CA1303687C - Subscriber unit for wireless digital telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A digital wireless subscriber telephone unit for wireless connection with a base station. The subscriber unit has a baseband processor which is coupled to storage means for the baseband functions. The baseband processor is direct access coupled to a modem processor whereby the two processors may communicate with each other. The modem processor generally acts as the master in the system, although lock-out means may be used in certain circumstances.
The signal from the modem processor is converted to an analog signal, which is subjected to deglitching, and the deglitched signal is then upconverted and filtered to form an IF signal which is thereafter amplified. The amplified IF signal is combined with a signal generated by a synthesizer to provide an RF signal. On the basis of certain signals received from the base station, the baseband processor produces initiating signals which determine whether the subscriber unit will be in the transmit mode or the receive mode. In intervals between actuation of the system, a training mode is used wherein a known signal from the modem processor is compared with looped-back signal to produce correction constants to compensate for undesirable variations in the IF, these constants being stored for use in correcting actual received signals. During demodulation, the modulated digital signals are fed to the modem processor in the form of time multiplexed I and Q samples and are demultiplexed. The demultiplexed I and Q samples are fed to an equalizer and frequency correction circuit for minimization of errors and for production of a frequency correction signal which is used to correct any errors in the timing of the system and in the output of the synthesizer.

Description

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-- l --This invention relates to a symbol time trac~ing and AFC system especially but not exclusively for use in a digital wireless telephone system wherein a subscriber unit is adapted to be in wireless connection with a base station.
The subscriber unit has a baseband processor which performs a number of functions including the transcoding of incoming and outgoing signals from one type of bit stream to another and the provision of echo cancellation. It also acts as a control microprocessor such as, for example by informing a synthesizer in the system as to the desired operational frequency to be used. It is, in addition, coupled to storage means for receiving and storing the various functions performed o-: received thereby.
The baseband processor is connected to a modem processor to which it is coupled by a direct access means that prevents simultaneous access by both of these processors, but the two processors do communicate with each other, and the modem processor, which acts as the master in the system, may access the baseband processor's memory through the direct access means. However, lock-out means are provided whereby, in certain circumstances, control of the baseband processor by the modem processor i, prevented.
The modem processor sends its signals, at a predetermined sampling rate, through a frequency translated complex signa' which is converted to an analog signal. This analog signal is subjected to deglitchincl by means of a blanking process. The deglitched signal is then upconverted and filtered to form an IF signal which is thereafter amplified. The frequency of the amplified IF signal is added to a frequency generated by the aforesaid synthesizer and the resultant R~ signal is amplified and passed to an antenna.
The subscriber unit utilizes continuously repetitive frames in which it transmits during one portion of each frame and receives during another portion thereof, these portions being designated "slots". On the basis of certain signals received from the base station, the baseband processor 0:~687 produces initiating signals which determine whether the subscriber unit will be in the transmit mode or the receive mode.
In intervals between actuation of the system, a training mode is used wherein a known signa~ from the modem processor is compared with a looped-bac~ signal to produce correction constants to compensate for undesirable variations in the IF signal due to variations in temperature, component values, etc. are obtained. These correction constants are stored for use in correcting actual received signals.
During the demodulation, the modulated digital signals are fed to the modem processor in the form of time multiplexed I and Q samples and are demultiplexed. The demultiplexed I and Q samples are fed to an equalizer and frequency correction circuit for minimization of errors, resulting in the production of frequency correction signals which are used to correct any errors in the timing of the system and in the output of the synthesizer.
According to the invention, there is provided a symbol timing tracking and AFC system comprising an input for a detected phase signal;
means for subtracting a phase correction value from the detected phase signal to provide a corrected phase signal;
means for quantizing the phase of the corrected phase signal to a predetermined increment;
means for subtracting the quantized phase signal from the corrected phase signal to provide a phase error signal;
and means for obtaining said phase error signal and computing both a phase correction value and a frequency correction signal therefrom.

