Channelized binary-level hop rate detector

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for channelizing includes: (2a) a plurality of band pass filters wherein each said band pass filter is allocated reception capability for a sub-band portion of the overall bandwidth (W).

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 wherein said upper group (B u ) of sub-bands permits signal/noise reception of the upper half of frequencies in the bandwidth (W) and said lower group of sub-bands permits signal/noise reception of the lower half of frequencies in the bandwidth (W).

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 where said means for estimating the signal power includes: (4b1) a plurality of squaring circuit means where each sub-band channel signal/noise is multiplied by itself to estimate its power value.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1 wherein said quantizer means includes: (5c1) a plurality of quantizer circuits providing a quantizer circuit unit for each channel wherein each quantizer unit functions to convert the power level into a binary level, each said quantizer circuit unit including: (5c1 a) a preset voltage threshold value (L th ) which only permits generation of a positive voltage when the channel signal power is greater than the threshold voltage.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 5 wherein said means for subtracting the totalized sum includes: (6d1) a first summation circuit unit for receiving and totalizing the output signals of each one of said quantizer units operating in the upper sub-bands (B u ); (6d2) a second summation circuit unit for receiving and totalizing the output signals of each one of said quantizer units operating in the lower sub-bands (B d ); (6d3) differential amplifier means for subtracting the output of said second summation circuit unit from the output of said first summation circuit unit to generate a first stage noise and direct sequence output.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 6 wherein said means for generating an output signal tone at the frequency hop rate includes: (7a1) means for diminishing the noise components and enhancing the direct sequence signal components.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 7 wherein said means for diminishing and enhancing includes: (8ea) capacitive coupling means to eliminate DC components in the signal/noise outputs; (8eb) low pass filter means for eliminating high frequency components; (8ec) delay-multiply circuitry means for generating an output signal tone at the frequency hop rate of the original signal transmitted.

Claim 10

The system of claim 1 wherein said means (e) for generating a hop rate signal tone includes: (e1) capacitor means for eliminating DC signal components; (e2) low pass filter means having a bandwidth which is 1/T h , where T h = the hop-dwell time period; (e3) delay and mix circuit means for multiplying the output signal of said low pass filter means by a time delayed copy of itself, said time delay being set to one-half of the hop-dwell period.

Claim 11

Apparatus for receiving a frequency-hopped signal comprising in combination: (a) means for receiving a broad band of frequency signals which encompass a frequency-hopped information signal sequence; (b) dividing means for channeling said frequency signals into a plurality of sub-bands wherein each sub-band carries a portion of said information signal sequence, said dividing means being split into an upper group and lower group of sub-bands; (c) a plurality of signal squaring circuits wherein each signal squaring circuit multiplies its portion of said information signal sequence by its own amplitude and transmits it to an associated quantizer circuit unit; (d) a plurality of quantizer circuit units where each quantizer circuit unit receives the particular power level estimate from its associated squaring circuit and matches it against a preset threshold level, whereupon, if the input signal exceeds the threshold level, the quantizer unit develops a positive voltage output, but a zero volt output if the threshold is not exceeded; (e) an upper summation circuit unit for adding up the outputs of each one of said upper group of quantizer circuit units to provide a first totality; (f) a lower summation circuit unit for adding up the outputs of each one of said lower group of quantizer circuit units to provide a second totality; (g) differential amplifier means for subtracting said second totality from said first totality and providing a difference signal to a low pass filter means; and (h) delay and multiply circuit means for receiving the output of said low pass filter means, and generating a final output signal representative of the frequency hop rate of the transmitted information signal.

Claim 12

Apparatus for receiving a frequency-hopped signal comprising in combination: (a) means for receiving a broad band of frequency signals which encompass a frequency-hopped information signal sequence; (b) dividing means for channeling said frequency signals into a plurality of sub-bands wherein each sub-band carries a portion of said information signal sequence, said dividing means being split into an upper group and lower group of sub-bands; (c) a plurality of signal squaring circuits wherein each signal squaring circuit multiplies its portion of said information signal sequence by its own amplitude and transmits it to an associated quantizer circuit unit; (d) a plurality of quantizer circuit units where each quantizer circuit unit receives the particular power level estimate from its associated squaring circuit and matches it against a preset threshold level, whereupon, if the input signal exceeds the threshold level, the quantizer unit develops a positive voltage output, but a zero volt output if the threshold is not exceeded; (e) an upper summation circuit unit for adding up the outputs of each one of said upper group of quantizer circuit units to provide a first totality; (f) a lower summation circuit unit for adding up the outputs of each one of said lower group of quantizer circuit units to provide a second totality; (g) differential amplifier means for subtracting said second totality from said first totality and providing a difference signal to a low pass filter means; and (h) delay and multiply circuit means for receiving the output of said low pass filter means, and generating a final output signal representative of the frequency hop rate of the transmitted information signal.

Claim 15

The method of claim 11 wherein step (h) includes the steps of: (h1) eliminating any DC signal components; (h2) filtering the remaining AC signal through a low pass filter; (h3) multiplying the remaining AC signal with a delayed copy of itself.