US6359940B1 — Method and apparatus for downconverting signals t…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 193 words

A receiver that downconverts signals modulated using a plurality of modulation formats to a common intermediate frequency range, comprising: a first band selection filter that selects a first frequency range; a second band selection filter that selects a second frequency range; a third band selection filter that selects a third frequency range; a first downconverter, coupled to an output of the first band selection filter, that downconverts signals from the first frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range; a second downconverter, selectively coupled by a switch to either an output of the second band selection filter or an output of the third band selection filter, that downconverts signals from either the second frequency range or the third frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range, wherein the second downconverter has an input coupled to a frequency doubling circuit; switching circuitry that selectively couples one of either a first oscillating signal from a voltage controller oscillator (VCO) having a VCO frequency range or a second oscillating signal at a second frequency that is outside the VCO frequency range to an input of the first downconverter and an input of the frequency doubling circuit.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 193 words

A receiver that downconverts signals modulated using a plurality of modulation formats to a common intermediate frequency range, comprising: a first band selection filter that selects a first frequency range; a second band selection filter that selects a second frequency range; a third band selection filter that selects a third frequency range; a first downconverter, coupled to an output of the first band selection filter, that downconverts signals from the first frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range; a second downconverter, selectively coupled by a switch to either an output of the second band selection filter or an output of the third band selection filter, that downconverts signals from either the second frequency range or the third frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range, wherein the second downconverter has an input coupled to a frequency doubling circuit; switching circuitry that selectively couples one of either a first oscillating signal from a voltage controller oscillator (VCO) having a VCO frequency range or a second oscillating signal at a second frequency that is outside the VCO frequency range to an input of the first downconverter and an input of the frequency doubling circuit.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 65 words

The receiver of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of modulation formats include first, second, third and fourth modulation formats, the first and second modulation formats are transmitted to the receiver in the first frequency range, the third modulation format is transmitted to the receiver in the second frequency range, and the fourth modulation format is transmitted to the receiver in the third frequency range.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 83 words

The receiver of claim 2 , wherein the VCO is responsive to control circuitry and selectively generates the first oscillating signal at a channel frequency associated with the first modulation format, and the first downconverter mixes the output of the first band selection filter with the first oscillating signal at the channel frequency associated with the first modulation format in order to downconvert signals modulated in accordance with the first modulation format from the first frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 78 words

The receiver of claim 3 , wherein the VCO further selectively generates the first oscillating signal at a channel frequency associated with the second modulation format, and the first downconverter mixes the output of the first band selection filter with the first oscillating signal at the channel frequency associated with the second modulation format in order to downconvert signals modulated in accordance with the second modulation format from the first frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 115 words

The receiver of claim 4 , wherein the VCO further selectively generates the first oscillating signal at a channel frequency associated with the third modulation format, wherein the first oscillating signal at the channel frequency associated with the third modulation format is provided to the frequency doubling circuit, and the second downconverter mixes the output of the second band selection filter with an output of the frequency doubling circuit when the first oscillating signal at a channel frequency associated with the third modulation format is provided to the frequency doubling circuit in order to downconvert signals modulated in accordance with the third modulation format from the second frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 29 words

The receiver of claim 5 , further comprising a mixer that forms the second oscillating signal at the second frequency by offsetting the frequency of the first oscillating signal.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 76 words

The receiver of claim 6 , wherein the second oscillating signal is selectively provided to the frequency doubling circuit, and the second downconverter mixes the output of the third band selection filter with the output of the frequency doubling circuit when the second oscillating signal is provided to the frequency doubling circuit in order to downconvert signals modulated in accordance with the fourth modulation format from the third frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 61 words

The receiver of claim 7 , wherein the first modulation format corresponds to analog modulation, the second modulation format corresponds to CDMA modulation, the third modulation format corresponds to PCS modulation, the fourth modulation format corresponds to GPS modulation, the first frequency range is 869-894 MHz, the second frequency range is 1930-1990 MHz, and the third frequency range is 1574.42-1576.42 MHz.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 17 words

The receiver of claim 8 , wherein the common intermediate frequency range is centered about 183.48 MHz.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The receiver of claim 8 , wherein the first oscillating signal at a channel frequency associated with the first modulation format has a frequency range of 1052.52-1077.45 MHz.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 28 words

The receiver of claim 10 , wherein the first oscillating signal at a channel frequency associated with the second modulation format has a frequency range of 1052.52-1077.45 MHz.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

The receiver of claim 11 , wherein the first oscillating signal at a channel frequency associated with the third modulation format has a frequency range of 1056.74-1086.74 MHz.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 29 words

The receiver of claim 12 , wherein the second oscillating signal at a channel frequency associated with the fourth modulation format has a frequency range centered at 879.45 MHz.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 109 words

The receiver of claim 6 , further comprising: one or more channel selection filters, coupled to outputs of the first and second downconverters, that filter the downconverted signals output by the first and second downconverters; a sampling circuit, coupled to an output of the one or more channel selection filters, that selectively samples the downconverted signals with a sampling clock that alternatively samples signals at either a first or second sampling rate; and wherein the sampling dock is coupled to a third oscillating signal at a third frequency, and the third oscillating signal is an input to the mixer that forms the second oscillating signal at the second frequency.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 50 words

The receiver of claim 14 , wherein the first sampling rate provided by the sampling dock is equal to the third frequency divided by x, and the second sampling rate provided by the sampling clock is equal to the third frequency divided by y, wherein x and y are integers.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 37 words

The receiver of claim 15 , wherein the first sampling rate provided by the sampling clock is ⅓ the third frequency, and the second sampling rate provided by the sampling clock is one-fifteenth of the third frequency.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 54 words

The receiver of claim 15 , wherein the sampling circuit samples downconverted signals modulated in accordance with either the second, third or fourth modulation formats in accordance with the first sampling rate, and the sampling circuit samples downconverted signals modulated in accordance with the first modulation format in accordance with the second sampling rate.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 21 words

The receiver of claim 17 , wherein the one or more channel selection filters include only a single channel selection filter.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 107 words

The receiver of claim 17 , wherein the one or more channel selection filters include first and second channel selection filters, the first channel selection filter filters downconverted signals modulated in accordance with the first modulation format output by the first downconverter, the second channel selection filter filters downconverted signals modulated in accordance with the second modulation format output by the first downconverter, the second channel filter also filters downconverted signals modulated in accordance with the third modulation format output by the second downconverter, and the second channel selection filter further filters downconverted signals modulated in accordance with the fourth modulation format output by the second downconverter.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 107 words

The receiver of claim 17 , wherein the one or more channel selection filters include first, second and third channel selection filters, the first channel selection filter filters downconverted signals modulated in accordance with the first modulation format output by the first downconverter, the second channel selection filter filters downconverted signals modulated in accordance with the second modulation format output by the first downconverter, the second channel filter also filters downconverted signals modulated in accordance with the third modulation format output by the second downconverter, and the third channel selection filter filters downconverted signals modulated in accordance with the fourth modulation format output by the second downconverter.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 33 words

The receiver of claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of anti-alias filters coupled to the output of the one or more channel selection filters and to an input of the sampling circuit.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 72 words

The receiver of claim 1 , further comprising: a third downconverter, coupled to an output of the first band selection filter, that downconverts signals from the first frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range; wherein the switching circuitry selectively couples one of either the first oscillating signal from the VCO or the second oscillating signal to inputs of the first and third downconverters and an input of the frequency doubling circuit.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 65 words

The method of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of modulation formats include first, second, third and fourth modulation formats, the first and second modulation formats are transmitted to the receiver in the first frequency range, the third modulation format is transmitted to the receiver in the second frequency range, and the fourth modulation format is transmitted to the receiver in the third frequency range.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 83 words

The receiver of claim 23 , wherein the VCO is responsive to control circuitry and selectively generates the first oscillating signal at a channel frequency associated with the first modulation format, and the first downconverter mixes the output of the first band selection filter with the first oscillating signal at the channel frequency associated with the first modulation format in order to downconvert signals modulated in accordance with the first modulation format from the first frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 78 words

The receiver of claim 24 , wherein the VCO further selectively generates the first oscillating signal at a channel frequency associated with the second modulation format, and the third downconverter mixes the output of the first band selection filter with the first oscillating signal at the channel frequency associated with the second modulation format in order to downconvert signals modulated in accordance with the second modulation format from the first frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 115 words

The receiver of claim 25 , wherein the VCO further selectively generates the first oscillating signal at a channel frequency associated with the third modulation format, wherein the first oscillating signal at the channel frequency associated with the third modulation format is provided to the frequency doubling circuit, and the second downconverter mixes the output of the second band selection filter with an output of the frequency doubling circuit when the first oscillating signal at a channel frequency associated with the third modulation format is provided to the frequency doubling circuit in order to downconvert signals modulated in accordance with the third modulation format from the second frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 29 words

The receiver of claim 26 , further comprising a mixer that forms the second oscillating signal at the second frequency by offsetting the frequency of the first oscillating signal.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 76 words

The receiver of claim 27 , wherein the second oscillating signal is selectively provided to the frequency doubling circuit, and the second downconverter mixes the output of the third band selection filter with the output of the frequency doubling circuit when the second oscillating signal is provided to the frequency doubling circuit in order to downconvert signals modulated in accordance with the fourth modulation format from the third frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 61 words

The receiver of claim 28 , wherein the first modulation format corresponds to analog modulation, the second modulation format corresponds to CDMA modulation, the third modulation format corresponds to PCS modulation, the fourth modulation format corresponds to GPS modulation, the first frequency range is 869-894 MHz, the second frequency range is 1930-1990 MHz, and the third frequency range is 1574.42-1576.42 MHz.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 17 words

The receiver of claim 29 , wherein the common intermediate frequency range is centered about 183.48 MHz.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 28 words

The receiver of claim 29 , wherein the first oscillating signal at a channel frequency associated with the first modulation format has a frequency range of 1052.52-1077.45 MHz.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 28 words

The receiver of claim 31 , wherein the first oscillating signal at a channel frequency associated with the second modulation format has a frequency range of 1052.52-1077.45 MHz.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 28 words

The receiver of claim 32 , wherein the first oscillating signal at a channel frequency associated with the third modulation format has a frequency range of 1056.74-1086.74 MHz.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 29 words

The receiver of claim 33 , wherein the second oscillating signal at a channel frequency associated with the fourth modulation format has a frequency range centered at 879.45 MHz.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 111 words

The receiver of claim 27 , further comprising: one or more channel selection filters, coupled to outputs of the first, second and third downconverters, that filter the downconverted signals output by the first, second and third downconverters; a sampling circuit, coupled to an output of the one or more channel selection filters, that selectively samples the downconverted signals with a sampling clock that alternatively samples signals at either a first or second sampling rate; and wherein the sampling dock is coupled to a third oscillating signal at a third frequency, and the third oscillating signal is an input to the mixer that forms the second oscillating signal at the second frequency.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 50 words

The receiver of claim 35 , wherein the first sampling rate provided by the sampling clock is equal to the third frequency divided by x, and the second sampling rate provided by the sampling clock is equal to the third frequency divided by y, wherein x and y are integers.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 37 words

The receiver of claim 36 , wherein the first sampling rate provided by the sampling clock is ⅓ the third frequency, and the second sampling rate provided by the sampling clock is one-fifteenth of the third frequency.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 55 words

The receiver of claim 36 , wherein the sampling circuit samples downconverted signals modulated in accordance with either the second, third or fourth modulation formats in accordance with the first sampling rate, and the sampling circuit samples downconverted signals modulated in accordance with either the first modulation format in accordance with the second sampling rate.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 21 words

The receiver of claim 38 , wherein the one or more channel selection filters include only a single channel selection filter.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 107 words

The receiver of claim 38 , wherein the one or more channel selection filters include first and second channel selection filters, the first channel selection filter filters downconverted signals modulated in accordance with the first modulation format output by the first downconverter, the second channel selection filter filters downconverted signals modulated in accordance with the second modulation format output by the third downconverter, the second channel filter also filters downconverted signals modulated in accordance with the third modulation format output by the second downconverter, and the second channel selection filter further filters downconverted signals modulated in accordance with the fourth modulation format output by the second downconverter.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 107 words

The receiver of claim 38 , wherein the one or more channel selection filters include first, second and third channel selection filters, the first channel selection filter filters downconverted signals modulated in accordance with the first modulation format output by the first downconverter, the second channel selection filter filters downconverted signals modulated in accordance with the second modulation format output by the third downconverter, the second channel filter also filters downconverted signals modulated in accordance with the third modulation format output by the second downconverter, and the third channel selection filter filters downconverted signals modulated in accordance with the fourth modulation format output by the second downconverter.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 33 words

The receiver of claim 35 , further comprising a plurality of anti-alias filters coupled to the output of the one or more channel selection filters and to an input of the sampling circuit.

Claim 44

Independent Claim 203 words

A method for downconverting signals modulated using a plurality of modulation formats to a common intermediate frequency range, comprising the steps of: applying the input signals to a first band selection filter that selects a first frequency range; applying the input signals to a second band selection filter that selects a second frequency range; applying the input signals to a third band selection filter that selects a third frequency range; selectively providing one of either a first oscillating signal from a voltage controller oscillator (VCO) having a VCO frequency range or a second oscillating signal at a second frequency that is outside the VCO frequency range to an input of a first downconverter and an input of a frequency doubling circuit; downconverting, with the first downconverter, signals from the first frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range; downconverting, with a second downconverter, signals from either the second frequency range or the third frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range, wherein the second downconverter has an input coupled to the frequency doubling circuit, and the second downconverter is selectively coupled by a switch to either an output of the second band selection filter or an output of the third band selection filter.

Claim 45

Independent Claim 203 words

A method for downconverting signals modulated using a plurality of modulation formats to a common intermediate frequency range, comprising the steps of: applying the input signals to a first band selection filter that selects a first frequency range; applying the input signals to a second band selection filter that selects a second frequency range; applying the input signals to a third band selection filter that selects a third frequency range; selectively providing one of either a first oscillating signal from a voltage controller oscillator (VCO) having a VCO frequency range or a second oscillating signal at a second frequency that is outside the VCO frequency range to an input of a first downconverter and an input of a frequency doubling circuit; downconverting, with the first downconverter, signals from the first frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range; downconverting, with a second downconverter, signals from either the second frequency range or the third frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range, wherein the second downconverter has an input coupled to the frequency doubling circuit, and the second downconverter is selectively coupled by a switch to either an output of the second band selection filter or an output of the third band selection filter.

Claim 46

Independent Claim 212 words

An apparatus for downconverting signals modulated using a plurality of modulation formats to a common intermediate frequency range, comprising: means for applying the input signals to a first band selection filter that selects a first frequency range; means for applying the input signals to a second band selection filter that selects a second frequency range; means for applying the input signals to a third band selection filter that selects a third frequency range; means for selectively providing one of either a first oscillating signal from a voltage controller oscillator (VCO) having a VCO frequency range or a second oscillating signal at a second frequency that is outside the VCO frequency range to an input of a first downconverter and an input of a frequency doubling circuit; means for downconverting, with the first downconverter, signals from the first frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range; means for downconverting, with a second downconverter, signals from either the second frequency range or the third frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range, wherein the second downconverter has an input coupled to the frequency doubling circuit, and the second downconverter is selectively coupled by a switch to either an output of the second band selection filter or an output of the third band selection filter.

Claim 47

Independent Claim 212 words

An apparatus for downconverting signals modulated using a plurality of modulation formats to a common intermediate frequency range, comprising: means for applying the input signals to a first band selection filter that selects a first frequency range; means for applying the input signals to a second band selection filter that selects a second frequency range; means for applying the input signals to a third band selection filter that selects a third frequency range; means for selectively providing one of either a first oscillating signal from a voltage controller oscillator (VCO) having a VCO frequency range or a second oscillating signal at a second frequency that is outside the VCO frequency range to an input of a first downconverter and an input of a frequency doubling circuit; means for downconverting, with the first downconverter, signals from the first frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range; means for downconverting, with a second downconverter, signals from either the second frequency range or the third frequency range to the common intermediate frequency range, wherein the second downconverter has an input coupled to the frequency doubling circuit, and the second downconverter is selectively coupled by a switch to either an output of the second band selection filter or an output of the third band selection filter.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-03-18	2005-09-17	2006-03-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-03-18	2009-09-17	2010-03-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-03-18	2013-09-17	2014-03-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for downconverting signals transmitted using a plurality of modulation formats to a common intermediate frequency range

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