Fast locking mechanism for channelized ultrawide-band communications

A receiver for acquisition and lock of an impulse radio signal, comprising:

• an adjustable time base to output a sliding periodic timing signal having an adjustable repetition rate;
• a decode timing modulator to output a decode signal in response to said periodic timing signal;
• a cross correlator to cross correlate the impulse radio signal with said decode signal and output a baseband signal;
• first means for integrating T samples of said baseband signal to output an integration result, where T is an integer;
• a threshold detector to compare said integration result with a threshold value to output a channel coincidence signal;
• and
• a controller to determine whether channel coincidence has occurred using said channel coincidence signal, and
• if channel coincidence is detected, to output a constant rate-control signal to stop said periodic timing signal from sliding, otherwise,
• if channel coincidence was not detected, to adjust said periodic timing signal, wherein said means for integrating and said threshold detector continue to integrate and threshold detect successive trials of T pulses of said periodic timing signal until channel coincidence is detected.