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US4303808A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Locating noise in communications systems

Assignee: STC PLC
•
Filing: 1979-10-10
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Granted: 1981-12-01
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Expires: 1999-10-10
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Abstract

Abstract An impulse noise source in a bidirectional submerged communications system is positionally located by detection apparatus at one end of the system which measures the time interval between the same impulse arriving twice at the one end of the system, firstly, via a shorter or faster path in the system (either the incoming path to the one end, or a reference frequency band in the incoming path) and, secondly, via a longer or slower path in the system (either the go path from the noise source, a go/return distant loop and the incoming path, or another frequency band in the incoming path). Group delay distortion of the system affects the location accuracy and is equalized by networks in the detection apparatus.

Inventors

  • 👤 Thomas Oswald

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 07:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/08; G01R31/081; G01R31/086; G01R31/11; H; H04; H04B; H04B3/00; H04B3/02; H04B3/46

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 76 words
A method of locating a source of impulse noise in a communication system comprising the steps of: measuring the time interval between the same noise impulse arriving at one terminal of said system via two paths of said system having different delays; and indicating said time interval in a manner representing the distance of said source of said impulse from said one terminal to locate the position of said source of said impulse in said system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 76 words
A method of locating a source of impulse noise in a communication system comprising the steps of: measuring the time interval between the same noise impulse arriving at one terminal of said system via two paths of said system having different delays; and indicating said time interval in a manner representing the distance of said source of said impulse from said one terminal to locate the position of said source of said impulse in said system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said two paths are in the same direction of transmission in said system but located in different first frequency bands of the frequency spectrum for that transmission direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 36 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein each of said two paths in its associated one of said first frequency bands has a bandwidth which is small when compared to the bandwidth of the traffic band.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 70 words
A method according to claim 3, further including the steps of: compensating for group delay distortion of each of said two paths in separate networks at said one terminal of said system so that the arrivals of said impulse over said two paths occur simultaneously and with the same waveform at a detection point at the output of said separate networks; and detecting said simultaneous arrival at said detection point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method according to claim 4, further including the steps of demodulating said impulse in each of said two paths to second frequency bands different from said first frequency bands.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method according to claim 4, further including the step of adjusting the amplitude of said impulse in each of said two paths to be equal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method according to claim 6, further including the steps of demodulating said impulse in each of said two paths to second frequency bands different from said first frequency band.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 111 words
Apparatus for locating a source of impulse noise in a communication system comprising: impulse detection means disposed in one terminal of said system to detect the arrival of a noise impulse at said one terminal over a first faster or short path in said system and a second slower or longer path in said system; and means coupled to said detection means to measure the time interval between the two arrivals of said impulse and to indicate said interval in a manner representing the distance of said source of said impulse from said one terminal of said system to locate the position of said source of said impulse in said system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 111 words
Apparatus for locating a source of impulse noise in a communication system comprising: impulse detection means disposed in one terminal of said system to detect the arrival of a noise impulse at said one terminal over a first faster or short path in said system and a second slower or longer path in said system; and means coupled to said detection means to measure the time interval between the two arrivals of said impulse and to indicate said interval in a manner representing the distance of said source of said impulse from said one terminal of said system to locate the position of said source of said impulse in said system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 67 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the said impulse is propagated in both a go path and a return path with respect to said one terminal of said system, said first path includes said return path, and said second path includes said go path, a loop disposed in the other terminal of said system to connect said go path and said return path, and said return path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 21 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said impulse detection means includes a demodulator for changing the frequency band of said impulse.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 36 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said first and second paths are in the same direction of transmission in said system but in different first frequency bands of the frequency spectrum for that direction of transmission.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 36 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said detection means includes a first circuit path responsive to one of said first frequency bands, and a second circuit path responsive to the other of said first frequency bands.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 42 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each of said first and second circuit paths include a demodulator to change the associated one of said first frequency bands to a second frequency band lower than the associated one of said first frequency bands
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 15 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each of said second frequency bands are the same.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 90 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each of said first and second circuit paths include: an equalization network coupled to the input of said detection means to compensate for system group delay distortion and attenuation in the associated one of said first frequency bands, and a delay network coupled to said equalization network, at least one of said delay networks being adjustable to cause coincidence of arrival and equality of amplitude of said impulse, and coincidence detector means coupled to said first and second circuit paths to indicate said coincidence.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 53 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each of said first and second paths include: a demodulator coupled between said equalization network and said input of said detection means to change the associated one of said first frequency bands to a second frequency band lower than the associated one of said first frequency bands.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 15 words
Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each of said second frequency bands are the same.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 93 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, further including: a first impulse detector selectively coupled to each of said first and second circuit paths before said delay network therein to detect the presence of said impulse in each of said circuit paths; and a gate circuit in each of said first and second circuit paths coupled to the output of the associated one of said delay networks, each of said gate circuits being rendered operative for a limited period of time by said first detector to feed said impulse to second and third impulse detectors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 40 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, further including gate means disposed in said detection means arranged to reduce the observation time for arrivals of said impulse to a minimum necessary for detecting said arrivals so as to reduce ambient noise level.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3710239A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-11-30 1985-06-01 1985-12-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-11-30 1989-06-01 1989-12-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-11-30 1993-06-01 1993-12-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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