General Dynamics Decision Systems, Inc.

Mike Francis Durkin

Keith Charles Palermo

A software-defined radio () includes a transmitter () having any number of upstream modules () and any number of downstream modules (). The upstream modules () perform signal processing on input signals (), and the downstream modules () provide an RF interface for processed signals (). The upstream modules () and downstream modules () couple to a common intra-transmitter signal transporter (), which may be implemented as a bus. Programmable transmission parameters () which program the downstream modules () to generate a communication signal () exhibiting desired attributes such as frequency and keying are mingled with the processed input signal () in upstream modules () to preserve timing. The programmable transmission parameters () are extracted in downstream modules (), and applied to the communication signal () at the timing specified by position relative to the processed input signal ().

Transmitter having programmable transmission parameters temporally aligned with payload and method therefor

A signal calibrator ( ) for a software-defined communications device ( ) that enables device communications signals to be transmitted in a manner that maximally decouples the calibrator ( ) from the device hardware ( ), and that simplifies the design and reduces the cost of the communications device ( ). The calibrator ( ) includes a software modulator ( ) for generating a nonstop stream of samples including zero valued samples and non-zero valued waveform bursts, and a software demodulator ( ) connected to the software modulator ( ) via a closed loop feedback path ( ) that receives a nonstop stream of samples. The non-zero valued samples create radio emissions. The software demodulator ( ) is for determining a timing error of the transmission sample and for transmitting a timing error correction value to the software modulator ( ) via the closed loop feedback path ( ). The timing error correction value enables the software modulator ( ) to adjust a transmission time of a subsequent waveform burst to compensate for both unknown hardware delays and RF signal propagation delays.

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Cave Creek, AZ, United States of America

Mike Francis Durkin