US 5,517,528 A · Modulation method and apparatus for digital communications

Abstract

A method and apparatus for single signal, multiple channel digital information transfer through pulses with time slot allocation. The apparatus consists of one or more transmitting devices and one or more receiving devices. Multiple source signals are each allocated a unique time slot between successive synchronization pulses. Digital signals from each source are converted to positive analog information spikes which are combined in their respective time slot with a negative reference spike of uniform magnitude to form an information pulse. The total signal, which consists of successive synchronization pulses interspersed with information pulses for each signal source, each within its allocated time slot, is transmitted to the receivers. Each receiving device extracts the maximum information spike values and the reference spike values for one or more of the signal sources. The information spike values and the reference spike values are converted to digital and a comparison of the transmitted reference spike values with the received reference spike values is used to calibrate the received information spike values for each signal source.

Claims45

Dependent claims

An apparatus for digital information transfer comprising:

a) means for allocating one or more source digital signals to unique, repetitive time slots;
b) means for generating an analog information pulse for each said source digital signal, the magnitude of which is a function of the magnitude of the corresponding source digital signal as measured during the allocated time slot for the signal;
c) means for transmitting each of the analog information pulses within its allocated time slot;
d) means for generating and transmitting repetitive analog reference pulses, at least one reference pulse being generated and transmitted for each cycle of the time slots for the source digital signals;
e) means for receiving each of the analog information pulses within its allocated time slot and for receiving the repetitive analog reference pulses;
f) means for extracting an analog magnitude for each analog information pulse received during its allocated time slot and for extracting an analog magnitude for each reference pulse received;
and
g) means for generating output digital signals having digital magnitudes which are a function of said extracted analog magnitudes for the information pulses received, said digital magnitudes being calibrated by comparison of the magnitudes of the reference pulses as transmitted and the magnitudes of the reference pulses as received.

5 more elements

An apparatus for digital information transfer comprising:

a) means for generating synchronizing pulses of uniform wave form and frequency;
b) means for allocating one or more source digital signals to unique time slots between successive synchronizing pulses;
c) means for generating an analog information spike for each source digital signal, the magnitude of which is a function of the magnitude of the corresponding source digital signal as measured during the allocated time slot for the source digital signal;
d) means for generating an analog reference spike during the allocated time slot of each source digital signal, the time period of the reference spike being exclusive of the time period of the information spike;
e) means for combining the information spike and the reference spike as an analog information pulse for each source digital signal within the allocated time slot of the source digital signal;
f) means for transmitting the information pulse for each source digital signal;
g) means for receiving the information pulse for each source digital signal;
h) means for extracting analog magnitudes for the information spike and the reference spike portions of each information pulse received during the allocated time slot for each source digital signal as referenced to successive synchronization pulses;
i) means for generating digital signals having digital magnitudes which are a function of the extracted analog magnitudes for the information spike and the reference spike portions respectively of each information pulse received during the allocated time slot for each source digital signal;
j) means for calibrating the digital magnitude of the information spike portion of each information pulse received, by comparison of the digital magnitude of the reference spike portion of the information transmitted and the digital magnitude of the reference spike portion of the information pulse as received.

7 more elements

An apparatus for digital information transfer comprising:

a) a synchronization pulse generation circuit;
b) a circuit for allocating one or more source digital signals to unique time slots between successive synchronizing pulses;
c) one or more digital to analog convertors for generating an analog information spike for each source digital signal, the magnitude of which is a function of the magnitude of the corresponding source digital signal as measured during the allocated time slot for the source digital signal;
d) one or more wave form generators for generating an analog reference spike during the allocated time slot of each source digital signal, the time period of the reference spike being exclusive of the time period of the information spike;
e) one or more circuits for combining the information spike and the reference spike as an analog information pulse for each source digital signal within the allocated time slot of the source digital signal;
f) one or more transmitters for transmitting the information pulse for each source digital signal;
g) one or more receivers for receiving the information pulse for each source digital signal;
h) one or more circuits for extracting analog magnitudes for the information spike and the reference spike portions respectively of each information pulse received during the allocated time slot for each source digital signal as referenced to successive synchronization pulses;
i) one or more analog to digital convertors for generating digital signals having digital magitudes which are a function of the extracted analog magnitudes for the information spike and the reference spike portions respectively of each information pulse received during the allocated time slot for each source digital signal;
j) one or more circuits for calibrating the digital magnitude of the information spike portion of each information pulse received by comparison of the digital magnitude of the reference spike portion of the information pulse as transmitted and the digital magnitude of the reference spike portion of the information pulse as received.

