RF signal train generator and interferoceivers

Abstract

New apparatus <DEL-S DATE="20020226" ID="DEL-S-00001">comprise a<DEL-E ID="DEL-S-00001"> <INS-S DATE="20020226" ID="INS-S-00001">comprises an <INS-E ID="INS-S-00001">optical fiber based RF signal train generator for storing transient RF pulses and regenerating the identical replicas for analysis. The apparatus further <DEL-S DATE="20020226" ID="DEL-S-00002">comprise<DEL-E ID="DEL-S-00002"> <INS-S DATE="20020226" ID="INS-S-00002">comprises an <INS-E ID="INS-S-00002">RF <DEL-S DATE="20020226" ID="DEL-S-00003">receivers<DEL-E ID="DEL-S-00003"> <INS-S DATE="20020226" ID="INS-S-00003">receiver <INS-E ID="INS-S-00003">to process one stored pulse with a reference to <DEL-S DATE="20020226" ID="DEL-S-00004">other<DEL-E ID="DEL-S-00004"> <INS-S DATE="20020226" ID="INS-S-00004">another <INS-E ID="INS-S-00004">stored pulse. The present invention drastically increases our abilities to investigate acoustical, electromagnetic, and optical transient phenomena.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An interferoceiver comprising: 
       an input system for receiving one or more RF signals from a source and for applying the one or more RF signals to an RF signal train generator;  
       wherein the RF signal train generator comprises: 
       means, responsive to the input, for storing the one or more RF signals;  
       means for regenerating replicas of the one or more stored RF signals;  
       means for pairing the regenerated replicas; and  
       means for outputting the paired replicas.  
     
     
       2. The interferoceiver of  claim 1  further comprising an RF receiver; wherein the RF receiver comprises means for receiving the replicas of the RF signals; and means for processing the replicas with a reference to their pairs. 
     
     
       3. The interferoceiver of  claim 2  wherein said source comprises means for generating an acoustical signal and for splitting the generated acoustical signal in parts; wherein the interferoceiver further comprises means for sending one of parts to the RF signal train generator; wherein the interferoceiver further comprises a system under test, and means for sending other parts through the system under test to the RF signal train generator; wherein the RF signal train generator further comprises means for convening acoustical signals to RF signals. 
     
     
       4. The interferoceiver of  claim 2  wherein said source comprises means for generating an acoustical signal; wherein the interferoceiver further comprises a system under test, and means for sending the acoustical signal to the system under test; wherein the system under test comprises means for splitting the acoustical signal into parts, and for sending split parts to the RF signal train generator; wherein the RF signal train generator further comprises means for converting acoustical signals to RF signals. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said source comprises means for generating an RF signal and for splitting the generated RF signal in parts; wherein the interferoceiver further comprises means for sending one of parts to the RF signal train generator; wherein the interferoceiver further comprises a system under test, and means for sending other parts through the system under test to the RF signal train generator. 
     
     
       6. The interferoceiver of  claim 2  wherein said source comprises means for generating an RF signal; wherein the interferoceiver further comprises a system under test, and means for sending the RF signal to the system under test; wherein the system under test comprises means for splitting the RF signal into parts, and for sending split pans to the RF signal train generator. 
     
     
       7. The interferoceiver of  claim 2  wherein said source comprises means for generating an optical signal and for splitting the generated optical signal in parts; wherein the interferoceiver further comprises means for sending one of parts to the RF signal train generator; wherein the interferoceiver further comprises a system under test, and means for sending other parts through the system under test to the RF signal train generator; wherein the RF signal train generator further comprises means for converting optical signals to RF signals. 
     
     
       8. The interferoceiver of  claim 2  wherein said source comprises means for generating an optical signal; wherein the interferoceiver further comprises a system under test, and means for sending the optical signal to the system under test; wherein the system under test comprises means for splitting the optical signal into parts, and for sending split parts to the RF signal train generator; wherein the RF signal train generator further comprises means for converting optical signals to RF signals. 
     
