US 10,763,587 B2Granted

Microwave reflector link, and CDMA-spread spectrum reflector apparatus for reduction of unmodulated ambient blockers in reflected data links

AssigneesThe Regents of the University of California, California Institute of Technology

InventorsMau-Chung Frank Chang, Yanghyo Kim, Adrian Tang, Nacer Chahat

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Abstract

A system, apparatus and method are disclosed for communicating between a short range wireless (WLAN) user device, such as a wearable, phone, or tablet, with a base station. Traditional low power communication (e.g., WLAN, WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular links, etc.) involve an inefficient amplification process of a signal from the WLAN user to the base station, whereby significant power must be expended in the WLAN user device making it unsuitable in many applications. A reflector link paradigm is disclosed in which the user device communicates by modulating the extent of signal reflected back to the base station. An enhanced reflector is also disclosed which overcomes adverse effects of ambient reflections.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A spread spectrum reflector apparatus for reducing unmodulated ambient blockers in reflected data links, the apparatus comprising:

(a) an antenna input;
(b) a reflector switch coupled to the antenna input, the reflector switch configured for modulating a termination state of said antenna input so that an input signal is reflected with different amounts of phase change depending on said termination state;
and
(c) a spreading code source having the same spreading code as in the input signal received at the antenna input;
(d) wherein said reflector switch is continuously modulated with code from said spreading code source;
(e) wherein said reflector apparatus performs de-spreading of an input signal received at the antenna input to occur at the reflector switch;
(f) wherein said reflector apparatus reflects a signal that is a de-spread continuous sine wave;
and
(g) wherein said reflector switch is continuously modulated with code from said spreading code source in response to a multiplexer having a first code input coupled to said spreading code source and a second code input coupled to said spreading code source through an inverter.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/407,170Filed 16 Jan 2017 · continuation
Priority: 17 Jul 2014
Published: US 2017/0194713 A16 Jul 2017
Granted: 1 Sep 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

H01Q 15/14
Devices for reflection, refraction, diffraction or polarisation of waves radiated from an antenna, e.g. quasi-optical devices: reflecting…
H01Q 1/2291
By structural association with other equipment or articles: used in Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi® devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN]
H01Q 1/246
Used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM: specially adapted for base stations
H01Q 1/273
Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies: adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals

Family

Application62/025,788Us provisional application · filed 17 Jul 2014
Application62/066,838Us provisional application · filed 21 Oct 2014
PCT/US2015/041021Parent of this continuation · filed 17 Jul 2015
US 2017/0194713 A1Pre-grant publication · published 6 Jul 2017
US 10,763,587 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.