BRIEF DESCR[PTION OF THE DRAWINGS

130:~687 Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a Subscriber unit embodying the present invention.
Figure 2 is a block diagram of the modulator portion of the modem processor shown in Fiyure 1.
Figure 3 is a block diagram of the DPSK conversion unit shown in Figure 2.
Figure 4 illustrates the structure and function of the FIR filter shown in Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a block diagram of the interpolator shown in Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a block diagram of the synthesizer shown in Figure 1.
Figure 7 is a modified form of the input portion of the system shown in Figure 1.
Figure 8 is a block diagram of the demodulator portion of the modem processor shown in Figure 1.
Figure 9 is a block diagram of the course frequency control module shown in Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a block diagram of the AFC and symbol timing module shown in Figure 8.

GLOSSARY
Glossary of acronyms and words used in the Specification ACRONYM DEFINITION
A/D Analog-to-Digital Converter 25 ADJ Adjustment Input AFC Automatic Frequency Control AGC Automatic Gain Control BLANKING Control means for causing a signal to be held at a predetermined amplitude level during actuation of the control means CODEC Combined Coder and Decoder CPE Customer Provided Equipment (telephone instrument) D/A Digital-to-Analog Converter 35 DMA Direct Memory Access 13~36~

DPSK Differential Phase Shift Keying Modulation DS Data Select EEPROM Electrlcally ~rasable Programable Read Only Memory 5 EPROM Erasable Programable Read Only Memory FIFO First-In First-Out Memory FIR Finite Impulse Response GLITCH Undesired Transient Signal HOLD Idle Mode 10 I In-Phase IF Intermediate Frequency Kbps Kilobits per second nS Nanosecond PAL Programable Array Logic 15 PCM Pulse Code Modulation PROM Programable Read Only Memory PSK Phase Shift Keying Modulation Q Quadrature RAM Random Access Memory 20 RELP Residual Excited Linear Prediction RF Radio Frequency R/W Read/Write S/H Sample and Hold SLIC Subscriber Loop Interface Circuit 25 STROBE Sampling Signal UART Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter VCXO Voltage Controlled Crystal Oscillator XF External Flag Output Used for Signalling Other Processors 30 SPECIFICATIt)N
This invention relates to communications systems for the wireless transmission of multiple information signals utilizing digital time division circuits between a base station and one or more subscriber s~.aiions, and it particularly relates to the structure and functioning of such '":
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~3t~36R7 a subscriber station.
Referring now in greater detail to the drawingswherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown in Figure 1 a connector 10 for connection to the customer-provided equipment (CPE). A line pair 12 leads from the connector lO to a SLIC 14 and is also connectable to a ringer circuit 16 through a relay 18. The SLIC 14 is a standard chip for providing various functions such as battery voltage, over-voltage production, ringing, signalling detection, as from a rotary dial, the handset status, line testing, etc. It also contains the hybrid which separates a plurality of voices into ingoing and outgoing signals. The SLIC 14 is coupled to a codec 20 having ingoing and outgoing lines to and from a baseband processor 22 whereby in the ingoing direction it converts analog voice signals to digital signals, i.e., 64 kbps u-law PCM, while in the outgoing direction, it converts the digital signals to analog voice signals. It may sometimes be desirable to bypass the codec so that the SLIC 14 is directly coupled to the baseband processor 22. There is an alternative access to the baseband processor through a connector 24 and a UART 26, which provides a direct digital connection to the baseband processor, thereby bypassing the SLIC and codec. This direct access connection serves two purposes: (1) to pass only digital signals, when so desired, there~v bypassing all analog connections, and (2) to allow direct access to the processors and memories for easy maintenance and test purposes.
The baseband processor 22 has several functions, one 30 of which is to conv~ert the 64 kbps PCM signal to 14.57 kbps by means of a transcoding function, which as, for example, provided by residual excited linear prediction (RELP). It also provides echo cancellation, and, in addition, acts like a control microprocessor, as, for example, by informing the synthesizer used in the system as to the desired operational frequency. The baseband processor 1:~36B 7 22 i5 coupled to a bootstrap memory chip 28 as well as to a serial EEPR~M 30, which is an electrically erasable, non-volatile memory where selected bits may be electrically erased without erasing other bits stored therein. This EEPROM 30 is used to store both the subscriber identification number and the network identification number (the base station with which it is used). In addition, the baseband processor 22 is coupled to a full speed RAM 32 in which it stores the signals received therein. The RAM 32 also includes a "cache" means, and, in addition, is used as a random access memory for RELP conversion, echo cancellation and other control functions. The baseband processor 22 is also coupled to a half-speed EPROM 34 and a full-speed PROM
36 which store the RELP and echo cancellation functions as well as various other functions such as the control function.
The baseband processor 22 is, in addition, coupled via direct memory access (DMA) 38 to a modem processor 40.
The DMA 38 prevents the occurrence of simultaneous access of RAM 32 by both the baseband and modem processors.
The DMA interface is used to transfer voice and control data between the baseband and modem processors. The modem processor 40 acts as the master and controls the ; baseband processor 22 via hold lines (not shown). The modem processor ao has the capability to access the baseband processor 22, halt its processing and cause the control lines, address and the data busses to assume the high impedance state of a three-state output. 1'his permits the modem processor 40 to access the baseband processor's DMA
memory through the DMA Interface and read or write to it.
This is accomplished by the modem processor 40 asserting 1.ts XF bit, which is gated to the baseband processor's Hold input. When the baseband processor receives this command, it will finish executing the current instruction, stop its processing, cause its control data and address busses to assume the high impedance state of a three-~- ~ state output: and then issue a Hold Acknowledge signal back to :~`

