NO323222B1 - Repeater and transponder system, as well as repeater or transponder for use in such system - Google Patents

Description

Introduction

The present invention relates to a repeater system and transponder system for wireless and wire-based networks as stated in the introductory part of the attached patent claim 1, and a repeater or transponder for use in such a system, as stated in the introductory part of the attached patent claim 25.

Background

In a transponder, a radio frequency signal is sent to a transponder, which in turn retransmits the signal, preferably with emphasized information from the transponder. The purpose of a transponder can therefore be partly a signal repeater, partly exchange of information with the transponder. Some transponders work indirectly, others directly. In indirect retransmission, the signal is received and sent out in sequence. With direct retransmission, the signal is sent out at the same time as it is received. In the latter case, the transponder acts as an amplifier. Transponders that act as amplifiers are, with traditional technology, expensive and difficult to realize and provide little amplification. This is mostly due to the problem of achieving sufficient insulation between input and output. They have therefore had little application in the various relevant areas for wireless communication and radio navigation. It has previously been shown that transponders can be realized as simple, injection-locked oscillators. These have properties that severely limit the areas of use. An example of application is in phase-controlled antennas, but even there the use is limited due to a small locking bandwidth, which will typically be a few ten-thousandths of the carrier frequency and also requires a CW signal. It has previously been shown how an injection-locked oscillator can be improved, particularly with regard to locking bandwidth, with so-called quenching, i.e. switching of the oscillator (US3705385). The lock bandwidth is still small, typically a few thousandths of the carrier frequency and a CW signal is still required for the signal repetition to work satisfactorily and is often limited to FM modulated CW. Furthermore, the locking is very dependent on the signal dynamics and generally only works for strong CW signals. It also seems to have been believed that the carrier frequency itself had to be phase-locked in order for a number of transponders to work together without interference and this may also have been a reason why the super-regenerative principle has been overlooked for such applications. Another reason is that it is a far greater technological challenge to get an oscillator to work as intended in super-regenerative mode than in injection-locked mode, which in addition to constructional challenges also places great demands on the components' properties. This is because the super-regenerative action generally occurs or is effective only in a narrow region of the bias characteristic of the oscillator, while the injection-locked operation occurs over the entire remainder of the characteristic. As explained here, the quenched, injection-locked oscillator has such great limitations that it is not applicable for purposes that require large signal dynamics and bandwidth, and that other disadvantages, such as reliability, also limit practical application. This is proven by the fact that previously described and patent-applied technologies have not come into use and is due to several factors, some of the most important of which are unreliable frequency locking and narrow applicable information bandwidth.

From US patent no. 2,262,838 it is known that electric signaling system with transponders. The transponders are based on a super-regenerative principle, and include a quench generator. However, the system is based on the use of radio tubes.

It is further known from US patent no. 3,231,826 a one-port parametric amplifier connected to a transmission medium. The amplifier is of analog type with high gain for high bandwidth applications, and based on semiconductor components. The amplifier comprises a time-varying non-linear reactance which, at a pump frequency, is supplied with electrical energy for regeneration and reflected amplification of an incoming signal, and selectivity devices for both input and output signals. Thereby, given selectivity requirements for the amplifier's analogue bandpass characteristics are satisfied, which selectivity requirements are adapted to information bandwidth, sideband and pump frequency and ideal interference isolation between system medium and transmission medium. This amplifier thus shows some kinship to the present invention, but does not indicate anything about super-regenerative technology.

From US patent no. 4,398,283 a duplex-mode SHF telecommunication device is known for use as a repeater or transponder in wireless networks.

US patent no. 4,398,283 joins the series of descriptions and inventions where the super-regenerative principle is primarily used to obtain a simple receiver construction or a simple high-frequency "front-end" of a receiver. It is also one of several where a transmitter function is based on a quenched oscillator that achieves stable CW oscillations in the active part of the pulses.

The description in US 4,398,283 has a few and relatively peripheral features in common with the present invention, but the text is limited to a microwave duplex transceiver where the principles are applicable to both two or more duplex units that work simultaneously, and it is limited to the use of frequency modulation using of a frequency modulated quench oscillator. This technique cannot cause the incoming carrier with or without modulation to be retransmitted with or without superimposed modulation or information from the transponder.

US 4,398,283 clearly does not describe a transponder or repeater where the incoming signal is sent back amplified by the regenerative coupling, i.e. where phase, frequency, amplitude and any modulation are taken. The patent delimits the applicability of microwave duplex telephone systems. The principle can be compared to a homodyne transceiver (also called direct conversion) where quenching is also used to increase receiver sensitivity and achieve down-conversion to a heterodyne intermediate frequency unit for amplification and selectivity. A seriously undesirable result of a quenched oscillator for sending and receiving as stated in US 4,398,283 is thus problematic electromagnetic coexistence.

US 4,398,283 is characterized in that each transceiver generates a CW carrier which, due to quenching, will appear with a number of sidecarrier waves. This means that the transmitted signal will occupy at least 10, hide 20-30 times greater bandwidth than is necessary in relation to information bandwidth. This is completely unacceptable in today's regulatory context, even at frequencies above 10 GHz which US 4,398,283 emphasizes with regard to the applications. 11979, which is the year of creation of the document, it may have been considered acceptable

Transmitted power is determined by the length of the pulses where there is a constant CW amplitude (pulse length). The CW oscillation imposes a number of limitations. It limits super-regenerative gain, signal dynamics, intermodulation characteristics and crystal characteristics, and this will apply to all transceivers that are part of the system. These parameters also depend on the conditions for frequency and phase locking of the SHF (super high frequencies) between the CW oscillations on the SHF between the transceivers, and are not touched upon in the description. The limitations are serious and may be the explanation why the patent has not gained any known distribution.

