Improvement of Ultra-Wide-Band Signal Timing

B. Vojnovi, B. Medved Rogina

Laboratory for Stochastic Signals and Processes Research, Electronic Division,

Ruer Bokovi Institute
Bijenika 54, Zagreb, Croatia
Phone/Fax: +385 1 4680 090, E-mail: vojnovic@irb.hr ; medved@irb.hr

Abstract Ultra-Wide-Band (UWB) technology became in

recent years one of very promising technologies worlwide. It
shows growing application in many areas, especially in the
two fields: high-resolution, low-power pulse radar sensor and
wireless UWB communications. The question of precise time
position of the pulse signal, which carry essential
information is in the focus of designers interest. In the most
UWB applications we need to generate low jiterred, ultrashort signal. A method for generating subnanosecond pulse
signals with time-jitter as low as 100 ps was described and
theoreticaly analyzed.

communications and pulse radar rnging, imaging and

sensing systems. In communications systems the main
issue is how to optimaly transfer voice, video nad data
informations. Most used method to carry the information
is the pulse time-modulation, which, however, poses
strong requirements on UWB pulse timing-jitter (Fig. 2.).

I. INTRODUCTION
Ultra-Wide-Band (UWB) wireless technology became in
recent years one of very promising technologies after
recognition of their commercial potential [1,2,3,]. World
wide interest in UWB wireless increased greatly after year
2002, when US Federal Communication Comission (FCC)
gave first authorization for it. In Europe research on UWB
started later with some concerns about the interference it
could cause. Other names for this techniques are
somewhere in use: impulse communications, impulse
radio, subnanosecond communications, as well as carrierfree , nonsinusoidal communications etc.
According to actual FCC statement, UWB is any signal
that occupies at least of 500 MHz of bandwidth in the
spectrum range between 3.1 and 10.6 GHz. Because this
technology is developping very fast we could expect some
changes in the regulation area. In the practice, signals
covering the spectrum range from 1,5 GHz and higher
are considered as UWB also. Additional requirement is
that the fractional bandwidth, defined as

FB 2

fH fL
fH fL

(1)

is higher than 0.25, where: fH is the upper and fL lower

frequency limits, which define frequency range containing
dominant part of total signal energy. It is evident that this
definition avoids requirement for definition of the center
frequency. In practice it is often defined by the relation

fC

fH fL
2

Fig. 1a-Gaussian monocycle

(2)

Speaking in the time-domaine, UWB technique

involves transmitting, receiving and processing of stream
of low power (in the region of microwatts), very short
pulses in the order of 10 picoseconds to 1000 picoseconds.
UWB signal has usualy the shape the Gaussian
monocycle (Fig. 1.), sinusoidal monocycle or "bunch" of
few sinusoidals.We consider two important technologies,
which are under intensive development: UWB

Fig. 1b. Frequency spectrum of Gaussian monocycle

Mostly considered types of modulations are: pulse

position modulation, pulse amplitude modulation, on-ofkeying and bi-phase-shift keying modulations, as well as
pseudo-random and chaotic modulations. Special attention
has been payed last years to apply chaos theory and
practice in UWB communication technology [4, 5].
Pseudo-random (Fig. 3.) and chaotic time modulation
are similar in some way. These are both very robust
regarding signal interception and detection, because they
"smoothes" the frequency spectrum and make it appear as
a pure "white noise", as it can be seen comparing spectra
on Fig. 2b. and Fig. 3b. This enables more secure
communication and makes have virtually unlimited
number of channels.

In estimating UWB technology one has to compare its

advantages and draw-backs.
There are many important advantages of UWB
techniques;
(1) In data communication applications the system is
working with modulated subnanosecond pulse trains
having duty-cycle of less than 10 %. As a result we can
deal with broad, noise-like frequency spectrum, having
very low average power, capable to work in noisy and
crowded environment. The well designed system shows
high degree of interference resistivity, becuse any
interfering signal affects only a small portion of the signal.
On the other hand, due to very low power of the UWB
signal its interference to other systems could by practicaly
neglected. Many factors have to be analyzed to estimate
system interference performances regarding other systems:
distance between devices, modulation techniques used and
propagation loss in a channel.
(2) UWB signal has the high probability to get through
obstacles (walls) or to penetrate in the material, which
make it suitable for many applications.
(3) UWB subnanosecond signal can be used for very
precise distance, displacement and profile measurements,
important in technical and medical diagnostics.
(4) It would be possibble to inject UWB signals in
existing cable systems, becuse its power beyond the noise
level in these systems. Some companies are considering
such possibility [6].
The main drawback of UWB technology is potential
interference with other wireless communication systems
such as Global Positioning System (GPS), as well as other
systems using narrow band.
100
ns
0

Fig. 2b. Frequency spectrum of PPM

2. Pulsed radar imaging systems that include: ground
penetrating radar (GPR) for detecting underground
infrastructure location and condition, through-wall radar
for detecting the objects through structures, radar antiintrusion systems, etc.
3. Pulse-radar measurement systems that covers distance
and displacement measurements, material thickness
measurements, and many others.

Time (ns)
Fig. 3a. Pseudo-random time modulation

Power (dB)

Fig. 3b. Frequency spectrum of pseudo-random time

200 ps

Fig. 2a. Pulse-position modulation (PPM)

Fig. 3b. Frequency spectrum of pseudo-random time
modulation
Fig. 2a. Pulse-position modulation (PPM)
The afore mentioned characteristics of UWB make it
suitable for many applications such as:
1. Short
distance
voice, video and
data
communications links for single or multichannel
transmission. This technique is very suitable for
indoor multichannel links that will not interfere
with existing devices.

Frequency (GHz)

4. Radar sensors including robotic sensors, liquid level

sensors and vibration sensors.
5. Small portable (stethoscope) radar for medical
applications (heart dynamics and lung diagnostics).
II. CHARACTERISTICS AND METHODS OF
GENERATIONS OF UWB PULSE SIGNALS
Requirements regarding pulse signal characteristics
depends on applications. For operations in the 3.1-10.6
GHz communication systems , pulse durations or risetimes need to be in the order of 50-100 ps. The pulse
amplitude is several volts and pulse repetition rate in the
range of 10-100 MHz.
In pulse radar systems pulse duration is extended to
about 1ns, while the amplitude could be more than 100
volts.

To generate these various vaweforms one usualy starts

with step-like pulse, having fast rise-time or with very
short impulse. If insufficient power is generated frome
these basic circuits, a wideband post amplifiers shoul be
added in the system.
To obtain desired pulse shape, which is mostly
monocycle, different pulse shaping filters are used. In
addition, UWB antenna if properly designed, acts as bandpass filter, thus affecting output pulse shape.
To obtain 50-100 ps pulses,in communication systems,
there are several possibilities. Step-recovery (snap-off)
diode (SRD) circuits have been used to obtain pulses
having 50- 200 ps rise-time with amplitude of some
hundred volts on the antenna terminal, when combined in
conjuction with avalanche transistor.
Newest type, known as drift-step-recovery diode
(DSRD) is able to produce more than 500V, in several
hundreds of picoseconds [7] The DSRD as against SRD is
on using minority-carriers with long-life-time and its
breakdown voltage exceeds500volts per p-n junction.
Some FETs and fast ECL logic circuits can generate of
about 1V pulses with 50-100 ps edges.
For extremly short pulse signals (about 10 ps) a new
technology, Nonlinear Transmission Line (NLTL) is a
promising solution. This is a synthetic transmission line
consisting of series inductors shunted by varactor diodes,
acting as voltage variable capacitors. The time delay
through NLTL is a function of input signal amplitude. The
whole circuit acts as an pulse-edge compressor. It was
reported a 6V, 4 ps rise-time pulse, obtained by
commercialy available NLTL pulse generator [8].
For pulse radar applications there are broader
requirements on pulse parameters. In low power radar
sytems the required pulse characteristics are similar to
these in communications except the pulse width, which is
wider to few nanoseconds. In
GPR systems pulse
amplitude can achieve more than 100 V, while the pulse
width is about 0.5-1 ns. Such signals are usualy generated
using fast FET circuits, avalanche transistors or DSRD
circuits. The drawback of avalnche transistors is ther
relative short life-time.
One of the most important parameter is the UWB signal
is the pulse time-jitter. Strongest requrements on it are for
communication systems and some high precision pulse
radars. It can be estimated that the time-jitter should be in
the range of 20-200 ps.
Generation of UWB signals is achieved by two basic
methods: (1) use of direct signal generator followed by
pulse shaping circuits and pulse post amplifier if needed;
(2) use of circuits for post sharpening the slower signal,
previously obtained from signal generator, and followed
by necessary shaping circuits.
It is important to emphasize the contribution of the
antenna frequency characteristics to the whole system
output pulse-shape [8].

