Method and system permitting the sequential reorganisation of signals

[0001] The invention relates in particular to a system and method for sequential reorganization of signals.

[0002] The invention is used in precision electronics and signal processing, and is intended for signal receiving systems (e.g. digital receivers).

[0003] The "sequential reorganization of signals" function, in the context of goniometry, for example, allows the signal to be received after a signal received by the air network and processed as if they were received simultaneously.

[0004] In the case of, for example, goniometry, the current reception principle is based on the use of analog (so-called hybrid) systems placed in the air and allows the processing of the signal received at the same time in many networks. This concept allows the receiver to obtain a combination of signals in the air, not just individual signals. This policy reduces bandwidth consumption and is reserved for systems operating in a narrow band below an octave.

[0005] Known prior art systems usually use all available signal reception channels. The low bandwidth of hybrid circuits therefore causes their multiplication and therefore significant costs to cover the entire frequency band. Another disadvantage of such systems is that the signal itself is not digitally processed, but a function corresponding to the signal present in the two networks.

[0006] US 4419918 describes a system with several parallel inputs and serial outputs controlled by a clock. The output signal is processed by several different circuits.

[0007] FR 2 295 434 describes a device that converts parallel inputs into a clock-controlled sequential output.

[0008] The prior art systems do not allow access to amplitude information, which is limiting in terms of algorithms, in particular in goniometry.

[0009] Prior art techniques known to the applicant do not allow operation in a wide frequency range. They do not allow accurate signal synchronization. In addition, they do not allow the reception of real signals, but only obtaining an image regarding the phase of the two-in-two signals that limits the digital processing below.

The invention relates to a method of sequential reorganization of signals received in a sensor assembly, characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps:

o receiving the signal received in the band sensor, remember it cheap, and then switching to receive another signal received in the other band sensor,

- 2 to repeat the reception of signals received at each of the sensors in the band u until all or most of the sensors are analyzed, and to save all information received, to select one of the sensors by which the signal was received earlier and to repeat the signal receiving cycle and remember cheap this signal at reference. for comparing this reception with the one obtained earlier for the same sensor, for determining, based on this comparison, the commutation error, for applying error correction on each of the registered signals, for phase error correction due to commutation time .

[0011] In another embodiment of the method, the signal of the first channel at the reception is selected as a reference signal.

[0012] The method may include the step of creating a switched signal before it is received.

[0013] Signal formation is, for example, performed by a single-channel radio reception module.

[0014] The method includes, for example, a goniometry step.

[0015] The object of the invention is therefore to present the advantages of removing hybrid system components according to the state of the art and sequential reception of signals in each overhead network while controlling phase errors.

[0016] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the description together with the attached figure, which is an example of the system structure exemplified without limitation.

[0017] The figure shows the structure of the system, including for example: o 1n overhead network or sensors, o clock 2 with high accuracy controlling the sequential system 3 and enabling accurate timing of the commutation and reception times for each 1 n overhead network, o the sequential system 3 controls the antenna commutator itself 4 for signal reception, o the antenna commutator 4 is connected to the single-channel radio frequency receiving module 5, for the receiving card 6 and processing module 7.

[0018] The antenna commutator 4 is particularly adapted and selected for carrying out the transition from one network to another. The antenna commutator 4 is, for example, an N commutator for 1 receiving channel.

[0019] The antenna commutator 4 is intended to transfer signals from the network to devices located in the processing chain and block signals supplied from other networks. It also has a characteristic opening / closing reaction time identical or substantially identical in each overhead channel.

[0020] Sequential system 3 generates a commutator management function. It also has the task of selecting a channel that is connected to the required network.

[0021] Clock 2 is used to clock the sequential system. The search cycle of all networks is selected so that the clock frequency is stable. The order of magnitude is, for example, 10^-10.

[0022] The radio frequency device 5 is a radio reception module, namely the task of converting the reception frequency band to an intermediate frequency which is sent back to the reception card 6.

[0023] The receiving card is adapted in particular to quantize the signals received by each antenna and send them to the processing module 7.

[0024] When using goniometry, the system implements a goniometry algorithm specific to the antenna system.

[0025] The structure works, for example, as described below.

[0026] The idea is based namely on the sequential reception of signals in each network and their temporal coherence, completely controlling phase errors.

[0027] The signal is assumed to be stationary or substantially stationary during the signal reception cycle. It is believed that a given signal is from minus infinity to plus infinity if only this signal is determined in a short period of time, which allows determining its phase and its amplitude. After this determination or modeling, the signal value can then be estimated either in the past or in the future.

1. Each network is connected to an N on 1 antenna commutator, which is controlled by a sequential circuit clocking at clock speed.

2. A signal is received in the network and then switched to the next network.

3. Reception is repeated and the cycle is repeated up to the last network, and the receipts and storage for N antennas of the overhead network are implemented so that each signal is transferred thanks to a radio frequency radio.

The reference signal is then selected between those signals that have been received, then the N + 1 switching is performed, i.e. for example the first network, and the reception is carried out again. The latter pickup is compared to the first pickup. This comparison allows you to specify a possible error and remove it from each acceptance. The signal is considered stationary or essentially stationary during the signal reception cycle (reception over a very short period), you can estimate its value relative to the value of the reception, and thus reduce the deviation, which is nothing but a commutation error.

4. Knowing the various errors, the system can:

o first correct the general error in each recorded signal and then correct the phase error related to the commutation time,

Therefore, it is then possible to synchronize the recorded signals in order to apply the appropriate antenna processing.

[0028] The system is clocked at the speed of the sequential system, with clock accuracy. The sequential system controls the commutator.

[0029] The steps described above relate to, for example, goniometry applications.

[0030] The system and method of the invention are applied to each measurement chain that performs signal reception in parallel.

Prepared and verified

Grażyna Palka Patent Attorney