An important result of the present invention is that the dynamics of the transmitted signal is dependent on the received one. With random self-oscillations, the carrier to noise of the transmitted signal will often vary from 0 upwards. With weaker or diffuse self-oscillations, the ratio will vary accordingly. The maximum energy emitted can still be constant. This provides decisive properties in terms of signal dynamics and bandwidth. Every gain element has a limited dynamic range. If prominent CW oscillations exist, these will be allowed to determine the connection's dynamic range based on several contexts, including ringing.

In the US patent's Figure 6, it is clearly stated that SHF oscillator 1 generates CW oscillations which is the SHF carrier to which the text of the patent refers. It is further described in the following text:

column 1, line 49: "which delivers a carrier to an antenna" and

column 5, lines 63-64: "pulses will be as long as possible to obtain the most SHF power possible."

column 6, lines 1-3: "... provided that the quench frequencies FdB, FdC, etc. of stations B, C, etc. are different from each other and that station A..."

This clearly shows that transmitted signal power is not directly linked to regenerative super-regenerative amplification, but to the pulse length. Furthermore, it shows that super-regenerative amplification is subordinate to the super-heterodyne amplification at intermediate frequency in the construction, because the super-regenerative amplification will decrease with increased pulse length. A construction such as that shown in US 4,398,283 would also be entirely dependent on an AGC circuit to provide stable amplification. However, something like this is not described in the patent.

It may be added that US 4,398,283 does not describe a super-regenerative system with a band-pass filter on the input port or other special measures for selectivity. This known solution from many other publications is therefore not in accordance with the requirements for unwanted emissions in wireless applications. Immunity against signals on neighboring channels and against noise will be correspondingly limited, and applies to all types of applications. US 4,398,283 therefore has no practical industrial application in reality, and is completely excluded from any commercial, industrial application with current requirements for system stability or strict regulations. The only exception is wireless with narrow bandwidth and low power over very short distances, where radiated power can be safely kept below the limits that apply to regulations or EMC limits. RFID applications such as payment systems require bandwidths and effects that fall under regulatory provisions, and are therefore a typical example of an application where the principles of the patent cannot be applied. Commercial applications with dissemination of the principles in US 4,398,283 are also not generally known. US 4,398,283 does not describe wired applications.

In the present invention, carrier frequency selectivity is essential. The ability of the invention to meet regulatory provisions and cross-channel isolation is in today's telecom applications a given necessity both for reasons of emission and immunity to signals and noise. In the present invention, a selective bandpass filter can also be an integral part of or integrate the functions of the antenna or resonant element in the super-regenerative oscillator, for example by using a dielectric or piezoelectric element. It should be pointed out that the probable reason why US 4,398,283 or other patented solutions with a super-regenerative effect do not describe one or more selective devices on both input and output is that many conventional band-pass filter solutions or resonant elements will have a phase response which will cause the super-regenerative the effect becomes unstable or ringing as a result of the complex parameters introduced by the filter. It is therefore also important to point out that the present invention can take advantage of both conventional and rather unconventional selectivity devices with phase responses that provide stable regenerative or super-regenerative effect. It is also mentioned that the super-regenerative device can have several stages, for example input, regenerative stage (quenched oscillator or amplifier), output stage to provide the properties on which the present invention is based. Combinations of high-pass, low-pass and notch functions are effective. In the microwave it is considerably easier and very cheap. Application of regenerative technology such as in this invention which meets regulatory requirements as well as requirements for immunity and emission in neighboring channels, is new, and is utilized in the invention for a completely new application of the technology, namely an efficient, regenerative repeater or frequency mixer with very high mixing gain (conversion gain).

In US 4,398,283 these necessities and possibilities have clearly not been taken into account, had the opportunity for or seen. This is made clear by the fact that the super-regenerative oscillator is described as being able to be implemented with Gunn diodes, Impatt diodes and avalanche diodes. Such oscillators are per definition associated with TEM mode resonant chambers or stripline or microstripline resonant elements, all of which will have far too large a bandwidth to meet regulatory provisions or channel specifications. US 4,398,283 mentions that the frequency spectrum is reduced by the most sinusoidal quenching possible, which is also known from other patents that use quenching. Sinusoidal quenching only provides a small delimitation of the frequency spectrum, and has no practical use for avoiding, for example, the neighboring channels. In this invention, however, the quench generator can be a function generator. The significance of this is that complex quench signal functions can also be used to define the frequency spectrum for the transponder's response and emission.

