Rapid search algorithms for code acquisition in UWB impulse radio communications

Ultrawideband (UWB) impulse radio is an emerging technology suitable for high-rate tactical wireless communications. One of the crucial challenges for a connecting station remains the initial code acquisition, in a hostile propagation environment (e.g., urban combat). In this paper, we address the coarse acquisition of pseudonoise (PN) codes and propose algorithms for speeding up the acquisition process and/or reducing the complexity of the acquisition algorithm itself. Also, in the case of energy detection, we show that the front-end sampling rate may be reduced. An in-depth analysis, supported by simulations in the presence of multipath is presented, and the results discussed.