Abstract: A filter circuit having an amplifier stage, an upstream filter and a downstream bandpass filter. The filter includes, inter alia, a rejection circuit tuned to an intermediate frequency and a series circuit, tuned to an image frequency and formed by a capacitor and a .lambda./4 coaxial stub. The inductance formed by the coaxial stub is shared by the series circuit and the rejection circuit.

Abstract: In a device for rejecting the image signal of a signal converted to a predetermined intermediate frequency, a local oscillator supplies a local signal at a frequency chosen according to the frequency of the signal and the intermediate frequency. A first phase-shifter has two passive phase-shifter cells including resistive and capacitive components and respectively connected to the output of the oscillator to supply two mixer signals in phase quadrature. Two mixers receive an input signal containing a signal and its image signal and a respective mixer signal and supply two intermediate signals at the intermediate frequency. A second phase-shifter comprises two passive phase-shifter cells comprising resistive and capacitive components and respectively connected to the outputs of the two mixers to introduce a further phase quadrature relationship between the two intermediate signals.

Abstract: A time-share mixer circuit and a frequency converter, an I-Q modulator, and an I-Q demodulator. A switching signal drives the time-share mixer circuit to alternate between two output signals. The first output signal represents the output of a mixer having a given signal input and a local oscillator signal with a first phase as its local oscillator input. The second output signal represents the output of the mixer having the same input signal and the local oscillator signal with a second phase that differs from the first phase by 90 degrees as its local oscillator input signal. The frequency converter uses the time-share mixer in combination with a switched output phase shifter that switches in sync with the phase of the local oscillator signal to generate a phase shifted output signal in which the time average of an undesired image signal is substantially reduced compared to time average of the desired signal. The phase shifted output signal is then amplified by a bandpass amplifier.

Abstract: A subscriber terminal (104) operable in a wireless communications system (100) having an infrastructure (111) and arranged and constructed to provide data communications between the infrastructure and the subscriber terminal, includes a radio frequency receiver (201) arranged to receive communications from the infrastructure during an active time period (303); and a portable computing device (105) operatively coupled to the radio frequency transceiver and arranged to forego a desense generating activity during the active period. A corresponding method includes determining an active time period for the RF receiver (403); directing the computer to forego desense generating activities (405) during the active time period; and activating the RF receiver (407) during the active time period.

Abstract: A dielectric resonator image reject mixer and method comprises an amplifier for amplifying a receive frequency (RF) signal and outputting a first combined signal comprising a RF signal, a RF noise signal, and an image noise signal. A dielectric resonator image rejector is coupled to the amplifier. The dielectric resonator image rejector receives the first combined signal but outputs only a second combined signal comprising the RF signal and the RF noise signal to a mixer coupled to the dielectric resonator image rejector. The image noise signal is rejected by either reflection or resonant transmission to a resistor-terminated microstrip line. A mixer mixes the combined RF signal and the RF noise signal from the dielectric resonator image rejector with a local oscillation frequency signal, producing an intermediate frequency output signal.

Abstract: A transmitting and receiving system having two or more radios, each capable of transmitting and receiving a transmission signal on two or more radio frequencies where a first radio transmits on a selected frequency at a predetermined time interval and a second radio recovers the transmitted signal. The second radio has a first intermediate frequency generator which generates an intermediate frequency signal which is substantially equal to an integer multiple of the channel spacing whereby an image response corresponding to the selected frequency is separated by twice the intermediate frequency signal from the selected frequency. Thus, locations for the two or more transmission frequencies can be selected so as not to be located on the image responses corresponding to any and all of the two or more transmission frequencies.

Abstract: A double superheterodyne receiver comprising a pair of first mixer circuits, a pair of second mixer circuits, a demodulator circuit, and a pair of detector circuits. The first mixer circuits are connected in an orthogonal relation to each other and acts to convert a received RF signal into a pair of first intermediate-frequency (IF) signals in the baseband. The second mixer circuits are connected in an orthogonal relation to each other and acts to convert the first IF signals into a pair of second IF signals of a given center frequency. The demodulator circuit arithmetically combines the second IF signals so as to create a third IF signal, and demodulates the original signal from the third IF signal. The output signals from the second mixer circuits are supplied to the detector circuits, which in turn detect the carrier component contained in the output signals. The output signals from the detector circuits are fed to the second mixer circuits.

Abstract: A dual traveling wave resonator filter includes a microstrip line to receive an input signal at a first end and first and second traveling wave resonator rings. Each traveling wave resonator ring is in close proximity to the microstrip line such that first and second resonant first combined signals are induced, respectively, in each of the first and second traveling wave resonator rings in response to the input signal on the microstrip line. A band-reject signal is rejected from the microstrip line and a pass-band signal is produced from the microstrip line at a second end.

Abstract: A radio receiver in which the received signal is spread and subsequently despread in order to identify unwanted signals. One embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a frequency-hopping spreading synthesizer that operates in synchronization with a despreader synthesizer such that unwanted signals are effectively suppressed based upon different spreading characteristics of the desired and undesired signals. Use of a logic device, in one case a digital signal processor, in combination with a state-level monitor allows for the reconfiguring of the receiver such that a state containing a large interferer can be removed from further signal processing.

Abstract: A radio (100), powered by a battery (170), can be used in remote meter reading applications. In order to conserve battery power, the radio (100) is capable of determining that a signal is an image signal rather than a signal on the desired frequency. This is accomplished by attempting to receive a signal utilizing different local oscillator signals (high side injection and low side injection). If a signal is present, as indicated by the received signal strength with both local oscillator signals, then the radio (100) will attempt to decode data. The radio (100) does not attempt to decode data when the signal is determined to be a spurious signal. The radio (100) can then be operated in a reduced power consumption mode. This results in battery savings for radios operating in the presence of an image frequency signal.

Abstract: An improved modulator circuit for mixing a modulation signal with a carrier signal includes first and second harmonic mixers which are operative to produce modulated output signals at an output frequency corresponding to both the sum and the difference of the modulation signal frequency and the even harmonic frequencies of the carrier signal frequency. In one configuration employing a 90.degree. hybrid, the output signals of the harmonic mixers are combined to produce a single sideband modulated output signal. A novel harmonic mixer circuit is also provided along with demodulator circuits and methods of modulating and demodulating modulation signals.

Abstract: A mixer separates IF components IF1, IF2 of the same frequency which are images of different frequency RF signals RF1, RF2 beating with a given LO signal. The LO signal is applied to a FET active power divider and applied to the drains of a pair of balanced FET mixing elements. The FETs for the active power divider are built from the same device structure as the FETs for the mixing elements sharing drain nodes. The RF signals are passed through a quadrature phase shifter and applied to the gates of the FET mixing elements. The mixed signals appear at the drains of FET mixing elements are applied to opposing ports of a second quadrature hybrid at whose output ports the separated IF output signals IF1, IF2 appear.

Abstract: A spread spectrum receiver for use in spread spectrum communication systems is disclosed. The spread spectrum receiver of the present invention includes an analog-to-digital converter for receiving an analog spread spectrum signal, and for converting the received analog signal to a digital signal. The spread spectrum receiver also includes a digital frequency offset correction device, for modifying the digital signal in accordance with a frequency correction term signal to thereby correct for frequency offset in the received analog signal. The spread spectrum receiver also contains a Rake receiver. The spread spectrum receiver searches through the modified digital signal to identify M of the main and multipath return signals having the strongest signal strengths.

Abstract: Automatic gain control of a communications receiver is provided by including a filter in the upper end thereof having a frequency pass-band which slopes off at each end and can be controllably shifted in a direction and by an amount determined by a control voltage which corresponds to the output signal level. As a result of such shifting of the frequency band relative to the frequency of a received signal, the filter provides adequate gain reduction even for unduly strong received signals and with less signal distortion and lower power consumption than occurs with AGC circuits which operate by changing the bias of a gain control amplifier. If the receiver employs a PLL with a voltage-controlled oscillator, the VCO control signal can be combined with the gain control voltage so as to control the center frequency of the filter pass-band as well as the amount by which it is shifted in order to provide gain control.

Abstract: An IF mixer circuit in a receiver implemented in integrated circuits employs a pair of doubly balance mixers, one injected with a local oscillator reference signal in phase while the quadrature phase of the reference signal is injected into the second mixer. A phase shift circuit adds another 90.degree. phase shift to the output of the second mixer, and the in-phase and out-of-phase signals are applied to a summing circuit to attenuate unwanted mixer products and reinforce the desired IF signal. The balanced elements of the 90.degree. phase shift circuit employ a transistor with equal emitter and collector resistances, a diode-connected transistor in series with the collector load resistance, and a collector-to-base capacitor, which provide a constant-amplitude phase shift in a unity gain structure independent of current, to produce a precise 90.degree. phase shift. Emitter current is adjustable to compensate for production variation in the absolute value of the fixed resistance, i.e.

Abstract: A TVRO receiver for the reception of frequency modulated satellite broadcast signals is provided with the capability of efficiently rejecting image frequencies generated as the received signals undergo intermediate frequency translation. A TVRO tuner, which includes a super-heterodyne circuit having a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), means for supplying a controlling tuning voltage to the VCO, and a mixer for combining incoming 1st IF signals with the output frequency of the VCO to reduce the frequency of the 1st IF signals to a selected 2nd IF frequency, is provided with a tracking filter which is adapted to pass only the incoming 1st IF signals and effectively reject any image frequencies generated at the received signal frequencies.

Abstract: A tunable/switchable notch filter adapted for use in the front end of a television receiver removes an image frequency on the low side of the UHF passband without degrading desired frequencies. The tunable/switchable notch filter can be switched out when in a VHF mode so as not to degrade VHF performance and switched in for UHF operation for filtering out a difference image frequency which varies with and is a predetermined frequency less than the desired UHF signal.

Abstract: A frequency converter for a transmitter of a microwave radio communications system comprises an image reject mixer for mixing an IF signal with an LO or carrier frequency signal to produce an RF signal, and a nulling circuit for providing d.c. offsets to the image reject mixer to reduce carrier leak to the RF signal. The nulling circuit includes a source of phase quadrature chopper signals which are cross modulated with the LO signal to produce a modulated signal, and a single-ended mixer for mixing the modulated signal with part of the RF signal. The output of the single-ended mixer is low pass filtered and the resulting filtered signal is cross demodulated with the chopper signals to produce phase quadrature correction signals, which are integrated to produce the d.c. offsets for the image reject mixer. The arrangement avoids the need for, and expense of, a subsequent carrier frequency filter.

Abstract: A received modulated information signal is converted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal from which modulating information may be recovered by supplying the modulated information signal to two mixers supplied with local oscillating signals of equal frequency but phase shifted with respect to each other. Output signals produced by the mixers are supplied through phase shift circuits which impart predetermined phase shifts thereto such that image signal components present in respective ones of the mixer output signals are phase shifted to be out-of-phase with each other. The phase shifted mixer output signals are combined, whereby the out-of-phase image signal components are substantially cancelled. A filter tuned to the IF frequency is coupled to the output of the combining circuit to pass the mixer output signals having frequencies within a predetermined range of the IF frequency.

Abstract: An image suppression harmonic frequency converter capable of operating in any microwave range is described. Frequency conversion is obtained by making use of a local frequency which is half that of a conventional converter. In particular, the radiofrequency reception signal is converted into an intermediate frequency signal with suppression of the converted image band. Similarly, the intermediate frequency signal to be transmitted is converted into a single side band radiofrequency transmission signal. The converter comprises two harmonic mixers, a first inquadrature radiofrequency hybrid coupler, a second in-quadrature intermediate frequency hybrid coupler, two appropriate duplexer filters, two low-pass filters, two matching circuits, and two decoupling circuits.