7 more elements

An apparatus for digital information transfer comprising:

a) means for generating synchronizing pulses of uniform wave form and frequency;
b) means for transmitting said synchronizing pulses to one or more remote transmission locations;
c) means for receiving said synchronizing pulses at each remote transmission location;
d) means for allocating a source digital signal at each remote transmission location to a unique time slot between successive synchronizing pulses;
e) means for generating an analog information spike for each source digital signal, the magnitude of which is a function of the magnitude of the corresponding source digital signal as measured during the allocated time slot for the source digital signal;
f) means for generating an analog reference spike during the allocated time slot of each source digital signal, the time period of the reference spike being exclusive of the time period of the information spike;
g) means for combining the information spike and the reference spike as an analog information pulse for each source digital signal within the allocated time slot of the source digital signal;
h) means for transmitting the information pulse for each source digital signal from each remote transmission location;
i) means for receiving, at one or more locations, the information pulse for each source digital signal transmitted from each remote transmission location;
j) means for extracting analog magnitudes for the information spike and the reference spike portions respectively of each information pulse received, at one or more locations, during the allocated time slot for each source digital signal as referenced to successive synchronization pulses;
k) means for generating digital signals having digital magnitudes which are a function of the extracted analog magnitudes for the information spike and the reference spike portions respectively of each information pulse received during the allocated time slot for each source digital signal;
l) means for calibrating the digital magnitude of the information spike portion of each information pulse received by comparison of the digital magnitude of the reference spike portion of the information pulse as transmitted and the digital magnitude of the reference spike portion of the information pulse as received.

9 more elements

A method for digital information transfer comprising the steps of:

a) allocating one or more source digital signals to unique, repetitive time slots;
b) generating an analog information pulse for each said source digital signal, the magnitude of which is a function of the magnitude of the corresponding source digital signal as measured during the allocated time slot for the signal;
c) transmitting each of the information pulses within its allocated time slot;
d) generating and transmitting repetitive analog reference pulses, at least one reference pulse being generated and transmitted for each cycle of the time slots for the source digital signals;
e) receiving each of the information pulses within its allocated time slot and receiving each of the analog reference pulses;
f) extracting an analog magnitude for each information pulse received during its allocated time slot and extracting an analog magnitude for each reference pulse received;
and
g) generating output digital signals having digital magnitudes which are a function of said extracted analog magnitudes, said digital magnitudes being calibrated by comparison of the magnitudes of the reference pulses as transmitted and the magnitudes of the reference pulses as received.

5 more elements

A method for digital information transfer comprising the steps of:

a) generating synchronizing pulses of uniform wave form and frequency;
b) allocating one or more source digital signals to unique time slots between successive synchronizing pulses;
c) generating an analog information spike for each source digital signal, the magnitude of which is a function of the magnitude of the corresponding source digital signal as measured during the allocated time slot for the source digital signal;
d) generating an analog reference spike during the allocated time slot of each source digital signal, the time period of the reference spike being exclusive of the time period of the information spike;
e) combining the information spike and the reference spike as an analog information pulse for each source digital signal within the allocated time slot of the source digital signal;
f) transmitting the information pulse for each source digital signal;
g) receiving the information pulse for each source digital signal;
h) extracting analog magnitudes for the information spike and the reference spike portions respectively of each information pulse received during the allocated time slot for each source digital signal as referenced to successive synchronization pulses;
i) generating digital signals having digital magnitudes which are a function of the extracted analog magnitudes for the information spike and the reference spike portions respectively of each information pulse received during the allocated time slot for each source digital signal;
j) calibrating the digital magnitude of the information spike portion of each information pulse received by comparison of the digital magnitude of the reference spike portion of the information pulse as transmitted and the digital magnitude of the reference spike portion of the information pulse as received.

