Wide-Area Sensing of Amplitude-Modulated Signals

Amplitude-modulated (AM) signal detection has broad applications in industries like telecommunications, radio broadcasting, and radar systems. In data transmission and reception, accurately detecting AM signals is vital for information integrity. However, detecting AM signals spanning a wide spatial area with varying frequencies and uncertain phases presents a significant hurdle. Suboptimal solutions lead to loss of data and poor communication quality, thereby necessitating a need for a more efficient system. Typical technologies suffer from carrier uncertainty when the carrier and signal bandwidth are coupled, complicating signal interpretation and reducing system efficiency. The inability to perform Nyquist sampling on just the information-carrying aspect of the signal further complicates matters. Current approaches are typically resource-intensive and inefficient, lacking the capacity to read signals at slower rates without compromising output.

Technology Description

The technology is a highly efficient system for detecting AM signals. It utilizes a slowly scanning optical system, comprising a staring sensor with multiple pixels, for signal detection. Through smart manipulation of signal mix with local oscillators, the system decouples the AM carrier from the AM signal bandwidth, allowing Nyquist sampling to focus only on the known frequency bandwidth bearing the signal's information. The decoupled signals are stored in counters for subsequent readout at a rate lower than the Nyquist rate of the AM signal. Stored signals can be synchronously shifted among pixels to align with the optical line of sight for scanning operation. This technology differentiates itself primarily through the enhanced efficiency and accuracy it offers. The key leap forward is the system's ability to isolate signal bandwidth from carrier frequency, eliminating carrier uncertainty and fostering more precise Nyquist sampling. Consequently, it is possible for signals to be read at a slower rate yet yield the same information, thereby rendering the detection and scanning process more resource friendly.