2016 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Electrical Engineering presented to Solomon W. Golomb, Ph.D.

摘要

Solomon Golomb's 1955 National Security Agency (NSA) report introduced pseudo-noise (PN) or long pseudorandom digital sequences, generated using short shift registers and having impulse-like correlation functions. These signals are now used for:CryptographyMissile guidanceLong range radar, sonar, and communicationsCDMA (code division multiple access) 3G and above cell phonesSatellite navigation systems such as GPS and GLONASSThey provide security, interference suppression, and precise location. All branches of the defense department funded work in digital spread-spectrum communications in order to utilize the secure properties of PN sequences. This precipitated the "digital revolution."Golomb then formed and headed a research group at the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) that applied digital PN to provide communications and ranging at interplanetary distances. Specific accomplishments include:First detection of a radar signal bounce from another planet (Venus)Accurate measure of the astronomical unit (1 part in 106 vs. 103)Verification of special and general relativity using the Mariner 9 Mars probe when it was on the other side of the sunHe then invented the run length codes used to achieve lossless data compression for the JPL-launched Mars rovers.Cell-phone tower antennas and the New Mexico radio-astronomy interferometry antennas are arranged in the pattern of a Golomb Ruler.His 1984 generalized Costas Arrays with optimized time-frequency ambiguity functions are used in sonar and radar systems.In 1992, he constructed long radar/sonar signals with zero sidelobes (sequences with perfect periodic autocorrelation).