EXTENDING THE UPPER FREQUENCY LIMIT OF A COMMUNICATIONS RADIO
First Claim
1. A communications radio or transceiver having an extended upper operating frequency limit, comprising:
- a first intermediate frequency (IF) conversion stage constructed and arranged for receiving and down converting a radio frequency (RF) input signal to a first IF signal;
a second IF conversion stage constructed and arranged for down converting the first IF signal to a second IF signal, and each of the first and the second conversion stages includes;
an adjustable first attenuator for receiving an input radio frequency (RF) signal,an amplifier coupled to an output of the first attenuator,an adjustable second attenuator coupled to an output of the amplifier,a serial peripheral interface (SPI) arranged for adjusting the first and the second attenuators in response to SPI command words,a mixer coupled to an output of the second attenuator, anda buffer for applying a local oscillator (LO) signal to an input of the mixer;
wherein each of the conversion stages is in the form of an integrated circuit chip, and the components of each chip and electrical connections between the components are dimensioned so that the chip has an upper operating frequency limit of at least 6 GHz.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications radio or transceiver having an extended upper operating frequency limit of at least 6 GHz. The radio includes a first IF conversion stage for receiving and downconverting a RF input signal to a first IF signal, and a second IF conversion stage for downconverting the first IF signal to a second IF signal. The first and the second conversion stages each have adjustable first and second attenuators, a serial peripheral interface (SPI) for controlling the attenuators in response to command words, a mixer coupled to an output of the second attenuator, and a buffer for applying a local oscillator (LO) signal to an input of the mixer. Each conversion stage is in the form of an integrated circuit chip. Component devices of each chip and electrical connections between the components, are dimensioned so that the chip has a 6 GHz upper frequency limit.
14 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A communications radio or transceiver having an extended upper operating frequency limit, comprising:
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a first intermediate frequency (IF) conversion stage constructed and arranged for receiving and down converting a radio frequency (RF) input signal to a first IF signal; a second IF conversion stage constructed and arranged for down converting the first IF signal to a second IF signal, and each of the first and the second conversion stages includes; an adjustable first attenuator for receiving an input radio frequency (RF) signal, an amplifier coupled to an output of the first attenuator, an adjustable second attenuator coupled to an output of the amplifier, a serial peripheral interface (SPI) arranged for adjusting the first and the second attenuators in response to SPI command words, a mixer coupled to an output of the second attenuator, and a buffer for applying a local oscillator (LO) signal to an input of the mixer; wherein each of the conversion stages is in the form of an integrated circuit chip, and the components of each chip and electrical connections between the components are dimensioned so that the chip has an upper operating frequency limit of at least 6 GHz. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification