Method and system for down-converting electromagnetic signals by sampling and integrating over apertures
DC CAFC
First Claim
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1. A method for down-converting a carrier signal to a baseband signal, comprising the steps of:
- (1) receiving a carrier signal that includes at least one of amplitude variations, phase variations, or frequency variations at a frequency lower than a carrier frequency of the carrier signal;
(2) sampling the carrier signal over aperture periods to transfer energy from the carrier signal at an aliasing rate, the aliasing rate determined according to a frequency of the carrier signal divided by N, wherein N indicates a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the carrier signal;
(3) integrating the energy over the aperture periods; and
(4) generating the baseband signal from the integrated energy.
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down-converting an electromagnetic (EM) signal by aliasing the EM signal are described herein. Briefly stated, such methods, systems, and apparatuses operate by receiving an EM signal and an aliasing signal having an aliasing rate. The EM signal is aliased according to the aliasing signal to down-convert the EM signal. The term aliasing, as used herein, refers to both down-converting an EM signal by under-sampling the EM signal at an aliasing rate, and down-converting an EM signal by transferring energy from the EM signal at the aliasing rate. In an embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to a demodulated baseband information signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is a frequency modulated (FM) signal, which is down-converted to a non-FM signal, such as a phase modulated (PM) signal or an amplitude modulated (AM) signal.
503 Citations
99 Claims
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1. A method for down-converting a carrier signal to a baseband signal, comprising the steps of:
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(1) receiving a carrier signal that includes at least one of amplitude variations, phase variations, or frequency variations at a frequency lower than a carrier frequency of the carrier signal;
(2) sampling the carrier signal over aperture periods to transfer energy from the carrier signal at an aliasing rate, the aliasing rate determined according to a frequency of the carrier signal divided by N, wherein N indicates a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the carrier signal;
(3) integrating the energy over the aperture periods; and
(4) generating the baseband signal from the integrated energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 43)
(5) providing the baseband signal directly to a relatively low impedance load.
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14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
(5) providing the baseband signal directly to a load through a relatively efficient power transfer path.
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15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
(5) providing the baseband signal to a load through a substantially impedance matched path.
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16. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (2) comprises coupling the carrier signal to a reactive storage device at the rate that is substantially equal to a subharmonic of the carrier signal.
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17. The method according to claim 2, wherein step (2) comprises generating the energy transfer signal without synchronizing it with the carrier signal.
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18. The method according to claim 2, wherein step (2) comprises generating the energy transfer signal without synchronizing it to a phase of the carrier signal.
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19. The method according to claim 2, wherein step (2) comprises generating the energy transfer signal independent of the carrier signal.
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20. The method according to claim 8, wherein step (2) comprises generating an asynchronous energy transfer signal.
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21. The method according to claim 20, wherein step (1) comprises receiving the carrier signal through a relatively low input impedance path.
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22. The method according to claim 20, wherein step (1) comprises receiving the carrier signal through a relatively efficient power transfer path.
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23. The method of claim 1, wherein N is 0.5 or a positive integer.
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24. The method according to claim 1, wherein the carrier signal comprises a differential signal including first and second portions, wherein:
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step (2) includes the step of sampling the first and second portions over aperture periods to transfer energy; and
step (3) includes the step of integrating the energy transferred from the first and second portions.
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25. The method according to claim 24, wherein step (1) includes the step of receiving the first and second portions.
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26. The method according to claim 24, wherein step (1) includes the step of generating the first and second portions from a non-differential signal.
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27. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of transferring energy to a load during an off-time.
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28. The method according to claim 1, wherein in step (3) said integrating is controlled.
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43. The method according to claim 26, wherein step (1) includes the step of receiving the first and second portions.
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29. A method of down-converting a first signal to a second signal, comprising the steps of:
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(1) receiving the first signal;
(2) sampling the first signal over aperture periods to transfer energy from the first signal;
(3) integrating the energy over the aperture periods; and
(4) generating the second signal from the integrated energy. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 97, 98, 99)
a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the first signal.
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36. The method of claim 29, wherein N indicates:
a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the frequency of the first signal +/−
the frequency of the second signal.
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37. The method of claim 29, wherein N indicates:
a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the aliasing rate.
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38. The method of claim 29, wherein N indicates:
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a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the first signal; and
a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the frequency of the first signal +/−
the frequency of the second signal.
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39. The method of claim 29, wherein N indicates:
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a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the first signal; and
a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the aliasing rate.