     
       9. A method for operating an interferoceiver comprising steps of: 
       (a) storing one or more RF signals from a source in an RF signal train generator;  
       (b) regenerating replicas of the one or more stored RF signals from the RF signal train generator; and  
       (c) pairing the regenerated replicas.  
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  further comprising steps of: 
       (d) processing the replicas in a reference to their pairs.  
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  further comprising steps of: 
       (e) generating an acoustical signal from the source;  
       (f) splitting the acoustical signal into parts;  
       (g) sending one of part to the RF signal train generator and send other parts through a system under test to the RF signal train generator; and  
       (h) converting acoustical signals to RF signals.  
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  further comprising steps of: 
       (e) generating an acoustical signal from the source;  
       (f) sending the acoustical signal to a system under test;  
       (g) splitting the acoustical signal by the system under test and sending the split acoustical signals to the RF signal train generator; and  
       (h) convening acoustical signals to RF signals.  
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10  further comprising steps of: 
       (e) generating an RF signal from the source;  
       (f) splitting the RF signal into pans; and  
       (g) sending one of part to the RF signal train generator and send other parts through a system under test to the RF signal train generator.  
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10  further comprising steps of: 
       (e) generating an RF signal from the source;  
       (f) sending the RF signal to a system under test; and  
       (g) splitting the RF signal by the system under test and sending the split RF signals to the RF signal train generator.  
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10  further comprising steps of: 
       (e) generating an optical signal from the source;  
       (f) splitting the optical signal into parts;  
       (g) sending one of parts to the RF signal train generator and send other parts through a system under test to the RF signal train generator; and  
       (h) converting optical signals to RF signals.  
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10  further comprising steps of: 
       (e) generating an optical signal from the source;  
       (f) sending the optical signal to a system under test;  
       (g) splitting the optical signal by the system under test and sending the split acoustical signals to the RF signal train generator; and  
       (h) converting optical signals to RF signals.  
     
     
       17. An apparatus for investigating transient phenomena comprising: 
       an input system for receiving an RF pulse from a source and for applying the RF pulse to an RF signal train generator;  
       wherein the RF Signal train generator comprises: 
       means, responsive to the input, for storing the RF pulse;  
       means for regenerating a train of replicas from the stored RF pulse; and  
       means for sampling regenerated replicas in the train with different delays.  
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said source is an optical, infrared electromagnetic, mechanical or acoustical source. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said RF signal train generator further comprises: means for receiving a second pulse from the source and for generating the replicas of the second pulse; 
       wherein the apparatus further comprises means for processing the replicas of the first pulse with a reference to the replicas of the second pulse.  
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprises means for processing the replicas with an RF receiver. 
     
     
       21. An interferoceiver comprising: 
       
         an input system which receives one or more signals and outputs RF signals;  
       
       
         an RF signal train generator which receives the RF signals from the input system and outputs multiple paired replicas of the RF signals.  
       
     
     
       22. The interferoceiver of  claim 21  further comprising an RF receiver, which pairwise analyzes the paired replicas of the RF signals.  
     
     
       23. The interferoceiver of  claim 22  further comprising a source, which emits the one or more signals.  
     
     
       24. The interferoceiver of  claim 22  further comprising a source; 
       
         wherein the source emits one or more signals;  
       
       
         wherein a splitter splits the one or more signals into a first group of signals and a second group of signals;  
       
       
         wherein the second group of signals transits to, and interacts with, a system; and  
       
       
         wherein the input system is adapted to receive the first group of signals and the interacted second group of signals.  
       
     
     
       25. The interferoceiver of  claim 22  further comprising a source; 
       
         wherein the source emits one or more signals which interact with a system; and  
       
       
         wherein the input system is adapted to receive the interacted one or more signals.  
       
     
     
       26. The interferoceiver of  claim 21 ; 
       
         wherein the input system comprises a splitter which splits the one or more signals.  
       
     
     
       27. The interferoceiver of  claim 21 ; 
       
         wherein the RF signal train generator comprises a pairing apparatus which pairs the generated replicas.  
       
