Abstract:
Device and method in a frequency hopping spread spectrum wireless communication system allow reception without the need to lock in synchronous steps with the frequency hopping channels. The transmitter will operate in the frequency hopping mode while the receiver operate in a frequency sweeping mode. The receiver has an IF pass band that effectively sweeps rapidly across the frequency hopping channels to intercept the active channel in the transmission spectrum. A less expensive radio could be manufactured while eliminating the complex receiver synchronization in the conventional frequency hopping scheme.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to wireless Radio Frequency telecommunication and, in particular, to non-synchronous reception of frequency hopping spread spectrum transmission by acquisition through rapid sweeping of the transmission spectrum.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Communication via radio frequency (“RF”) devices is regulated by national and international regulatory agencies in order to ensure maximum utilization of limited spectral resources and to minimize interference. In the United States of America, the Federal Communication Commission (“FCC”) regulates and licenses specific portions of radio frequency spectrum or bands for broadcast and other forms of RF communication.  
           [0003]    A number of bands have been set aside for “Industrial Scientific and Medical” use, or the (“ISM”) bands by the FCC. Utilization of these bands are unlicensed but is regulated by the FCC. For example, the 900 MHz band is used by a number of consumer wireless devices, physical layer operate in 2.4 GHz. Another unlicensed band is at 5.9 GHz.  
           [0004]    The FCC regulation governing these ISM bands are documented in “Operation with the bands 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz and 5725-5875 MHz”, Title 47 Part 15 Section 247) Code of Federal Regulations (47 CFR 15.247). The regulation stipulates the operation of either a frequency hopping or direct sequence spread spectrum intentional radiators. The regulation is based on consideration of reusing the same bands in multiple locations. Hence, transmissions in these bands are necessarily limited to low power applications, yet with high rejection of noise. When implementing with spread spectrum schemes the regulation specifies specific power spectrum density that must be adhered to.  
           [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 illustrates a frequency hopping spread spectrum scheme in which a transmission band is partitioned into multiple channels. The transmission spectrum is delimited by a lowest frequency f 1  and a highest frequency f 2 . If the transmission spectrum is partitioned into N channels, each channel will have a bandwidth of Δf c =(f 2 -f 1 )/N.  
           [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2A shows a conventional frequency hopping spread spectrum communication system having a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter transmits data through a pseudo-random sequence of channels in time. A local oscillator in the form of a voltage-controlled oscillator generates the carrier frequency band of a given channel. The VCO puts out a given channel at a time according to a sequence of predetermined pseudo-random numbers. In this way, the transmitter transmits equally on average over all the different channels in the transmission spectrum. The data is then said to be spread over the transmission spectrum even though at any one time it is confined to one of the channels.  
           [0007]    The receiver includes a synchronization circuit that essentially helps tune into the current transmitting channel and the tuning must hop in synchronization with the transmission.  
           [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2B illustrates the frequency hopping synchronization of channels between the transmitter and the receiver of FIG. 2A. Various schemes exist for synchronization. For example, a protocol provides a one-way hand-shaking to allow the receiver to lock into steps with the same pseudo-random sequence of the hopping transmitter. Another scheme allows the overheads in the transmission to tell the receiver where the next channel will be.  
           [0009]    The conventional frequency hopping system has the transmission and reception synchronously spread over different narrow band channels at different times. This provides a communication system with high signal to noise ratio and low interference.  
           [0010]    However, the need for synchronization of the receiver to the transmitter in a conventional frequency hopping system increases complexity and the need for higher precision in both the receiver and the transmitter. This results in more complicated and more expensive equipment and operation  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0011]    It is desirable to have a frequency hopping system without the need to synchronize the receiver with the transmitter.  
           [0012]    It is also desirable to have a receiver that can receive from a frequency hopping transmitter without the need to synchronize with it.  
           [0013]    A communication system with such advantages and objectives is accomplished by having the transmitter operating in a frequency hopping mode while the receiver operate in a frequency sweeping mode. The transmitter transmits by hopping from channel to channel selected pseudo-randomly from a plurality of such channels that span a given transmission spectrum. The receiver has a reception passband with a bandwidth commensurate with the bandwidth of the channel. The receiver effectively sweeps the transmission spectrum relative to the reception passband at a sufficient rate to capture the modulated signal carried in the received channels. Data is then extracted from the acquired modulated signal.  
           [0014]    This scheme renders unnecessary the need for the receiver to lock in synchronous steps with the frequency hopping channels. A less expensive radio could be manufactured while eliminating the complex receiver synchronization in the conventional frequency hopping scheme.  
           [0015]    Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the following description of its preferred embodiments, which description should be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 illustrates a frequency hopping spread spectrum scheme in which a transmission band is partitioned into multiple channels.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2A shows a conventional frequency hopping spread spectrum communication system having a transmitter and a receiver.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2B illustrates the frequency hopping synchronization of channels between the transmitter and the receiver of FIG. 2A.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3A illustrates schematically a frequency hopping spread spectrum system according to a general embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3B illustrates the spectral activity of the transmitter and the receiver shown in FIG. 3A.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4A illustrates the frequency scheme of the receiver.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4B illustrates the transmission spectrum in which the transmitter operates.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a more detailed schematic diagram of the frequency hopping transmitter shown in FIG. 3A, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a more detailed schematic diagram of the frequency sweeping receiver shown in FIG. 3A, according to a preferred embodiment of present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating the radio communication of transmitting in frequency hopping mode and receiving in frequency sweeping mode.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3A illustrates schematically a frequency hopping spread spectrum system according to a general embodiment of the present invention. The system  10  has data being sent by a transmitter  100  wirelessly to a receiver  200 .  
         [0026]    The transmitter  100  essentially allows data to modulate a frequency-hopping carrier before emitting out through an antenna. An encoder  110  encodes the data into a baseband signal. A modulator  120  uses the baseband signal to modulate a carrier signal. The carrier signal is provided by a local oscillator in the form of a voltage-controlled oscillator VCO  130 . A controller  140  responsive to a pseudo-random number sequence  150  controls the VCO  130  to generate the frequency-hopping carrier. As described earlier, in the frequency-hopping scheme, the transmission spectrum is partitioned into a plurality of narrower band channels. The carrier assumes one of these channels at any one time and hops around the different channels in time, essentially performing a random walk on the channels spanning the transmission spectrum in accordance with the pseudo-random number sequence  150 .  
         [0027]    The receiver  200  of the present invention differs from conventional frequency hopping spread spectrum receivers in that it operates in a frequency sweeping mode instead of a frequency hopping mode. It is not synchronous with the transmitter  100  in the sense that it does not tune into the transmitting channel and locks in steps with the hopping. The receiver  200  includes a sweeping, intermediate frequency (“IF”) converter  210 , which operates in a superheterodyne manner by mixing the received RF transmission signal with a signal generated by a local oscillator (“LO”). The resultant beat signal is therefore at an intermediate frequency given by the difference of the transmission frequency and the LO frequency. An IF bandpass module  220  filters the converted IF signal to a predetermined IF band with a predetermined bandwidth Δf IF  centered around f IF . Thus, the LO in the sweeping IF converter  210  puts out a sweeping frequency that effectively sweeps the transmission spectrum into the predetermined IF band. A demodulator  230  extracts the baseband signal from the IF. A decoder  240  then decodes the baseband signal back to data.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3B illustrates the spectral activity of the transmitter and the receiver shown in FIG. 3A. The transmission spectrum has a lowest frequency of f 1  and a highest frequency of f 2 . At times t 1 , t 2 , t 3 , . . . the transmitter hops pseudo-randomly from one channel to another within the transmission spectrum. If the transmission spectrum is partitioned into N channels, then the transmitter is configured to operate in any one of these N channels, each having bandwidth Δf c =(f 2 -f 1 )/N.  
         [0029]    At the receiver side, the IF bandpass module  220  sets up an IF bandpass portal centered at f IF  and configured with a predetermined bandwidth Δf IF . The sweeping IF converter  210  repeatedly scans through a range of frequencies that effectively sweeps the transmission spectrum through the IF bandpass portal. The sweeping rate across a given frequency range must be sufficiently high to capture all the data at a given data rate. Conversely, a faster sweep rate will allow a higher data rate, with the upper limit being the response time of the IF bandpass module  220 .  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 4A illustrates the frequency scheme of the receiver. The local oscillator LO in the sweeping IF converter  210  sweeps through a frequency range Δf LO  given by f LO(min)  at the lower end and f LO(max)  at the higher end. This range is preferably centered around the middle of the transmission spectrum &lt;f TX &gt;. Since the IF bandpass module  220  has a bandwidth of Δf IF , the sweeping is extended by 0.5 Δf IF  on either end. The receiver  200  therefore has an effective coverage band extended from f min  to f max , with a bandwidth given by Δf RX =Δf O +Δf IF .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 4B illustrates the transmission spectrum in which the transmitter operates. The transmission spectrum has the frequency f 1  at its lower limit and f 2  at its upper limit, spanning a bandwidth of Δf TX . Each channel in the transmission spectrum is represented by a broken arrow. The channel in which the transmitter is currently in is represented by a solid arrow.  
