Simplified frequency scheme for coherent transponders

Claim 2

A coherent transponder for a communications system, including a transmitter and a receiver operating at different frequencies, comprising: a first numerically controlled oscillator coupled to the receiver for controlling the operating frequency in at least a portion thereof; a second numerically controlled oscillator coupled to the transmitter for controlling the operating frequency in at least a portion thereof; a fixed frequency source; a means for comparing the controlled operating frequency of the receiver to a predetermined frequency derived from said fixed frequency source and providing a digital frequency control word representative of any error in the controlled operating frequency; means coupling clock signals from said fixed frequency source and the frequency control word to said first and second numerically controlled oscillators for controlling said first and second numerically controlled oscillators to provide the different operating frequencies in the transmitter and receiver while maintaining coherence.

Claim 3

A coherent transponder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first numerically controlled oscillator is coupled to the receiver through a single-side-band modulator and the second numerically controlled oscillator is coupled to the transmitter through a second single-side band modulator.

Claim 4

A coherent transponder as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of the single-sideband modulators receives a fixed frequency signal from a phase-locked loop in which the fixed frequency source supplies a reference frequency.

Claim 5

A coherent transponder as claimed in claim 3 wherein the receiver further includes a first mixer having received signals coupled thereto and local oscillator signals coupled thereto from the phase-locked loop.

Claim 6

A coherent transponder as claimed in claim 3 wherein the transmitter further includes a final mixer having a local oscillator signal coupled thereto from the phase-locked loop.

Claim 7

A coherent transponder as claimed in claim 3 wherein an input and an output of the second single-sideband modulator are coupled into the phase-locked loop and the phase-locked loop operate as a transmitter oscillator.

Claim 8

A coherent transponder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fixed frequency source includes a temperature stable crystal oscillator.

Claim 9

A coherent transponder for a communications system comprising: a receiver including first, second, third and fourth combining circuits and a numerically controlled oscillator; a transmitter transmitting signals different in frequency and coherent with signals received by said receiver and including a phase-locked loop, a combining circuit and a numerically controlled oscillator; a fixed frequency source coupled to supply signals to said receiver and transmitter numerically controlled oscillators and to said phase-locked loop; a digital processor coupled to receive an output signal from the receiver third combining circuit and convert the output signal to a digital frequency control word which is coupled to each of the receiver and transmitter numerically controlled oscillators; said receiver first combining circuit having a first input coupled to a receiver input, a second input coupled to an output of said transmitter phase-locked loop and an output, said receiver fourth combining circuit having a first input coupled to an output of said receiver numerically controlled oscillator, a second input coupled to an output of said transmitter phase-locked loop and an output coupled to a first input of said receiver second combining circuit, said output of said receiver first combining circuit being coupled to a second input of said receiver second combinig circuit, an output of said receiver second combining circuit being coupled to a first input of said receiver third combining circuit and a second input of said receiver third combing circuit being coupled to said fixed frequency source; and said transmitter numerically controlled oscillator being coupled to a first input of said transmitter combining circuit, a second input of said transmitter combining circuit being coupled to said phase-locked loop and the phase-locked loop operating as an oscillator of the transmitter.

Claim 10

A coherent transponder for a communications system comprising: a receiver including first, second, third and fourth combining circuits and a numerically controlled oscillator; a transmitter transmitting signals different in frequency and coherent with signals received by said receiver and including a phase-locked loop, a combining circuit and a numerically controlled oscillator; a fixed frequency source coupled to supply signals to said receiver and transmitter numerically controlled oscillators and to said phase-locked loop; a digital processor coupled to receive an output signal from the receiver third combining circuit and convert the output signal to a digital frequency control word which is coupled to each of the receiver and transmitter numerically controlled oscillators; said receiver first combining circuit having a first input coupled to a receiver input, a second input coupled to an output of said transmitter phase-locked loop and an output, said receiver fourth combining circuit having a first input coupled to an output of said receiver numerically controlled oscillator, a second input coupled to an output of said transmitter phase-locked loop and an output coupled to a first input of said receiver second combining circuit, said output of said receiver first combining circuit being coupled to a second input of said receiver second combinig circuit, an output of said receiver second combining circuit being coupled to a first input of said receiver third combining circuit and a second input of said receiver third combing circuit being coupled to said fixed frequency source; and said transmitter numerically controlled oscillator being coupled to a first input of said transmitter combining circuit, a second input of said transmitter combining circuit being coupled to said phase-locked loop and the phase-locked loop operating as an oscillator of the transmitter.

Claim 11

A coherent transponder as claimed in claim 8 wherein the fourth combining circuit of the receiver and the combining circuit of the transmitter each comprising a single-sideband modulator.