~036B7 the modem processor. Immediately after the modem processor issues the Hold command, it will continue on with other tasks while waiting for the baseband processor to send the Hold Acknowledge signal. Once the modem processor receives the Hold Acknowledge signal, it will take control of the baseband processor's control, data, and address buses and then read or write to the DMA RAM 32. After the modem processor completes accessing the DMA RAM, it will take away the Hold input on the baseband processor, which will then resume processing where it left off. The baseband processor also has the capability to lock out the modem processor by setting its own XF bit high. This bit is gated with the Hold from the modem processor and can override the Hold line at any point before the baseband processor goes into the Hold state. The modem processor uses 10 bits of the address bus and all 16 bits of the data bus. It also uses three control lines: Strobe, R/W, and DS
Either the baseband processor 22 or the modem processor 40, acting in either direction, may obtain signals from the RAM 32 in accordance with the signals described above. The two processors communicate with each other by way of a portion of RAM 32 that is set aside to be used as a cache. The modem processor 40 is also coupled to a full speed PROM 44 which contains the program for this processor.
The modem processor 40, in its modulation mode, sends its signals via a FIFO 46 to an interpolator 48, these signals being at a sampling rate of 320 kHz. The interpolator 48 effectively increases this sampling rate by 5 to convert it to 1600 kilosamples/second ~1.6 megasamples/second). The interpolator, in _onjunction with the crystal filter (hereinafter described), which acts as an integrator, effectively approximates a 5 tap FIR filter.
This usage of digital and analog hardware to implement an FIR
filter differs from the classic all digital hardware FIR
implementation. The interpolator output is fed into a PAL

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l3036a7 The PAL is configure~ as a type of mixer into which is fed a 400 kHz square wave, as indicated at 50, which comes from a timing generator 51, as well as the 1600 kilosamples,'second signal. The 1600 kilosamples/second signal represents a 16-kilosymbol/second PSK signal with a zero carrier and a desired 20 kHæ bandwidth. In effect, the PAL can be considered as a frequency trans~ator. The PAL
circuit which when configured to perform a 2's complement function controlled by a 400 kHz square wave effectively performs a time multiplexed quadrature mixing and effectively translates the 20 kHz wide baseband signal up to 400 kHz.
The output from the PAL 50 is a time multiplexed, frequency translated complex signal which is passed to the D/A converter 52 which converts the digital signal into an analog signal. The output from the D/A converter 52 is fed to a mixer ~4 into which is also fed a deglitching/blanking pulse 56 from a blanking generation module 58. Glitch energy is a major contribution to noise in a sampled data system.
Glitch energy occurs during transitions from one input word to another. In a D/A converter, each incoming bit, depending upon its state, may cause a change in output analog level.
Such changes resulting from the various bits usually do not occur simultaneously and therefore cause glitches. Classical solutions to this problem are the use of a sample and hold following the D/A or the use of a de-glitching D/A. Both of these alternatives, however, are unduly expensive.
"Blanking" returns the output of the mixer to an intermediate reference level during the transition periods, typically about 35 nS before and 130 nS after the digital switching times, thereby suppressing large glitch spikes that occur on the D/A output. Although blanking creates harmonics away from the center frequency of interest, the use of relatively tight IF filtering substantially removes these harmonics.
This blanking method also reduces the sampling rate content in the output.

131~3687 The output from mixer 5~, indicated at 60, is fed to a mixer 62 in an upconverter, generally designated 64. The mixer 62 has a 20 MHz input indicated at 65, which is common with a 20 MHz line 66. The output of mixer 62 is the sum of 20 MHz from input 65 and the 400 ~Hz signal received from mixer 54, with a resultant output of 20.4 MHz. This output is fed into a crystal filter 68 which passes only this sum, constituting the IF signal, to an amplifier 70.
A synthesizer is shown at 72. Within this synthesizer 72 is a synthesizer module which provides an output LOl. Also within the synthesizer module, a second circuit derives a second output LO2 wherein the output of LO2 tracks the output of LO1 at a frequency of 5 MHz below the frequency of LOl. The synthesizer uses as a reference the 80 MHz VCXO. The output LO1 is fed through line 74 to a mixer 76 which also receives the IF output from amplifier 70.
Since the IF signal has a value of 20.4 MHz, if, for example, a frequency of 455.5 MHz is desired at the output of mixer 76, the synt.hesizer is operated to generate a frequency of 20 435.1 MHz, which when added to the 20.4 MHz, gives the desired frequency of 455.5 MHz. This output is then amplified by a variable gain amplifier 80. The baseband processor 22, on the basis of decoding certain signals from the base station, sends a gain control signal on line 81, through a D/A converter 82, to the variable gain amplifier 80. Variable gain amplifier 80 has limited bandwidth and, therefore, does not pass the undesired difference frequency also produced by the mixer 76. The output of amplifier 80 is passed through line 83 to a power amplifier 84, which accomplishes the final amplification before the RF signal passes through a relay 86 to an antenna 88.
The unit employs a system whereby a frame repeats every 45 mi.liseconds. In this system, the unit transmits during a portion of the second half of each frame and receives during a portion of the first ha~f of the frame.
One configuration might be where both portions of the half ~303687 are of equal length (although they may not necessarily be equal). Another configuration (16-ary) might be where four equal length portions are available to the subscriber during an entire frame. Each of the four portions may be termed a slot. Each slot contains, as part of its initial data, a unique word which is used by the unit to establish timing for reception of the remaining data in the slot. The first slot of the four is preceded by an AM hole which is used to determine a slot arbitrarily designated by the base station as the first slot. The AM hole and the unique word are part of the incoming signal from the base station. The duration of the AM hole is used to determine whether a particular RF
channel is a control channel or a voice channel.
A data signal is derived from the average magnitude of the signal represented at 116. A threshold proportional to said average magnitude is compared to unaveraged magnitudes. If the threshold is not exceeded by said unaveraged magnitude for a predetermined period of time, it is assumed that an AM hole has been detected. The modem processor 40 stores the time at which the AM hole was determined 'o occur in RAM 32. The baseband processor, on the basis of (a) modulation mode (4-ary or 16-ary), (b) the time at which an AM hole occurred, as stored in RAM 32, and (c) the time at which a unique word was received, as separately determined by the baseband processor, produces initiating signals which indicate when the unit should be in a transmit mode or a receive mode. Such initiating signals are coupled via line 90 to frame timing module 91.
The frame timing module 91 converts the initiating ; 30 signals into two series of pulses. One series of pulses is connected via line 92 to enable power amplifier 84 and to actuate relay 86 so as to connect the output of amplifier 84 to antenna 88. During the period of the pulse on line 92, the unit is designated to be in the transmit mode. When relay 86 is not so actuated, it is configured to connect antenna 88 to the input of preamplifier 94.

