Patent US4330835A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4479249A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for collecting and processing messages transmitted at different signal frequencies
Assignee: Centre National d'Études Spatiales
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Filing: 1981-11-05
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Granted: 1984-10-23
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Expires: 2001-11-05
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for receiving messages transmitted from a plurality of radio signal sources operating at different frequencies within a predetermined frequency band. Means are provided to frequency scan the receive signals, deriving information for determining the frequency range in which said signals lie. A demodulating phase locked loop is connected to receive the radio frequency signals, and an initial operating frequency for the phase locked loop is provided by the frequency range information determined from the means for frequency scanning. A resetting circuit is included to maintain the phase locked loop oscillator frequency at a value independent of the frequency of the radio signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Michel Geesen
- 👤 Jacques Mourant
- 👤 Daniel P. Ludwig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:22
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R23/00; G01R23/16; H; H03; H03D; H03D3/00; H03D3/02; H03D3/24; H03G; H03G3/00; H03G3/20; H03J; H03J7/00; H03J7/18; H03J7/20; H03J7/28; H03J7/285; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/1851
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for receiving messages transmitted from a plurality of radio signal sources operating at different frequencies within a predetermined frequency band comprising: means for receiving said radio signals lying within said radio frequency band; means for frequency scanning the signal provided by said means for receiving for determining frequency information identifying a frequency range for each of said signals; a demodulating phase locked loop connected to receive said signals from said means for receiving, including a voltage controlled oscillator, an input mixer having one input to receive said radio signals and another input to receive a signal from said voltage controlled oscillator, a phase comparator for comparing an output signal of said mixer with a reference signal and supplying an error signal to said voltage controlled oscillator, said error signal representing phase modulation included on one of said radio frequency signals; means coupled to said voltage controlled oscillator for establishing an initial operating frequency of said voltage controlled oscillator of said demodulating phase locked loop in response to said frequency information determined by said means for frequency scanning; and means coupled to the voltage controlled oscillator for resetting the output signal frequency of said voltage controlled oscillator to a value independent of the frequency of said radio signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for receiving messages transmitted from a plurality of radio signal sources operating at different frequencies within a predetermined frequency band comprising: means for receiving said radio signals lying within said radio frequency band; means for frequency scanning the signal provided by said means for receiving for determining frequency information identifying a frequency range for each of said signals; a demodulating phase locked loop connected to receive said signals from said means for receiving, including a voltage controlled oscillator, an input mixer having one input to receive said radio signals and another input to receive a signal from said voltage controlled oscillator, a phase comparator for comparing an output signal of said mixer with a reference signal and supplying an error signal to said voltage controlled oscillator, said error signal representing phase modulation included on one of said radio frequency signals; means coupled to said voltage controlled oscillator for establishing an initial operating frequency of said voltage controlled oscillator of said demodulating phase locked loop in response to said frequency information determined by said means for frequency scanning; and means coupled to the voltage controlled oscillator for resetting the output signal frequency of said voltage controlled oscillator to a value independent of the frequency of said radio signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said phase locked loop further comprises a narrow band pass filter connected between said mixer and said phase comparator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frequency information is a digital signal.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of any of claims 1 or 2, wherein said means for establishing an initial operating frequency comprises a frequency synthesizer having a programming input controlled in response to respective frequency information from said means for frequency scanning and means for combining said voltage controlled oscillator output signal and said frequency synthesizer output signal to provide a signal for said another input of said input mixer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said resetting means comprises means for phase comparing the voltage controlled oscillator output signal with a reference signal, and switch means for selectively breaking said phase locked loop and connecting the output of said phase comparing means to the input of said voltage controlled oscillator in the resetting condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
110 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said establishing an means initial operation frequency comprises: memory means coupled to produce a voltage controlled oscillator control signal which corresponds to a prescribed output signal frequency value of said voltage controller oscillator in the absence of any signal on the output of said receiver means; and said resetting means comprises means for phase comparing said voltage controlled oscillator output signal frequency with a prescribed frequency information from said means for frequency scanning; and switch means for selectively connecting said phase comparing means to said memory means and disconnecting said voltage controlled oscillator control input from said phase locked loop in a resetting condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said frequency information is digital and said memory means output signal is analog.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said phase comparing means comprises a programmable divider responsive to said voltage controlled oscillator output signal frequency and having a digital input for receiving said frequency information and a phase comparator for comparing the output of said programmable divider with a fixed reference frequency signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising means for summing the output signal of said memory means and the output of said phase comparing means in said demodulating phase locked loop to control the input of said voltage controlled oscillator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including means for lowering the frequency of the received radio signals before they are applied to said demodulating phase locked loop to a value which is within the input frequency band of the demodulating phase locked loop.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a plurality of demodulating phase locked loops and means responsive to said means for frequency scanning for allocating respective frequency information to each of said demodulating phase lock loops.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means connected between said receiving means and each of said demodulating phase locked loops for lowering the center frequency of signals which are to be admitted to respective ones of said demodulating phase lock loops from said receiving means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means at the input of each of said demodulating phase locked loops, for admitting receiving means output signals to at least a respective one of said demodulating phase locked loops only within a frequency bandwidth selected in response to a respective frequency information out of said means for frequency scanning.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said frequency information comprises the most significant bits of a digital indication of the frequency range allocated to the means for establishing an initial operating frequency in the respective means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
156 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frequency scanning means comprises: a mixer for receiving said radio signals and a local oscillator signal; a plurality of bandpass filters connected to receive a heterodyned signal from said mixer; a multiplexer for individually sampling each of said band pass filters output signals in response to a control signal; a frequency synthesizer for generating a sequence of frequency stepped local oscillator signals; timing generator means connected to provide first and second synchronized control signals to said multiplexer, and said frequency synthesizer whereby said local oscillator signals are produced in a stepped frequency sequence and said band pass filters are sampled in synchronization with said stepped frequency sequence; and a frequency range determining means connected to receive said control signals and said multiplexer sampled output signal, said range determining means providing a digital signal representing a frequency range of a band pass filter receiving a heterodyned signal from said mixer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3614627A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-23 | 1988-04-23 | 1988-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-23 | 1992-04-23 | 1992-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-23 | 1996-04-23 | 1996-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |