Frequency rate communication system

Claim 2

In a communication system, the combination of: first means for generating a plurality of frequency-rate signals each comprising a frequency modulated carrier, for use as encoding signals and having equal frequency and equal phase carriers and varying in frequency with time at the same frequency modulation, with the frequency modulations of said encoding signals differing in phase from each other with substantially equal phase differences, said first means for generating including a first oscillator for generating a first output signal at a first frequency, phase shifter means having said first output signal as an input for producing additional output signals at said first frequency and at predetermined phase relations with said first output signal, a second oscillator for generating a carrier signal, and means having said output signals and said carrier signal as inputs for producing said plurality of frequency-rate signals as outputs by frequency modulating said carrier signal with each of said output signals; first modulation means for amplitude modulating an encoding signal with a modulating signal to produce a frequency-rate modulated encoded signal, said modulating signal including a base band information signal; means for connecting an encoding signal and a modulating signal to said first modulation means as inputs; first summing means having one or more encoded signals as inputs and providing an output which is the sum of the inputs thereto; and circuit means for transmitting said first summing means output to a receiver.

Claim 3

A system as defined in claim 1 including second means for generating a modulating signal in the form of a double side band, suppressed carrier signal.

Claim 4

A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said second generating means includes means for combining two base band information signals, digital or analog in nature and of single sided spectra, to produce a quadrature phase multiplex amplitude modulation, double side band, suppressed carrier signal as the modulating signal.

Claim 5

A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said second generating means includes means for generating three of said modulating signals, and said modulation means includes three modulators each having a modulating signal and a different encoding signal as inputs, with the summing means output incorporating up to six information signals.

Claim 6

A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said second means for generating includes means for generating three of said modulating signals, and said modulation means includes three modulators each having a modulating signal and a different encoding signal as inputs, and said system including: third and fourth means for generating a modulating signal and each corresponding to said second means for generating; second and third modulation means for amplitude modulating an encoding signal and each corresponding to said first modulation means; second and third summing means each corresponding to said first summing means; fifth means for generating three frequency-rate signals for use as additional encoding signals and having equal frequency and equal phase carriers and varying in frequency with time at the same frequency modulation, with the frequency modulations of said additional encoding signals differing in phase from each other with substantially equal phase differences; fourth modulation means for amplitude modulating an additional encoding signal with a summing means output signal to produce an additional frequency-rate modulated encoded signal, said fourth modulation means including three modulators each having a summing means output signal and a different additional encoding signal as inputs; and fourth summing means having one or more addItional encoded signals as inputs and producing an output which is the sum of the inputs thereto for transmitting to a receiver.

Claim 7

A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said modulating signal is a base band information signal.

Claim 8

A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first generating means also generates a vestigial level reference signal, and including an additional summing means having said first summing means output and said vestigial level reference signal as inputs to provide a summed output for transmission to a receiver.

Claim 9

A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first generating means includes means for generating each of the frequency-rate encoding signals in the form of three substantially equal amplitude spectral lines differing in frequency by the frequency modulation rate, with the central line having a phase which is 90* from the vector sum of the outer lines.

Claim 10

A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first generating means includes means for generating each of the frequency-rate encoding signals in the form of a sinusoidally frequency modulated signal providing a narrow band FM spectra.

Claim 11

A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first generating means for generating three encoding signals, with the frequency modulations thereof differing in phase by substantially 120*.

Claim 12

A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first generating means includes means for generating n encoding signals, with the frequency modulations thereof differing in phase by substantially 360/n*.

Claim 13

A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the modulating frequency of said encoding signals is equal to or greater than the band width of the information signals being transmitted.

Claim 14

A system as defined in claim 12 wherein the frequency modulation index of said encoding signals is of the order of 1.39.

Claim 15

In a communication system for operation with a frequency-rate amplitude modulated encoded input signal, the combination of: first means for generating a plurality of frequency-rate signals each comprising a frequency modulated carrier, for use as decoding signals and having equal frequency and equal phase carriers and varying in frequency with time at the same frequency modulation, with the frequency modulations of said decoding signals differing in phase from each other with substantially equal phase differences, said first means for generating including a first oscillator for generating a first output signal at a first frequency, phase shifter means having said first output signals at said first frequency and at predetermined phase relations with said first output signal, a second oscillator for generating a carrier signal, and means having said output signals and said carrier signal as inputs for producing said plurality of frequency-rate signals as outputs by frequency modulating said carrier signal with each of said output signals; first modulation means for amplitude demodulating an input signal with a decoding signal to produce a demodulated signal; and means for connecting a decoding signal and an encoded input signal to said first modulation means as inputs.

Claim 16

In a communication system for operation with a frequency-rate amplitude modulated encoded input signal, the combination of: first means for generating a plurality of frequency-rate signals each comprising a frequency modulated carrier, for use as decoding signals and having equal frequency and equal phase carriers and varying in frequency with time at the same frequency modulation, with the frequency modulations of said decoding signals differing in phase from each other with substantially equal phase differences, said first means for generating including a first oscillator for generating a first output signal at a first frequency, phase shifter means having said first output signals at said first frequency and at predetermined phase relations with said first output signal, a second oscillator for generating a carrier signal, and means having said output signals and said carrier signal as inputs for producing said plurality of frequency-rate signals as outputs by frequency modulating said carrier signal with each of said output signals; first modulation means for amplitude demodulating an input signal with a decoding signal to produce a demodulated signal; and means for connecting a decoding signal and an encoded input signal to said first modulation means as inputs.

Claim 17

A system as defined in claim 14 wherein said first modulation means includes three demodulators each having an encoded input signal and a different decoding signal as inputs for providing three separate demodulated signals.

Claim 18

A system as defined in claim 15 including: second means for generating two additional demodulating signals of the same frequency and in phase quadrature with each other; and second modulation means having three pairs of first and second additional demodulators, each pair having a demodulated signal as one input and the demodulators of a pair having respectively the first and second additional demodulating signals as inputs, for providing up to six information signals as outputs.

Claim 19

A system as defined in claim 14 including: second means for generating two additional Demodulating signals of the same frequency and in phase quadrature with each other; and second modulation means having first and second additional demodulators, each having a demodulated signal and an additional demodulating signal as inputs for providing an information signal as an output.

Claim 20

A system as defined in claim 14 wherein said first generating means includes means for generating each of the frequency-rate decoding signals in the form of three substantially equal amplitude spectral lines differing in frequency by the frequency modulation rate, with the central line having a phase which is 90 degrees from the vector sum of the outer lines.

Claim 21

A system as defined in claim 14 wherein said first generating means includes means for generating each of the frequency-rate decoding signals in the form of a sinusoidally frequency modulated signal providing a narrow band FM spectra.

Claim 22

A system as defined in claim 14 wherein said first generating means includes means for generating three decoding signals, with the frequency modulations thereof differing in phase by substantially 120*.

Claim 23

A system as defined in claim 14 wherein said first generating means includes means for generating n decoding signals, with the frequency modulations thereof differing in phase by substantially 360/n*.

Claim 24

In a communication system, the combination of: first means for generating a plurality of frequency-rate signals each comprising a frequency modulated carrier, for use as encoding signals and having equal frequency and equal phase carriers and varying in frequency with time at the same frequency modulation, with the frequency modulations of said encoding signals differing in phase from each other with substantially equal phase differences, said first means for generating including a first oscillator for generating a first output signal at a first frequency, phase shifter means having said first output signal as an input for producing additional output signals at said first frequency and at predetermined phase relations with said first output signal, a second oscillator for generating a carrier signal, and means having said output signals and said carrier signal as inputs for producing said plurality of frequency-rate signals as outputs by frequency modulating said carrier signal with each of said output signals; first modulation means for amplitude modulating an encoding signal with a modulating signal to produce a frequency-rate modulated encoded signal, said modulating signal including a base band information signal; means for connecting an encoding signal and a modulating signal to said first modulation means as inputs; first summing means having one or more encoded signals as inputs and providing an output which is the sum of the inputs thereto; circuit means for transmitting said first summing means output to a receiver; second means for generating a plurality of frequency-rate signals for use as decoding signals and having equal frequency and equal phase carriers and varying in frequency with time at the same frequency modulation, with the frequency modulations of said decoding signals differing in phase from each other with substantially equal phase differences; second modulation means for amplitude demodulating an input signal with a decoding signal to produce a demodulated signal; and means for connecting a decoding signal and the output of said first summing means to said modulation means as inputs.

Claim 25

In a communication system, the combination of: first means for generating a plurality of frequency-rate signals each comprising a frequency modulated carrier, for use as encoding signals and having equal frequency and equal phase carriers and varying in frequency with time at the same frequency modulation, with the frequency modulations of said encoding signals differing in phase from each other with substantially equal phase differences, said first means for generating including a first oscillator for generating a first output signal at a first frequency, phase shifter means having said first output signal as an input for producing additional output signals at said first frequency and at predetermined phase relations with said first output signal, a second oscillator for generating a carrier signal, and means having said output signals and said carrier signal as inputs for producing said plurality of frequency-rate signals as outputs by frequency modulating said carrier signal with each of said output signals; first modulation means for amplitude modulating an encoding signal with a modulating signal to produce a frequency-rate modulated encoded signal, said modulating signal including a base band information signal; means for connecting an encoding signal and a modulating signal to said first modulation means as inputs; first summing means having one or more encoded signals as inputs and providing an output which is the sum of the inputs thereto; circuit means for transmitting said first summing means output to a receiver; second means for generating a plurality of frequency-rate signals for use as decoding signals and having equal frequency and equal phase carriers and varying in frequency with time at the same frequency modulation, with the frequency modulations of said decoding signals differing in phase from each other with substantially equal phase differences; second modulation means for amplitude demodulating an input signal with a decoding signal to produce a demodulated signal; and means for connecting a decoding signal and the output of said first summing means to said modulation means as inputs.

Claim 26

In a process for transmitting a plurality of information signals, the steps of: a. generating a plurality of first encoding signals having equal frequency and phase carriers and the same frequency modulation, with the frequency modulations of the encoding signals differing in phase with substantially equal phase differences; b. amplitude modulating at least one of the first encoding signals with input modulating signals, producing modulated signals; c. combining the modulated signals by linear summing to produce a combined signal; b. transmitting the combined signal to a receiver; e. generating a plurality of frequency modulated first decoding signals of the same frequency and phase carriers and the frequency modulation as the first encoding signals; and f. demodulating the combined signal at the receiver with at least one of the first decoding signals for reproducing an input modulating signal.

Claim 27

In a process for transmitting a plurality of information signals, the steps of: a. generating a plurality of first encoding signals having equal frequency and phase carriers and the same frequency modulation, with the frequency modulations of the encoding signals differing in phase with substantially equal phase differences; b. amplitude modulating at least one of the first encoding signals with input modulating signals, producing modulated signals; c. combining the modulated signals by linear summing to produce a combined signal; b. transmitting the combined signal to a receiver; e. generating a plurality of frequency modulated first decoding signals of the same frequency and phase carriers and the frequency modulation as the first encoding signals; and f. demodulating the combined signal at the receiver with at least one of the first decoding signals for reproducing an input modulating signal.

Claim 28

The process of claim 23 including the additional steps of: g. performing steps (a) and (b) with three encoding signals and three input modulating signals; h. repeating steps (b) and (c) for three additional input modulating signals; i. repeating steps (b) and (c) again for three additional input modulating signals; j. generating three second encoding signals having equal frequency and phase carriers and the same frequency modulation, with the frequency modulations of the second encoding signals differing in phase with substantially equal phase differences; k. amplitude modulating the three second encoding signals with the three combined signals respectively, producing three second modulated signals; l. combining the three second modulated signals by linear summing to produce a further combined signal for transmission to the receiver; m. generating three frequency modulated second decoding signals of the same frequency and phase carriers and the same frequency modulation as the second encoding signals; n. demodulating the further combined signal at the receiver with each of the three second decoding signals reproducing the combined signals; and o. repeating steps (e) and (f) for each of the reproduced combined signals.

Claim 29

A process as defined in claim 24 including the steps of: p. converting pairs of single sided spectra information signasl to amplitude modulation, double sideband, suppressed carrier signals, for use as input modulating signals; and q. demodulating the reproduced input modulating signals at the receiver with quadrature phased demodulating signals to reproduce the information signals.

Claim 30

A process as defined in claim 25 including the step of (r) at the receiver selecting one of the first decoding signals and one of the second decoding signals and one of the quadrature phased demodulating signals to determine the specific information signal reproduced at the receiver.

Claim 31

A process as defined in claim 24 including the step of (s) at the receiver selecting one of the first decoding signals and one of the second decoding signals to determine the specific modulating input signal reproduced at the receiver.

Claim 32

A process as defined in claim 23 including the steps of: p. converting pairs of single sided spectra information signals to amplitude modulation, double sideband, suppressed carrier signals, for use as input modulating signals; and q. demodulating the reproduced input modulating signals at the receiver with quadrature phased demodulating signals to reproduce the information signals.

Claim 33

A process as defined in claim 23 including the step of (t) at the receiver selecting one of the first decoding signals to determine the specific modulating input signal reproduced at the receiver.