Transponder

A Highway 407 toll transponder

In telecommunication, the term transponder (short-for Transmitter-responder and sometimes abbreviated to XPDR,^[1] XPNDR,^[2] TPDR^[3] or TP^[4]) has the following meanings:

• An automatic device that receives, amplifies, and retransmits a signal on a different frequency (see also broadcast translator).
• An automatic device that transmits a predetermined message in response to a predefined received signal.
• A receiver-transmitter that will generate a reply signal upon proper electronic interrogation.

Satellite/broadcast communications

For more details on this topic, see Transponder (satellite communications).

A communications satellite’s channels are called transponders, because each is a separate transceiver or repeater. With digital video data compression and multiplexing, several video and audio channels may travel through a single transponder on a single wideband carrier. Original analog video only has one channel per transponder, with subcarriers for audio and automatic transmission identification service (ATIS). Non-multiplexed radio stations can also travel in single channel per carrier (SCPC) mode, with multiple carriers (analog or digital) per transponder. This allows each station to transmit directly to the satellite, rather than paying for a whole transponder, or using landlines to send it to an earth station for multiplexing with other stations.

Optical communications

In optical fiber communications, a transponder is the element that sends and receives the optical signal from a fiber. A transponder is typically characterized by its data rate and the maximum distance the signal can travel.

Different descriptions, with important functional differences, might be implicitly assumed across various academic and commercial literature:

• according to one description,^[5] a transponder and transceiver are both functionally similar devices that convert a full-duplex electrical signal in a full-duplex optical signal. The difference between the two being that transceivers interface electrically with the host system using a serial interface, whereas transponders use a parallel interface to do so. In this view, transponders provide easier to handle lower-rate parallel signals, but are bulkier and consume more power than transceivers.
• according to another description,^[6] transceivers are limited to providing an electrical-optical function only (not differentiating between serial or parallel electrical interfaces), whereas transponders convert an optical signal at one wavelength to an optical signal at another wavelength (typically ITU standardized for DWDM communication). As such, transponders can be considered as two transceivers placed back-to-back. This view also seems to be held by e.g. Fujitsu ^[7]

As a result, difference in transponder functionality also might influence the functional description of related optical modules like transceivers and muxponders.

Aviation

For more details on this topic, see Transponder (aviation).

Another type of transponder occurs in identification friend or foe systems in military aviation and in air traffic control secondary surveillance radar (beacon radar) systems for general aviation and commercial aviation. Primary radar works best with large all-metal aircraft, but not so well on small, composite aircraft. Its range is also limited by terrain and rain or snow and also detects unwanted objects such as automobiles, hills and trees. Furthermore it cannot always estimate the altitude of an aircraft. Secondary radar overcomes these limitations but it depends on a transponder in the aircraft to respond to interrogations from the ground station to make the plane more visible.

Depending on the type of interrogation, the transponder sends back a transponder code (or "squawk code") (Mode A) or altitude information (Mode C) to help air traffic controllers to identify the aircraft and to maintain separation. Another mode called Mode S (Mode Select) is designed to help avoiding overinterogation of the transponder (having many radars in busy areas) and to allow automatic collision avoidance. Mode S transponders are 'backwards compatible' with Modes A & C. Mode S is mandatory in controlled airspace in many countries. Some countries have also required, or are moving towards requiring, that all aircraft be equipped with Mode S, even in uncontrolled airspace. However in the field of general aviation, there have been objections to these moves, because of the cost, size, limited benefit to the users in uncontrolled airspace, and, in the case of balloons and gliders, the power requirements during long flights.

Marine

Navigational aids often have transponders called RACON designed to make them stand out on a ship's radar screen.

Automotive

Many modern automobiles (especially the more expensive models) have keys with transponders hidden inside the plastic head of the key. The owner of the car may not even be aware that the transponder is there because there are no buttons to press. When a key is inserted into the ignition lock cylinder and turned, the car's computer sends a radio signal to the transponder. Unless the transponder replies with a valid code, the computer will not allow the engine to be started. Transponder keys have no battery; they are energized by the radio signal itself.

Road

The E-ZPass system in the eastern United States is one of many systems for paying bridge and road tolls by a RFID transponder in the car. The Highway 407 in Ontario is one of the world's first completely automated toll highways.

Motorsport

Transponders are used in motorsport for lap timing purposes. A cable loop is dug into the race circuit near to the start/finish line. Each car has an active transponder with a unique id code. When the racing car passes the start/finish line the lap time and the racing position is shown on the score board.

Passive and active RFID systems are used in off road events such as Enduro and Hare and Hounds racing, the riders have a transponder on their person, normally on their arm. When they complete a lap they swipe or touch the receiver which is connected to a computer and log their lap time. The Casimo Group Ltd make a system which does this.

NASCAR uses transponders and cable loops placed at numerous points around the track to determine the lineup during a caution period. This system replaced a dangerous race back to the start-finish line.

Underwater

Sonar transponders operate under water and are used to measure distance and form the basis of underwater location marking, position tracking and navigation.

Gated communities

Transponders may also be used by residents to enter their gated communities. However, having more than one transponder causes problems.

See also

• Acronyms and abbreviations in avionics

References

1. ^ XPDR
2. ^ XPNDR
3. ^ TPDR
4. ^ TP
5. ^ Optical Fiber Telecommunications V: Systems and networks, Academic Press, 2008, page 353-354
6. ^ WDM and DWDM Multiplexing Powerpoint presentation, School of Electronic and Communications Engineering, Dublin (Ireland), slide 61
7. ^ Fujitsu DWDM Primer, 2004

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the General Services Administration document "Federal Standard 1037C" (in support of MIL-STD-188).
•  This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Department of Defense document "Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms".

External links

• Transponding with DCC - Transponding in model railroading.