Abstract: A simplified carrier phase control apparatus used in a modem for demodulating a quadrature amplitude modulated data signal, to correct phase jitters of a carrier signal due to a 50 Hz or a 60 Hz frequency of the commercial power supply, and its harmonic wave frequency components. The carrier phase control apparatus has a predictive filter for predicting a carrier phase jitter, the predictive filter composed of band-pass filters with center frequencies of 50 Hz and 60 Hz, and a circuit where the output signals of the band-pass filters are multiplied by the coefficients and added linearly.

Abstract: A wristwatch FM subcarrier paging receiver architecture is disclosed that overcomes the many inherent problems (such as self-oscillation, image responses, spurious local oscillator radiation and interference from entertainment programming) that are encountered in this demanding application. The disclosed architecture includes a tunable notch filter front end, an image cancelling mixer, an automatic gain control circuit, a phase detector for linear detection, frequency feedback for distortion reduction, a synthesized local oscillator, and a frequency plan which can utilize both high and low side local oscillator injection to optimize performance in anticipated interference environments.

Abstract: An FM interference suppressor comprises two FM demodulators, one of which is fed with an input signal via an envelope detector and is arranged to feed a zero frequency detector and a phase inverter to produce a baseband composite signal comprising wanted and unwanted modulation. The other FM demodulator is fed directly with an input signal directly to produce a baseband signal comprising the unwanted modulation alone. A combiner is provided for subtractively combining the baseband signal and the baseband composite signal to produce the wanted modulation signal.

Abstract: A radio transmission system a base station comprises a plurality of transmitters arranged to transmit from the same site and having substantially the same output power, each transmitting on an individual channel within a dedicated block of contiguous channels. Receivers tuned to channels within said block of channels therefore require a limited image and adjacent channel rejection, of the order of 30 db. The receiver is preferably a direct conversion phasing receiver which has a local oscillator which can be tuned to a frequency within the block such that an image of any channel also falls within the block of channels. The system is suitable for local area radio systems such as paging or cordless telephones.

Abstract: A RF tuning circuit according to this invention is composed of one tuned transformer (T.sub.1) at least and an untuned transformer (T.sub.2) so interconnected that the outputs from the respective transformers add up opposite in phase on that side of the resonant frequency of the tuned transformer where the image signal frequency is present and in phase on that side thereof where the image signal is absent and that the output amplitude levels of the respective transformers become equal at the image signal frequency corresponding to a particular receiving frequency as the resonant frequency is varied in response to the receiving frequency.

Abstract: A receiver suitable for use at very high frequency bands in which an antenna output is filtered, amplified and then mixed with a local oscillator in a frequency convertor to provide an intermediate frequency. The intermediate frequency is provided to a quadrature detector which directly converts the intermediate frequency into two baseband signals whose phases differ by 90.degree.. The baseband signals are independently amplified and demodulated in a common demodulator which provides a single output signal.

Abstract: In a radio receiver in which the received signal is converted by mixing into an intermediate frequency signal and/or a baseband signal, the degree of distortion of received disturbance signals in the receiver is temporarily changed and a recognition circuit is used which recognizes from the change in the signal gaining demodulation, caused by the change in the degree of distortion, whether the receiver is receiving spurious interference signals falling into the useful channel, and which, in the event of such a disturbance signal reception, initiates a suppression or reduction of the spurious interference signals.

Abstract: A frequency converter which is capable of rejecting unnecessary signals generated by image signals. The frequency converter has first and second local oscillation circuits which generate local oscillation signals whose frequencies are the same and whose phases are different by 90 degrees from each other. The converter further includes two mixer circuits, and a hybrid coupler. The mixer circuits generate two unnecessary signals whose phases are different by 90 degrees from each other. The hybrid coupler delays one unnecessary signal by a quarter of a wavelength to generate two unnecessary signals whose phases are different by 180 degrees from each other, so that they are cancelled by each other.

Abstract: A working on the zero IF principle is disclosed which contains a feedback circuit instead of a preselector for suppressing interfering signals. The interfering signals contained in the incoming signal (F.sub.E) are separated from the useful signal by filters in the baseband. They are then reconverted to the RF value, amplified, and substracted from the incoming signal (F.sub.E) by a subtracter (S1). In the steady state, the output of the subtracter (S1) provides the useful signal, which is converted into the baseband and then fed to a signal processor (SV).

Abstract: A radio frequency tuning circuit, for use in a transmitter or receiver, which rejects image frequencies of the frequency band of a supplied RF signal to which it is tuned. The circuit comprises an N-path filter and a feedback loop connecting the output of such filter to the input of an RF amplifier to which the RF signal is applied. The filter includes a tunable local oscillator and a pair of quadrature related signal paths including mixers therein driven by such oscillator, the outputs of such paths being combined by a summing amplifier which produces the output RF signal. The output of the summing amplifier is also supplied to the feedback path, causing the center frequency of the transfer characteristic of the N-path filter to be displaced from the local oscillator frequency. The RF output signal thereby includes substantially only single sideband of the signals produced by the two signal paths.

Abstract: A tunable notch filter for the front end of an RF receiver includes magnetically coupled input and output tunable stages each responsive to a tuning voltage provided thereto. Each of the input and output stages includes a respective series and parallel resonant circuit wherein the parallel resonant circuits are tuned to a selected RF frequency and the series resonant circuits are tuned to a frequency approximately equal to that of a local oscillator. By using the series resonant circuits to create a notch at a frequency approximating that of the local oscillator, conducted local oscillator leakage from the receiver's antenna is substantially reduced and local oscillator image frequency rejection is substantially improved.

Abstract: An image suppression mixer of the waveguide type is disclosed which includes a waveguide signal input terminal at one end of a waveguide, a local oscillation input terminal at the other end of the waveguide, a mixer diode inserted within the waveguide and an IF signal output terminal connected to the mixer diode. At least the width of the waveguide on the side of the waveguide signal input terminal is selected to be a cutoff dimension for the image frequencies f.sub.m and the local oscillation frequency f.sub.1 the waveguide signal frequencies f.sub.2, the local oscillation frequency f.sub.1 and the image frequencies f.sub.m are correlated as f.sub.m <f.sub.1 <f.sub.s.

Abstract: A wideband enhancement sum mixer is shown to comprise a pair of matched GaAs diodes operative with a printed circuit wherein a portion of at least the sum signal, i.e., the sum of a radio frequency signal and a local oscillator signal, is caused to be mixed with the second harmonic of the local oscillator signal to produce an intermediate frequency signal in phase with the intermediate frequency signal resulting from mixing of the radio frequency signal and the local oscillator signal.

Abstract: A microwave integrated circuit comprises a shield case having a pair of opposed first and second end walls, a pair of side walls and top and bottom walls, and a dielectric substrate on the bottom wall. First and second interconnected integrated circuit portions are arranged on the substrate between the first and second end walls. An input strip line is arranged on the substrate, the strip line having one end coupled to the input of the first integrated circuit portion and the other end terminating at a position spaced from the first end wall by a distance approximately equal to an integral multiple of the half wavelength of a signal propagating in the shield case. An elongated coupling member is disposed in parallel with the first end wall, the coupling member extending from the other end of the input strip line to an external circuit.

Abstract: An input filter for coupling television signals from a signal source such as an antenna to an RF signal processing stage includes series resonant input and output sections shunting the signal path. The input section forms a trap at the video IF frequency. The output section resonates at a frequency other than the sound IF frequency, below the band of television signal frequencies to be processed by the RF signal processing stage. The filter serves to attenuate unwanted stray signals such as video and sound IF components otherwise capable of interfering with and distorting the input television signals.

