IP Library Granted Patent US 6,934,034
Granted Patent B2
US 6,934,034 · App. 10/634,251 · Granted Aug 23, 2005

Sensor array induced phase angle calculation based on mixed signals

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,934,034
App. No.
10/634,251
Granted
Aug 23, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sensor array employs a parameter to induce a time-varying phase angle φ on an optical signal that comprises a phase generated carrier based on a single frequency. The time-varying phase angle φ is calculated through employment of a plurality of samples obtained approximately at a time t s , where the plurality of samples are based on a plurality of mixed signals output from a mixer component that employs an input signal based on the optical signal of the sensory array.

Claims (915)

1. A method, a sensor array that employs a parameter to induce a time-varying phase angle φ on an optical signal that comprises a phase generated carrier based on a single frequency, the method comprising the step of:

calculating the time-varying phase angle φ through employment of a plurality of samples obtained approximately at a time t s , wherein the plurality of samples are based on a plurality of mixed signals output from a mixer component that employs an input signal based on the optical signal of the sensor array.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating the time-varying phase angle φ through employment of the plurality of samples obtained approximately at the time t s comprises the steps of:

mixing the input signal with one or more sinusoidal signals to create the plurality of mixed signals;

filtering the plurality of mixed signals to create a plurality of filtered signals;

sampling the plurality of filtered signals at the time t s to obtain the plurality of samples; and

calculating the time-varying phase angle φ through employment of the plurality of samples.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of mixing the input signal with the one or more sinusoidal signals to create the plurality of mixed signals comprises the steps of:

mixing the input signal with a sinusoidal signal I s (t)=sin [4πf(t+t 0 )] to create a mixed signal M is (t, φ);

mixing the input signal with a sinusoidal signal I c (t)=cos [4πf(t+t 0 )] to create a mixed signal M ic (t, φ);

mixing the input signal with a sinusoidal signal Q s (t)=sin [2πf(t+t 0 )] to create a mixed signal M qs (t, φ); and

mixing the input signal with a sinusoidal signal Q c (t)=cos [2πf(t+t 0 )] to create a mixed signal M qc (t, φ).

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the phase generated carrier comprises a modulation depth M, wherein the input signal comprises an interference term signal level B, wherein a function J 1 (M) comprises a first order Bessel function, wherein a function J 2 (M) comprises a second order Bessel function, wherein the step of filtering the plurality of mixed signals to create the plurality of filtered signals comprises the steps of:

filtering the mixed signal M is (t, φ) to create a filtered signal:

F

is

(

t

,

φ

)

=

0

t

h

(

t

-

v

)

·

S

(

v

,

φ

)

·

I

s

(

v

)

·

env

(

v

)

·

v

;

filtering the mixed signal M ic (t, φ) to create a filtered signal:

F

ic

(

t

,

φ

)

=

0

t

h

(

t

-

v

)

·

S

(

v

,

φ

)

·

I

c

(

v

)

·

env

(

v

)

·

v

;

filtering the mixed signal M qs (t, φ) to create a filtered signal:

F

qs

(

t

,

φ

)

=

0

t

h

(

t

-

v

)

·

S

(

v

,

φ

)

·

Q

s

(

v

)

·

env

(

v

)

·

v

;

and

filtering the mixed signal M qc (t, φ) to create a filtered signal:

F

qc

(

t

,

φ

)

=

0

t

h

(

t

-

v

)

·

S

(

v

,

φ

)

·

Q

c

(

v

)

·

env

(

v

)

·

v

.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:

calculating an in-phase term:

I

mag

(

t

s

,

φ

)

=

F

ic

(

t

s

,

φ

)

2

+

F

i

s

(

t

s

,

φ

)

2

cos

φ

;

calculating a quadrature term:

Q

mag

(

t

s

,

φ

)

=

F

qc

(

t

s

,

φ

)

2

+

F

qs

(

t

s

,

φ

)

2

sin

φ

;

and

calculating the time-varying phase angle φ through employment of the in-phase term I mag (t s , φ) and the quadrature term Q mag (t s , φ).

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising the steps of:

determining a sign of an in-phase term I(t, φ), wherein the in-phase term I(t, φ) comprises a magnitude equal to the in-phase term I mag (t, φ); and

determining a sign of a quadrature term Q(t, φ), wherein the quadrature term Q(t, φ) comprises a magnitude equal to the quadrature term Q mag (t, φ).

