Barker code
A Barker code or Barker sequence is a finite sequence of N values of +1 and −1,
![](../I/m/Barker7code.svg.png)
![](../I/m/Barker7corr.svg.png)
with the ideal autocorrelation property, such that the off-peak (non-cyclic) autocorrelation coefficients
are as small as possible:
for all .[1]
Only nine Barker sequences[2] are known, all of length N at most 13.[3] Barker's 1953 paper asked for sequences with the stronger condition
Only four such sequences are known, shown in bold in the table below.[4]
Known Barker codes
Here is a table of all known Barker codes, where negations and reversals of the codes have been omitted. A Barker code has a maximum autocorrelation sequence which has sidelobes no larger than 1. It is generally accepted that no other perfect binary phase codes exist.[5][6] (It has been proven that there are no further odd-length codes,[7] nor even-length codes of N < 1022.[8])
Length | Codes | Sidelobe level ratio[9][10] | |
---|---|---|---|
2 | +1 −1 | +1 +1 | −6 dB |
3 | +1 +1 −1 | −9.5 dB | |
4 | +1 +1 −1 +1 | +1 +1 +1 −1 | −12 dB |
5 | +1 +1 +1 −1 +1 | −14 dB | |
7 | +1 +1 +1 −1 −1 +1 −1 | −16.9 dB | |
11 | +1 +1 +1 −1 −1 −1 +1 −1 −1 +1 −1 | −20.8 dB | |
13 | +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 −1 −1 +1 +1 −1 +1 −1 +1 | −22.3 dB |
Barker codes of length N equal to 11 and 13 (OEIS: A011758, OEIS: A011759) are used in direct-sequence spread spectrum and pulse compression radar systems because of their low autocorrelation properties (The sidelobe level of amplitude of the Barker codes is 1/N that of the peak signal).[11] A Barker code resembles a discrete version of a continuous chirp, another low-autocorrelation signal used in other pulse compression radars.
The positive and negative amplitudes of the pulses forming the Barker codes imply the use of biphase modulation or binary phase-shift keying; that is, the change of phase in the carrier wave is 180 degrees.
Similar to the Barker codes are the complementary sequences, which cancel sidelobes exactly when summed; the even-length Barker code pairs are also complementary pairs. There is a simple constructive method to create arbitrarily long complementary sequences.
For the case of cyclic autocorrelation, other sequences have the same property of having perfect (and uniform) sidelobes, such as prime-length Legendre sequences, Zadoff–Chu sequences (used in 3rd and 4th generation cellular radio) and maximum length sequences (MLS). Arbitrarily long cyclic sequences can be constructed.
Barker modulation
![](../I/m/BarkerMod-BPSK.jpg)
In wireless communications, sequences are usually chosen for their spectral properties and for low cross correlation with other sequences likely to interfere. In the 802.11 standard, an 11-chip Barker sequence is used for the 1 and 2 Mbit/sec rates. The value of the autocorrelation function for the Barker sequence is 0 or −1 at all offsets except zero, where it is +11. This makes for a more uniform spectrum, and better performance in the receivers.[12]
References
- Barker, R. H. (1953). "Group Synchronizing of Binary Digital Systems". Communication Theory. London: Butterworth. pp. 273–287.
- Sloane, N. J. A. (ed.). "Sequence A091704". The On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences. OEIS Foundation.
- Borwein, Peter; Mossinghoff, Michael J. (2008). "Barker sequences and flat polynomials". In James McKee; Chris Smyth (eds.). Number Theory and Polynomials. LMS Lecture Notes. 352. Cambridge University Press. pp. 71–88. ISBN 978-0-521-71467-9.
- Using different pulse shape in Barker code also improves certain Autocorrelation properties.
- Weisstein, Eric W. "Barker Code". MathWorld.
- http://www.math.wpi.edu/MPI2008/TSC/TSC-MPI.pdf
- Turyn and Storer, "On binary sequences", Proceedings of the AMS, volume 12 (1961), pages 394–399
- Leung, K., and Schmidt, B., "The Field descent method", Design, Codes and Cryptography, volume 36, pages 171–188
- http://www.radartutorial.eu/08.transmitters/Intrapulse%20Modulation.en.html
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2014-04-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Introduction to Radar Systems, 3rd Edition, Merrill I. Skolnik, McGraw–Hill, 2001
- "RF Testing of WLAN Products" (PDF). Keysight Technologies.