7 more elements

A method for digital information transfer comprising the steps of:

a) generating synchronizing pulses of uniform wave form and frequency;
b) transmitting said synchronizing pulses to one or more remote transmission locations;
c) receiving said synchronizing pulses at each remote transmission location;
d) allocating a source digital signal at each remote transmission location to a unique time slot between successive synchronizing pulses;
e) generating an analog information spike for each source digital signal, the magnitude of which is a function of the magnitude of the corresponding source digital signal as measured during the allocated time slot for the source digital signal;
f) generating an analog reference spike during the allocated time slot of each source digital signal, the time period of the reference spike being exclusive of the time period of the information spike;
g) combining the information spike and the reference spike as an analog information pulse for each source digital signal within the allocated time slot of the source digital signal;
h) transmitting the information pulse for each source digital signal from each remote transmission location;
i) receiving, at one or more locations, the information pulse for each source digital signal transmitted from each remote transmission location;
j) extracting analog magnitudes for the information spike and the reference spike portions respectively of each information pulse received, at one or more locations, during the allocated time slot for each source digital signal as referenced to successive synchronization pulses;
k) generating digital signals having digital magnitudes which are a function of the extracted analog magnitudes for the information spike and the reference spike portions respectively of each information pulse received during the allocated time slot for each source digital signal;
l) calibrating the digital magnitude of the information spike portion of each information pulse received by comparison of the digital magnitude of the reference spike portion of the information pulse as transmitted and the digital magnitude of the reference spike portion of the information pulse as received.

9 more elements

An apparatus for digital information transfer comprising:

a) a synchronization pulse generation circuit;
b) a circuit for allocating one or more source digital signals to allocated time slots between successive synchronization pulses;
c) two or more digital to analog convertors for simultaneously receiving, within allocated time slots, two or more source digital signals which are allocated the same time slot, and converting the signals to analog, thereby simultaneously generating an analog information signal for each of said two or more source digital signals, the magnitude of which analog information signals are a function of the magnitude of the corresponding source digital signals as measured during the allocated time slot for the source digital signals;
d) an adder to add the analog magnitudes of the simultaneously generated analog information signals within each allocated time slot to generate an analog information spike from the added analog information signals;
e) one or more wave form generators for generating an analog reference spike during the allocated time slot of each source digital signal, the time period of the reference spike being exclusive of the time period of the information spike;
f) one or more circuits for combining the information spike and the reference spike as an analog information pulse for each source digital signal within the allocated time slot of the source digital signal;
g) one or more transmitters for transmitting the information pulse for each source digital signal;
h) one or more receivers for receiving the information pulse for each source digital signal;
i) one or more circuits for extracting analog magnitudes for the information spike and the reference spike portions respectively of each information pulse received during the allocated time slot for each source digital signal as referenced to successive synchronization pulses;
j) one or more analog to digital convertors for generating digital signals having digital magnitudes which are a function of the extracted analog magnitudes for the information spike and the reference spike portions respectively of each information pulse received during the allocated time slot for each source digital signal;
k) one or more circuits for calibrating the digital magnitude of the information spike portion of each information pulse received by comparison of the digital magnitude of the reference spike portion of the information pulse as transmitted and the digital magnitude of the reference spike portion of the information pulse as received.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Modulation method and apparatus for digital communications

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Modulation method and apparatus for digital communications

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims45