Method and device for correlating a signal, in particular an ultra wideband signal

A method of processing a signal comprising:

• receiving the signal, a waveform of the signal varying according to a distance from which the signal was emitted;
• a first processing of the signal to provide a sampled signal;
• defining a plurality of correlation signals corresponding respectively to at least part of a plurality of sampled waveforms of the signal respectively emitted from distances of different values so that a sum of a maxima of intercorrelations performed respectively between the correlation signals and the sampled waveforms is substantially constant over an interval including the values of the distances;
• and
• a correlation processing of the sampled signal to provide correlation values, and comprising
• a plurality of elementary correlation processings respectively performed with the correlation signals and each delivering initial correlation values, and
• a summation of the initial correlation values respectively delivered by the elementary correlation processings to obtain the correlation values.

A device for processing a signal, comprising:

• an input to receive the signal;
• a first processor coupled to the input to provide a sampled signal;
• a memory to store a plurality of correlation signals corresponding respectively to at least part of a plurality of sampled waveforms of the signal respectively emitted at distances of different values so that a sum of the maxima of intercorrelations respectively performed between the correlation signals and the sampled waveforms is substantially constant over an interval including the values of the distances;
• a correlation processor coupled to the first processor to provide correlation values, and comprising
• a plurality of elementary processors able to respectively perform elementary correlation processings with the correlation signals and to each deliver initial correlation values, and
• a summation unit connected to receive the initial correlation values on outputs of the elementary processors and to provide the correlation values.

A wireless communications receiver comprising:

• an antenna to receive a signal;
• and
• a device for processing the signal, and comprising
• an input coupled to the antenna,
• a first processor coupled to the input to provide a sampled signal,
• a memory to store a plurality of correlation signals corresponding respectively to at least part of a plurality of sampled waveforms of the signal respectively emitted at distances of different values so that a sum of the maxima of intercorrelations respectively performed between the correlation signals and the sampled waveforms is substantially constant over an interval including the values of the distances,
• a correlation processor coupled to the first processor to provide correlation values, and comprising
• a plurality of elementary processors able to respectively perform elementary correlation processings with the correlation signals and to each deliver initial correlation values, and
• a summation unit connected to receive the initial correlation values on outputs of the elementary processors and to provide the correlation values.