Ultra Wideband Technology for Sensor Network Communications

The application of advanced networking and wireless communication technologies to current micro-sensor applications can better exploit the combined sensing capabilities of a distributed sensor network. For example, sensor capabilities may includegeospatial visualization for warfighter situational awareness and synthesis of large-aperture antennas for narrow-beam communications. However, when networks need to be set up quickly and the number of users in the network is highly variable, conventionalmultiple-access protocols provide poor bandwidth efficiency and unacceptable levels of multiple access interference. A new, well-documented signal processing technique known as Carrier Interferometry provides Ultra-Wideband signals having unsurpassedperformance (i.e., range, low-power transmission requirements, low probability of error), throughput, and LPI/LPD benefits. Development under this proposal will also provide substantial benefits to consumer markets, including home networks and personalarea networks. CI Ultra-wideband is a wireless technology that transmits an extremely low power signal over a wide swath of radio spectrum. Unlike conventional radio systems that operate within a relatively narrow bandwidth, i.e. Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11b,IEEE 802.11a, CI operates across a wide range of frequency spectrum by transmitting a series of very narrow and low power pulses. The combination of broader spectrum, lower power and pulsed data means that ultra-wideband causes less interference thanconventional narrowband radio solutions, and delivers wire-like performance in an indoor wireless environment. This makes CI-based ultra-wideband technology ideal for consumer electronics applications such as camcorders, laptops, DVDs, digital cameras,etc.