US4456877A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Hybrid spectrum analyzer system
Assignee: Ampex Corp
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Filing: 1982-09-16
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Granted: 1984-06-26
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Expires: 2002-09-16
Abstract
Abstract One or more input signals to be processed are summed with a pseudo random noise signal to preserve the signal phase, are placed on a carrier, are processed by a one-dimensional optical spectrum analyzer, and a time history thereof is stored in a digital corner-turn memory in a time/frequency domain. The memory is read with an address map that corner-turns the stored data, where the resulting frequency/time signal then is fed to a second one-dimensional optical spectrum analyzer. Since signal phase is preserved, a two-dimensional analog signal in a frequency/frequency plane is provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugh B. Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R23/00; G01R23/16; G01R23/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A system for processing an input signal, comprising: means for supplying a phase reference signal; first optical spectrum analyzer means for generating a time/frequency signal corresponding to a Fourier transform of the input signal and the phase reference signal; corner-turn memory means for digitally storing the time/frequency signal in a time/frequency domain and for supplying the stored data as a corner-turned frequency/time signal; and second optical spectrum analyzer means coupled to the memory means for generating a two-dimensional frequency/ frequency signal corresponding to a Fourier transform of the corner-turned frequency/time signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
91 words
A system for processing an input signal, comprising: means for supplying a phase reference signal; first optical spectrum analyzer means for generating a time/frequency signal corresponding to a Fourier transform of the input signal and the phase reference signal; corner-turn memory means for digitally storing the time/frequency signal in a time/frequency domain and for supplying the stored data as a corner-turned frequency/time signal; and second optical spectrum analyzer means coupled to the memory means for generating a two-dimensional frequency/ frequency signal corresponding to a Fourier transform of the corner-turned frequency/time signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second optical spectrum analyzer means are one-dimensional acousto-optical and electro-optical means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 2 including: formatting means coupled to the reference signal means for placing the input and reference signals on a selected carrier signal; and timing control means coupled to the various means for synchronizing the input signal with the reference signal and with the transform and corner-turn processes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 3 wherein the formatting means include; summing means for combining the reference signal with the input signal; and modulating means coupled to the summing means for placing the combined signals on the selected carrier signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the first optical spectrum analyzer means include: one-dimensional acousto-optical means for generating a one-dimensional optical output corresponding to the modulated signal; transform means for generating a Fourier transform of the optical output; and one-dimensional electro-optical transducer means for producing a first signal corresponding to the transform.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the second optical analyzer means include: one-dimensional acousto-optical means for generating a two-dimensional optical output corresponding to the corner-turned frequency/time signal; transform means for generating a Fourier transform of the two-dimensional optical output; and second one-dimensional electro-optical transducer means for producing a two-dimensional output signal corresponding to the second transform.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 6 further including: A/D converter means coupled to the electro-optical transducer means for supplying the first signal to the corner-turn memory means as digital data; and D/A converter means coupled to the corner-turn memory means for generating an analog signal commensurate with the corner-turned data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 4 having multiple input signals and further including: time multiplexing means coupled to receive the multiple input signals and for supplying to the summing means a time multiplexed input signal formed of the multiple input signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the time multiplexing means include: means for digitizing the input signals to define respective input channels; time-base exchange circuit means for loading the respective digitized input data of each channel at a selected load rate while outputing the data at a higher read rate; and a D/A converter supplying the data from all channels to the summing means as a continuous analog input signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 4 having multiple input signals and further including: frequency multiplexing means including carrier signal means for supplying the combined signal from the modulating means to the optical analyzer means in frequency-shared format.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
115 words
A system for two-dimensional spectrum analysis of an input signal, comprising: means for supplying a phase reference signal; first signal input means for formatting the input signal and the phase reference signal; first optical spectrum analyzer means operatively coupled to the signal input means for generating a first signal corresponding to a transform of the formatted signal; corner-turn memory means for digitally storing the first signal in a time/frequency domain and for supplying readout of the stored data in a corner-turned format to define a second signal; second signal input means for formatting the corner-turned second signal; and second optical spectrum analyzer means for generating a two-dimensional frequency/frequency output signal from the corner-turned second signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
115 words
A system for two-dimensional spectrum analysis of an input signal, comprising: means for supplying a phase reference signal; first signal input means for formatting the input signal and the phase reference signal; first optical spectrum analyzer means operatively coupled to the signal input means for generating a first signal corresponding to a transform of the formatted signal; corner-turn memory means for digitally storing the first signal in a time/frequency domain and for supplying readout of the stored data in a corner-turned format to define a second signal; second signal input means for formatting the corner-turned second signal; and second optical spectrum analyzer means for generating a two-dimensional frequency/frequency output signal from the corner-turned second signal.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
