Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for demodulating a modulated M-ary phase shifted keyed (MPSK) signal where M is greater than 2 and wherein modulation is constrained to phase transitions between adjacent phase states, said method comprising the steps of: dividing a source signal into two paths differing by a preselected phase relationship other than zero degrees of 180 degrees among a first phase component and a second phase component; delaying said second phase component by nominally one bit period to produce a delayed-phase component; mixing a representation of the delayed-phase component and said first phase component to produce a mixed signal; low-pass filtering said mixed signal to produce a filtered signal; and comparing said filtered signal against a plurality of preselected decision thresholds in at least one comparator means to produce a digital output signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for demodulating a modulated M-ary phase shifted keyed (MPSK) signal where M is greater than 2 and wherein modulation is constrained to phase transitions between adjacent phase states, said method comprising the steps of: dividing a source signal into two paths differing by a preselected phase relationship other than zero degrees of 180 degrees among a first phase component and a second phase component; delaying said second phase component by nominally one bit period to produce a delayed-phase component; mixing a representation of the delayed-phase component and said first phase component to produce a mixed signal; low-pass filtering said mixed signal to produce a filtered signal; and comparing said filtered signal against a plurality of preselected decision thresholds in at least one comparator means to produce a digital output signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein phase changes are limited to selected phase states between +90° and -90° relative to an initial phase state, and wherein said comparing step comprises identifying each phase state by means of individual comparators, the number of said individual comparators being one less than the number of possible adjacent phase states.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for demodulating a modulated M-ary phase shift keyed (MPSK) signal wherein modulation is constrained to phase transitions between adjacent phase states, said method comprising the steps of: dividing a source signal into two paths with a preselected phase relationship among a first phase component and a second phase component; delaying said second phase component by nominally one bit period to produce a delayed-phase component; mixing a representation of the delayed-phase component and said first phase component to produce a mixed signal; low-pass filtering said mixed signal to produce a filtered signal; comparing said filtered signal against different preselected decision thresholds in at least two comparator means to produce a digital output signal; identifying different signal levels of said mixed signal; and analyzing said different signal levels of said two-level comparator means in order to combine said outputs of said two-level comparator means to produce said digital output signal.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for demodulating a modulated M-ary phase shift keyed (MPSK) signal wherein modulation is constrained to phase transitions between adjacent phase states, said method comprising the steps of: dividing a source signal into two paths with a preselected phase relationship among a first phase component and a second phase component; delaying said second phase component by nominally one bit period to produce a delayed-phase component; mixing a representation of the delayed-phase component and said first phase component to produce a mixed signal; low-pass filtering said mixed signal to produce a filtered signal; comparing said filtered signal against different preselected decision thresholds in at least two comparator means to produce a digital output signal; identifying different signal levels of said mixed signal; and analyzing said different signal levels of said two-level comparator means in order to combine said outputs of said two-level comparator means to produce said digital output signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein exactly two two-level comparator means are provided, and wherein said analyzing step is implemented in digital logic circuit means comprising a two-input OR gate, wherein a first input is coupled to receive output of a first two-level comparator means and a second input is coupled to receive output of a second two-level comparator means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
177 words
An apparatus for demodulating a modulated M-ary Phase Shifted Keyed signal where M is greater than 2 and wherein modulation is constrained to phase transitions between adjacent phase states, said apparatus comprising: a phase splitter means for dividing a source signal into two paths differing by a preselected phase relationship other than zero degrees or 180 degrees among a first phase component and a second phase component; a delay means coupled to receive as an output said second phase component from said phase splitter, said second phase component being delayed by nominally one bit period at an output of said delay means as a delayed-phase component; a mixer coupled to receive as one input a representation of the delayed-phase component and a second input a representations of said first phase component to produce a mixed signal; lowpass filter means coupled to receive said mixed signal for producing a filtered signal; and at least one two-level comparator means, each one of said two-level comparator means being coupled to receive said filtered signal to produce a digital output signal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
177 words
An apparatus for demodulating a modulated M-ary Phase Shifted Keyed signal where M is greater than 2 and wherein modulation is constrained to phase transitions between adjacent phase states, said apparatus comprising: a phase splitter means for dividing a source signal into two paths differing by a preselected phase relationship other than zero degrees or 180 degrees among a first phase component and a second phase component; a delay means coupled to receive as an output said second phase component from said phase splitter, said second phase component being delayed by nominally one bit period at an output of said delay means as a delayed-phase component; a mixer coupled to receive as one input a representation of the delayed-phase component and a second input a representations of said first phase component to produce a mixed signal; lowpass filter means coupled to receive said mixed signal for producing a filtered signal; and at least one two-level comparator means, each one of said two-level comparator means being coupled to receive said filtered signal to produce a digital output signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein exactly two two-level comparator means are provided, and further comprising digital logic circuit means comprising a two-input OR gate, wherein a first input is coupled to receive output of a first two-level comparator means and a second input is coupled to receive output of a second two-level comparator means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for demodulating an M-ary Phase Shift Keyed modulated signal wherein modulation is constrained to phase transitions between adjacent phase states, said apparatus comprising: a phase splitter means for dividing a source signal into two paths with a preselected phase relationship among a first phase component and a second phase component; a delay means coupled to receive as an output said second phase component from said phase splitter, said second phase component being delayed by nominally one bit period at an output of said delay means as a delayed-phase component; a mixer coupled to receive as one input a representation of the delayed-phase component and a second input a representation of said first phase component to produce a mixed signal; lowpass filter means coupled to receive said mixed signal for producing a filtered signal; at least two two-level comparator means, each one of said two-level comparator means being coupled to receive said filtered signal and being referenced to a different reference level to produce a digital output signal, for identifying different signal levels of said mixed signal; and digital logic circuit means coupled to receive outputs of said two-level comparator means in order to combine said outputs of said two-level comparator means to produce said digital output signal.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for demodulating an M-ary Phase Shift Keyed modulated signal wherein modulation is constrained to phase transitions between adjacent phase states, said apparatus comprising: a phase splitter means for dividing a source signal into two paths with a preselected phase relationship among a first phase component and a second phase component; a delay means coupled to receive as an output said second phase component from said phase splitter, said second phase component being delayed by nominally one bit period at an output of said delay means as a delayed-phase component; a mixer coupled to receive as one input a representation of the delayed-phase component and a second input a representation of said first phase component to produce a mixed signal; lowpass filter means coupled to receive said mixed signal for producing a filtered signal; at least two two-level comparator means, each one of said two-level comparator means being coupled to receive said filtered signal and being referenced to a different reference level to produce a digital output signal, for identifying different signal levels of said mixed signal; and digital logic circuit means coupled to receive outputs of said two-level comparator means in order to combine said outputs of said two-level comparator means to produce said digital output signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein exactly two two-level comparator means are provided, and wherein said digital logic circuit means comprises a two-input OR gate, wherein a first input is coupled to receive output of a first two-level comparator means and a second input is coupled to receive output of a second two-level comparator means.