Time domain radio transmission system
A time domain communications system wherein a broadband of time-spaced signals, essentially monocycle-like signals, are derived from applying stepped-in-amplitude signals to a broadband antenna, in this case, a reverse bicone antenna. When received, the thus transmitted signals are multiplied by a D.C. replica of each transmitted signal, and thereafter, they are, successively, short time and long time integrated to achieve detection.
1 . A time domain directional antenna system, comprising:
an array of end-fire units, each of said end-fire units including a plurality of antennas, each of said plurality of antennas arranged in parallel to, and in line with, the other of said plurality of antennas within said end-fire unit; and
a timing control apparatus for controlling at least one of the timing of the transmitting of each antenna of said plurality of antennas of each said end-fire unit or the combining of signals received by each antenna of said plurality of antennas of each said end-fire unit.
2 . The time domain directional antenna system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a wideband burst signal source that applies a separate wideband burst signal of a plurality of wideband burst signals to each antenna of said plurality of antennas of each said end-fire unit for transmitting as controlled by said timing control apparatus.
3 . The time domain directional antenna system of claim 2 , wherein said wideband burst signal source comprises a plurality of switches, a separate switch of said plurality of switches being located at corresponding antennas of said plurality of antennas of each said end-fire unit.
4 . The time domain directional antenna system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a received signal combiner that combines said signals received by each antenna of said each antenna of said plurality of antennas of each said end-fire unit as controlled by said timing control apparatus.
5 . The time domain directional antenna system of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of antennas includes two triangular antenna elements arranged such that respective bases of said two triangular antenna elements are adjacent to one another.
6 . The time domain directional antenna system of claim 1 , wherein said timing control apparatus comprises at least one of timing control circuitry or delay lines.
7 . The time domain directional antenna system of claim 1 , wherein said timing control apparatus operates without reference to a carrier frequency of a transmitted or received signal.
8 . The time domain directional antenna system of claim 1 , wherein said timing control apparatus controls at least one of the timing of the transmitting of each antenna of said plurality of antennas of each said end-fire unit or the combining of signals received by each antenna of said plurality of antennas of each said end-fire unit to effect beam steering.
9 . The time domain directional antenna system of claim 1 , wherein said array of end-fire units is arranged in front of a common reflector.
10 . The time domain directional antenna system of claim 1 , wherein an absorber is positioned behind said array of end-fire units.
11 . A method of time domain directional antenna control, comprising:
interfacing a timing control apparatus with an array of end-fire units, each of said end-fire units including a plurality of antennas, each of said plurality of antennas arranged in parallel to, and in line with, the other of said plurality of antennas within said end-fire unit; and
controlling, using said timing control apparatus, at least one of the timing of the transmitting of each antenna of said plurality of antennas of each said end-fire unit or the combining of signals received by each antenna of said plurality of antennas of each said end-fire unit.
12 . The method of time domain directional antenna control of claim 11 , further comprising:
transmitting wideband burst signals from each antenna of said plurality of antennas of each said end-fire unit as controlled by said timing control apparatus.
13 . The method of time domain directional antenna control of claim 12 , wherein each said wideband burst signal is produced using a separate switch of a plurality of switches located at corresponding antennas of said plurality of antennas of each said end-fire unit.
14 . The method of time domain directional antenna control of claim 11 , further comprising:
combining said signals received by each antenna of said each antenna of said plurality of antennas of each said end-fire unit as controlled by said timing control apparatus.
15 . The method of time domain directional antenna control of claim 11 , wherein each of said plurality of antennas includes two triangular antenna elements arranged such that respective bases of said two triangular antenna elements are adjacent to one another.
16 . The method of time domain directional antenna control of claim 11 , wherein said timing control apparatus comprises at least one of timing control circuitry or delay lines.
17 . The method of time domain directional antenna control of claim 11 , wherein said timing control apparatus operates without reference to a carrier frequency of a transmitted or received signal.
18 . The method of time domain directional antenna control of claim 11 , wherein said timing control apparatus controls at least one of the timing of the transmitting of each antenna of said plurality of antennas of each said end-fire unit or the combining of signals received by each antenna of said plurality of antennas of each said end-fire unit to effect beam steering.
19 . The method of time domain directional antenna control of claim 11 , wherein said array of end-fire units is arranged in front of a common reflector.
20 . The method of time domain directional antenna control of claim 11 , wherein an absorber is positioned behind said array of end-fire units.