Abstract: In one embodiment, a ruggedized wafer level microelectromechanical (“MEMS”) force sensor includes a base and a cap. The MEMS force sensor includes a flexible membrane and a sensing element. The sensing element is electrically connected to integrated complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (“CMOS”) circuitry provided on the same substrate as the sensing element. The CMOS circuitry can be configured to amplify, digitize, calibrate, store, and/or communicate force values through electrical terminals to external circuitry.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband (“UWB”) communication system comprising a transmitter and a receiver having two antennas. An UWB signal transmitted by the transmitter is received at each of the antennas. By comparing the carrier phases of the received signals, the phase difference can be determined. From this phase difference and the known distance, d, between the antennas, the Cartesian (x, y) location of the transmitter relative to the receiver can be directly determined.

Abstract: In an ultra-wideband (“UWB”) communication system, methods are disclosed for transmitting packets in multiple portions, each having a different pulse repetition frequency (“PRF”). Methods are also disclosed for transmitting packets dis-continuously.

Abstract: A method of transmitting signals from a first node having multiple transceivers to a second node is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a message from the second node at the first node, wherein the message is received by each of a plurality of transceivers of the first node; and transmitting by each of the plurality of transceivers a respective data frame to the second node in response to the message; wherein each transceiver initiates the transmission of its respective data frame a predetermined time period after receipt of the message by the transceiver; and wherein the transmissions of the data frames from the plurality of transceivers overlap. The data frames may form part of a two-way ranging exchange.

Abstract: In an ultra-wideband (“UWB”) communication system, methods are disclosed for transmitting packets in multiple portions, each having a different pulse repetition frequency (“PRF”). Methods are also disclosed for transmitting packets dis-continuously.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband (“UWB”) communication system comprising a transmitter and a receiver. In one embodiment, the symbol mapper circuit in the transmitter is adapted, in a first mode, to develop symbols having the number of pulses as currently defined in the 4z Standard; and, in a second mode, to develop symbols having fewer pulses than as currently defined in the 4z Standard. In an optional third mode, each data bit is mapped to a single pulse.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband (“UWB”) communication system comprising a transmitter and a receiver having two antennas. An UWB signal transmitted by the transmitter is received at each of the antennas. By comparing the carrier phases of the received signals, the phase difference can be determined. From this phase difference and the known distance, d, between the antennas, the Cartesian (x,y) location of the transmitter relative to the receiver can be directly determined.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband (“UWB”) communication system comprising a transmitter having two transmit antennas and a receiver having a single receive antenna. Respective selected portions of the UWB signal are transmitted by the transmitter via each of transmit antennas is received at the receive antenna. By comparing the phases of the received signal portions, the phase difference of departure can be determined. From this phase difference and the known distance, d, between the transmit antennas, the Cartesian (x, y) location of the transmitter relative to the receiver can be directly determined.

Abstract: An antenna array (10) for detecting an incoming radio wave (52) having an operating wavelength, comprising: a plurality of antenna elements (12) arranged in an array with a periodic repetition of the antenna elements (12). Each antenna element (12) comprises a slot (32) being shaped such that the polarisation of the corresponding antenna element (12) is non-linear, and having a first axis (A1) and a second axis (A2) orthogonal to the first axis. Each of the first and second axes (A1; A2) has a length in the range of about 0.05-0.2 times the operating wavelength of the incoming radio wave (52) and the ratio of the length of the first axis A1 to the length of the second axis A2 is between about 1-2.5. There is also a method of configuring an antenna array 10 for detecting an incoming radio wave (52), and a method of determining the angle of arrival of a radio wave (52) impinging on such an antenna array (10).

Abstract: An ultra-wideband (“UWB”) communication system comprising a transmitter having two transmit antennas and a receiver having a single receive antenna. Respective selected portions of the UWB signal are transmitted by the transmitter via each of transmit antennas is received at the receive antenna. By comparing the phases of the received signal portions, the phase difference of departure can be determined. From this phase difference and the known distance, d, between the transmit antennas, the Cartesian (x, y) location of the transmitter relative to the receiver can be directly determined.

Abstract: An antenna array (10) for detecting an incoming radio wave (52) having an operating wavelength, comprising: a plurality of antenna elements (12) arranged in an array with a periodic repetition of the antenna elements (12). Each antenna element (12) comprises a slot (32) being shaped such that the polarisation of the corresponding antenna element (12) is non-linear, and having a first axis (A1) and a second axis (A2) orthogonal to the first axis. Each of the first and second axes (A1; A2) has a length in the range of about 0.05-0.2 times the operating wavelength of the incoming radio wave (52) and the ratio of the length of the first axis A1 to the length of the second axis A2 is between about 1-2.5. There is also a method of configuring an antenna array 10 for detecting an incoming radio wave (52), and a method of determining the angle of arrival of a radio wave (52) impinging on such an antenna array (10).

