An enhanced pulse position modulation (PPM) in ultra-wideband (UWB) systems

Lingxiu Chen, University of Northern Iowa

Abstract

Simplicity, transmission rate, and bit error rate (BER) performance are three major concerns for ultra-wideband (UWB) systems. The main advantage of existing pulse-position modulation (PPM) schemes is simplicity, but their BER performance is poorer than that of an on-off-keying (OOK) modulation scheme, and their transmission rate is lower than that of an OOK scheme. In this research project, I will explore a novel PPM scheme, which can maintain the simplicity of the PPM schemes as well as achieve a BER performance and a transmission rate similar to the OOK scheme. During the research, I will thoroughly investigate the relationship between pulse position allocation and the BER performance and the transmission rate of UWB systems through computer simulations and theoretical analysis, and develop a whole set of design rules for the novel PPM scheme.