generation. In this manner several goals could be achieved

regarding pulse parameters requirements: fast rise-time
and low time-jitter, less sensitive to the temperature
variations, noise, and input pulse amplitude, as well as
rise-time variations. Although the process of pulse
sharpening assure low time-jitter, the problem of the input
signal jitter has to be solved by using very stable clock
circuits.

III. A NEW METHOD TO LOWER THE UWB

PULSE SIGNAL TIME-JITTER

In the analysis it is assumed that the diode is "ideal"

current integrator and charge zero-crossing discriminator,
because the following requirements are met:

The method [9] is suitable for various UWB pulse

circuits. It uses the pulse post sharpening for pulse

(1) Injected charge is completely removed during reverse

recovery phase;

i(t)

i(t)
DELAY

td

-ki(t-td)

id(t)
SRD

AMPLIFIER

SUMMING
AMPLIFIER

d/dt
Td

Fig. 4. Basic circuit of SRD pulse sharpening generator

Proposed method is based on switching
properties of step-recovery diode, which
belongs to class of charge storage diodes
(including P-I-N diodes and noise diodes). It is
a P-I-N junction structure, normally silicon,
whose static characteristics are similar to
other p-n junction diodes, but dynamically it is
quite different, acting as a charge controlled
switch. Such a property is physically realized
by a lightly doped region around the junction,
giving rise to a built-in retarding electrical field
for the carrier transport in the forward
direction. Diode forward current, static or
transient, injects the charge into the diode.
When this charge is being removed by the
reverse pulse current, the diode continues
conducting (low impedance state) until all the
charge is removed. At the point when the total
amount of charge in the diode becomes zero,
it stops conducting (high impedance state)
very abruptly, in less than 100 ps. In this
manner the diode acts as an integrator and
zero-crossing ultra-fast timing discriminator.
The basic circuit is given in Fig. 4.
The input pulse current signal injects the charge into
unbiased diode. The same pulse inverted and amplified by
a factor k, starts after well-defined delay-time to remove
the stored charge. At the moment Td (discrimination time),
when the total charge becomes zero, we get the sharp edge
pulse having rise-time less than 100 ps, which gives us the
time reference relying very strongly on the input pulse
arrival-time (Fig. 5.).

(2) The leakage charge due to reverse diode capacitance

is negligible;
(3) The minority carrier life-time could be chosen long
compared to diode conducting time;
(4)

The diode does not exhibit charge (energy)

triggering sensitivity because it does not belong to
the class of regenerative circuits. That is important
especially for slower input pulses , because there is
no time-walk due to different signal slope at the point
of discrimination.

(5) The diode minority-carrier life-time is one order of

magnitude higher than the discrimination time. This
condition enables additionally, discrimination time be
insensitive on temperature variations.
The discrimination time Td is defined (if we suppose
that the time scale begins at the moment of the pulse
arrival) by the equation:
Td

Td

i t dt i t ki t t dt
d

Td

(3)

I 0 s t ks t t d dt 0

Comparing these results, we see that the

proposed method of UWB signal sharpening
and timing is dominantly sensitive on of the
noise influence. In real systems we can easily
assure signal-to-noise ratio of input pulse
higher than 100, as well as stable amplitude
and rise-time of the pulse. This enables
estimate the timing-jitter of the UWB signal far
below 100 picoseconds.

IV. CONCLUSION
Accepted range of UWB pulse time-position jitter in
many applications is 10-100 picoseconds. Timing
improvement of UWB pulse was achieved using the new
method, based on step-recovery diode switching
properties. This enables to generate UWB signal to meet
requirements on timing-jitter as well as pulse amplitude
and width stability.
Obtained results indicate that the proposed method is
suitable for generating UWB signals, having timing-jitter
far below 100 picoseconds.
.

id(t)

where: I0 is pulse current amplitude, k is amplification

factor of reversed and delayed pulse, td is pulse delay time,
and s(t) is the shape function of the pulse. For the
approximation of linear rise of the signal we get:

Td

k
td
k 1

Td

td

(4)

In this case discriminator time Td does not

depend on pulse signal parameters, but only
on circuit parameters k and td which are
constants. If there is no correlation between
random changes of circuit parameters k and td,
and k is sufficently large, the time-jitter
depends only on the quality of delay-line [9].
We have tested SRD circuit intentionally with
very slow input pulse signals, having rise
times between 100 and 500 ns. Pulse
repetition frequency was les than 1 KHz.
Dynamic of input pulse amplitudes was 1:15.
Measured standard deviation of the time-jitter
was in the range of 110-350 picoseconds.
Obtained results show high degree of
robustness of the method against input pulse
amplitude and rise-time variations.
The results of the analysis of the noise
influence on timing error [11] have shown that
the standard deviation-to-rise-time ratio was
less than 1/100 for the noise-to-signal ratio
less than 1/10.

5a. Step-recovery diode injecting curent

did/dt

t
Td
Fig. 5b. UWB current pulse-signal
LITERATURE
[1] G. R. Alello; Ultra Wide-Band Wireless Systems, IEEE
Microvwe, June 2003, pp. 36-47.
[2] H. V. Poor; Signal Processing for Wideband Communications,
IEEE Information Society Newsletter, June 1992.
[3] J. D. Taylor; Ultra-Wideband Radar Overview, Ch. 1 in
Introduction to Ultra-Wideband Radar Systems, Ed: J. D. Taylor,
CRC Press, 1995.
[4] N. F. Rulkov, L. S. Tsimring; Synchronization Methods for
Over Band-Limited Channels, International Journal on Circuit

Theory and Applications, Vol.27, No. 6, December 1999, pp.

555-567.
[5] M. Ssushlik, n. Rulkov, L. Larson, L. Tsimring, H.
Abarbanel, K. Yao, A. Volkovski; Chaotic Pulse Position
Modulation: A Robust Method of Communications with Chaos,
IEEE Communications Letters, Vol. XX, No. Y, Januar 1999.
[6] S. Stroh; Ultra-Widwband: Multimedia Unplugged, IEEE
Spectrum, September 2003, pp.24-27.

[7] I. V. Grekhov et al. ; High Power Subnanosecond Switch,

Electronics Letters Vol.17, No.7, 1981, pp. 422-423.
[8] J. R. Andrews; UWB Signal Sources, Antennas and
Propagation, Application Note AN-14a, Picosecond Pulse Labs.,
Boulder, CO, August 2003, pp.1-11.
[9] B. Vojnovi; A Subnanosecond Timing Circuit Using SnapOff Diode, Compte rendus du Colloque Internationale sur
l'Electronique Nucleaire, Versailles,France, 1968, pp. 59-1 to 597.
[10] B. Vojnovi; Picosecond Timing with Slow Optoelectronic
Pulse-Echo Signals, Proceedings of Topical Meeting on
Optoelectronic Distance/Displacement Measurements and
Applications, ODIMAP III, Pavia, Italy, 2001, pp. 399-404.
[11] B. Vojnovi; Error Minimization of Sensor Pulse Signal
Delay-Time Measurements, Proceedings of 23rd International
Conference on Microelectronics, MIEL2002, (IEEE Sponsored),

Ni, Yugoslavia, IEEE-Electron Devices Society, USA, 2002, pp.

265-268.