Abstract: An envelope detector receives an input that is an Amplitude-Modulated (AM) or Amplitude-Shift-Keying (ASK) coded signal. Each channel has a sample switch and a diode that charge an internal sampling capacitor. A hold switch connects the internal sampling capacitor to a summing output capacitor or to a post-processing circuit. A reset switch discharges the internal sampling capacitor after each sample. Two or more channels may be time multiplexed to sample alternate cycles of the input, and then their outputs combined by the summing output capacitor or by the post-processing circuit. The diodes may be reversed to detect the negative envelope rather than the positive envelope. Clocks for the switches may be generated from the input, or may be from a separate clock source. Since the sampling window is open for a whole input cycle, the clock source is insensitive to phase error.

Abstract: A quadrature modulator and a method of calibrating same by applying a first test tone signal to an in-phase modulation branch input of the modulator and a ninety degree phase-shifted version of the first test tone signal to a quadrature modulation branch input of the modulator. The carrier leakage level in an output signal of the modulator is measured and in response base band dc offset voltages are adjusted to minimize the carrier leakage. A second test tone signal is applied to the in-phase modulation branch input and a ninety degree phase-shifted version of the second test tone signal to the quadrature modulation branch input. The level of an undesired upper sideband frequency component in the output signal is measured and in response base band gains the in-phase and quadrature modulation branches and a local oscillator phase error are adjusted to minimize the undesired side band.

Abstract: A demodulator for demodulating a modulated input signal transmitted at a carrier frequency includes a current mirror for receiving the modulated input signal and generating a first and a second current-mirror output signals of same amplitude and frequency as the modulated input signal. The demodulator further includes a first and a second switch-controlled sampling circuits connected to the current mirror for receiving the first and second current mirror output signals respectively. The demodulator further includes a switching signal generator provided for generating a first and a second switch control signals having a frequency substantially equals to the carrier frequency with a flexibly adjustable phase difference between the first and the second switch control signals.

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.

Abstract: This invention discloses a demodulation method. The method includes steps of: A) Receiving a modulated input signal having an input signal frequency. B) Generating a first switch control signal at a first switching frequency substantially equal to the input signal frequency. C) Generating a second switch control signal having the same frequency as the first switch control signal and having a phase that is approximately 90 degrees different from a phase of the first switch control signal. And D) Controlling at least two switching circuits with the first and second switch control signals for obtaining at least two sets of sampled amplitudes of the input signals for generating switching output signals for each of the switching circuits defined by subtracting the sampled amplitudes when the first switch control signal is high by the sampled amplitudes when the first switch control signal is low for each of the switching circuits to generate demodulated output signals for the modulated input signal.

Abstract: Integrated circuit layout for LF signal acquisition in the case of contactless data transmission Known circuit layouts for LF signal acquisition only provide for a very short communication distance between transponder and base unit, and consist of several ICs that need to be assembled. Using bipolar or MOS circuit layouts where the LF signal acquisition for the AM demodulator is effected on at least one of the two H bridge circuit branches. This increases system sensitivity and thus the communication distance between transponder and base unit. Due to the reduced voltage strength requirements with regard to the AM demodulator, it will become easy to integrate this circuit component jointly with the H bridge into an IC.

Abstract: A method and a system for phase sensitive rectification of signals from transducers driven by an AC excitation signal will be disclosed. The method and system demand a very moderate calculation capacity, thereby to facilitate the use of low cost microprocessors of ordinary speed. The present method and system utilize a sampling being synchronized with the transducer excitation frequency f. Sampling of the sensor signal is performed by an A/D-converter at a high sampling frequency, nf. The sampled signal then is averaged over half a period of the excitation signal frequency, whereby the starting point of the averaging is decided by the time of commutation. This is equal to filtering the sampled signal by a decimating filter. The rectification may then may be preformed with a number sequence sampled by the optimal sampling frequency 2f (twice the excitation frequency only) instead of the sampling frequency nf used for obtaining high resolution.

Abstract: A sampling synchronous envelope detector adopts a specialized sample-and-hold ("S&H") approach, basing a detected output on instantaneous values of the carrier waveform which are sampled at specially chosen instants. Non-linear distortion is avoided by timing the sampling instants to occur at or near a carrier wave peak which is subsequent to an earlier carrier wave peak which serves as a time base. Sampling instants occur only at or near positive carrier peaks (or only at or near negative peaks) in a half-wave embodiment, and sampling instants occur at or near both positive and negative carrier peaks in a full wave embodiment. Another aspect of the detector provides means, such as a phase locked loop, for ensuring that the phase of the sampling instants is maintained continuously, even in the event of carrier pinch-off or other event which distorts or minimizes the carrier waveform from which the timing instants would otherwise be determined.

Abstract: An AM demodulator circuit arrangement includes an operational amplifier having at least two alternate input networks and at least two alternate feedback networks which can be selectively activated by switching signals so as to establish an amplifier gain factor having at least two different predetermined values. The switching signals are derived from a square wave clock control signal of a frequency which is an integral multiple of the carrier frequency of the AM input signal supplied to the demodulator. As a result of the periodic variation of the amplifier gain factor, the demodulated signal is produced at the output of the amplifier. Such a demodulator avoids offsets or interference frequencies due to manufacturing tolerances. Sensitivity to interference at higher harmonics of the carrier frequency can be suppressed by appropriate selection of the waveform of the gain factor variation, which is determined by the waveform of the switching signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modulating or demodulating a radio frequency (RF) signal which incorporates a pair of quadrature couplers. In demodulating an RF signal, an LO signal and the RF signal are each phase shifted -90 degrees by the couplers. The RF and LO signals are mixed as are the phase-shifted RF and LO signals. Each mixed signal is low-pass filtered and the filtered signals are added thereby producing an intermediate frequency signal.

Abstract: A detector circuit comprises demodulating means for demodulating an input signal in accordance with a carrier wave applied to the demodulating means, current attenuating means coupled with the demodulating means and for attenuating a signal from the demodulating means while keeping the information contained in the signal intact, and capacitor means, coupled with the output of the current attenuating means, for smoothing a waveform of an output signal of the current attenuating means.