PCO-Based Synchronization for Cognitive Duty-Cycled Impulse Radio Sensor Networks

The pulse coupled oscillator (PCO) system of Mirollo and Strogatz has been proposed as a robust, scalable synchronization scheme for impulse radio (IR-UWB) networks. In this paper, we map the parameter space for physical implementation of CMOS IR-UWB PCO radios into the traditional PCO mathematical model and show through comprehensive simulation that high-quality synchronization is easily achieved. We discuss practical implementation issues of PCOs for these radios and show that such systems can be created with extremely low cost and low complexity integrated components with acceptable synchronization performance. Finally, we demonstrate simple wireless synchronization of PCOs, and show that synchronization of such systems is robust in CMOS electronics.