Patent Publication Number: US-10317514-B2

Title: Programmable apparatus for synthesized filter notch

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments discussed herein generally relate to systems and methods for replicating a externally generated signal with a frequency notch in the replicated signal. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Signal jamming is a defensive technique that can be used to defeat wireless detection. Signal jamming can include generating wideband signal energy. However, it is also desirable by parties employing signal jamming to use one or more bands within a jamming spectrum for communication. Existing solutions for providing a frequency notch in a jamming signal can introduce issues that render the solution impractical, for example, simple notch filters can introduce undesirable frequency spurs in the jamming signal while sophisticated filters can be impractical because of the extreme size, weight and power resources such a filter can employ. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals can describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes can represent different instances of similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments or examples discussed in the present document. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates generally an example of a radar or jamming scenario including one or more assets of a first team (Xn) and one or more assets of a second team (Yn) within relatively close proximity to each other. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate generally block diagrams for existing apparatus  200  for generating a radar or communication jamming signal with a notch. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates generally a block diagram of an example apparatus  300  for generating a radar or communication jamming signal with a notch. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates generally an example of a system for replicating radar or communication jamming signal information with one or more programmable notches. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates generally an example pulse synthesizer including a notch comparator circuit and a DDS. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates generally a flow chart of an example method of generating a signal with one or more notches. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Signal jamming is a defensive technique that can be used to defeat wireless detection. Signal jamming can include generating wideband signal energy. However, it is also desirable by parties employing signal jamming often to use one or more bands within a jamming spectrum for communication. Existing solutions for providing a frequency notch in a jamming signal can introduce issues that render the solution impractical, for example, simple notch filters can introduce undesirable spurs frequency undesirable spurs in the jamming signal while sophisticated filters can be impractical because of the extreme size, weight and power resources such a filter can require. 
     The present inventors have recognized various methods and apparatus to receive first signal information and provide second signal information based on the first signal information, where the second signal information can include one or more frequency notches. In an example situation, a processor can receive wideband jamming signal information and can provide a representation of the jamming signal with a frequency notch that can be used for addition communications. In certain examples, a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) can be used to generate a wideband signal such as a jamming signal. In certain examples, post-DDS filtering is not used to create the one or more frequency notches. In certain examples, a first party can generate a jamming signal to jam communication capabilities of a second party. Having a jamming signal with a notch can allow the first party to maintain some communications within the bandwidth of the jamming signal while still transmitting a functional wide band jamming signal. In certain examples, modulation information can be derive from the first signal information. The modulation information that does not produce energy in the desired notch can be used to modulate the second signal. 
     The present inventors have also recognized that replication and transmission of a received signal can include monitoring and replicating phase starting points within the signal. Such techniques further assist in concealing communication information within the wideband signal. In certain examples, a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) can be used to generate a waveform and act as a local oscillator in the field-programmable gate array/radio frequency (FPGA/RF) pipeline. However, instead of generating a broadband spectrum first and then filtering out the desired pass-frequencies, the signal is modulated with the notch or non-jammed frequencies. In some examples, a comparator or comparator function at the input of the DDS can turn off the DDS by passing, for example, a 0 to the data valid input of the DDS for the non-jam frequencies and can pass a 1 to the data valid for other jamming frequencies. In certain examples, the comparator function can be easily tuneable. The notch filter-effect can be equivalent to the spectral noise floor of the system at little to no additional resources and with no spurs. In certain examples, the system can be easily tuneable after compile to be at any center frequency, of any desired width, and of any number of notches. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates generally an example of a radar or jamming scenario including one or more assets of a first team (X n ) and one or more assets of a second team (Y n ) within close wireless communication proximity to each other. In some situations, the assets (X n , Y n ) can be military assets such as troops, equipment, vehicles, installations, or combinations thereof, however, the present subject matter is not so limited. In certain examples, a first asset (X 0 ) of the first team (X n ) can employ radar signals or communication jamming signals  101  to detect or disrupt the second team (Y n ). However, the radar or communication jamming signals  101  can also work to disrupt communications between the assets of the first team (X n ). In certain examples, the radar or communication jamming signals  101  generated by the first asset (X 0 ) of the first team (X n ) can include one or more frequency notches within the radar signals or communication jamming signals  101  such that the assets of the first team (X n ) can continue to communicate using channels within the bandwidth of the radar signals or communication jamming signals  101 . In certain examples, the one or more frequency notches can be dynamic. In certain examples, the one or more frequency notches can be programmable. In some examples, the first signal can include a signal received at an antenna, such as a jamming signal or radar signal from an opposing team. In such an example, the communication signal of one team may be concealed in a notch of a signal that replicates an opposing teams jamming signal or radar signal. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate generally block diagrams for existing apparatus  200  for generating a radar or communication jamming signal with a notch. The apparatus  200  can include a main processor  202 , a direct digital synthesizer (DDS)  204 , channelizer/up-sampler  206 , and a digital to analog converter (ADC)  207 . The main processor  202  can generate digital modulation information such as frequency or phase increment of the radar or communication jamming signal. The digital modulation information can be received by the (DDS)  204  to produce modulation symbols (I, Q). The channelizer/up-sampler  206  can form a composite output time series composed of relocated spectral fragments of each signal channel and can interpolate the modulation symbols (I,Q). The DAC  207  can convert the composite signal symbols into a radio frequency (RF Out) signal. In  FIG. 2A , a finite impulse response (FIR) filter  205  can be employed to modify the modulation symbols (I,Q) before the symbols are interpolated and converted to the radio frequency (RF Out) signal with a desired notch. However, FIR filters, in such a configuration, can require a substantial amount of processing which can also translate into substantial power requirements and chip space. In  FIG. 2B , an analog filter  208  can be employed to filter the analog radio frequency signal (RF Out) to create a notch. However, such a solution can require a large analog filter or can introduce distortions in the form of undesirable spurs in the final signal. In either case, substantial costs, over and above costs associated with generating an un-notched signal, are incurred to generate an adequately notched radar or communication jamming signal using the apparatus and methods illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates generally a block diagram of an example apparatus  300  for generating a radar or communication jamming signal with a notch. The apparatus  300  can include a main processor  302 , DDS  304 , channelizer/up-sampler  306 , and a DAC  307 . Unlike the apparatus and methods illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the example of  FIG. 3  includes a notch comparator circuit  303  that can process the modulation information at the input of the DDS  304  to provide modulation information that will produce, at the output of the DDS  304 , digital signal information including one or more programmable notches. In certain examples, the digital signal information generated at the output of the DDS  304  can be interpolated at the channelizer/up-sampler  306  and converted to an RF signal using the DAC  307  without additional post-DDS digital notch filtering or analog notch filtering. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates generally an example of a system  410  for receiving radar or communication jamming signal information (IN), detecting modulation information and replicating the radar or communication jamming signal information (IN) with one or more programmable notches using a DDS of a pulse synthesizer  416 . In certain examples, the system  410  can includes channelizer  411 , a pulse cataloger  412  for each channel, a pulse description word (PDW) combiner  413 , an optional PDW filter  414 , optional PDW memory  415  and the pulse synthesizer  416  including a notch comparator circuit and a DDS. In certain examples, the channelizer  411  can receive digital information for the un-notched radar or communication jamming signal (IN) and can divide the signal information into sub-channels (Out n ), or can generate channelized information for multiple sub-channels (Out n ), spanning the bandwidth of the radar or communication jamming signal. The channelized information (Out n ) can be provided to a pulse cataloger  412   n  associated with each of the channels. 
     In certain examples, a pulse cataloger  412   n  can generate pulse description words (PDWs) that provide modulation information about the digital sub-channel information (Out n ). In certain examples, each pulse cataloger  412   n  can include a CORDIC converter to convert the raw digital sub-channel information (Out n ) into phase and amplitude information. In certain examples, a cataloger processor of the pulse cataloger  412   n  can use the phase and amplitude information to generate each PDW. A PDW can describe detectable aspects of the channel phase modulation. In certain examples, the PDW can describe detectable aspects of the channel amplitude modulation. From amplitude and phase, for example, the cataloger processor can measure or infer many things about the channel signal. For example, the difference between phase measurements over time can provide an indication of center frequency. The cataloger processor can measure the phase overtime and if the phase changes linearly, exponentially, or in some form of rising or falling pattern, the signal can be described as a “chirp” and characteristics of the chip can be further measured and described in the PDW. If the phase measurement over time includes a phase discontinuity, the modulation may represent some form of phase keying and additional measurements can be made by the cataloger processor to provide parameters in the PDW describing the specifics of the phase key modulation of the channel. In certain examples, in addition to the above described phase modulation information, the PDW can also include timestamps that describe for example phase start location information. The phase start location information can accurately maintain phase of the output signal relative to other aspects of the signal especially during synthesis of phase shift events or phase discontinuity events described by the digital information received at the channelizer  411 . Other parameters in a PDW can include but are not limited to, amplitude modulation information, a parameter indicative of pulse width of a pulse of the first signal information, a parameter indicative of a reception time of a pulse of the first signal information, a parameter indicative of a center frequency the first signal information, a parameter indicative of an initial phase value the first signal information, a parameter indicative of an amplitude of the first signal information, a parameter indicative of inter-pulse modulation information of the first signal information, or combinations thereof. 
     In certain examples, the PDW combiner  413  can analyze modulation parameters that may extend across multiple sub-channels and can further enhance the information provided in the PDWs to provide multi-channel phase modulation information. For example, if the signal includes a “chirp”, or other wide-band signal, energy associated with the signal will most likely, but not always, span multiple channels and the PDW combiner  413  can capture the multi-channel information and supplement the information of appropriate PDWs. 
     In certain examples, the system can include an optional PDW memory  415  that can buffer the PDWs prior to processing by the pulse synthesizer  416 . 
     In certain examples, the digital signal information received by the system can include ambient signals that are not relevant. For example, the digital signal information may include detected signals that are not relevant, such as a cell phone signal. In certain examples, the PDW filter  414  can be used to filter out or remove such signals or signal information. 
     The pulse synthesizer  416  can receive the PDWs, analyze the PDWs for modulation information, and synthesize a digital representation of the radar or communication jamming signal using a DDS. In certain examples, the digital representation can be further up-sampled or interpolated for input to an ADC. In addition to synthesizing the received signal information, the pulse synthesizer  416  can synthesize one or more notches into the final radar or communication jamming signal. The notches can be used to allow additional communication within the bandwidth of the signal described by the initial digital information for the radar or communication jamming signal. In some examples, the pulse synthesizer  416  can include the ADC. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates generally an example pulse synthesizer  516  including a notch comparator circuit  503  and a DDS  504 . In certain examples, the notch comparator circuit  503  can receive phase increment information (IN) derived from or included in the received PDWs. In certain examples, the notch comparator circuit  503  can include or can receive one or more input parameters (P 0 , P 1 ), or thresholds, that describe one or more desired frequency notches in the output signal information (OUT) such as a radar or communication jamming signal. In certain examples, the notch comparator circuit  503  can provide a phase increment to the DDS  504  that instructs the DDS in a serial fashion how to synthesize the output signal information (OUT). In certain examples, the input parameters (P 0 , P 1 ) can be used to provide threshold comparison values to evaluate or determine whether a phase increment will result in substantial energy generation within the one or more desired frequency notches. If the comparisons indicate that a phase increment will not generate energy within one of the desired frequency notches, the phase increment can be passed on to the DDS  504 . If the comparisons indicate that a phase increment will generate energy within one of the desired frequency notches, the DDS  504  can be disabled for a cycle or the phase increment input can be held for a cycle. In some examples, a phase transition of the input signal can be adjusted to avoid producing energy within a frequency notch of the output signal using the notch comparator circuit  503  and the DDS  504 . In some examples, a transition of the input signal that violates the notch thresholds can be suppressed during modulation of the output signal using the notch comparator circuit  503  and the DDS  504 . 