Abstract: In an ultra-wideband (“UWB”) communication system comprising a pair of UWB transceivers, methods for securely performing channel sounding. In a first GCP Sync method, a pre-determined set of Golay Complementary Pairs is added to an 802.15.4a frame. In a second CLASS method, a cyphered low auto-correlation sum set is added to frame. In a third LCSSS method, a low cross-correlation sidelobe sum set is added to the frame. In general, these methods are adapted to transmit a pseudo-randomly generated codeset which may have inherent sidelobe distortions, and then, in the receiver, to compensate for this, and any channel-induced, distortion by selectively modifing the cross-correlation codeset.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing signals is disclosed. The method comprises using a clock tracking system to convert a future event target time specified in a time base of a master device into the local unsynchronized time bases of one or more slave devices. Each of the slave devices then generates an event signal at the converted time, such that a coordinated delivery of synchronized signals is achieved.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband (“UWB”) communication system comprising a transmitter and a receiver having two antennas. An UWB signal transmitted by the transmitter is received at each of the antennas. By comparing the carrier phases of the received signals, the phase difference can be determined. From this phase difference and the known distance, d, between the antennas, the Cartesian (x,y) location of the transmitter relative to the receiver can be directly determined.

Abstract: In an ultra-wideband (“UWB”) communication system comprising a pair of UWB transceivers, an asynchronous two-way ranging method for closely estimating the time-of-flight between the transceivers after the exchange of only 3 messages between the transceivers. In an alternate asynchronous two-way ranging method, the time-of-flight between the transceivers may be closely estimated after the exchange of only 4 messages between the transceivers.

Abstract: In an ultra-wideband (“UWB”) receiver, a received UWB signal is periodically digitized as a series of ternary samples. During a carrier acquisition mode, the samples are continuously correlated with a predetermined preamble sequence to develop a correlation value. When the value exceeds a predetermined threshold, indicating that the preamble sequence is being received, estimates of the channel impulse response (“CIR”) are developed. When a start-of-frame delimiter (“SFD”) is detected, the best CIR estimate is provided to a channel matched filter (“CMF”). During a data recovery mode, the CMF filters channel-injected noise from the sample stream. Both carrier phase errors and data timing errors are continuously detected and corrected during both the carrier acquisition and data recovery modes of operation.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband communication and/or location system having a plurality of channels, each implementing a respective one of a plurality of predetermined codewords. Within each channel, one or more predetermined pulse repetition frequencies are defined. Within a single UWB system, more than two networks of transceivers may be co-located without mutual interference if each is assigned a unique combination of codewords and spreading factors.

Abstract: In an ultra-wideband (“UWB”) receiver, a received UWB signal is periodically digitized as a series of ternary samples. During a carrier acquisition mode of operation, the samples are continuously correlated with a predetermined preamble sequence to develop a correlation value. When the value exceeds a predetermined threshold, indicating that the preamble sequence is being received, estimates of the channel impulse response (“CIR”) are developed. When a start-of-frame delimiter (“SFD”) is detected, the best CIR estimate is provided to a channel matched filter (“CMF”). During a data recovery mode of operation, the CMF filters channel-injected noise from the sample stream. Both carrier phase errors and data timing errors are continuously detected and corrected during both the carrier acquisition and data recovery modes of operation. In one embodiment, the carrier recovery and timing recovery are performed using just the carrier loop filter.

Abstract: In a receiver facility in an ultra-wideband communication system, a dual-mode circuit adapted to operate in a selected one of three operating modes without changes in circuit topology: a calibration mode adapted to render the circuit substantially independent of circuit component mismatches; a frequency comparator mode adapted to indicate whether the frequency of a first periodic signal is larger or smaller than the frequency of a second periodic signal; and an early-late detector mode adapted to indicate whether the 1st rising edge of the first periodic signal arrived sooner or later than the 1st rising edge of the second periodic signal applied.

Abstract: In an ultra-wideband (“UWB”) receiver, a received UWB signal is periodically digitized as a series of ternary samples. During a carrier acquisition mode of operation, the samples are continuously correlated with a predetermined preamble sequence to develop a correlation value. When the value exceeds a predetermined threshold, indicating that the preamble sequence is being received, estimates of the channel impulse response (“CIR”) are developed. When a start-of-frame delimiter (“SFD”) is detected, the best CIR estimate is provided to a channel matched filter (“CMF”). During a data recovery mode of operation, the CMF filters channel-injected noise from the sample stream. Both carrier phase errors and data timing errors are continuously detected and corrected during both the carrier acquisition and data recovery modes of operation. The phase of the carrier can be determined by accumulating the correlator output before it is rotated by the carrier correction.