         [0032]    In order to capture the transmission fully, the receiver  200  must at least have a reception coverage band that is inclusive of the transmission spectrum. In the preferred implementation, the reception coverage band is larger than the transmission spectrum by a predetermined margin to allow for transmit frequency ambiguity, based on factors such as transmitter misalignment, aging and temperature.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 is a more detailed schematic diagram of the frequency hopping transmitter shown in FIG. 3A, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Essentially, the data is encoded by the encoder  110  into a baseband signal (e.g. Manchester encoded). In the preferred embodiment, the modulator  120  includes an amplitude modulator  122  (e.g. On-OFF keyed). The baseband signal bit rate is typically between 1 to 5 kbps and is inputted to the modulator  120  to amplitude modulate a carrier signal f TX (t). The resultant modulated carrier signal f TX (t) is then amplified by an RF amplifier  136  and emitted through an antenna. The RF amplifier  136  is configured to have the transmitter  100  emits at a predetermined power.  
         [0034]    In another preferred embodiment in which data integrity is critical in an application, the baseband encoding includes error detection and/or correction codes. In more sophisticated applications, where the transmitter and the receiver are both transceivers, a simple transmission protocol is also included. In this way, any transmission error at the receiver can be detected and either corrected or the data is re-transmitted.  
         [0035]    The carrier signal f TX (t) assumes at any one time one of plurality of channels of the transmission spectrum. Each channel has a bandwidth Δf C  which is a fraction of the total transmission spectrum. During different time periods, the carrier signal is carried by a succession of channels. The sequence of channels is determined by the pseudo-random sequence  150 . For example, the pseudo-random sequence is generated by maximal length sequence polynomial x 6 +x+1. The controller  140 , in reference to the pseudo-random sequence  150 , controls the local oscillator  132  in the form of a voltage-controlled oscillator in combination with a phase-locked loop (“PLL”) to put out the channel hopping carrier signal f C .  
         [0036]    One feature of the transmitter  100  includes frequency modulation (“FM”) of the carrier signal. This is accomplished by a FM modulator  124 . This feature provides adjustment of the channel bandwidth Δf C  as will be discussed in connection with compliance of rules of regulatory authorities.  
         [0037]    In a preferred implementation, a multifunction processor is used to perform at least some of the functions of the pseudo-random generation  150 , the controller  140  and the encoder  110 . For example, such a processor is available commercially as a communication controller chip, such as the Mixed Signal Microcontroller, MSP 430F1121IPW manufactured by Texas Instruments, Incorporated, Dallas, Tex., U.S.A.  
         [0038]    One important consideration is for the transmitter and receiver to comply with the rules of any communication regulatory authorities that may apply. The rules and regulations are applied to allow efficient utilization of the telecommunication medium and allocation of spectrum while ensuring minimum interference. For example, in the United States of America, FCC&#39;s regulation codified in Title 47, Part 15, Section 247 stipulates the operation of “intentional radiators” within the bands 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz, and 5725-5850 MHz. In particular, for frequency hopping systems the following regulations apply:  
         [0039]    1) The emitted power must not exceed 1 Watt.  
         [0040]    2) Channel carrier frequencies separation must be greater or equal to 25 kHz or 20 dB bandwidth of the hopping channel, whichever is greater.  
         [0041]    3) Each channel must be equally used on average.  
         [0042]    4) In the 902-928 MHz band: if the 20 dB bandwidth is greater than 250 kHz, the system shall use at least 50 hopping frequencies and the occupancy on each must be less than or equal to 0.4 s in a 20 s period. If the 20 dB bandwidth is greater than 50 kHz but not more than 500 kHz, the system shall use at least 25 hopping frequencies and the occupancy on each must be less than or equal to 0.4 s in a 10 s period.  
