US5263046A
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Spread-spectrum chirp communication with sharply defined bandwidth
Assignee: Qualcomm Inc
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Filing: 1992-05-08
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Granted: 1993-11-16
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Expires: 2012-05-08
Abstract
Abstract Communication apparatus and method that includes generating a series of successive spread-spectrum chirp signals, which are progressively swept within a defined bandwidth. The chirps are divided into two frequency-swept portions, one beginning at an intermediate frequency within the bandwidth being swept to one end of the frequency range of the chirp, and a second beginning at the other end of the frequency range and being swept to the intermediate frequency. This has the effect of moving the frequency transition from the boundaries of the chirp to its center, with the result that the discontinuities introduced at the boundaries by phase reversals due to successive modulated chirps generate less out-of-band energy. In preferred embodiments, the full frequency range of the chirp is at least about two octaves (two doublings of frequency), and the intermediate frequency is at least about one octave (one doubling of frequency) from the either end of the range, whereby the one-half and double frequency components that result from phase reversals remain within the band. The method and apparatus may be used for communication over power lines.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Vander Mey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L27/00; H04L27/10; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/69; H04L27/103
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of chirp spread-spectrum communication comprising the steps of generating a series of swept-frequency chirp signals, in which frequency is swept within a defined bandwidth; modulating said chirp signals by reversing their phase, so that there are phase-reversed and non-phase-reversed chirp signals; concatenating the modulated chirp signals to form a transmitted signal; each chirp signal comprising two frequency-swept portions, a first portion in which frequency is progressively swept from an intermediate frequency within said defined bandwidth to a frequency at one end of said defined bandwidth, and a second portion following said first portion and in which frequency is progressively swept from a frequency at the other end of said defined bandwidth to said intermediate frequency, wherein within each chirp signal there is a transition in frequency from the frequency at one end of said defined bandwidth to the frequency at the other end of said defined bandwidth.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of chirp spread-spectrum communication comprising the steps of generating a series of swept-frequency chirp signals, in which frequency is swept within a defined bandwidth; modulating said chirp signals by reversing their phase, so that there are phase-reversed and non-phase-reversed chirp signals; concatenating the modulated chirp signals to form a transmitted signal; each chirp signal comprising two frequency-swept portions, a first portion in which frequency is progressively swept from an intermediate frequency within said defined bandwidth to a frequency at one end of said defined bandwidth, and a second portion following said first portion and in which frequency is progressively swept from a frequency at the other end of said defined bandwidth to said intermediate frequency, wherein within each chirp signal there is a transition in frequency from the frequency at one end of said defined bandwidth to the frequency at the other end of said defined bandwidth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said defined bandwidth spans at least about two frequency octaves and wherein said intermediate frequency is at least about one octave from each said end of said defined bandwidth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of smoothing the abruptness of frequency change at said frequency transitions regions to reduce the energy of frequency components outside of said defined bandwidth by comparison to the energy of those components for an abrupt frequency change.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 2 or 3 wherein said chirp signals are the product of a process comprising the steps of truncating the frequency spectrums resulting from a series of non-phase-reversed chirp signals and a series of repeatedly phase-reversed chirp signals, transforming the truncated spectrums into the time domain, averaging the resulting frequency-truncated chirp signals, and repeating the truncating, transforming, and averaging steps.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the result of said steps is a signal with the form defined by the values in Table 1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of transmitting said series of chirp signals over AC power lines.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said defined bandwidth spans from 100 KHz to 400 KHz.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said chirp signals have the form defined by the values in Table 2.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said defined bandwidth spans from 20 KHz to 80 KHz.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said chirp signals have a form as defined by the values in Table 2 adjusted for a 20 KHz to 80 KHz bandwidth.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 6 wherein two series of said chirp signals are transmitted simultaneously on an AC power line, one series of chirp signals having a said defined bandwidth spanning from 20 KHz to 80 KHz and the other series of chirp signals having a said defined bandwidth spanning from 100 KHz to 400 KHz.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said truncating, transforming, and averaging steps are repeated until the power level of components with a frequency 10 percent outside of the lower end of the defined badnwidth are more than 20 dB below the average power level within said defined bandwidth.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said truncating, transforming, and averaging steps are repeated until the power level of components with a frequency 10 percent outside of the higher end of the defined badnwidth are more than 30 dB below the average power level within said defined bandwidth.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, 2, or 3 further comprising the step of transmitting said series of chirp signals over AC power lines.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said defined bandwidth spans from 100 KHz to 400 KHz.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said chirp signals have the form defined by the values in Table 2.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said defined bandwidth spans from 20 KHz to 80 KHz.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said chirp signals have a form as defined by the values in Table 2 adjusted for a 20 KHz to 80 KHz bandwidth.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of chirp spread-spectrum communication comprising the steps of generating a series of spread-spectrum chirp signals; modulating said chirp signals by reversing their phase, so that there are phase-reversed and non-phase-reversed chirp signals; concatenating the modulated chirp signals to form a transmitted signal; each chirp signals comprising at least one frequency-swept portion in which frequency is progressively swept from a first frequency to a second frequency within a defined bandwidth, the concatenated series of chirp signals having frequency transition regions wherein the frequency sweep terminates and frequency shifts from said second frequency back to said first frequency; and smoothing the abruptness of frequency change at said frequency transition regions to reduce the energy of frequency components outside of said defined bandwidth by comparison to the energy of those components for an abrupt frequency change.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of chirp spread-spectrum communication comprising the steps of generating a series of spread-spectrum chirp signals; modulating said chirp signals by reversing their phase, so that there are phase-reversed and non-phase-reversed chirp signals; concatenating the modulated chirp signals to form a transmitted signal; each chirp signals comprising at least one frequency-swept portion in which frequency is progressively swept from a first frequency to a second frequency within a defined bandwidth, the concatenated series of chirp signals having frequency transition regions wherein the frequency sweep terminates and frequency shifts from said second frequency back to said first frequency; and smoothing the abruptness of frequency change at said frequency transition regions to reduce the energy of frequency components outside of said defined bandwidth by comparison to the energy of those components for an abrupt frequency change.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 19 wherein each said chirp signal has two said frequency-swept portions, a first portion in which said first frequency is an intermediate frequency within said defined bandwidth and said second frequency is the frequency at one end of said defined bandwidth, and a second portion in which said first frequency is the frequency at the other end of said defined bandwidth and said second frequency is said intermediate frequency, and wherein said frequency transition regions are located within said chirp signals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said chirp signals are the product of a process comprising the steps of truncating the frequency spectrums resulting from a series of non-phase-reversed chirp signals and a series of repeatedly phase-reversed chirp signals, transforming the truncated spectrums into the time domain, averaging the resulting frequency-truncated chirp signals, and repeating the truncating, transforming, and averaging steps.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the result of said steps is a signal with the form defined by the values of Table 1.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said smoothing reduces the energy of components outside of the defined bandwidth so that the power level of components 10 percent outside of the lower end of the defined bandwidth are more than 25 dB below the average power level within said defined bandwidth.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said smoothing reduces the energy of components outside of the defined bandwidth so that the power level of components 10 percent outside of the lower end of the defined bandwidth are more than 20 dB below the average power level within said defined bandwidth.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the power level of components 10 percent outside of the higher end of the defined bandwidth are more than 30 dB below the average power level within said bandwidth.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of transmitting said series of chirp signals over AC power lines.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said defined bandwidth spans from 100 KHz to 400 KHz.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said defined bandwidth spans from 20 Khz to 80 Khz.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 26 wherein two series of said chirp signals are transmitted simultaneously on an AC power line, one series of chirp signals having a said defined bandwidth spanning from 20 KHz to 80 KHz and the other series of chirp signals having a said defined bandwidth spanning from 100 KHz to 400 KHz.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 19 wherein each said chirp signal has a single said frequency-swept portion in which said first frequency is the frequency at one end of said defined bandwidth and said second frequency is the frequency at the other end of said defined bandwidth, and wherein said frequency transition regions occur at the boundaries between said chirp signals.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 30 or 20 wherein said smoothing comprises sweeping the frequency from said second frequency to said first frequency within a few oscillation periods.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of chirp spread-spectrum communication comprising the steps of generating a series of swept-frequency chirp signals, in which frequency is generally swept within a defined bandwidth; modulating said chirp signals by reversing their phase, so that there are phase-reversed and non-phase-reversed chirp signals; concatenating the modulated chirp signals to form a transmitted signal; the shape of said chirp signals being altered from that of a progressively swept waveform to reduce the energy of frequency components outside of said defined bandwidth, the resulting waveform being the product of a process comprising the steps of truncating the frequency spectrums resulting from a series of non-phase-reversed chirp signals and a series of repeatedly phase-reversed chirp signals, transforming the truncated spectrums into the time domain, averaging the resulting frequency-truncated chirp signals, and repeating the truncating, transforming, and averaging steps.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of chirp spread-spectrum communication comprising the steps of generating a series of swept-frequency chirp signals, in which frequency is generally swept within a defined bandwidth; modulating said chirp signals by reversing their phase, so that there are phase-reversed and non-phase-reversed chirp signals; concatenating the modulated chirp signals to form a transmitted signal; the shape of said chirp signals being altered from that of a progressively swept waveform to reduce the energy of frequency components outside of said defined bandwidth, the resulting waveform being the product of a process comprising the steps of truncating the frequency spectrums resulting from a series of non-phase-reversed chirp signals and a series of repeatedly phase-reversed chirp signals, transforming the truncated spectrums into the time domain, averaging the resulting frequency-truncated chirp signals, and repeating the truncating, transforming, and averaging steps.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the result of said steps is a signal having the form defined by the values in Table 1.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 32 or 33 further comprising the step of transmitting said series of chirp signals over AC power lines.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said defined bandwidth spans from 100 KHz to 400 KHz.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said defined bandwidth spans from 20 KHz to 80 KHz.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 34 wherein two series of said chirp signals are transmitted simultaneously on an AC power line, one series of chirp signals having a said defined bandwidth spanning from 20 KHz to 80 KHz and the other series of chirp signals having a said defined bandwidth spanning from 100 KHz to 400 KHz.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
156 words
A transmitter for use in chirp spread-spectrum communication, said transmitter comprising means for generating a series of swept-frequency chirp signals, in which frequency is swept within a defined bandwidth; means for modulating said chirp signals by reversing their phase, so that there are phase-reversed and non-phase-reversed chirp signals; means for concatenating the modulated chirp signals to form a transmitted signal; each chirp signal comprising two frequency-swept portions, a first portion in which frequency is progressively swept from an intermediate frequency within said defined bandwidth to a frequency at one end of said defined bandwidth, and a second portion following said first portion and in which frequency is progressively swept from a frequency at the other end of said defined bandwidth to said intermediate frequency, wherein within each chirp signal there is a transition in frequency from the frequency at one end of said defined bandwidth to the frequency at the other end of said defined bandwidth.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
156 words
A transmitter for use in chirp spread-spectrum communication, said transmitter comprising means for generating a series of swept-frequency chirp signals, in which frequency is swept within a defined bandwidth; means for modulating said chirp signals by reversing their phase, so that there are phase-reversed and non-phase-reversed chirp signals; means for concatenating the modulated chirp signals to form a transmitted signal; each chirp signal comprising two frequency-swept portions, a first portion in which frequency is progressively swept from an intermediate frequency within said defined bandwidth to a frequency at one end of said defined bandwidth, and a second portion following said first portion and in which frequency is progressively swept from a frequency at the other end of said defined bandwidth to said intermediate frequency, wherein within each chirp signal there is a transition in frequency from the frequency at one end of said defined bandwidth to the frequency at the other end of said defined bandwidth.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
35 words
The transmitter of claim 38 wherein said defined bandwidth spans at least about two frequency octaves and wherein said intermediate frequency is at least about one octave from each said end of said defined bandwidth.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
45 words
The transmitter of claim 39 further comprising means for smoothing the abruptness of frequency change at said frequency transitions regions to reduce the energy of frequency components outside of said defined bandwidth by comparison to the energy of those components for an abrupt frequency change.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
The transmitter of claim 38, 39, or 40 further comprising means for transmitting said series of chirp signals over AC power lines.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
16 words
The transmitter of claim 41 wherein said defined bandwidth spans from 100 KHz to 400 KHz.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The transmitter of claim 42 wherein said chirp signals have the form defined by the values in Table 2.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
16 words
The transmitter of claim 41 wherein said defined bandwidth spans from 20 KHz to 80 KHz.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
20 words
The transmitter of claim 44 wherein said chirp signals have a form as defined by the values in Table 2.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
58 words
The transmitter of claim 41 further comprising means for transmitting two series of said chirp signals simultaneoulsy on an AC power line, one series of chirp signals having a said defined bandwidth spanning from 20 KHz to 80 KHz and the other series of chirp signals having a said defined bandwidth spanning from 100 KHz to 400 KHz.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-11-15 | 1997-05-17 | 1997-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-15 | 2001-05-17 | 2001-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-15 | 2005-05-17 | 2005-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |