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US5313173A
Expired / Lapsed
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Quadrature modulated phase-locked loop
Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC
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Filing: 1993-04-26
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Granted: 1994-05-17
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Expires: 2013-04-26
Abstract
Abstract A phase-locked loop incorporates a quadrature modulator for generating constant envelope phase or frequency modulation. Locating the quadrature modulator within the feedback loop or feeding the output signal of the quadrature modulator into the feedback loop permits accurate constant envelope phase modulation of the loop reference oscillator and completely suppresses undesired AM and PM components of the modulated signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Ross W. Lampe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:32
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03C; H03C3/00; H03C3/02; H03C3/09; H03C3/0908; H03C3/0983; H03C3/095; H03C3/0975; H03L; H03L7/00; H03L7/06; H03L7/16; H03L7/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A phase-locked loop (PLL) phase modulator comprising: an oscillator for generating a phase modulated carrier signal in response to a regulating signal; a quadrature modulator for combining the phase modulated carrier signal and information signals to produce a quadrature modulated signal; and a phase comparator for comparing the phase of the quadrature modulated signal with the phase of a reference frequency signal to produce the regulating signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
A phase-locked loop (PLL) phase modulator comprising: an oscillator for generating a phase modulated carrier signal in response to a regulating signal; a quadrature modulator for combining the phase modulated carrier signal and information signals to produce a quadrature modulated signal; and a phase comparator for comparing the phase of the quadrature modulated signal with the phase of a reference frequency signal to produce the regulating signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 1, further comprising: a first filter, connected between the modulator and the phase comparator, for conditioning the modulated signal; a second filter, connected between the phase comparator and the oscillator, for conditioning the regulating signal; and sampling means for sampling the output signal and generating the feedback signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 2 wherein the sampling means is a coupler.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 1 wherein the oscillator is a voltage or current controlled oscillator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 1 wherein the phase comparator is a digital synthesizer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 5 wherein the information signals include in-phase and quadrature information signals for phase or frequency modulating a reference signal and the quadrature modulator includes: first and second local reference signals which are 90 degrees out of phase; a first mixer for mixing the in-phase information signal and the first local reference signal; a second mixer for mixing the quadrature information signal and the second local reference signal; and a summer for summing outputs from the first and second mixers to generate the quadrature modulated signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 6 wherein the first and second local reference signals are generated from the phase modulated carrier signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 6 wherein the first and second local reference signals are generated from another oscillator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 6 wherein the first and second local reference signals are generated from the reference signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 1 further comprising: a frequency scaler for scaling the frequency of the phase modulated carrier signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 10 wherein the frequency scaler is connected between the quadrature modulator and the phase comparator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 10 wherein the frequency scaler scales the frequency of the phase modulated carrier signal before being combined in the quadrature modulator with the information signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 10 wherein the frequency scaler includes: a variable local oscillator, a mixer for mixing a local oscillator output signal generated by the variable local oscillator and the phase modulated carrier signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 10 wherein the frequency scaler includes: a variable local oscillator, a mixer for mixing a local oscillator output signal generated by the variable local oscillator and the quadrature modulated signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 14 wherein the variable local oscillator includes: means for changing the frequency of the variable local oscillator to permit the PLL phase modulator to tune to different frequencies, and a low pass filter for minimizing phase noise in the PLL phase modulator caused by changes in the local oscillator frequency.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
82 words
A phase-locked loop phase modulator comprising: a reference oscillator for generating a phase modulated carrier signal in response to a regulating signal; a quadrature modulator for combining a first reference signal and information signals to produce a quadrature modulated signal; a mixer for mixing the phase modulated carrier signal and the quadrature modulated signal; and a phase comparator for comparing the phase of an output signal of the mixer with the phase of a second reference signal to produce the regulating signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
82 words
A phase-locked loop phase modulator comprising: a reference oscillator for generating a phase modulated carrier signal in response to a regulating signal; a quadrature modulator for combining a first reference signal and information signals to produce a quadrature modulated signal; a mixer for mixing the phase modulated carrier signal and the quadrature modulated signal; and a phase comparator for comparing the phase of an output signal of the mixer with the phase of a second reference signal to produce the regulating signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 16, further comprising: a filter, connected between the phase comparator and the oscillator, for conditioning the regulating signal, and sampling means for sampling the oscillator output signal and generating the phase modulated carrier signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 17 wherein the sampling means is a coupler.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 16 wherein the oscillator is a voltage or current controlled oscillator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 16 wherein the phase comparator is a digital synthesizer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
65 words
A phase-locked loop phase modulator comprising: an oscillator for generating a phase modulated carrier signal in response to a regulating signal; a quadrature modulator for combining a reference signal and information signals to produce a quadrature modulated signal; and a phase comparator for comparing the phase of the phase modulated carrier signal with the phase of the quadrature modulated signal to produce the regulating signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
65 words
A phase-locked loop phase modulator comprising: an oscillator for generating a phase modulated carrier signal in response to a regulating signal; a quadrature modulator for combining a reference signal and information signals to produce a quadrature modulated signal; and a phase comparator for comparing the phase of the phase modulated carrier signal with the phase of the quadrature modulated signal to produce the regulating signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 21, further comprising: a filter, connected between the phase comparator and the oscillator, for conditioning the regulating signal, and sampling means for sampling the phase modulated carrier signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 22 wherein the sampling means is a coupler.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 21 wherein the oscillator is a voltage or current controlled oscillator.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 21 wherein the phase comparator is a digital synthesizer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The phase-locked loop phase modulator according to claim 21 further comprising: a frequency scaler for scaling the frequency of the feedback signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
85 words
A phase modulation method for maintaining a constant envelope oscillator output signal generated by an oscillator in a phase-locked loop (PLL) comprising: sampling the oscillator output signal to generate a PLL feedback signal; quadrature modulating the PLL feedback signal with in-phase and quadrature information signals, comparing the phase of the quadrature modulated signal with the phase of a reference signal to determine a difference signal; and regulating the oscillator using the difference signal, wherein the oscillator output signal is substantially free of spurious amplitude modulation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
85 words
A phase modulation method for maintaining a constant envelope oscillator output signal generated by an oscillator in a phase-locked loop (PLL) comprising: sampling the oscillator output signal to generate a PLL feedback signal; quadrature modulating the PLL feedback signal with in-phase and quadrature information signals, comparing the phase of the quadrature modulated signal with the phase of a reference signal to determine a difference signal; and regulating the oscillator using the difference signal, wherein the oscillator output signal is substantially free of spurious amplitude modulation.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
21 words
A method according to 27, wherein the modulating step includes quadrature modulating the feedback signal with in-phase and quadrature information signals.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
21 words
A method according to 27, wherein the modulating step includes quadrature modulating the feedback signal with in-phase and quadrature information signals.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 27, further comprising: scaling the frequency of the quadrature modulated signal before the comparing step.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 27, further comprising: scaling the frequency of the PLL feedback signal before the modulating step.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
102 words
A phase modulation method for maintaining a constant envelope oscillator output signal generated by an oscillator in a phase-locked loop (PLL) comprising: sampling the oscillator output signal to generate a PLL feedback signal; quadrature modulating a first reference signal based on in-phase and quadrature information signals to generate a quadrature modulated signal; combining the quadrature modulated signal with the PLL feedback signal; comparing the phase of the combined signal with the phase of a second reference signal to determine a difference signal; and regulating the oscillator using the difference signal, wherein the oscillator output signal is substantially free of spurious amplitude modulation.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
102 words
A phase modulation method for maintaining a constant envelope oscillator output signal generated by an oscillator in a phase-locked loop (PLL) comprising: sampling the oscillator output signal to generate a PLL feedback signal; quadrature modulating a first reference signal based on in-phase and quadrature information signals to generate a quadrature modulated signal; combining the quadrature modulated signal with the PLL feedback signal; comparing the phase of the combined signal with the phase of a second reference signal to determine a difference signal; and regulating the oscillator using the difference signal, wherein the oscillator output signal is substantially free of spurious amplitude modulation.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 31, further comprising: scaling the frequency of the quadrature modulated signal before the comparing step.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 31, further comprising: scaling the frequency of the feedback signal before the quadrature modulating step.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
82 words
A phase modulation method for use in a phase locked loop comprising: generating a constant envelope reference oscillation signal; phase modulating the reference oscillation signal with an information signal; translating any spurious amplitude modulation generated in the phase modulating step into spurious phase modulation components; and comparing the phase of the phase modulated signal with the phase of a reference signal to generate a control signal for controlling the PLL, wherein the spurious phase modulation components are removed in the comparing step.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
82 words
A phase modulation method for use in a phase locked loop comprising: generating a constant envelope reference oscillation signal; phase modulating the reference oscillation signal with an information signal; translating any spurious amplitude modulation generated in the phase modulating step into spurious phase modulation components; and comparing the phase of the phase modulated signal with the phase of a reference signal to generate a control signal for controlling the PLL, wherein the spurious phase modulation components are removed in the comparing step.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
101 words
A phase-locked loop (PLL) phase modulator, comprising: an oscillator for generating a phase modulated output signal in response to a regulating signal; a quadrature modulator for combining in-phase and quadrature information signals with the phase modulated output signal to generate a phase modulated input signal; and a phase comparator for comparing the phase of the phase modulated input signal with the phase of a reference frequency to produce the regulating signal, wherein a transfer function defined as the phase modulated output signal divided by the phase modulated input signal compensates for undesired amplitude or phase modulations generated by the quadrature modulator.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
101 words
A phase-locked loop (PLL) phase modulator, comprising: an oscillator for generating a phase modulated output signal in response to a regulating signal; a quadrature modulator for combining in-phase and quadrature information signals with the phase modulated output signal to generate a phase modulated input signal; and a phase comparator for comparing the phase of the phase modulated input signal with the phase of a reference frequency to produce the regulating signal, wherein a transfer function defined as the phase modulated output signal divided by the phase modulated input signal compensates for undesired amplitude or phase modulations generated by the quadrature modulator.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-05-16 | 1997-11-15 | 1998-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-16 | 2001-11-15 | 2002-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-16 | 2005-11-15 | 2006-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |