Multiple band scanning radio

• US 3,940,697 A
• Filed: 12/02/1974
• Issued: 02/24/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hy-Gain Electronics Corp.
• Original Assignee: Hy-Gain Electronics Corp.
• Inventors: Morgan, Eugene L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Libman, George H.
• Application Number:
  US05/528,920
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 325/442, 325/443, 325/458, 325/459, 325/461, 325/462, 325/332, 325/333, 325/335, 325/439
• US Class Current: 455/168.1
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 7/125 with field effect transistors
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 5/242 used exclusively for band selection
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 7/18 Automatic scanning over a band of frequencies

Abstract

To scan channels in a plurality of bands using a single first mixer, an FET transistor in an adaptive first mixer of the scanning radio, in response to a signal from a counter in the scanning local oscillator representing the frequency band of the channel being scanned, has: (1) its gate electrode connected to the output of a selected RF amplifier of a plurality of RF amplifiers for different bands; and (2) its source electrode electrically connected to receive local oscillations through a selected one of a plurality of different impedance networks. These connections enable the adaptive first mixer to maintain sufficiently high conversion gain when receiving signals on channels in any one of a plurality of different frequency bands.

Claims

1. Radio apparatus comprising:

radio frequency means for receiving radio frequency energy through any of a plurality of different radio frequency paths;

mixer means for converting said radio frequency energy to intermediate frequency energy;

processing means for converting said intermediate frequency energy to audio sound vibrations;

control means for selecting the frequency of radio frequency energy that is to be converted to intermediate frequency energy;

said control means including local oscillator means for generating a plurality of different frequency local oscillations for application to said mixer means and control signals indicating the one of said different frequency local oscillations to be transmitted to said mixer means;

said mixer means including means for selecting one of said radio frequency paths in said radio frequency means in response to said control signals from said local oscillator means;

said mixer means including mixer input conductor means for carrying local oscillations to said mixer and a plurality of different possible conductive paths from said local oscillator means to said mixer input conductor means for said local oscillations;

some of said conductive paths having a different impedance than other of said conductive paths; and

means for selecting the path said local oscillations take to said mixer input conductor means in response to said signals.

2. Radio apparatus according to claim 1 further including a different diode in circuit with each of said conductors, said diode having an anode and a cathode, one of the anode and cathode of said diode being electrically connected to said mixer means.

3. Radio apparatus according to claim 2 in which said control means includes:

a counter; and

a plurality of selection conductors;

each of said selection conductors being connected to a different terminal of said counter.

4. Radio apparatus according to claim 3 further including a different diode in circuit with each of said conductors, said diode having an anode and a cathode, one of the the anode and cathode of said diode being electrically connected to said mixer means.

5. Radio apparatus according to claim 4 in which said radio frequency means includes a plurality of different radio frequency amplifiers and an antenna, each of said radio frequency amplifiers having a different input and a different output, each of said inputs being electrically connected to said antenna and each of said outputs being electrically connected to said mixer means.

6. Radio apparatus according to claim 5 in which said mixer means includes a plurality of switching circuits, and said radio amplifiers include a plurality of switches, said switching circuits each including a different means for opening a different switch of said radio frequency amplifiers.

7. Radio apparatus according to claim 5 in which:

said radio frequency means includes a toroidal transformer;

said toroidal transformer having a plurality of primary windings and a secondary winding;

each of said primary windings being connected to a different one of said radio frequency amplifiers;

said mixer means includes a plurality of switch control means for selectively energizing one of said radio frequency amplifiers;

said secondary being in circuit with said mixer means.

8. Radio apparatus according to claim 4 in which:

said radio frequency means includes a toroidal transformer having a plurality of primary windings and a secondary winding, an antenna, radio frequency amplifier, and a plurality of switches;

each of said primary windings being in circuit with said antenna and a different one of said switches;

said secondary winding being in circuit with said radio frequency amplifier;

said mixer means including means for selectively controlling said plurality of switches.

9. Radio apparatus according to claim 2 in which said control means includes:

a counter; and

a plurality of selection conductors;

each of said selection conductors being connected to a different terminal of said counter.