Abstract

A plurality of transmitters synchronized to a common clock each transmit a data signal spread by a common bipolar pseudo-random code having a different assigned code sequence shift. A receiver, synchronized to the clock, discriminates the signals transmitted by a predetermined transmitter from signals transmitted by the others by generating a first pseudo-random code that is a replica of the common bipolar pseudo-random code and has a code sequence shift corresponding to that of the predetermined transmitter, and a second bipolar pseudo-random code that is a replica of the common bipolar pseudo-random code and has an unassigned code sequence shift. The difference between the first and second bipolar pseudo-random code sequences, which is a trinary code sequence, is cross-correlated with the incoming signals. The cross-correlation despreads only the signal having the predetermined code sequence shift. Each receiver includes a number of correlation detectors offset from each other by a fraction of a code chip, together with decision circuitry to identify cross-correlation peaks. The cross-correlation output of a primary correlation detector generates in-phase and quadrature-phase correlation signals, with the quadrature-phase signal being at a minimum when the receiver and predetermined transmitter are perfectly synchronized with each other. The ratio of the in-phase and quadrature-phase signals are processed to identify the presence of a data signal within a background of noise and to improve synchronization lock between the receiver and predetermined transmitter.