     Referring to the example of  FIG. 5 , evaluation of whether a phase increment negatively affects the generation of a desired notch can be accomplished with two comparators  521 ,  522 . In some examples, the output of the comparators can be provided to an AND gate  523  and the AND gate  523  can control a phase increment pass switch  524  can pass the phase increment is to the DDS when there is not a notch violation or can pass a nulled phase increment (0) to the DDS  504  when at least one of the comparators  521 ,  522  indicate a notch violation. In some examples, the output of the comparators  521 ,  522  can be provided to a NAND gate  525  and the output of the NAND gate  525  can be used to disable the DDS  504  when the phase increment is evaluated to cause a notch violation and can enable the DDS  504  when a phase increment is evaluated to not cause a notch violation. In certain examples, the DDS  504  can be enabled at all times and the phase increment pass switch can pass or maintain the last phase increment to the DDS  504  when at least one of the comparators  521 ,  522  can indicate a notch violation. It is understood that the notch comparator circuit  503  can include a different number of comparators without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. Additional comparators can assist in forming additional notches or shaping the width or depth of a particular notch. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates generally a flowchart of an example method for creating a notched signal. At  601 , a first signal can be received at a signal processor. At  603 , a pulse cataloger of the signal processor can evaluate the first signal and can generate phase modulation information about the first signal. At  604 , notch parameters can optionally be received at a comparator circuit of a direct digital synthesizer (DDS). In certain examples, the notch parameters can be predetermined and available to the comparator circuit. At  605 , the digital synthesizer can use the notch parameters and the phase modulation information to generate and output a second signal. At  606 , the second signal can be provided at the output of the DDS and can include a representation of the first signal with a frequency notch within the bandwidth of second signal. In certain examples, the center frequency of the notch can be programmable. In some examples, one of more comparators of the DDS can evaluate whether phase modulation of the first signal will generate significant energy within the notch and can suppress the phase modulation information or provide alternative phase modulation information to preserve the notch in the second signal. In certain examples, except for the notch, the second signal can be a copy of the first signal including a bandwidth commensurate with the bandwidth of the first signal. 
     Unlike other methods of forming a notch in a signal by processing the synthesized signal information using a FIR or IIR filter, or an analog notch filter, the present subject matter synthesizes the notch at the same time the signal is synthesized in the DDS. The simultaneous synthesis of the signal and the notches allows very accurate shaping of the output signal such that spurs in the output signal are substantially eliminated. In addition, as can be observed from the example of  FIG. 5 , implementation of the method utilizes just a few additional devices thus the ability to create the one or more notches can be done with little if any increase in circuit space or energy. 
     EXAMPLES AND NOTES 
     In Example 1, a signal processor configured to receive first signal information and provide second signal information based on the first signal information can include a pulse cataloger configured to analyze the first signal and to provide phase modulation information about the first signal, and a direct digital synthesizer having an output and configured to modulate a second signal using the phase modulation information and to provide the second signal at the output. The second signal can include a representation of the first signal with a frequency notch at a particular center frequency within the bandwidth of the second signal. In certain examples, the phase modulation information can include both phase and amplitude modulation information. 
     In Example 2, the signal processor of Example 1 optionally includes a channelizer configured to divide the first signal into a plurality of sub-channels, and to provide sub-channel information to the pulse cataloger. 
     In Example 3, the phase modulation information of any one or more of Examples 1-2 optionally includes sub-channel phase modulation information. 
     In Example 4, the signal processor of any one or more of Examples 1-3 optionally includes a combiner configured to combine the sub-channel modulation information to provide second signal phase modulation information. 
     In Example 5, the combiner of any one or more of Examples 1-4 optionally is configured to analyze the sub-channel phase modulation information for phase modulation characteristics that span multiple sub-channels and to supplement the second signal phase modulation with multi-channel phase modulation information associated with the phase modulation characteristics. 
     In Example 6, the direct digital phase modulation circuit of any one or more of Examples 1-5 optionally includes a comparator circuit configured to receive the second signal phase modulation information. 
     in Example 7, the comparator circuit of any one or more of Examples 1-6 optionally is configured to derive frequency information of second signal phase modulation information and adjust phase transitions of the second signal phase modulation information if a frequency of the frequency information is within the frequency notch. 
     In Example 8, the first information of any one or more of Examples 1-7 optionally can include information related to multiple signals received at an antenna coupled to the signal processor, wherein the multiple signals can include a target signal and one or more ambient signals, wherein the signal processor can include a modulation filter configured to receive an output of the combiner and to remove modulation information related to the one or more ambient signals. 
     In Example 9, the phase modulation information of any one or more of Examples 1-8 optionally can include a first parameter indicative of pulse width of a pulse of the first signal information. 
     In Example 10, the phase modulation information of any one or more of Examples 1-9 optionally can include a first parameter indicative of a reception time of a pulse of the first signal information. 
