Abstract: A pulse generator comprising: a first signal generating arm comprising a first inductor and a plurality of switching elements, each arranged to draw current through the first inductor; and a controller arranged to activate the plurality of switching elements in a predetermined sequence so as to generate a predetermined pulse waveform at a pulse generator output. The switching elements of the signal generating arm and the inductor together form a pulse synthesizer that takes the signal from the controller and uses it to synthesize an output pulse. Compared with conventional transmitter architectures, the functions of the upconversion mixer, the DAC, and the power amplifier are all performed by a single simplified circuit. This is both area efficient and power efficient.

Abstract: A range profile digitization circuit for converting a repeating analog input signal into a time series of digital amplitude values, the converter comprising: a signal quantizer arranged to receive the analog input signal and a threshold input and arranged to output a binary value quantized output signal based on a comparison of the input signal with the threshold signal; a plurality of samplers each arranged to sample and hold its input signal upon receipt of a trigger signal; and for each sampler: a plurality of decoders and a demultiplexer arranged to receive an output from the sampler and pass it to a selected one of said decoders based on a selector input. With a plurality of decoders associated with each of the samplers, each sampler can be re-used during the building up of the range profile.

Abstract: A pulse generator comprising: a first signal generating arm comprising a first inductor and a plurality of switching elements, each arranged to draw current through the first inductor; and a controller arranged to activate the plurality of switching elements in a predetermined sequence so as to generate a predetermined pulse waveform at a pulse generator output. The switching elements of the signal generating arm and the inductor together form a pulse synthesizer that takes the signal from the controller and uses it to synthesize an output pulse. Compared with conventional transmitter architectures, the functions of the upconversion mixer, the DAC, and the power amplifier are all performed by a single simplified circuit. This is both area efficient and power efficient.

Abstract: A range profile digitization circuit for converting a repeating analog input signal into a time series of digital amplitude values, the converter comprising: a signal quantizer arranged to receive the analog input signal and a threshold input and arranged to output a binary value quantized output signal based on a comparison of the input signal with the threshold signal; a plurality of samplers each arranged to sample and hold its input signal upon receipt of a trigger signal; and for each sampler: a plurality of decoders and a demultiplexer arranged to receive an output from the sampler and pass it to a selected one of said decoders based on a selector input. With a plurality of decoders associated with each of the samplers, each sampler can be re-used during the building up of the range profile.

Abstract: A pulse generator comprising: a first signal generating arm comprising a first inductor and a plurality of switching elements, each arranged to draw current through the first inductor; and a controller arranged to activate the plurality of switching elements in a predetermined sequence so as to generate a predetermined pulse waveform at a pulse generator output. The switching elements of the signal generating arm and the inductor together form a pulse synthesizer that takes the signal from the controller and uses it to synthesize an output pulse. Compared with conventional transmitter architectures, the functions of the upconversion mixer, the DAC, and the power amplifier are all performed by a single simplified circuit. This is both area efficient and power efficient.

Abstract: A pulse generator comprising: a first signal generating arm comprising a first inductor and a plurality of switching elements, each arranged to draw current through the first inductor; and a controller arranged to activate the plurality of switching elements in a predetermined sequence so as to generate a predetermined pulse waveform at a pulse generator output. The switching elements of the signal generating arm and the inductor together form a pulse synthesizer that takes the signal from the controller and uses it to synthesize an output pulse. Compared with conventional transmitter architectures, the functions of the upconversion mixer, the DAC, and the power amplifier are all performed by a single simplified circuit. This is both area efficient and power efficient.

Abstract: A range profile digitization circuit for converting a repeating analog input signal into a time series of digital amplitude values, the converter comprising: a signal quantizer arranged to receive the analog input signal and a threshold input and arranged to output a binary value quantized output signal based on a comparison of the input signal with the threshold signal; a plurality of samplers each arranged to sample and hold its input signal upon receipt of a trigger signal; and for each sampler: a plurality of decoders and a demultiplexer arranged to receive an output from the sampler and pass it to a selected one of said decoders based on a selector input. With a plurality of decoders associated with each of the samplers, each sampler can be re-used during the building up of the range profile.