         [0043]    Thus, within the prescribed and regulated ISM bands, by appropriate adjustment of the transmitters parameters, various compliant configurations of the frequency-hopping transmitter  100  are possible.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 6 is a more detailed schematic diagram of the frequency sweeping receiver shown in FIG. 3A, according to a preferred embodiment of present invention. The modulated signal f′ TX (t) emitted by the transmitter  100  shown in FIG. 5 is received by an antenna and inputted into the sweeping IF converter  210 . The sweeping IF converter converts f′ TX (t) into a modulated signal with an intermediate frequency f′ IF (t). The IF bandpass module  220  includes a bandpass filter that passes only a predetermined band of the IF having a predetermined frequency and bandwidth Δf IF . The bandpass signal is then demodulated by the demodulator  230  to extract the baseband signal. The decoder  240  then decodes the baseband signal to obtain the data.  
         [0045]    In the preferred embodiment, the IF bandpass filter  220  is programmable and the IF passband is selectable through a programmable controller  219 .  
         [0046]    The receiver&#39;s demodulation is the inverse of the transmitter&#39;s modulation. In the preferred embodiment, the transmitter&#39;s modulation is an amplitude modulation. The receiver&#39;s demodulator  230  is implemented by a peak detector  232  followed by a smoothing low pass filter  234  to extract the baseband signal.  
         [0047]    The receiver&#39;s decoding is the inverse of the transmitter&#39;s encoding. If error detection or correction codes are implement in the transmission, the decoding will include error codes processing. If the receiver  200  is part of a transceiver and transmission protocol is implemented, further protocol transactions can be handled by a controller.  
         [0048]    The IF converter  210  is to mix the received modulated signal f′ TX (t) with a sweeping local signal f LO (t) to produce a beat signal at a modulated intermediate frequency f′ IF .  
         [0049]    The local signal f LO (t) is preferably generated by a local oscillator  214  that has a dual-modulus frequency divider operating on a reference frequency. The reference frequency is provided by a reference oscillator  217  in combination with a phase-locked loop  216 . A user-able configurable resonator  218 , such as a crystal, or more economically a ceramic resonator sets the frequency of the reference oscillator.  
         [0050]    In the preferred embodiment, the receiver can sweep its local oscillator  214  by switching between two modulus settings, N 1  and N 2 . In this way, analog sweeping is realized by the loop dynamics of frequency settling between the two frequency endpoints, f min  and f max , defined by N 1  times the reference frequency and N 2  times the reference frequency.  
         [0051]    The local oscillator sweeps frequency in a sawtooth pattern, effectively sweeping the IF passband (if reflected to the input RF frequency) across the frequency span defined by the two frequency endpoints (see FIG. 4A.) If a carrier is dwelling at a particular frequency within the frequency endpoints and the swept passband intersects the signal, the IF filter/peak detector will have a positive voltage response. If no signal is present, a less-positive voltage proportional to the noise power will result.  
         [0052]    The sweep rate is set by signal switching the modulus select. This signal is typically generated by the programmable controller  219 . The sweep rate is typically many times faster than the data rate. If a “1” state (mark) is being transmitted, the effective spectrum for that time period is simply the carrier frequency. When the carrier frequency is temporally contained within the effective IF passband, the filter/peak detector output is positive and this will result in a series of narrow pulses across the “1” data state. Where there exists a “0” state, the filter/peak detector output is less positive and interpreted as the noise floor. By using a sufficiently fast sweeping rate and a peak detector for the envelope detection process with appropriately adjusted attack and decay time constants, the baseband signal will be recovered with great efficiency.  
         [0053]    Generally, in the extreme case of the sweep rate increasing toward infinity, the system response approaches that of a continuous or fixed local oscillator, in which case the full modulation envelope is recovered. Conversely, sweeping the local oscillator too slowly will result in loss of signal due to droop associated with the peak detector decay time constant and result in a corresponding reduction in signal-to-noise ratio. However, for a given IF filter bandwidth, if the local oscillator&#39;s sweep is too fast, the response time of the IF filter becomes the determining factor in recovered modulation envelope.  