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40. The method of claim 39, wherein N indicates:
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a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the frequency of the first signal +/−
the frequency of the second signal; and
a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the aliasing rate.
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41. The method of claim 39, wherein N indicates:
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a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the first signal;
a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the frequency of the first signal +/−
the frequency of the second signal; and
a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the aliasing rate.
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42. The method according to claim 29, wherein the first signal comprises a differential signal including first and second portions, wherein:
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step (2) includes the step of sampling the first and second portions over aperture periods to transfer energy; and
step (3) includes the step of integrating the energy transferred from the first and second portions.
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44. The method according to claim 42, wherein step (1) includes the step of generating the first and second portions from a non-differential signal.
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45. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of:
(5) impedance matching the first signal.
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46. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of:
(5) impedance matching the second signal.
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47. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of:
(5) impedance matching the first signal and the second signal.
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48. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of transferring energy to a load during an off-time.
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49. The method according to claim 29, wherein in step (3) said integrating is controlled.
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97. The method of claim 29, wherein step (2) comprises the step of:
under-sampling the first signal over aperture periods to transfer energy from the first signal.
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98. The method of claim 97, wherein said under-sampling occurs at an aliasing rate.
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99. The method of claim 98, wherein said aliasing rate is determined according to:
(a frequency of the first signal +/−
a frequency of the second signal) divided by N.
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50. An apparatus for down-converting a carrier signal to a lower frequency signal, comprising:
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a universal frequency down-converter (UFD), including a switch, an integrator coupled to said switch, and a pulse generator coupled to said switch; and
a reactive structure coupled to said UFD;
wherein said pulse generator outputs pulses to said switch at an aliasing rate that is determined according to;
(a frequency of the carrier signal +/−
a frequency of the lower frequency signal) divided by N;
wherein said pulses have apertures and cause said switch to close and sample said carrier signal, and wherein energy is transferred from said carrier signal and integrated using said integrator during apertures of said pulses, and wherein said lower frequency signal is generated from the transferred energy. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
an input impedance matching network coupled to an input of said UFD; and
an output impedance matching network coupled to an output of said UFD.
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57. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said reactive structure comprises a resonant structure.
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58. The apparatus according to claim 57, wherein said resonant structure comprises a resonant tank structure.
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59. The apparatus according to claim 58, wherein said resonant tank structure comprises a capacitive device in parallel with an inductive device, coupled between said switch and said integrator.
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60. The apparatus according to claim 58, wherein said resonant tank structure comprises a shunt tank circuit coupled between an input of said UFD and ground.
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61. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said reactive structure comprises an inductive device in parallel with said integrator.
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62. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said pulse generator comprises a variable aperture control, wherein an impedance of said UFD varies with varying pulse apertures.
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63. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said reactive structure comprises a bypass circuit coupled in parallel with said UFD.
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64. The apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said bypass circuit comprises a capacitive device.
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65. The apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said bypass circuit comprises a capacitive device in series with an inductive device.
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66. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said UFD comprises a differential UFD.
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67. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein energy is transferred to a load during an off-time.
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68. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said integration is controlled.
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69. An apparatus for down-converting a carrier signal to a lower frequency signal, comprising:
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a differentially configured universal frequency down-converter (UFD), including at least first and second integrators, at least one switch coupled to at least one of said at least first and second integrators, and at least one pulse generator coupled to said at least one switch; and
at least one reactive structure coupled to said UFD;
wherein said at least one pulse generator outputs pulses to said at least one switch at an aliasing rate that is determined according to;
(a frequency of the carrier signal +/−
a frequency of the lower frequency signal) divided by N;
wherein said pulses have apertures and cause said at least one switch to close and sample said carrier signal, and wherein energy is transferred from said carrier signal and integrated using said at least first and second integrators during apertures of said pulses, and wherein said lower frequency signal is generated from the transferred energy. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. An apparatus for down-converting a carrier signal to a lower frequency signal, comprising:
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a differentially configured universal frequency down-converter (UFD), including at least first and second switches, at least one integrator coupled to at least one of said at least first and second switches, and at least one pulse generator coupled to at least one of said at least first and second switches; and
at least one reactive structure coupled to said UFD;
wherein said at least one pulse generator outputs pulses to at least one of said at least first and second switches; and
wherein said pulses have apertures and cause at least one of said at least first and second switches to close and sample said carrier signal, and wherein energy is transferred from said carrier signal and integrated using said at least one integrator during apertures of said pulses, and wherein said lower frequency signal is generated from the transferred energy.
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77. A method of down-converting a first signal to a second signal, comprising the steps of:
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(1) sub-sampling the first signal over aperture periods to transfer energy from the first signal;
(2) integrating the transferred energy over the aperture periods;
(3) generating the second signal from the integrated energy; and
(4) impedance matching at least one of said first signal and said second signal. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79, 80, 81)
(a frequency of the first signal +/−
a frequency of the second signal) divided by N.
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79. The method of claim 78, wherein N indicates at least one of:
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a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the first signal;
a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the frequency of the first signal +/−
the frequency of the second signal; and
a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the aliasing rate.
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80. The method of claim 77, wherein said second signal is a baseband signal or an intermediate frequency signal.
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81. The method of claim 77, further comprising the step of establishing the aperture periods such that energy transferred in step (1) is to such an extent that accurate voltage reproduction of the first signal is prevented.
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82. An apparatus for down-converting a carrier signal to a baseband signal, the carrier signal including at least one of amplitude variations, phase variations, or frequency variations at a frequency lower than a carrier frequency of the carrier signal, the apparatus comprising:
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means for sampling the carrier signal over aperture periods to transfer energy from the carrier signal at an aliasing rate, the aliasing rate determined according to a frequency of the carrier signal divided by N, wherein N indicates a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the carrier signal;
means for integrating the energy over the aperture periods; and
means for generating the baseband signal from the integrated energy.
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83. An apparatus for down-converting a first signal to a second signal, comprising:
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means for sampling the first signal over aperture periods to transfer energy from the first signal at an aliasing rate, the aliasing rate determined according to;
(a frequency of the first signal +/−
a frequency of the second signal) divided by N;
means for integrating the energy over the aperture periods; and
means for generating the second signal from the integrated energy. - View Dependent Claims (84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89)
a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the first signal.
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86. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein N indicates:
a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the frequency of the first signal +/−
the frequency of the second signal.
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87. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein N indicates:
a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the aliasing rate.
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88. The apparatus of claim 83, further comprising at least one of an input impedance matching circuit and an output impedance matching circuit.
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89. The apparatus of claim 83, further comprising means for establishing the aperture periods such that energy transferred is to such an extent that accurate voltage reproduction of the first signal is prevented.
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90. An apparatus for down-converting a first signal to a second signal, comprising:
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means for sub-sampling the first signal over aperture periods to transfer energy from the first signal;
means for integrating the transferred energy over the aperture periods;
means for generating the second signal from the integrated energy; and
means for impedance matching at least one of said first signal and said second signal. - View Dependent Claims (91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96)
means for generating an energy transfer signal that is used to control said sub-sampling, the energy transfer signal having an aliasing rate determined according to;
(a frequency of the first signal +/−
a frequency of the second signal) divided by N.
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94. The apparatus of claim 93, wherein N indicates:
a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the first signal.
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95. The apparatus of claim 93, wherein N indicates:
a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the frequency of the first signal +/−
the frequency of the second signal.
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96. The apparatus of claim 93, wherein N indicates:
a harmonic or sub-harmonic of the aliasing rate.
Specification
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Litigation Data
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Current AssigneeParkerVision, Inc.
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Original AssigneeParkerVision, Inc.
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InventorsCook, Robert W., Bultman, Michael J., Sorrells, David F., Moses, Charley D. Jr., Looke, Richard C.
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Primary Examiner(s)GREEN, MIGUEL D
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Assistant Examiner(s)GREEN, MIGUEL D
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Application NumberUS09/376,359Time in Patent Office706 DaysField of Search455/131, 455/139, 455/142, 455/182.1, 455/202, 455/205, 455/713, 455/317, 455/318, 455/323, 455/118, 455/113, 455/324, 329/345, 329/347, 327/9, 327/91, 702/66, 702/70US Class Current455/118CPC Class CodesH03C 1/62 Modulators in which amplitu...H03D 7/00 Transference of modulation ...H03D 7/1441 using field-effect transist...H03D 7/1475 Subharmonic mixer arrangementsH04B 1/0025 using a sampling rate lower...H04B 1/16 CircuitsH04B 1/28 the receiver comprising at ...H04B 7/12 Frequency diversityH04L 25/08 Modifications for reducing ...H04L 27/00 Modulated-carrier systemsH04L 27/06 Demodulator circuits; Recei...H04L 27/12 Modulator circuits; Transmi...H04L 27/14 Demodulator circuits; Recei...H04L 27/148 using filters, including PL...H04L 27/156 with demodulation using tem...H04L 27/2672 Frequency domainH04L 27/3881 using sampling and digital ...