     In Example 11, the phase modulation information of any one or more of Examples 1-10 optionally can include a first parameter indicative of a center frequency the first signal information. 
     In Example 12, the phase modulation information of any one or more of Examples 1-11 optionally can include a first parameter indicative of an initial phase value the first signal information. 
     In Example 13, the phase modulation information of any one or more of Examples 1-12 optionally can include a first parameter indicative of an amplitude of the first signal information. 
     In Example 14, the phase modulation information of any one or more of Examples 1-13 optionally can include inter-pulse modulation information of the first signal information. 
     In Example 15, a method can include receiving a first signal at a signal processor, generating phase modulation information about the first signal at a pulse cataloger of the signal processor, phase modulating a second signal using a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) and the phase modulation information, providing the second signal at an output of the direct digital synthesizer, and wherein the second signal include a representation of the first signal with a frequency notch at a particular center frequency within the bandwidth of the second signal. 
     In Example 16, the phase modulating of any one or more of Examples 1-15 optionally includes receiving the phase modulation information at a comparator circuit of the DDS and comparing the phase modulation information to one or more thresholds related to the frequency notch. 
     In Example 17, the modulating of any one or more of Examples 1-16 optionally includes modifying a phase transition of the second signal when the phase modulation information of the first signal fails to satisfy the one or more thresholds. 
     In Example 18, the modifying of any one or more of Examples 1-17 optionally includes suppressing a phase transition of the second signal when the phase modulation information of the first signal fails to satisfy the one or more thresholds. 
     In Example 19, a non-transitory computer readable storage device including instructions, which when executed by a machine, configure the machine to receive a first signal having a first bandwidth, generate phase modulation information about the first signal, phase modulate a second signal using a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) and the phase modulation information, provide the second signal at an output of the direct digital synthesizer, wherein a bandwidth of the second signal is commensurate with the first bandwidth, and wherein the second signal includes a representation of the first signal with a frequency notch at a particular center frequency within the bandwidth of the second signal. 
     In Example 20, the non-transitory computer readable storage device of any one or more of Examples 1-19 optionally, when executed by a machine, configure the machine to receive the phase modulation information and compare the phase modulation information to one or more thresholds related to the frequency notch, modify a phase transition of the second signal when the phase modulation information of the first signal fails to satisfy the one or more thresholds, and suppress a phase transition of the second signal when the phase modulation information of the first signal fails to satisfy the one or more thresholds. 
     The above Description of Embodiments includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which methods, apparatuses, and systems discussed herein can be practiced. These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.” Such examples can include elements in addition to those shown or described. However, the present inventors also contemplate examples in which only those elements shown or described are provided. Moreover, the present inventors also contemplate examples using any combination or permutation of those elements shown or described (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to a particular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein. 
     The flowchart and block diagrams in the FIGS. illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various aspects of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams can represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block can occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession can, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks can sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. 
     The functions or processes described herein can be implemented in software, hardware, human implemented procedures, or a combination thereof. The software can consist of computer executable instructions stored on computer readable media such as memory or other type of storage devices. The term “computer readable media” is also used to represent any means by which the computer readable instructions can be received by the computer, such as by different forms of wired or wireless transmissions. Further, such functions correspond to modules, which are software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. Multiple functions can be performed in one or more modules as desired, and the embodiments described are merely examples. The software can be executed on a digital signal processor, ASIC, microprocessor, or other type of processor operating on a computer system, such as a personal computer, server or other computer system. 
     In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated. In this document, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device, article, composition, formulation, or process that includes elements in addition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. 
     As used herein, a “-” (dash) used when referring to a reference number means or, in the non-exclusive sense discussed in the previous paragraph, of all elements within the range indicated by the dash. For example,  103 A-B means a nonexclusive or of the elements in the range { 103 A,  103 B}, such that  103 A- 103 B includes “ 103 A but not  103 B”, “ 103 B but not  103 A”, and “ 103 A and  103 B”. 
     The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) can be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b), to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Description of Embodiments, various features can be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter can lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Description of Embodiments as examples or embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment, and it is contemplated that such embodiments can be combined with each other in various combinations or permutations. The scope of the subject matter should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are legally entitled.