172 words
A system for two-dimensional spectrum analysis of an input signal, comprising: reference means for supplying a linear FM phase reference signal; timing control means coupled to the various means for supplying system timing signals thereto; summing means for combining the phase reference signal and the input signal; first formatter means for placing the combined signals on a carrier signal; first optical spectrum analyzer means coupled to receive the formatted signal and for generating therefrom a one-dimensional first signal corresponding to a transform of the formatted signal; A/D converter means for digitizing the first signal; a corner-turn memory for digitally storing the digitized first signal in a time/frequency domain and including means for supplying readout of the stored signal as a second signal having a corner-turned format; D/A converter means coupled to the corner-turn memory for generating an analog frequency/time signal corresponding to the corner-turned second signal; second formatter means for formatting the frequency/ time signal; and second optical spectrum analyzer means for generating a two-dimensional frequency/frequency output signal from the formatted signal.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
172 words
A system for two-dimensional spectrum analysis of an input signal, comprising: reference means for supplying a linear FM phase reference signal; timing control means coupled to the various means for supplying system timing signals thereto; summing means for combining the phase reference signal and the input signal; first formatter means for placing the combined signals on a carrier signal; first optical spectrum analyzer means coupled to receive the formatted signal and for generating therefrom a one-dimensional first signal corresponding to a transform of the formatted signal; A/D converter means for digitizing the first signal; a corner-turn memory for digitally storing the digitized first signal in a time/frequency domain and including means for supplying readout of the stored signal as a second signal having a corner-turned format; D/A converter means coupled to the corner-turn memory for generating an analog frequency/time signal corresponding to the corner-turned second signal; second formatter means for formatting the frequency/ time signal; and second optical spectrum analyzer means for generating a two-dimensional frequency/frequency output signal from the formatted signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 12 having multiple input signals and further including: time multiplexing means for supplying to the summing means a time multiplexed input signal formed of the multiple input signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 12 having multiple input signals and further including: frequency multiplexing means including carrier signal means for supplying the combined signal from the formatter means to the optical spectrum analyzer means in frequency-shared format.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for processing an input signal of given bandwidth comprising: summing a phase reference signal with the input signal to preserve the phase relationship thereof in the frequency domain; modulating the summed signals onto a selected carrier signal; generating a one-dimensional time/frequency Fourier signal corresponding to a transform of the modulated carrier signal; storing the one-dimensional time/frequency signal over a selected time period; corner-turning the stored one-dimensional time/frequency signal to provide a one-dimensional frequency/time signal; generating a two-dimensional frequency/frequency output signal corresponding to a Fourier transform of the one-dimensional frequency/time signal.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for processing an input signal of given bandwidth comprising: summing a phase reference signal with the input signal to preserve the phase relationship thereof in the frequency domain; modulating the summed signals onto a selected carrier signal; generating a one-dimensional time/frequency Fourier signal corresponding to a transform of the modulated carrier signal; storing the one-dimensional time/frequency signal over a selected time period; corner-turning the stored one-dimensional time/frequency signal to provide a one-dimensional frequency/time signal; generating a two-dimensional frequency/frequency output signal corresponding to a Fourier transform of the one-dimensional frequency/time signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 15 including: generating a first Fourier transform of the modulated carrier signal; and generating a second Fourier transform of the one dimensional frequency/time signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 15 including: digitizing the one-dimensional time/frequency signal prior to storing it; and generating the corner-turned one-dimensional frequency/ time signal in an analog format.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 15 including: time-multiplexing a plurality of input signals having a total bandwidth equal to the given bandwidth to provide the input signal for summing with the phase reference signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 15 including: loading the one-dimensional time/frequency signal in a digital corner-turn memory along a first axis; and reading out the stored digital data along a second axis to provide the one-dimensional frequency/time signal.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for providing a two-dimensional frequency plane from an input signal using one-dimensional optical components, comprising: preserving the phase relationship of the input signal in the frequency domain; producing a one-dimensional time/frequency plane from the input signal; generating a one-dimensional frequency/time plane from the one-dimensional time/frequency plane; and producing a two-dimensional frequency/frequency plane from the one-dimensional frequency/time plane.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for providing a two-dimensional frequency plane from an input signal using one-dimensional optical components, comprising: preserving the phase relationship of the input signal in the frequency domain; producing a one-dimensional time/frequency plane from the input signal; generating a one-dimensional frequency/time plane from the one-dimensional time/frequency plane; and producing a two-dimensional frequency/frequency plane from the one-dimensional frequency/time plane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-06-26 | 1987-12-26 | 1988-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-06-26 | 1991-12-26 | 1992-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-06-26 | 1995-12-26 | 1996-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |