycles of linear ramp frequency rises with a rise time greater than the propagation time difference between the shortest and the longest total signal propagation paths, and in which the receiving circuits (17,18,19) include means (45) to mix the returned ramp signal portions with the modulating signal thereby to obtain different beat frequencies corresponding to the signal portions returned from the different sensing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as claimed in claim 5 which includes a pulse compression arrangement (81 to 87).
Claim 8
Independent Claim
31 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the carrier signals are light signals and in which the outward and return signal propagating paths are optical transmission lines (13,15,31,33,35,36).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as claimed in claim 7, being an underwater target locating system having a array of acousto-optic transducers (14a to 14n, 34a to 34n) as sensing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1540907A
Cited
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