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~303687 The other series of pulses from frame timing module 91 are connected via line 93 to a preamplifier 94 to enable this preamplifier. The unit is designated to be in the receive mode during this series of pulses. The preamplifier 5 94 passes received signals to a mixer 96, which also receives output LO2 from the synthesizer 72 through line 98. The output of mixer 96 is fed to a crystal filter 100, the output of which, in turn, is fed to an IF amplifier 102.
The modem processor 40 passes via line 89, the 10 aforementioned data signal, which is derived from the average magnitude of the signal represented at 116, to a D/A
converter 104 which produces an analog AGC voltage signal which passes through line 106 to amplifier 102, thereby indicating to this amplifier how much gain is required in 15 order to compensate so that the IF signal is always at the same amplitude. This amplifier also receives the output from crystal filter 100. The output from amplifier 102 passes to a mixer 108 into which is also applied an input of 200 kHz from line 109 to produce a resultant 400 MHz signal. This 20 400 kHz signal is then passed to an A/D module which consists of sample and hold circuits 110, and A/D converter 112 and a FIF0 114.
The output from the A/D conversion module is 64 kilosamples/second and this output is fed through line 116 25 into the modem processor 40. The modem processor 40 demodulates this signal and passes the demodulated data into the cache portion of RAM 32 which is accessecl by the baseband processor 22 in which the RELP conversion takes place. The resultant output has 64 kbps PCM on a continuous serial 30 basis. This output is fed to the codec, which converts it to an analog signal that is then fed to the SLIC which, in turn, feeds it to the telephone instrument; or, alternatively, the 16 kbps from the cache can be decoded into a digital signal which is fed to the UART 26.

When used in the training mode, a loopback is provided at 118 between two relays 120 and 122. This loopback, which is at the IF side rather than at the RF side, decreases the number of elements required. The training mode is that in which a known signal is sent out by the modem processor through the remainder of the transmitter elements set to IF amplifier 70. Because relays 120 and 122 are operated, the output of the amplifier 70 is connected to the input of crystal filter 100.
Additionally, an output of the baseband processor 22, indicated line 90, fuses to frame timing 91 and causes a pulse on line 93 to totally disable amplifier 94 during the training mode. Furthermore, during the training mode, frame timing 91 produces another pulse on line 92 which totally disables amplifier 84. The known signal generated by the modulator is compared with the actual signal returned to the demodulator. A subsidiary program is then set up to compensate for variations due to various factors such as variations in temperature, component values, etc. The correction constants are stored in the RAM 32. The modem applies these stored corrections to the received signals.
~he training mode takes place in intervals between actuation of the system.
The synthesizer module 72 contains an 80 MHz oscillator (VCX0) derived from the received signal. The 80 MHz signal qenerated by the oscillator goes through line 124 to a divide-by-4 circuit 126, the output of which goes to mixers 62 and 108. This output also goes to the two processors to provide clock pulses (square waves). In addition, it goes through line 124 to a divide-by-5 circuit 130 and then to timing module 51. The modem processor determines any difference in frequency between the center frequency of the input signal and a submultiple of the clock frequency.
Any resulting difference is applied by the modem processor, via line 132, to a D/A converter 134. The output 1:~03687 of the D~A converter 13~ is applied via line 136 and ADJ
input 138 to the VCX0 (hereinafter descrlbed) in such a manner as to change its frequency in the direction required to minimize the preceding resultin~ difference. A lock loss detector signal is applied throu~h line 140 to the baseband processor 22 to indicate when there is a loss of synchronization in the synthesizer.
The modem processor 40, as shown in Figure 2, comprises a DPSK converter 150 into which data is fed through line 152. The data is then fed at 16 kHz symbol/second rate, to a FIR filter 154. The output from FIR filter 154, indicated at 156, is asynchronous data comprising 10 complex samples/symbol, time-multiplexed IQ pairs. This output i5 fed to the FIF0 46, described above, where asynchronous to synchronous conversion takes place. The output from the FIFO
46, in the form of 160,000 pairs of data words/second, is fed into the interpolator 48, described above, which demultiplexes the IQ pairs, and remultiplexes the IQ samples at 1.6 MHz rate.
In a 16-ary modulation scheme, the binary input sequence is divided up into 4-bit symbols. In 16-ary PSK, the 4-bit symbols determine the phase of the carrier during the given symbol period. The task of converting the binary input to the PSK waveform is performed by the modulator.
Figure 3 shows how a sequence of samples (S), shown ~ at 160, is transformed into a sequence of Inphase (I) and ; Quadrature (Q) samples in the DPSK converter 150 of the modem ; processor 40. The symbols are first inverse Gray encoded, as shown at 162. This is done to minimize the number of bit errors that occur due to the most likely incorrect symbol decisions in the demodulator.
The output of the inverse Gray encoder 162 is fed into a phase quantizer 164 which determines the absolute phase value ~, introduced by the current symbol. This phase value is then fed into the differential encoded 166 which computes the absolute phase value ~ j' represents the ' , , - .
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~303687 modulo 16 sum of the current differential phase O, and the previous phase ~-fl.
~j' = (~j + ~ - ~') MOD 16 The modulo 16 addition corresponds to the modulo 360 addition that is performed when adding angles.
The differential phase ~j' is fed into cos and sin lookup tables to compute the I and Q components of the current symbol.
The I and Q samples are fed into the 6-tap Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter 154 shown more specifically in Figure 4. The function of the FIR filter is to create an oversampled PSK waveform from the I and Q samples. The Q
samples are fed into a bank of ten 6-tap FIR filters labelled "hj,j" (j = 1 through 10). Similarly, the I samples are fed into a bank of ten filters labelled "hQj". The outputs of these 20 filters are time division multiplexed as shown onto a single parallel bus that runs at a sampling rate which is ten times the sampling rate of the I,Q pairs at the input of the filter.
The interpolator 48, shown more specifically in Figure 5, comprises an input 180 and a relay 182 that is connected to the PAL 50 by a line 183, the relay 182 being movable between the input 180 and a line 184. Optionally insertable in the line 183 is a multiplier 185 that may be used to multiply the inputs from the line 183 as well as an optional input 187 that may be applied from the modem processor or from any desired auxiliary memory. The relay 182 is connected to the PAL 50 by the line 183 and the line 184 leads from the I memory 186 which has an input 188 from the Q memory 190. A 1.6 MHz input is provided for both the I/Q and Ç/I memories as indicated at 192 and 194 respectively. The interpolator demultiplexes the multiplexed I.Q samples at a 160 kHz rate and then resamples and remultiplexes at an 800 kHz rate.
The synthesizer 72, functionally described above, is illustrated in Figure 6, where there is shown an 80 MHz VCXO

