Synchronization of clocks and sensors via exponential-based TDR and communication of exponential-null pulse sequences

摘要

A method for establishing synchronization between a master clock and a slave clock. A transmitter near the master clock transmits a pulse sequence onto an electrical cable that extends between the transmitter and a receiver near the slave clock. Each pulse of the pulse sequence is either a null pulse (i.e., a zero pulse) or a pulse of exponential kind, depending a corresponding bit in a bit sequence. Each pulse of exponential kind has a leading edge pf exponential shape corresponding to the exponential coefficient α. The bit sequence represents the sum of (a) a current timestamp of the master clock and (b) an adjustment value that represents the one-way time of-flight of the exponentially shaped leading edge through the cable. The receiver recovers the bit sequence from the pulse sequence, and loads the bit sequence into the slave clock, to establish synchronization.