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of determining the sign of the in-phase term I(t, φ) comprises the step of:

determining the sign of the in-phase term I(t, φ) to be equal to a sign of the filtered signal F ic (t, φ) or F is (t, φ) with a largest magnitude;

wherein the step of determining the sign of the quadrature term Q(t, φ) comprises the step of:

determining the sign of the quadrature term Q(t, φ) to be equal to a sign of the filtered signal F qc (t, φ) or F qs (t, φ) with a largest magnitude.

8. An apparatus, a sensor array that employs a parameter to induce a time-varying phase angle φ on an optical signal that comprises a phase generated carrier based on a single frequency, the apparatus comprising:

a processor component that calculates the time-varying phase angle φ through employment of a plurality of samples obtained approximately at a time t s , wherein the plurality of samples are based on a plurality of mixed signals output from a mixer component that employs an input signal based on the optical signal of the sensor array.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in combination with the mixer component,

wherein the mixer component mixes the input signal with one or more sinusoidal signals from an oscillator component to create the plurality of mixed signals;

wherein the mixer component sends the plurality of mixed signals through a filter component to create a plurality of filtered signals;

wherein the processor component calculates the time-varying phase angle φ through employment of the plurality of samples based on the plurality of filtered signals.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the one or more sinusoidal signals comprise signals:

I s ( t )=sin [4 πf ( t+t 0 )], I c ( t )=cos [4 πf ( t+t 0 )]; and

Q s ( t )=sin [2 πf ( t+t 0 )], Q c ( t )=cos [2 πf ( t+t 0 )];

wherein the mixer component mixes the sinusoidal signals I s (t), I c (t), Q s (t), and Q c (t) with the input signal to create the plurality of mixed signals:

M is (t, φ), M ic (t, φ), M qs (t, φ), and M qc (t, φ).

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the phase generated carrier comprises a modulation depth M, wherein the input signal comprises an interference term signal level B, wherein a function J 1 (M) comprises a first order Bessel function, wherein a function J 2 (M) comprises a second order Bessel function;

wherein the mixer component sends the plurality of mixed signals M is (t, φ), M ic (t, φ), M qs (t, φ), and M qc (t, φ) through the filter component to create the plurality of filtered signals:

F

qs

(

t

,

φ

)

=

0

t

h

(

t

-

v

)

·

S

(

v

,

φ

)

·

Q

s

(

v

)

·

env

(

v

)

·

v

,

F

qc

(

t

,

φ

)

=

0

t

h

(

t

-

v

)

·

S

(

v

,

φ

)

·

Q

c

(

v

)

·

env

(

v

)

·

v

,

F

i

s

(

t

,

φ

)

=

0

t

h

(

t

-

v

)

·

S

(

v

,

φ

)

·

I

s

(

v

)

·

env

(

v

)

·

v

,

and

F

i

c

(

t

,

φ

)

=

0

t

h

(

t

-

v

)

·

S

(

v

,

φ

)

·

I

c

(

v

)

·

env

(

v

)

·

v

.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 in combination with the filter component, wherein the filter component comprises a Gaussian low-pass filter, a fourth order Bessel filter, or a fourth order real pole filter.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor component employs the filtered signals F is and F ic to calculate an in-phase term:

I

mag

(

t

s

,

φ

)

=

F

i

c

(

t

s

,

φ

)

2

+

F

i

s

(

t

s

,

φ

)

2

cos

φ

;

wherein the processor component calculates a quadrature term:

Q

mag

(

t

s

,

φ

)

=

F

q

c

(

t

s

,

φ

)

2

+

F

q

s

(

t

s

,

φ

)

2

sin

φ

;

wherein the processor component employs the in-phase term I mag (t, φ) and the quadrature term Q mag (t, φ) to calculate the time-varying phase angle φ.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the processor component employs the filtered signals F ic (t, φ) and F is (t, φ) to determine a sign of an in-phase term I(t, φ), wherein the in-phase term I(t, φ) comprises a magnitude equal to the in-phase term I mag (t, φ);

wherein the processor component employs the filtered signals F qs (t, φ) and F qc (t, φ) to determine a sign of a quadrature term Q(t, φ), wherein the quadrature term Q(t, φ) comprises a magnitude equal to the quadrature term Q mag (t, φ).

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the processor component determines the sign of the in-phase term I(t, φ) to be equal to a sign of the filtered signal F ic (t, φ) or F is (t, φ) with a largest magnitude;

wherein the processor component determines the sign of the quadrature term Q(t, φ) to be equal to a sign of the filtered signal F qc (t, φ) or F qs (t, φ) with a largest magnitude.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the in-phase term I(t, φ) and the quadrature term Q(t, φ) comprise respective pulses centered near t s ;

wherein the processor component calculates the time-varying phase angle φ:

φ

=

arc

tan

(

Q

(

t

s

,

φ

)

I

(

t

s

,

φ

)

)

.