With transponders that work according to the super-regenerative principle (ref. Pat.s. NO20001057), these problems are solved. With the new technology, both signal amplification, indirect repetition, transmission, reception and interrogation can be realized very cheaply and efficiently. The super-regenerative transponder is also a switched oscillator, but operates in a different mode than an injection-locked oscillator and requires special conditions for its full potential to be utilized as in the present invention. However, when these conditions are satisfied, the super-regenerative coupling has superior advantages and cannot in some important areas be replaced by injection-locked oscillators. The super-regenerative principle is therefore far more suitable for practical applications. The super-regenerative transponder works in principle as a one-port amplifier with high gain and therefore works equally well over a very wide frequency range and preferably for a multiple of signals in contrast to a locked quenchet oscillator (US3705385). Such locking when necessary is possible over a much larger dynamic range than the locking of carrier frequency in the locked oscillator types and means e.g. that significantly greater attenuation is allowed between transponders in a chain of such transponders. The super-regenerative oscillator or transponder can also be considered a "sampling oscillator" where the squench frequency can be considered a sampling frequency. The use of the super-regenerative properties in this way is new because such transponders have not been realized cheaply with other technologies. The super-regenerative principle has been poorly understood and all known published and patented versions of the super-regenerative principle, mainly applied to reception, show that the function is poorly understood and poorly exploited. An example is the lack of descriptions and solutions regarding the importance of shielding and filtering the squench frequency from the input of the super-regenerative coupling to avoid harmonics destroying the dynamics of the super-regenerative coupling. These are absolutely crucial parameters to be able to utilize the super-regenerative principle as in the present invention. Instead, it is often established that the squench frequency is limited upwards in frequency to 1e-3 to 1e-4 of the carrier frequency (center frequency). The squench frequency is of decisive importance for the transponder's performance and will often have to be selected as high as possible. Often the squench frequency is also injected in such a way that the super-regenerative dynamic range is severely limited and shows how poorly the coupling is understood. Prior to NO2001057, it was also not shown how unwanted transmission of signals or inter- and cross-modulation products should be reduced and thus how a quenched oscillator should be able to function in accordance with standards. Developments in component technology have also made it possible to make better use of the super-regenerative principle with very low-power solutions and therefore provide the opportunity to think of innovations using this principle. The super-regenerative transponder is an oscillator, but without a stable oscillation unlike the injection-locked oscillator types. The active element can have an input and an output and is therefore also in many cases a two-port. But the output is always part of the feedback loop in that it affects the phase rotation in this and therefore does not need to interfere with the input. It is the only known connection that can be realized with active components so that you get very high amplification (40 to 100 dB) for a large frequency band and for a multiple of different signals, while isolation between input and output does not prevent practical realization. This is in sharp contrast to other technologies that typically only manage a maximum of 20 dB. It is also cheap to realize and can be reproduced with good tolerances. It is a signal booster or direct repeater, but can also function as an indirect repeater or transmitter/receiver unit (transceiver) by being injected with a carrier wave from an external source while it is often modulated. It is also characterized by the fact that it may be the only possible technology to realize transmitter/receiver units (transceivers) at very high frequencies (cm and mm bands).

Nodes in some signaling or data networks can be considered indirect repeaters. Examples of such are mobile phones or mobile systems (eg GSM, GPRS, UMTS, TETRA). If nodes or stations in such systems are to be used for retransmission, the data bandwidth is significantly reduced, usually halved. The same applies to nodes in Wireless LAN, Bluetooth and other wireless data networks. That is probably the reason why repetition functions are often not implemented in the mentioned systems. There is a great need for a new system which is compatible with existing and future wireless network and communication systems and which can repeat the signals in both directions. There is also a need for cheap and efficient technology in nodes for such networks that can also perform repetition functions without reducing bandwidth during repetition. In some cases, it will be necessary for the transponders to be intelligent.

The development of radio-based wireless networks for large bandwidths that must use very high frequencies (10-200 GHz) has been limited by the fact that it is too expensive to realize transmitters, receivers and transceivers. It has not previously been possible to create a simple transponder with great dynamics for such frequencies. At the same time, there is a need to realize cheap, local wireless networks with bandwidths of more than 100 Mbit/s. There is therefore a great need for a system technology that allows the realization of cheap networks in the cm and mm wave ranges.

In wire or cable-based communication systems the same applies as for wireless systems. Line amplifiers are expensive to realize and most often they can amplify the signals only one way. Examples of line amplifiers that are bidirectional are older types of amplifiers for telephone lines that have very low gain and are only used for low frequencies. Examples of line amplifiers that have high gain but are unidirectional are cable TV amplifiers used for data communications. For high frequency, it has been possible to make line amplifiers with limited isolation between the amplifier's input and output with resulting low useful gain and thus very limited applications. There is therefore a need for a new principle for amplifying signals along a signal cable using simple methods that require little or no intervention in the system.

In power grid monitoring and communication, it has previously been necessary to insert amplifiers into the lines or cables to remedy the signal losses. This is very expensive and can cost several hundred thousand kroner per deposited unit. Thus, there can only be a few amplifiers along the lines with a very low communication bandwidth as a result. There is therefore a need for a new principle for amplifying signals along power grids using simple methods that require little or no intervention in existing installations and that make it possible to realize far greater transmission bandwidth and flexibility.

In power grid monitoring and communication over the distribution grid where the data transmission must include so-called access networks for broadband transmission and other communications with subscribers, the range is limited to 100-300 meters due to losses. Inserted amplifiers are very expensive to realize and to install and indirectly repeat reduces the data bandwidth. As a result, it is often problematic to route the signals between users and other devices such as routers, master stations, hub devices. With known technology, there are also no solutions that can easily and cheaply carry signals without galvanic coupling past natural divisions in an energy network, e.g. transformers. There is therefore a need for a new principle for amplifying signals in electricity networks that are used as access networks using simple methods that require little or no intervention in the system.

In communication systems of various kinds, local shadow zones for coverage will easily arise. This particularly applies to mobile communications, such as GSM, GPRS, UMTS, TETRA and tier. In the past, it has not been possible to realize cheap transponder or repeater systems that amplify the signals in a simple way and seal up coverage gaps or shadow zones. Previous technologies have not been able to amplify the signals sufficiently and it has therefore been necessary to build a base station to cover a dead zone. Therefore, in many cases, one has had to accept such dead zones, such as along roads, in buildings, ships, ferries, etc.. Along roads there are often power lines that could be carriers for or host small transponders and that could also supply power those with e.g. inductive transfer of the moderate energy needed. With known technology, it is neither easy nor cheap to connect shielded rooms in buildings, ships, etc. bidirectionally to the outside world so that coverage is achieved. There is therefore a need for a new principle for amplifying signals in mobile communication systems using simple and cheap methods that also use little power. Correspondingly, there is a general need for a new technology that allows simple signal repetition or signal amplification for radio applications within systems and equipment for broadcasting and communication. This particularly applies to applications for local, geographical areas.

In other communication systems where passive high-frequency technology or low transmitter effects are used, such as in RFID chips, the margins are often small so that varying conditions for various reasons cause communication problems. There is a great need for a cheap, low-power transponder technology that can easily amplify the signals in both directions and which can, for example, be mounted on or near such a low-power device. In this case, it is natural to call the transponder a "signal booster" (English).

Also in optical signal transmission systems, there may be a need for a new technology which, in the same way as the super-regenerative principle of radio waves, by means of loose coupling to an optical waveguide or another optical medium amplifies the signals.

Purpose

It is therefore a main purpose of the present invention to provide a very universal, at the same time cheap and power-efficient system for repeating high-frequency signals individually or several together based on individual or several super-regenerative transponders which are easy to install and supply power and which require little or no intervention in existing other communication technologies or infrastructures or equipment so that wireless and wired network systems with entirely new ranges, bandwidths, specifications and applications can be realized for existing communication technologies and infrastructures. The purpose of the invention is also that new types of communication systems should be able to be realized based on the invention's simplicity and high performances which are either not possible in any other way or are too expensive to realize. The purpose is that the system should be able to work both for direct and indirect signal repetition, one- and two-way communication and interrogation. The purpose of the invention is also that it should be able to work both when the frequency bands for uplink and downlink are the same and when they are different. It is also the purpose of the invention that it should be able to work both when the signal dynamics for uplink and downlink or in different directions are the same and when they are different. It is also the purpose of the invention that it should be able to work for most forms of modulation.

The invention

The object of the invention is achieved with a repeater system and transponder system as indicated at the outset, and which are characterized by the features listed in the characterizing part of patent claim 1. Further features appear from the associated independent claims.

In another aspect of the invention, a repeater or transponder is provided as indicated at the outset, and which is characterized by the features listed in the characterizing part of the attached patent claim 25.

Completely independent of the way in which the invention is realized in detail, the principle can be described as a communication system consisting of one or more transponders of the super-regenerative type. The use of super-regenerative transponders means that great amplification is achieved in an efficient, simple and cheap way without isolation between input and output and means that the transponders can cope with small antennas or in wired networks they do not need to be galvanically connected to lines or cables. Spreading capacitances can often be a satisfactory part of the connection of transponders in the present invention and this is more effective with high frequencies. The use of super-regenerative transponder in the present invention means that a large amplification of a signal is achieved without frequency transposing the signal or introducing directional attenuation. At the same time, directional damping can be introduced for reasons of e.g. echo, standing waves and multipath transmission, e.g. in wireless systems where two directional antennas can be used. In wire-based systems, the system works in the same way, but directional couplers can also be introduced. Because the invention makes possible very large amplification without requiring attenuation between input and output, directional couplers in connection with lines can easily be realized with loose couplings, usually inductively at lower frequencies and as transmission line couplers at higher frequencies. The transponders in the present invention can use a carrier wave with a double sideband, a carrier wave with a single sideband or only a single sideband. Reception and retransmission in this way is determined by filtering in the transponders and any modulation in the transponders. Sideband selection can be used as a very simple form of frequency transposition to optimize a network or adapt the transponders to existing technologies. Squench frequencies in the systems included in the present invention for direct repetition of signals and with several super-regenerative transponders must, due to interference considerations, meet higher stability requirements than in transponders with indirect signal repetition, i.e. where the information is received and sent out in sequence. How strict the requirements are depends on the type of modulation to be transmitted, e.g. FSK, PSK, QPSK etc.. A fundamental difference compared to locked oscillators in terms of technical realization is that one with the super-regenerative principle avoids the problem of lock slip at high frequencies, even though the super-regenerative transponder must in many cases have phase locking at the quench frequency. The difference is that the squench frequency is much lower and that the locking here can be done with a small loop bandwidth and thus can be done with simple connections. An injection-locked squench oscillator of the RC, crystal or ceramic types is such a simple solution. The sequencing frequency in the transponders can be controlled from a very stable frequency source in each transponder or be frequency and phase locked to a common signal that is sent out in the network or to each other (self-locking squench generator). Frequency and phase locking of the squench generator with even such simple solutions will work over a large dynamic range, usually right down to the transponder's intrinsic noise level as a result of implicitly high loop gain and relatively narrow loop bandwidth for the locking. The individual transponders in the present invention can be intelligent and can perform tasks other than forwarding the received signal. The individual transponders can also function as connection nodes in the network, i.e. information can be sent both ways via the transponder, e.g. with a PC or a sensor platform.

Uplink and downlink can have different transponder systems. For one direction, a different bandwidth or power limit may be required than the other. Two or more transponder systems can be combined in one unit.

Several transponders in the present invention can be connected in parallel directly or indirectly to increase dynamics or bandwidth or both. The invention therefore has very generous theoretical limit values for achievable bandwidth and dynamics, and the theoretical values are far from being realizable in practice. The invention thus allows signal repetition to pass successively through a smaller or larger number of transponders to achieve long range without losing usable signal dynamics or information bandwidth. When echoes, standing waves, multipath interference are a problem, e.g. for large information bandwidths, with the present invention it is easy to introduce directional sensitivity due to large amplification such as e.g. can be used so that different transponders take care of different transmission directions. The present invention can thus e.g. arranged so that each repetition unit contains a transponder system for each of two transmission directions in the system.

In order to achieve great dynamics, high sensitivity and great bandwidth in the super-regenerative transponders in the present invention, it is important how the squench signal is injected, both with regard to where it is injected or connected and how it is filtered. This can be solved in several ways as long as one takes into account that harmonics of the quench frequency should not reduce the dynamics of the transponder. One way this can be achieved is to design the super-regenerative coupling with an input and output, where the input is most sensitive to the incoming signal, and to supply the squench signal at the output, where the coupling is least sensitive to incoming signals, for example via bias bias, through a filter arranged for the purpose, and thus take advantage of the isolation that is implicit in the amplification element between input and output. In this way, better dynamic properties are achieved and a higher squench frequency can be used for increased information bandwidth in the transponder. As shown in NO20001057, this can be combined with filtering on the high frequency side to remove unwanted transmitted signals and reduce inter- and cross-modulation products. The use of sharp filtering also improves the characteristics of the transponders when several of them work together in the same frequency band. Ringing in the high-frequency resonant circuits can be reduced by squench-controlled attenuation of the resonant circuits if constant attenuation is not sufficient. In some cases, in order to optimize the properties of the present invention, squench control can be introduced at several levels, e.g. by controlling varactor diodes in the resonator networks, but in such a way that it does not destroy the dynamic properties due to harmonic energy from the quench frequency. Introducing quenching at several levels, possibly with several quench frequencies, is a controlled way of improving the super-regenerative properties in contrast to corresponding functions in primitive, simple, self-squenched super-regenerative receivers in known technology where unintended spurious oscillations can randomly improve the super-regenerative operation. The important thing in this context is to control the duty cycle for the super-regenerative oscillator at the same time that it should not oscillate stably during a duty cycle, i.e. that without a signal input it should not have any continuous, repeated oscillations with the same period number or frequency. In the opposite case, the oscillator changes its character drastically and becomes, without any signal, a lockable oscillator with a carrier frequency and sidebands with a distance to the carrier frequency and each other equal to the quench frequency.

The super-regenerative transponder in the present invention is a switched or modulated oscillator, but operates in a different mode than an injection-locked oscillator, and in the present invention special conditions are therefore met for its full potential to be utilized. With no signal input, it only emits noise, where the noise level is mostly dependent on the dynamic range and bandwidth of the super-regenerative transponder. Bias and quenching is done so that the high-frequency oscillator operates stably in super-regenerative mode and thus "lock release" in the communication channel is not a problem and the coupling works over a large frequency range and possibly for several signals at the same time. When it is necessary to stabilize and or lock the squench frequency, this is done at a much lower frequency than the carrier frequency and the locking can thus be done with a small loop bandwidth and cheap, simple and reliable connections. In the present invention, a simple injection-locked squench oscillator can be realized with resonators of the RC, crystal or ceramic types. Inexpensive such solutions can be made with cheap 32 kHz clock crystals in harmonic couplings for squench frequencies of 32 to typically 288 kHz. For squench frequencies from 200 kHz and well into the MHz range, there are cheap ceramic resonators or crystals. A simple version of the present invention is where the squench oscillator is phase and frequency locked in that the squench oscillator is connected to the "output" of the super-regenerative oscillator, which contains synchronization or locking information, through a filter which should often be a single or multi-pole LC filter . This connection line thus serves both for squenching the high-frequency oscillator and for locking the squenchoscillator. But the connections for quenching and locking can also be made as separate devices at a certain cost of complexity. Another simple solution that can be used in the present invention is that the high-frequency oscillator also oscillates at the quench frequency and the harmonics of the quench frequency can be reduced with a suitable oscillator coupling and or selective (high Q value) resonator element for the quench frequency. In solutions where the cost tolerances are greater, more advanced frequency and phase locking circuits with known technology can be used. The super-regenerative transponder in the present invention functions in principle as a one-port amplifier with the possibility of very large amplification which can be used to amplify signals in both directions in a chain or in all directions in a wireless system. The problem of squench noise into the transponder is solved by shielding and filtering the squench frequency from the input or the most sensitive part of the super-regenerative coupling to avoid harmonics spoiling its dynamics. These are absolutely crucial parameters for achieving great dynamics and bandwidth when using the super-regenerative principle in the present invention. Shielding can often be replaced by making the electronics small and compact so that radiation from larger areas or longer lines is avoided. In this way, it is achieved in the present invention to be able to use squench frequencies that are typically 20 to more than 100 times higher than what has been common in known technology that uses the super-regenerative principle, usually radio receiver applications. The present invention can in principle be used on communication channels with any center frequency, but in practice will have the greatest value from a few MHz up to the mm range depending on the available cut-off frequency for active components. The bandwidth of the communication channel for a single super-regenerative transponder will be determined, among other things, by the quench frequency and how much bandwidth requires a high quench frequency. In the present invention, this is also achieved in some cases by using active gain components with high gain in combination with attenuation of the Q value of the resonator network of the super-regenerative oscillator. The super-regenerative transponder in the present invention is an oscillator, but without a stable oscillation where the active element can have an input and an output and is therefore in these cases a two-port. The output must be made to be part of the feedback loop without destroying the characteristics of the super-regenerative oscillator. The present invention allows, with modern components, the realization of very high gain (40 to 100dB) and sensitivity (typically -90dBm) and high output level (eg +20dBm) together with large bandwidths. What such properties the transponders in the present invention should have are determined by the choice of active components and bias. As in the case of active circuits, the transponder's properties and construction method based on known principles must be selected based on which of the three parameters mentioned are most important. The dynamics are further determined by several transponders or super-regenerative oscillators being made to work together or in parallel. None of these measures to optimize the performance of the present invention have a decisive negative impact on the high performance/cost ratio.