     
     
       28. The interferoceiver of  claim 21 ; 
       
         wherein the RF signal train generator comprises an optical store which stores the RF signals as optical RF signals.  
       
     
     
       29. The interferoceiver of  claim 28 ; 
       
         wherein the RF signal train generator comprises an extractor which generates replicas of the optical RF signals stored in the optical store.  
       
     
     
       30. The interferoceiver of  claim 29 ; 
       
         wherein the optical store and the extractor are configured so that the replicas generated by the extractor are paired.  
       
     
     
       31. The interferoceiver of  claim 28 ; 
       
         wherein the optical store comprises one or more optical RF delay loops, or comprises one delay lines.  
       
     
     
       32. The interferoceiver of  claim 22 ; 
       
         wherein the RF receiver comprises a digitizer which analyzes the paired replicas of the RF signals by using one of the paired replicas as triggering pulses to sample another one of the paired replicas.  
       
     
     
       33. The interferoceiver of  claim 32 ; 
       
         wherein the digitizer further comprises a delay apparatus which systematically delays the triggering pulses.  
       
     
     
       34. The interferoceiver of  claim 22 ; 
       
         wherein the RF receiver comprises a coherent receiver which analyzes the paired replicas of the RF signals by using one of the paired replicas as a reference to produce relative amplitudes and phases or relative frequency differences between the RF signals.  
       
     
     
       35. The interferoceiver of  claim 21 ; 
       
         wherein the input system is adapted to receive at least one of optical, infrared, acoustical, electromagnetic, mechanical, or nuclear signals.  
       
     
     
       36. The apparatus of  claim 21 ; 
       
         wherein the input system is adapted to output optical RF signals, and the RF signal train generator is adapted to receive optical RF signals.  
       
     
     
       37. A method for investigating one or more signals comprising steps of: 
       
         receiving the one or more signals and outputting RF signals;  
       
       
         receiving the RF signals by an RF signal train generator; and  
       
       
         outputting multiple paired replicas of the RF signals.  
       
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 37  further comprising a step of: 
       
         pairwise analyzing the paired replicas.  
       
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 38  further comprising a step of: 
       
         emitting the one or more signals from a source.  
       
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 38  further comprising steps of: 
       
         splitting the one or more signals into a first group of signals and a second group of signals;  
       
       
         interacting the second group with a system; and  
       
       
         wherein the step of receiving comprises steps of receiving the first group of signals and the interacted second group of signals.  
       
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 38  further comprising a step of: 
       
         interacting the one or more signals with a system; and  
       
       
         wherein the step of receiving comprises a step of receiving the interacted one or more signals.  
       
     
     
       42. An apparatus for investigating one or more signals comprising: 
       
         an input system which receives the one or more signals and outputs RF signals;  
       
       
         an RF signal train generator which receives the RF signals from the input system and regenerates a train of replicas; and  
       
       
         a receiver which samples the regenerated replicas in the train with different delays.  
       
     
     
       43. The apparatus of  claim 42 ; 
       
         wherein the receiver further comprises a correlator.  
       
     
     
       44. The apparatus of  claim 42 ; 
       
         wherein the receiver is adapted to output a data stream, and to send the data stream to a medium.  
       
     
     
       45. The apparatus of  claim 42 ; 
       
         wherein the input system is adapted to output optical RF signals, and the RF signal train generator is adapted to receive optical RF signals.  
       
     
     
       46. A method for investigating one or more signals comprising steps of: 
       
         receiving the one or more signals;  
       
       
         outputting one or more RF signals and regenerating a train of replicas of the RF signals; and  
       
       
         sampling the regenerated replicas in the train with different delays.  
       
     
     
       47. The method of  claim 46  further comprising steps of: 
       
         producing a data stream; and  
       
       
         sending the data system to a medium.  
       
     
     
       48. The method of  claim 46  further comprising a step of storing the one or more signals as one or more optical RF signals.