Low-Complexity Ultra-Wide-Band Communications

Low-complexity low-power ultra-wide-band (UWB) radios are required for low data rate (LDR, < 100 kbps) short- range applications. Potential low-power air interface candidates are impulse radio UWB and FM-UWB. The use of simple (noncoherent) radio architectures, a low supply voltage and duty cycling pave the way to low power consumption. Interference mitigation is an important requirement for today´s UWB receivers. Processing gain and filtering may be applied in the physical layer, whereas detect and avoid strategies work at MAC level. Constant-envelope FM-UWB uses high modulation index analog FM for spreading. Instantaneous despreading in the receiver, combined with processing gain make this system an interesting option for robust LDR personal area network systems.