The present invention will be able to act as a two-way signal booster with or without galvanic coupling or an amplifier with large and small signal characteristics that approximate those of ordinary one-way band-limited amplifiers. The present invention will relatively easily be realized at high frequencies such as the mm frequency band due to major innovations in terms of amplification components' cut-off frequencies.

Brief description of the te<g>nin<g>s

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail by reviewing examples of execution, and reference is made in this connection to the attached drawings, where

fig. 1 shows block diagrams of different versions of a transponder which

used in the system according to the invention,

fig. 2 schematically shows different media with which the system according to the invention can be used in connection,

fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a transponder,

fig. 4 schematically shows connection methods for transponder systems and

connecting devices,

fig. 5 also shows an example of interconnection, and"

fig. 6 shows an example of connection to transmission lines or waveguides.

Detailed description

The invention is described below in more detail with reference to the drawings, where

In fig. 1 shows a block diagram of the invention, where the super-regenerative transponder 110 is used as a repeater, amplifier or booster individually or as part of a network architecture or in addition to part of a network structure which can take many different versions depending on the type of network or infrastructure that it included in. The transponder 110 can be intelligent and can receive and send out information through a connection device 60, for example to a PC, sensor or actuator. In order for many transponders to work together without interference, the squench signal 10 is stabilized by internal or external synchronization. Internal synchronization of the squench generator 10 is achieved if necessary with an internal, very stable reference 12. The squench generator 10 consists of a function generator and filtering. External synchronization of the frequency source is achieved by synchronizing to an external synchronization signal 31 or synchronization to the implicit squench signal 32 from a corresponding transponder 111 in the network. The squench signal or the switching signal 11 can be introduced into the oscillator 100 in such a way that it also helps to reduce harmonics of the squench signal 11 on the input 3,4 of the oscillator 100. The injection 11 can preferably be in connection with bias on a defined output 5,6 on the oscillator 100 to reduce the possibility of the injection 11 to disturb the input 3,4. The squench line 11 can combine squenching and synchronization of the squench generator 10 by means of the received signal from the oscillator 100. The oscillator's combined input and output 3,4 are connected to a device 20 for receiving and sending 51 of received 50 high-frequency signals which can be modulated or not modulated of the transponder 110. A direction-sensitive connection device 23 is used for attenuation of signals in an unwanted direction. The transponders in fig. 1 can be intelligent, e.g. in that they contain a processor, e.g. as described in patent application NO20001057 and can send out its own information signal 33 and they can contain receiver devices with known technology independently of or together with the super-regenerative oscillator, e.g. as described in patent application NO20001057. Such a receiver device can utilize the large gain that the super-regenerative oscillator provides. In fig. 1 shows how amplification of signals in one direction on a line 92 can be attenuated with a directional coupler 23 which can for example be performed with the combination of capacitances and inductance transmission line solutions (microstrip, stripline, lines without substrate) or circulator.

In fig. 2 is shown in accordance with fig. 1 the various media with which the invention can be used in connection with and which are free propagation 40 in vacuum, gas, liquid or solid matter by means of antennas or probes, transmission line 41 consisting of a multi-wire electric cable or cable-like infrastructure, transmission line 42 consisting of a open electric line or a device corresponding to an open electric line, transmission line or traveling wave antenna-like line system 43 consisting of one or more wires and where the transmission is referred to earth, transmission line 44 which acts as an open surface waveguide, a so-called lecher wire where the wave reaches the is the short wave is kept trapped close to the conductor and gives little attenuation, transmission line 45 which is a closed waveguide or waveguide, transmission line 46 which is an optical waveguide. Connections to the line can be made as loose connections using inductive devices 141, capacitive devices 142, resistive devices 143 or a combination of the three such as e.g. transmission lines e.g. in the form of microstrip lines. Switching devices of types 141, 142 and 143 can also in some cases be used alone or in combination to supply power to transponders from the host infrastructure.

In fig. 3 shows a transponder 112 in accordance with fig. 1 - 2 where an output 5,6 is defined on the oscillator 100 so that port 3,4 is input or both input and output while port 5,6 is output with a higher level and input with lower sensitivity. Devices 21, 22 are connected to ports 3, 4 and 5, 6 for receiving and sending signals for forwarding 71, 81 of information and or receiving 72, 82 and sending 71, 81 of information and possibly receiving 72, 82 of synchronization /locking 72, 82 and possible transmission of synchronisation/locking 71, 81. The connection devices 21, 22 can be directionally sensitive for e.g. to achieve a sufficient attenuation of echo when required.

In fig. 4 shows how a number of transponder systems 13 in accordance with fig. 1 - 3 in order to improve dynamic characteristics for signals in one or more directions 150, 151 can be connected together to a connection device 110 with the help of common connection 90 or with the help of separate connection devices 110,111,112 and correspondingly it is shown how a number of transponders 14,15,16 is arranged to increase bandwidth and dynamics and can be connected together to a connection device 110 by means of common connection 90 or by means of separate connection devices 110, 111, 112 and where the transponders 14, 15, 16 have different specifications.

In fig. 5 is shown in accordance with fig. 1 - 4 how a number of transponder systems can be connected together by means of a common connection or transmission line 90 for by means of the connection devices 110, 114 to transmit signals 161, 162 between a physical location 110 and signals 171, 172 on another physical location 114 for example from a room 110 to another room.

