Local Oscillator Clock Synchronization for Accurate Channel Sounding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network protocols face challenges in accurately determining the distance between network devices using Channel Sounding due to phase ambiguity between transmit and receive circuits, which can vary and make it difficult to predictably measure distance, especially in two-way ranging applications.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that ensures a constant phase relationship between the transmit and receive clocks by using a clock generation circuit with a phase locked loop and dividers outside the phase locked loop, initialized with a reset signal to maintain a predetermined state, ensuring consistent phase differences for accurate distance calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a network connection is established for two-way ranging, then security can be provided, but the phase relationship between transmit and receive circuits becomes unpredictable and varies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the clock generation into two independent sources: a transmit clock generated by a transmit phase-locked loop and a receive clock generated by a receive phase-locked loop. This segmentation allows each clock to be independently controlled and stabilized, ensuring that their phase relationship remains predictable even when network connections are established for security purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a common reference clock as an intermediary that both the transmit and receive phase-locked loops use to generate their respective clocks. This common reference ensures that the transmit clock and receive clock maintain a stable and predictable phase relationship, resolving the issue of phase variability while allowing secure network connections.
2Measurement precision
If basic measurement techniques are used for two-way ranging, then distance measurement is possible, but the results are unpredictable due to phase variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs phase-locked loops with feedback mechanisms to continuously monitor and adjust the phase of the transmit and receive clocks. The feedback ensures that any phase deviations are corrected in real-time, maintaining a stable and predictable phase relationship that enables reliable and predictable distance measurements through Channel Sounding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the critical parameter of clock generation from a single shared clock to two independently controlled clocks with a stable phase relationship. By controlling the phase relationship between the transmit and receive clocks as a fixed parameter, the system achieves predictable distance measurement results while maintaining measurement precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for reliable and accurate distance measurements between network devices by maintaining a constant phase difference between transmit and receive clocks, enhancing the predictability of Channel Sounding results.
Implementation Method 1
A system and method that ensures a constant phase relationship between the transmit and receive clocks by using a clock generation circuit with a phase locked loop
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for accurately determining a distance between two network devices using a Channel Sounding application is disclosed. The network devices each guarantee a fixed phase relationship between the transmit circuit and the receive circuit. In one embodiment, this is achieved by disposing the divider outside the phase locked loop and using the output of the divider to create the clocks for both the transmit circuit and receive circuit. In another embodiment, one or more dividers are disposed outside the phase locked loop, each having a reset, such that they can be initialized to a predetermined state. Further, by utilizing a divider with a reset, the quadrature signal generator is guaranteed to output clocks for the transmit circuit and the receive circuit that have a constant phase relationship.