Abstract: In a superheterodyne receiver, such as a typical television receiver, a radio frequency coupling arrangement includes a first resonant circuit coupled to receive the input signal and further coupled to a second resonant circuit by a first coupling. Both resonant circuits are tuned to the desired signal frequency. The capacitive branch of the first resonant circuit includes a circuit impedance for providing a neutralizing voltage, at least a portion of which is coupled by a second coupling to the inductive branch of the second resonant circuit. The circuit impedance is selected to cause cancellation in the inductive branch between image frequency components coupled by the first coupling and image frequency components coupled by the second coupling, without substantially affecting the desired signals.

Abstract: An image rejection mixer circuit comprises a pair of mixers (1, 2) to which are supplied input signals from an input terminal (9) and oscillation signals in mutual quadrature from an oscillator (11). The mixer output signals are combined in a combining means (19) to produce at its output (20, 21) a frequency-translated wanted signal free from frequency-translated image signals. The combining means comprises an acoustic surface wave filter and, in order to avoid the necessity of providing it with a pair of input transducers, with the consequent increase in the area of piezo-electric substrate that would entail, it is provided with a single input transducer of the four-phase or pseudo four-phase type.

Abstract: Improved AFC performance is achieved in a satellite dish receiver by using an indoor unit having a first intermediate frequency (IF signal) which does not include an image frequency and by using a PLL-demodulator for controlling the AFC loop.

Abstract: In equipment for transmitting or re-transmitting television signals comprising, in the intermediate frequency stage, group propagation time correction cells for linearizing the phase-frequency characteristic of the equipment, the non linearity correction system of the invention uses these cells while completing them with an amplitude pre-modulation control circuit and/or a frequency premodulation control circuit, for correcting amplitude and phase non linearities affecting the pole carrier frequencies of the correction cells.

Abstract: A microwave integrated circuit frequency converter includes a first filter (30) for a signal frequency and a second filter (32) for a local oscillator frequency connected at one terminal thereof with one terminal of the signal frequency filter (30) by a line (38), (40) having a predetermined electrical length. A parallel stub line (42) is short-circuited at one end thereof. A diode (34) is connected at its one end to a third filter (36) which is adapted to reflect the signal and local oscillator frequencies while passing an intermediate frequency. The diode (34) is connected at the other end to a line (41).

Abstract: The invention is a high frequency hetrodyne receiver front end for receiving a communications signal comprising a desired information frequency and an undesired image frequency. The receiver comprises a bandpass filter, a preamplifier responsive to the bandpass filter, a mixer and a coupler means between the preamplifier and the bandpass filter. The coupler means defines a reactive short at the undesired image frequency due to impedance characteristics of the coupler means. The coupler means thereby eliminates the image frequency noise at the input of the preamplifier. Preferrably the coupler means is a transmission line of a length L where L equals .eta..pi./.beta. and .eta. is an integer and .beta. is proportional to the wavelength of the image frequency.

Abstract: A circuit for eliminating a beat signal resulting from interference between a broadcast signal of a received station and a broadcast signal of an adjacent station during the reception of an AM broadcast. A cancel signal generating circuit for forming a cancel signal synchronized to the beat signal contained in an AM detected output signal is connected to the output of an AM detector. The cancel signal is combined with the AM detected output signal in a mixing circuit connected to the AM detector, to eliminate the beat signal. Such a beat signal cancelling circuit may be served by a pilot signal cancelling circuit in an FM receiver.

Abstract: A method for compensating nonlinearities of a transmission member in a radio relay transmission system by means of a linear converter having a linear gain characteristic and a harmonic generator converter having a nonlinear characteristic, in which an intermediate frequency signal modulated a useful signal is converted by a local oscillator signal into a radio frequency signal and the output signals of the two converters are linked together by a network.