In fig. 6 is shown in accordance with fig. 1 - 5 an example of how transmission lines 91 or waveguides 91 using transponders in accordance with fig. 1 to 5 can be distributed along the lines 91 so that these lines are suitable to function as a transmission medium for substantially higher bandwidths and greater distances than would otherwise be possible and in addition enable the transponders 19 to function as intelligent and unintelligent nodes in the the resulting network consisting of the lines 91 and the transponders 19 and where other communication infrastructure 121 can be connected to the medium 91 and where communication with the transponder 19 can be done on radio waves using a radio unit 120 with antenna 95 and interface to the outside world 60 for one-way or two-way communication or interrogation purposes .

Claims (40)

1. Repeater and transponder system for any of wireless, wire and waveguide based digital networks, comprising at least one transmission medium {40-46), at least one of at least one repeater and at least one transponder (24,19,601-606,213-218) wherein each repeater/transponder (19,120,213-219) has at least one port (2,303-304) for connection via signal coupler devices (141-143) to the transmission medium (40-46), where each of the repeaters and transponders (19,120, 213-219) is of analog and super-regenerative type with positive and large signal gain for high-bandwidth applications, includes a quench generator and is implemented using semiconductor components and semiconductor integrated circuits (120,651), where selectivity requirements are adapted to any of information bandwidth, quench frequency and ideal interference isolation between system medium ( 40-46) and free space, and how little or no coupling attenuation is required between input signal and output signal, characterized in that the repeaters and transponders comprise a super-regenerative circuit which is equipped with selectivity devices for both the input and output signals, the repeaters and transponders being arranged to select frequency bands generated by the super-regenerative circuit, whereby analogue bandpass characteristics of the repeaters and transponders satisfy the selectivity requirements. 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that individual repeaters are designed to largely maintain the system's information bandwidth. 3. System according to claim 1, characterized in that individual repeaters are adapted to carrier waves from high frequency up to the upper microwave range. 4. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one repeater (19,120,213-219) acts as a single-port amplifier (19,601-606). 5. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one repeater (19,120,213-219) acts as a two- or multi-port amplifier (601-606) designed to function with isolation between input (31,60,72,82,150) and output signals (32,61,71,151) , which does not exceed the gain of the amplifier. 6. System according to claim 1, characterized in that individual repeaters are arranged with regard to maintaining signal dynamics for the input signals and for the output signals, as well as the repeaters' own dynamic ranges when they are connected to the transmission medium. 7. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one repeater can produce an amplified version of the input signal in the same frequency band as the input signal without frequency shifting, while essentially maintaining the dynamics of the signal. 8. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the repeater's and transponder's high signal amplification exhibits at least one of white noise and not systematic noise in the frequency band of the output signal, and without signal supplied in the frequency band of the input signal. 9. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one repeater is arranged to produce an amplified version of the input signal and to frequency shift the input signal's frequency spectrum to an output signal frequency spectrum, thereby achieving attenuation of interference supplied to the input signal mainly with the intention of maintaining the input signal's dynamic range and the repeater's dynamic range. 10. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one repeater is arranged to separate the direction of a transmitted signal in the transmission medium and the direction of the received signal in the transmission medium by means of at least one of directive copying and directivity. 11. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one repeater is arranged to achieve directivity in the medium with simple, directive copies for at least one of the input signal and the output signal, realized with any of a transmission line and inductive and capacitive couplings. 12. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one repeater is arranged so that the spectrum of information signals is shifted to any number of different frequency spectra in order to maintain the signal's dynamic range throughout the transmission medium used, and in any applicable order. 13. System according to claim 1, characterized in that any number of repeaters are used that use the same carrier frequency for input signal and output signal and that allow the use of high carrier frequencies, where each repeater can be placed in any physical position in the transmission medium while the transmission medium's attenuation at such frequencies is used to reduce signal echo interference and is used to achieve large dynamic range and maintain bandwidth. 14. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one repeater has a built-in wireless interface for short range. 15. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one repeater is arranged so that, in addition to repeating signals, it also receives information and processes the information intelligently, and is arranged so that it can emit intelligent information. 16. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one repeater is arranged for coupling to the transmission medium using any one of an antenna, a transmission line, an inductive coupling, a capacitive coupling, a galvanic coupling and any combination thereof. 17. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one repeater is arranged to be powered from a host infrastructure using any one of an antenna, an inductive coupling, a capacitive coupling, a galvanic coupling, an optical coupling and any combination thereof . 18. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one repeater is connected asymmetrically or symmetrically to a transmission medium consisting of an infrastructure comprising at least one of a power conductor, a signal cable, a non-signal cable, and at least one metal wire which is made up of an asymmetrical or symmetrical transmission line. 19. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one repeater is connected asymmetrically to an infrastructure that consists of at least one metal wire or line consisting of any asymmetrical transmission line with radiation loss and a traveling wave antenna, and which can have an earth reference and which can have the ground as earth -surface. 20. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one repeater is connected symmetrically to an infrastructure which consists of at least one of a symmetrical transmission line with radiation loss, a traveling wave antenna, and a leaky transmission line. 21. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one repeater is connected to an infrastructure that constitutes a Lechertråd transmission line using a high carrier frequency and very short wavelength to achieve very large bandwidths, one-way or two-way. 22. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the individual repeater is adaptable to any modulation type or any mixture of modulation types, including but not limited to QPSK, QAM, QFD, OFDM, DSSS, FSK, PSK, AM, FM, PM either in existing high frequency format or the frequency shift to a high-frequency carrier wave. 23. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one repeater is adaptable to any system protocol or layer or mixture thereof including but not limited to DOCSISx.x, EuroDOCSIS x.x, IEEE802.11A, IEEE802.11B, IEEE802.11G, IEEE802.3X, GSM, GPRS, UMTS, TETRA, Bluetooth. 24. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one repeater uses semiconductor optical technology coupled to an optical waveguide or transmission line to maintain dynamic range, communication range and communication bandwidth for signals at optical wavelengths. 25. Repeater or transponder for use in a repeater/transponder system for any wireless, wire or waveguide-based digital network with at least one transmission medium (40-46), where the repeater/transponder (19, 120, 213-219) has at least one port ( 2,303-304) for connection via signal coupler devices (141-143) to the transmission medium (40-46), where the repeater/transponder (19,120,213-219) is of analog and super-regenerative type with positive and high signal gain, for high bandwidth applications, includes a quench generator and is implemented using any of semiconductor components and semiconductor integrated circuits (120,651), where selectivity requirements are adapted to any of information bandwidth, quench frequency and ideal interference isolation between system medium (40-46) and surroundings, and how little or no coupling attenuation required between input signal and output signal, characterized in that the repeater/transponder comprises a super-regenerative circuit which is equipped with selectivity devices for both the input and output signals, the repeater/transponder being arranged to select frequency bands generated by the super-regenerative circuit, whereby the repeater/transponder's analogue bandpass characteristics satisfy the selectivity requirements. 26. Repeater or transponder according to claim 25, characterized in that it comprises a quenched oscillator or quenched amplifier with at least one quench frequency that is higher in frequency than the highest frequency in the information bandwidth, in order to achieve regenerative dynamic amplification with a large bandwidth. 27. Repeater or transponder according to claim 25, characterized in that it comprises a quenched oscillator or quenched amplifier with at least one quench frequency that is lower in frequency than the lowest frequency in the information bandwidth, in order to achieve regenerative dynamic amplification with a large bandwidth. 28. Repeater or transponder according to claim 25, characterized in that it comprises two or more quenched oscillators or quenched amplifiers connected in parallel to act together as an amplifier using synchronized quenching, to achieve at least one of dynamic range increase, bandwidth increase and regenerative broadband gain. 29. Repeater or transponder according to claim 25, characterized in that it comprises two or more quenched oscillators or quenched amplifiers connected in series or cascaded fashion to act together as an amplifier using synchronized quenching, to achieve at least one of increasing dynamic range, increasing bandwidth and regenerative broadband amplification. 30. Repeater or transponder according to claim 25, characterized by the fact that it acts as a single-port amplifier. 31. Repeater or transponder according to claim 25, characterized in that it acts as a two- or multi-port amplifier especially to be able to function with isolation between input and output signals that is not greater than the amplifier's gain. 32. Repeater or transponder according to claim 25, characterized in that it is designed to produce an amplified version of the input signal in the same frequency band as the input signal without frequency shifting, while maintaining the input signal's dynamic range. 33. Repeater or transponder according to claim 25, characterized in that it is arranged to produce an amplified version of the input signal at the same time as the frequency spectrum of the input signal is frequency shifted to a frequency spectrum of the output signal, thereby reducing interference introduced on the input signal and essentially maintaining the dynamic range of the input signal and the dynamic range of the repeater. 34. Repeater or transponder according to claim 25, characterized in that it comprises a quenched oscillator or quenched amplifier with additional components and additional circuits included in the quench circuit solution, to reduce harmonics from the quench signal within the passband of the received signals which can reduce the dynamic range of the repeater, thereby achieving regenerative amplification for large bandwidth or large dynamic range. 35. Repeater or transponder according to claim 25, characterized in that it comprises a quenched oscillator or quenched amplifier with quenching on the output port of a transistor or amplifier in a quenched circuit, to reduce harmonics from the quench signal within the passband of the received signals which can reduce the repeater's dynamic range, thereby achieving regenerative amplification too much bandwidth or too much dynamic range. 36. Repeater or transponder according to claim 25, characterized in that it comprises a quenched oscillator or quenched amplifier where at least one quench generator is made up of a function generator capable of producing any quench signal shape to improve the repeater's dynamic range, thereby achieving a large regenerative dynamic range with a large bandwidth. 37. Repeater or transponder according to claim 25, characterized in that it comprises a quenched oscillator or quenched amplifier where a secondary quench signal is introduced to allow large dynamic range and large bandwidth in any frequency passband determined by at least one frequency bandpass filter, thereby achieving large regenerative amplification with a large bandwidth. 38. Repeater or transponder according to claim 25, characterized in that, at large signal gains, it mainly exhibits at least one of white noise and not systematic noise in the output signal's frequency passband with no signal present in the input signal's passband. 39. Repeater or transponder according to claim 25 and where the repeater or transponder is arranged to receive external synchronization of internal quenching, and where selectivity requirements for the repeater/transponder are adapted to at least one of information bandwidth and quench frequency, characterized in that the repeater/transponder comprises at least two amplifier blocks, each consisting of a quenched oscillator or quenched amplifier, interconnected in serial or parallel fashion to act as an amplifier and with the use of internal quench synchronization. 40. Repeater or transponder according to claim 25 and where selectivity requirements are adapted to the information bandwidth, characterized in that the repeater/transponder comprises at least two amplifier blocks, each consisting of a quenched oscillator or quenched amplifier connected in serial or parallel fashion to act as an amplifier that uses synchronized or unsynchronized low-frequency quenching.