METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING VIA A FREQUENCY SHIFTING REPEATER

• US 20090247109A1
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,314 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/323
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for communicating via a frequency shifting repeater are provided. In this regard, a signal having a first frequency may be received, the received signal may be quadrature down-converted by mixing it with a pair of phase-quadrature local oscillator (LO) signals, the down-converted signals may be up-converted by mixing them with the LO signals, and the up-converted signals may be added or subtracted to generate a signal, having a second frequency, for transmission. In this manner, a wireless communication range may be extended by repeating the received signal on a different frequency than at which it was received. The frequency of the LO signals may be based on a desired difference between the first and second frequencies, a frequency at which a target device receives signals, and/or noise present.

Claims

1. A method for signal processing, the method comprising:

receiving a signal having a first frequency;

quadrature down-converting said received signal by mixing said received signal with a pair of phase-quadrature local oscillator signals;

up-converting said down-converted received signals by mixing said down-converted signals with said pair of phase-quadrature local oscillator signals; and

transmitting a signal having a second frequency, wherein said signal having said second frequency is generated by adding or subtracting said up-converted signals.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining a frequency of said pair of local oscillator signals based on a desired difference between said first frequency and said second frequency.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining whether to add or subtract said up-converted signals based on a polarity of said local oscillator signals.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first frequency is in or near the industrial, scientific, and medical band from 61 GHz to 61.5 GHz.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second frequency is in or near the industrial, scientific, and medical band from 61 GHz to 61.5 GHz.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining said frequency of said pair of local oscillator signals based on a frequency at which one or more of a plurality of target devices receives signals.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein each of said plurality of target devices receives signals on a unique frequency.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising performing said receiving, down-converting, up-converting, and transmitting in a device which extends a wireless communication range.

9. The method according to claim 8, comprising determining said frequency of said pair of local oscillator signals based on noise present in and/or around said device which extends said wireless communication range.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising low pass filtering said down-converted signals.

11. A system for signal processing, the system comprising:

one or more circuits that enable reception of a signal having a first frequency;

said one or more circuits enable quadrature down-conversion of said received signal by mixing said received signal with a pair of phase-quadrature local oscillator signals;

said one or more circuits enable up-conversion of said down-converted received signals by mixing said down-converted signals with said pair of phase-quadrature local oscillator signals; and

said one or more circuits enable transmission of a signal having a second frequency, wherein said signal having a second frequency is generated by adding or subtracting said up-converted signals.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits determine a frequency of said pair of local oscillator signals based on a desired difference between said first frequency and said second frequency.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits determine whether to add or subtract said up-converted signals based on a polarity of said local oscillator signals.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said first frequency is in or near the industrial, scientific, and medical band from 61 GHz to 61.5 GHz.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said second frequency is in or near the industrial, scientific, and medical band from 61 GHz to 61.5 GHz.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits determine said frequency of said pair of local oscillator signals based on a frequency at which one or more of a plurality of target devices receives signals.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein each of said plurality of target devices receives signals on a unique frequency.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein a device which extends a wireless communication range comprises said one or more circuits that enable said receiving, down-converting, up-converting, and transmitting in.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said one or more circuits determine said frequency of said pair of local oscillator signals based on noise present in and/or around said device which extends said wireless communication range.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits comprise a low pass filter for filtering said down-converted signals.