A generalization of MSK-type signaling based upon input data symbol pulse shaping

Minimum-shift-keying (MSK), which is a special case of continuous phase frequency-shift-keying (CPFSK) with frequency deviation ratio equal to 0.5, is known to be spectrally equivalent to a form of offset quadrature phase-shift-keying (OQPSK) in which the symbol pulse shape is a half-cycle sinusoid rather than the usual rectangular form. Appropriate shaping of the input data symbols allows one to generate an entire class of constant envelope, MSK-type signals, whose spectral properties are in some applications more desirable than those of MSK or OQPSK. The present study derives and presents a set of conditions on the input pulse shaping which in turn describes the class of envelope shapes allowable. The autocorrelation function and power spectral density of this class of signals are then derived, and specific examples are given to illustrate the desirable spectral properties. Such properties are important considerations in system design where interchannel and intersymbol interference degradations must be kept to a minimum.