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module 200 that receives a si~nal from the ADJ input 138.
This input controls the exact frequency of the VCX~ module.
The output from the VCX0 module is connected via line 202 to the synthesizer 204. This synthesizer 204 is capable of synthesizing frequencies between 438.625 and 439.65 MHz in appropriate synchronism with the signals over line 202. The particular frequency is selected by an input signal over line 128 (also shown in Figure 1).
The output of the synthesizer 204 is fed, via line 206 and filter 208 to become LOl. The output of synthesizer 204 is also fed, via line 210, to a synchronous translator 212. The output of the VCXO 200 is fed through line 214 to a divide by 16 module 216, the 5 MHz output of which is fed through line 218 to the synchronous translator module 212.
The output on line 214 is also connected to a reference output 221.
Module 212 subtracts the 6 MHz input from line 218 from the frequency on line 210, producing a difference frequency that is fed, via filter 220, to become LO2. In this manner, the frequencies appearing as LO2 vary between 433.625 and 434.65 MHz, whereby the frequency of the L02 is always 5 MEIz below the frequency of LO1.
Additionally, the output from the synthesizer 204, via line 222, and the output from the synchronous translator 212, via line 224, are combined in a synchronization detector 226 in such manner that if either the frequency on line 206 is not synchronous with the frequency on line 202 or the frequency output of synchronous translator 212 is not synchronous with the combination of the frequency on line 206 and the output frequency of the divide-by-16 module 216, a loss of synchronization (lock loss) signal is sent on line 140 (also shown in Figure 1 ).
The particular combination of one synthesizer 204 plus the divide-by-16 module 216 and the synchronous translator .'12 provides the same function as the two separate synthesizers previously used, but with fewer parts, greater '' '. :~
,~ , '~ 30~6~37 stability, easier tolerances, etc.
Figure 7 illustrates a preferred circuit to test the customer interface. In this respect, the modem processor 22 (shown in Figure 1) digitally generates a 1 kHz sine wave that is passed to the codec 20 (shown in Figure 1) that converts it to an analog sine wave which is, in turn, passed through the hybrid function of the SLIC 14 to line pair 12.
A relay K (not shown in Figure 1) is inserted immediately adjacent the connector 10 so that it may disconnect the connector from the circuit. Any reflected signal from the unterminated line pair 12 at the open relay K is returned through the hybrid function of the SLIC and is converted to a digital signal by the codec 20. This digital signal is fed to the baseband processor 22 which compares the reflected signal with the originating signal and determines whether any undesired impedances or connections, e.g. grounds, are present on the line pair 12.
Figure 8 illustrates the demodulator portion of the modem processor 40 and shows the 400 kHz output from the mixer 108 (shown in Figure 1) applied to the high precision sample and hold circuit 110, which has an aperture uncertainty of 25 nanoseconds or less, the output of which is passed to the A/D converter 112. The output of A/D converter 112 is fed through line 116 to the modem processor (all as shown in Figure 1). The input at line 116 comprises time multiplexed I and Q samples (which may have some cross-product distortion) in the form of two complex sample pairs/symbol. Said time multiplexed I and Q samples are applied to the demultiplexer 298 where they are demultiplexed. The demultiplexed I and Q samples are applied to an equallzer module 300 whose objectives are to minimize (a) error energy of the received data stream, (b) modified error energy of the data stream delayed by 0.05 T (T being 1/16000 of a second), (c) modified error energy of the data stream advanced by 0.05 T, (d) energy of the data stream from the adjacent:upper channel (desired receive frequency plus 25 i303687 - l7 -kHz), and (e) energy from the data stream of the adjacent lower channel (desired receive fre~uency minus 25 kHz).
The equalizer is a complex 28 tap FIR filter wherein the filter weights are determined by minimizing the above five objectives. For this purpose, five traininy signals are generated by the modulator. These are: (a) a signal at the desired frequency wherein the receiver and transmitter clocks are synchronized, (b) the same signal as (a) but wherein the receiver clock is advanced with respect to the transmitter clock by 0.05 T, (c) the same signal as (b) except that it is delayed by 0.05 T, (d) the same signal as (a) but wherein the carrier frequency is increased by 25 kHz, and (e) the same signal as (d) except that the carrier frequency is decreased by 25 kHz. In cases (d) and (e), to create the training signal with a 25 kHz deviation, the modem processor shifts the transmi~ FIR filter coefficients by 25 kHz.
By comparing the actual inputs during the presentations of each of the five training signals with a set of desired outputs, a set of weighting coefficients is obtained, which when implemented in the equalizer, achieve the aforementioned objectives. These weighting coefficients are stored in the RAM 32.
The equalized I and Q samples are fed into a module 302 which produces an output which is the arc tangent of the ratio of the equalized Q and I samples. This output, shown at 304, rep-^esents the phase of the received signal.
The e~ualized I and Q samples are also simultaneously fed to a course frequency module 306, shown in greater detail in Figure 9. The I and Q samples are summed to produce a lower sideband 308 (as shown in Figure 9), and simultaneously the difference between the I and Q samples is formed to produce an upper sideband 310. A magnitude calculation is then performed on both the upper and lower sidebands, as indicated at: 312 and 314. The difference operation between the magnitudes take place at 316. This difference indicated at 318, represents a frequency error.

As shown in Figure 8, the output 304 of the arc tangent module 302 is fed to the AFC and symbol time tracking module 320 (which is shown in greater detail in Figure 10).
The phase correction value, indicated at 322 in Figure 10, is subtracted from the detected phase 304, resulting in the corrected phase indicated at line 324. The corrected phase 324 is fed into a symbol detector 326 which detects the current symbol in terms of the phase value and quantizes the phase to the nearest 22.5 degree increment. The quantized phase, indicated at 328, is subtracted from the corrected phase 324 at 330. This results in the phase error signal indicated at 332. This error signal 332 is fed into a second order loop filter, generally indicated at 334, which computes the phase correction value, indicated at line 336, as well as the frequency correction signal, shown at 338. This frequency correction signal is applied to the VCXO through line 132 shown in Figure 1.
The error signal 332 is fed through line 340 to a symbol timing tracking module 342 which also receives the output from the symbol detection module 326 through line 344.
The symbol timing tracking module 342 contains an algorithm which tracks the phase over a number of predetermined symbols, looking at the starting phase of the first symbol ; and the phase of the last symbol, and then determines the slope. It tries to determine from the phase versus time function where the zero crossings that actually occurred and comparing them with where they should have occurred, a timing adjustment is computed that will correct for the difference.
The symbol clock will be adjusted at the beginning of the ; 30 next slot. The symbol timing tracking module 342 provides an output 346 which is applied to the timing module 51 (shown in Figure 11.
The frequency correction signal 338 from the AFC and symbol timing module 320 is applied to a weighting module 348 ` 35 (as shown in Figure 8) where it is weighted. The output 350 from module 348 is fed into a summing module 352 where signal ~, ''``

350 is summed with the output 318 of module 306 to provide an output 354 which is applied to the D/A converter 134. The output from D/A converter is shown in Figure 1 as being applied to the synthesizer at 13~.
Although the invention, as described above, provides for various separate elements, it is possible to include the functions of many of these elements such as, for example, the full speed PROM 44, the FIFO 46, the interpolator 48 and the PAL 50, within a modem processor of sufficiently large capacity. This may also be true of such elements as the frame timing 91, the blanking generation 58, the timing means 51, the divide-by-4, the divide-by-5 and some or all of the synthesizer 72. Furthermore, the baseband processor and the modem processor may also be combined in a simple unit which may also include the codec and the UART.

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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS :
A symbol timing tracking and AFC system comprising an input for a detected phase signal;
means for subtracting a phase correction value from the detected phase signal to provide a corrected phase signal;
means for quantizing the phase of the corrected phase signal to a predetermined increment;
means for subtracting the quantized phase signal from the corrected phase signal to provide a phase error signal;
and means for obtaining said phase error signal and computing both a phase correction value and a frequency correction signal therefrom.