Offset Circular Polarization Modulation Scheme

Abstract

In this paper, a framework of a novel communication system based on circular polarization modulation called Offset Circular Polarization Modulation (OCPM) is proposed which not only increases the channel capacity but also provides data security against eavesdropping. In conventional circular polarization modulation (CPM), only one bit of data (1 or 0) can be transmitted at one time by using either left hand circular polarization (LHCP) or right hand circular polarization (RHCP), limiting it to only 2-states polarization modulation scheme. However, the proposed OCPM scheme provides eight-fold increase in the polarization states. In OCPM, typical CPM constellations (LHCP or RHCP) can be shifted to different quadrants using an offset vector in order to increase the number of polarization states. In addition to switching the swing of circular polarization (CP) in OCPM, quasi-dc offset vectors are added to the horizontal and/or vertical components of the CP wave with different combinations. The reason why quasi-dc offset vectors have been used is because pure dc offsets cannot be wirelessly transmitted. The quadrant of the modulation is determined by the offset vectors. For instance, in order to shift a CP constellation (LHCP or RHCP) in the first quadrant, two positive offset vectors are required: one along horizontal-axis and the other along vertical-axis of the EM wave. Thus, OCPM is a dual dimension CPM scheme with polarization state as well as offset state. The eavesdropper would require both dimensions (i.e. Polarization state and offset state) to correctly determine the overall state of the OCPM scheme.