ULTRA-WIDE BAND:What is it?

How can it be used?

Presented by:

Troy Hayes

Kevin Koelbel

Robert Stewart

UWB: What is it?

• New radio technology providing high speed data transfer

• Classification of signals that spread over a large bandwidth, specifically those >500 MHz

(A typical telephone modem operates at 12 kHz)

• Short pulses of energy lasting nanoseconds, but bandwidth goes to very large levels

• Transmits over a wider range of the radio spectrum than conventional wireless systems

What is it? (cont’d)

• Short range radio technology – transmits up to 30 feet

• Composed of pulses of only a few cycles in length

• Supports direct transmission of digital communication as a baseband signal

• Information is not transmitted on a single pulse and the frequency of the signal is unable to be determined

UWB: History

• Originated in 1962

• Based on work in “time-domain” electromagnets

• Invented by Dr. Gerald F. Ross

• First patent awarded to Dr. Ross in 1973

History (cont’d)

• 1980’s – UWB was often referred to as “baseband,” “carrier-free,” or “impulse”

• 1989 - The term “UWB” was first used by the U.S. Department of Defense

• Prior to 1994 - most work in UWB was classified by the U.S. government

• Since 1994 - UWB programs were declassified

UWB: Advantages

• Average transmitted power is low because of the duty cycle, which results in low power consumption

• Higher data rates than conventional wireless technology

• Less chance of interference than narrowband radio designs

• UWB radars allow low probability of interception and detection, high data throughput, precise ranging and localization

UWB: Disadvantages

• Current FCC regulations limit UWB use to a range of 30 meters

• Typically used indoors due to the limited range

• Equipment not readily available to the general public yet

• Although cheaper to operate, equipment is currently more expensive than conventional wireless equipment

UWB: Uses• Personal Area Networks (PAN)

• Local Area Networks (LAN)

• “UWB Heart and Respiration Monitor,” and wireless patient location and tracking system (Wireless 2000Technologies)

• Radar systems

• Home entertainment centers

• Remote tracking devices

Uses (cont’d)

• Transfer digital photos to a printer without a PC

• Send movies / mp3’s from a laptop to a PDA

• Play media on monitors / projectors across the room

• Sync mobile phones and PCs

• Sync laptop computers and PCs

• Quickly back up PCs

Educational Applications

• Send large files to entire class

• Quickly collect assignments

• Create presentations with imbedded media

• Show videos with less set-up time

• Back-up and restore student files / equipment

References

• “A Brief History of UWB Communications”http://www.multispectral.com

• “Riding the ultra wideband communications wave” http://www.physorg.com/news9017.html

• UWB Forumhttp://www.uwbforum.org

• UWB Overview, Tutorials/Resources http://www.telecomspace.com/wirelessnw-uwb.html

• Wikipedia article on Ultra-wide bandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-wideband

Thank you for viewing our presentation!