         [0054]    Between the two limiting cases, an optimum sweep rate exists that provides an optimum system performance for a given IF filter&#39;s frequency and bandwidth. The sweep rate can be normalized into the average number of times that the local oscillator sweeps from f min  to f max  over a data bit time of the data that is being recovered. Analysis identifies that this optimum range is between 4 and 10 sweeps (or hits) per bit time for the particular IF filter. In the preferred embodiment, the receiver  200  uses 7 hits per data bit.  
         [0055]    An alternative embodiment for the sweeping the local oscillator  214  is to drive it with a swept frequency precision timing signal. Such an approach provides an alternative to the dual module division is within the local oscillator.  
         [0056]    An alternative to sweeping the local oscillator  214  is to sweep the IF filter  220 . This is accomplished by control to vary the IF filter&#39;s center frequency and should yield the same performance as sweeping the local oscillator.  
         [0057]    In a preferred implementation, a multifunction processor is used to perform at least some of the functions of the controller  219 , the demodulator  230  and the decoder  240 . For example, such a processor is available commercially as a communication controller chip, such as the Mixed Signal Microcontroller, MSP 430F1121IPW manufactured by Texas Instruments, Incorporated, Dallas, Tex., U.S.A.  
         [0058]    A receiver capable of operating in a sweep mode but contemplated for reception of AM transmission of substantially fixed carrier frequency is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,246, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. The entire disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,246 is hereby incorporated herein by reference. A family of related sweeping mode receiver chips has been manufactured by Micrel, Inc. of San Jose, Calif., U.S.A., the assignee of the present invention. A document, “MICRF003/003 QwikRadio™900 MHz UHF Receiver—Preliminary Information,” Micrel Inc., October 1999, is available from www.micrel.com. The entire disclosure of this document is hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0059]    With regard to the FCC regulation, the rules stipulate for a synchronous frequency-hopping receiver that the receiver bandwidth must match the emitted bandwidth on each channel and must tune synchronously with the transmitted carrier frequency.  
         [0060]    While not conforming literally to the exact letters of the FCC regulation as stipulated in Title 47 Part 15, Section 247, the present invention can be interpreted to satisfy the requirements equivalently. First, the receiver passband bandwidth Δf IF  is set to be commensurate with the channel&#39;s bandwidth Δf C . This is accomplished by adjusting either Δf C  or Δf IF  or both. Secondly, the receiver  200  can be regarded as tuned synchronously with the emitted spectrum only at the point of interception during the local oscillator sweep. The FCC has approved such equivalent interpretation of the regulations in question, thereby allowing a new class of communication devices and systems prescribed by the present invention to be compliant.  
         [0061]    Preferably, the receiver passband bandwidth Δf IF  is greater than the channel&#39;s bandwidth Δf C  (see FIG. 3B) to allow for component tolerances and temperature variations. A receiver IF bandpass Δf IF  is said to be commensurate with the channel&#39;s bandwidth Δf C  if it is substantially one to two times Δf C . This will ensure the receiver to work over production and environmental tolerances and variations. For example, in the upper limit, a transmitter may have Δf C  with a 20 dB bandwidth of 500 kHz while the receiver has a Δf IF =1.18 MHz.  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating the radio communication of transmitting in frequency hopping mode and receiving in frequency sweeping mode.  
         [0063]    Step  300 : Providing a transmission spectrum for transmitting data.  
         [0064]    Step  310 : Partitioning the transmitting spectrum into a plurality of channels, each channel having a bandwidth Δf C .  
         [0065]    Step  320 : Transmitting data over a pseudo-random sequence of channels over time.  
         [0066]    Step  330 : Providing a reception passband having a bandwidth Δf IF  commensurate with the channel&#39;s bandwidth Δf C .  
         [0067]    Step  340 : Capturing the pseudo-random sequence of channels by effectively sweeping the predetermined transmission spectrum relative to the reception passband at a sufficient rate to acquire the data therein.  
         [0068]    Step  350 : Extracting the data from the captured channels.  
         [0069]    Step  360 : End.  
         [0070]    It can be seen from the foregoing disclosure that a frequency hopping communication system can be simplified considerably when the receiver need not be synchronized with the transmitter. Low cost radio devices and systems may be built based on the present invention. Such radio devices and systems are useful in low data rate wireless applications with a range up to about 1000 km. Examples of such applications include utility metering, machine and equipment monitoring and metering, and remote control.  
         [0071]    Although the various aspects of the present invention have been described with respect to certain embodiments, it is understood that the invention is entitled to protection within the full scope of the appended claims.