17. An article, a sensor array that employs a parameter to induce a time-varying phase angle φ on an optical signal that comprises a phase generated carrier based on a single frequency, the article comprising:

one or more computer-readable signal-bearing media; and

means in the one or more media for calculating the time-varying phase angle φ through employment of a plurality of samples obtained approximately at a time t s , wherein the plurality of samples are based on a plurality of mixed signals output from a mixer component that employs an input signal based on the optical signal of the sensor array.

18. The article of claim 17 , wherein the means in the one or more media for calculating the time-varying phase angle φ through employment of the plurality of samples obtained at the time t s comprises:

means in the one or more media for mixing the input signal with one or more sinusoidal signals to create the plurality of mixed signals;

means in the one or more media for filtering the plurality of mixed signals to create a plurality of filtered signals;

means in the one or more media for sampling the plurality of filtered signals to obtain the plurality of samples; and

means in the one or more media for calculating the time-varying phase angle φ through employment of the plurality of samples.

19. The article of claim 18 , wherein the means in the one or more media for mixing the input signal with the one or more sinusoidal signals to create the plurality of mixed signals comprises:

means in the one or more media for mixing the input signal with a sinusoidal signal I s (t)=sin [4πf(t+t 0 )] to create a mixed signal M is (t, φ);

means in the one or more media for mixing the input signal with a sinusoidal signal I c (t)=cos [4πf(t+t 0 )] to create a mixed signal M ic (t, φ);

means in the one or more media for mixing the input signal with a sinusoidal signal Q s (t)=sin [2πf(t+t 0 )] to create a mixed signal M qs (t, φ); and

means in the one or more media for mixing the input signal with a sinusoidal signal Q s (t)=cos [2πf(t+t 0 )] to create a mixed signal M qc (t, φ).

20. The article of claim 18 , wherein the phase generated carrier comprises a modulation depth M, wherein the input signal comprises an interference term signal level B, wherein a function J 1 (M) comprises a first order Bessel function, wherein a function J 2 (M) comprises a second order Bessel function, wherein the means in the one or more media for filtering the plurality of mixed signals to create the plurality of filtered signals comprises:

means in the one or more media for filtering the mixed signal M is (t, φ) to create a filtered signal

F

i

s

(

t

,

φ

)

=

0

t

h

(

t

-

v

)

·

S

(

v

,

φ

)

·

I

s

(

v

)

·

env

(

v

)

·

v

;

means in the one or more media for filtering the mixed signal M ic (t, φ) to create a filtered signal

F

ic

(

t

,

φ

)

=

0

t

h

(

t

-

v

)

·

S

(

v

,

φ

)

·

I

c

(

v

)

·

env

(

v

)

·

v

;

means in the one or more media for filtering the mixed signal M qs (t, φ) to create a filtered signal

F

qs

(

t

,

φ

)

=

0

t

h

(

t

-

v

)

·

S

(

v

,

φ

)

·

Q

s

(

v

)

·

env

(

v

)

·

v

;

and

means in the one or more media for filtering the mixed signal M qc (t, φ) to create a filtered signal

F

qc

(

t

,

φ

)

=

0

t

h

(

t

-

v

)

·

S

(

v

,

φ

)

·

Q

c

(

v

)

·

env

(

v

)

·

v

.

21. The article of claim 20 , further comprising:

means in the one or more media for calculating an in-phase term:

I

mag

(

t

s

,

φ

)

=

F

ic

(

t

s

,

φ

)

2

+

F

is

(

t

s

,

φ

)

2

cos

φ

;

means in the one or more media for calculating a quadrature term:

Q

mag

(

t

s

,

φ

)

=

F

qc

(

t

s

,

φ

)

2

+

F

qs

(

t

s

,

φ

)

2

sin

φ

;

and

means in the one or more media for calculating the time-varying phase angle φ through employment of the in-phase term I mag (t, φ) and the quadrature term Q mag (t, φ).

22. The article of claim 21 , further comprising:

means in the one or more media for determining a sign of an in-phase term I(t, φ) to be equal to a sign of the filtered signal F ic (t, φ) or F is (t, φ) with a largest magnitude; and

means in the one or more media for determining a sign of a quadrature term Q(t, φ) to be equal to a sign of the filtered signal F qc (t, φ) or F qs (t, φ) with a largest magnitude.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 7, 2011
From: NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025597/0505 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2006
From: NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
To: LITTON SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 018148/0388 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2003
From: HALL, DAVID B.
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014378/0861 →