Multiple address radio system having automatic radio calibration for reducing frequency offset between radio frequency carriers

• US 5,898,903 A
• Filed: 03/14/1996
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alligator Communications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alligator Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Wu, Randy, Hu, Chorng-Luh
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US08/616,072
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 455/50.1, 455/51.1, 455/67.1, 455/67.6, 455/68, 455/69, 455/75, 455/67.3, 455/67.4, 455/71, 455/78, 455/83, 455/126, 455/127, 331/176, 331/177
• US Class Current: 455/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/01 Reducing phase shift

Abstract

A multiple address radio network in which there is a central station and remote radio sites. The central station transmits control and data acquisition signals to the radios at the remote radio sites and the radios at the remote radio sites transmit to the central station acquired data. Each remote radio has an automatic frequency calibration circuit for adjusting its associated remote radio to reduce frequency offset between the radio frequency carrier transmitted by the remote radio and the radio frequency carrier transmitted by the central station by adjusting the temperature compensated crystal oscillator of the automatic frequency calibration circuit. Toward this end, a microprocessor of the frequency calibration circuit detects and measures the offset frequency and controls a digital potentiometer for adjusting the temperature compensated crystal oscillator.

Claims

1. A multiple address radio network comprising:

(a) central radio station for transmitting a first radio frequency carrier;

(b) a remote radio located at a remote radio site for receiving said first radio frequency carrier from said central radio station and for transmitting a second radio frequency carrier; and

(c) a frequency calibration circuit connected to said remote radio for sensing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier at said remote radio site and for adjusting said remote radio at said remote radio site to reduce frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier, said frequency calibration circuit comprising a temperature compensated crystal oscillator adjustable for reducing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier, said frequency calibration circuit further comprising a microprocessor for detecting and measuring the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier, and a potentiometer responsive to the output of said microprocessor for adjusting said temperature compensated crystal oscillator to reduce frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier.

2. A multiple address radio network comprising:

(a) central radio station for transmitting a first radio frequency carrier;

(b) a remote radio located at a remote radio site for receiving said first radio frequency carrier from said central radio station and for transmitting a second radio frequency carrier; and

(c) a frequency calibration circuit connected to said remote radio for sensing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier at said remote radio site and for adjusting said remote radio at said remote radio site to reduce frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier, said frequency calibration circuit comprising a temperature compensated crystal oscillator adjustable for reducing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier, said frequency calibration circuit further comprising a microprocessor for detecting and measuring the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier for reducing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier, said microprocessor automatically calibrates said second radio frequency carrier in response to a plurality of comparisons between successive frequency offsets between said first and second radio frequency carriers exceeding a preselected frequency offset, said comparisons between successive frequency offsets being initiated by a command to send data made by said central radio station.

3. A multiple address radio network comprising:

(a) a central radio station for transmitting a first radio frequency carrier;

(b) a remote radio located at a remote radio site for receiving said first radio frequency carrier from said central radio station and for transmitting a second radio frequency carrier;

(c) a frequency calibration circuit connected to said remote radio for sensing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier at said remote radio site and for adjusting said remote radio at said remote radio site to reduce frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier, said frequency calibration circuit comprising a temperature compensated crystal oscillator adjustable for reducing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier, said frequency calibration circuit further comprising a microprocessor for detecting and measuring the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier for reducing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier, said microprocessor automatically calibrating said second radio frequency carrier in response to a plurality of comparisons between successive frequency offsets between said first and second radio frequency carriers exceeding a preselected frequency offset; and

(d) a remote terminal unit connected to said remote radio, said comparisons between successive frequency offsets being initiated by said remote terminal unit keying-in said remote radio.

4. A multiple address radio network comprising:

(a) a central radio station for transmitting a first radio frequency carrier;

(b) a remote radio located at a remote radio site for receiving said first radio frequency carrier from said central radio station and for transmitting a second radio frequency carrier;

(c) an automatic frequency calibration circuit connected to said remote radio for sensing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier at said remote radio site and for adjusting said remote radio at said remote radio site to reduce frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier,

(d) said automatic frequency calibration circuit comprising a microprocessor for detecting and measuring the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier for reducing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier, said microprocessor automatically calibrates said second radio frequency carrier in response to a plurality of comparisons between said first and second radio frequency carriers exceeding a preselected frequency offset; and

(e) a remote terminal unit connected to said remote radio, said comparisons between successive frequency offsets being initiated by said remote terminal unit keying-in said remote radio.

5. A multiple address radio network comprising:

(a) a central radio station for transmitting a first radio frequency carrier;

(b) a remote radio located at a remote radio site for receiving said first radio frequency carrier and for transmitting a second radio frequency carrier; and

(c) an automatic frequency calibration circuit connected to said remote radio for sensing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier at said remote radio site and for adjusting said remote radio at said remote radio site to reduce frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier, and

(d) said automatic frequency calibration circuit comprising a microprocessor for detecting and measuring the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier for reducing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier, said microprocessor automatically calibrates said second radio frequency carrier in response to a plurality of comparisons between successive frequency offsets between said first and second radio frequency carriers exceeding a preselected frequency offset, said comparisons between successive frequency offsets being initiated by said central station.

6. A multiple address radio network comprising:

(a) a central radio station for transmitting a first radio frequency carrier;

(b) a remote radio located at a remote radio site for receiving said first radio frequency carrier and for transmitting a second radio frequency carrier;

(c) an automatic frequency calibration circuit connected to said remote radio for sensing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier at said remote radio site and for adjusting said remote radio at said remote radio site to reduce frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier, and

(d) said automatic frequency calibration circuit comprising a microprocessor for detecting and measuring the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier for reducing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier; and

(e) a remote terminal unit connected to said remote radio,

(f) said microprocessor automatically calibrates said second radio frequency carrier in response to a first plurality of comparisons between successive frequency offsets between said first and second radio frequency carriers exceeding a preselected frequency offset, said first comparison between successive frequency offsets being initiated by said remote terminal unit keying-in said remote radio, said microprocessor automatically calibrating said second radio frequency carrier in response to a second plurality of comparisons between said first and second radio frequency carriers exceeding a preselected frequency offset, said second comparisons between successive frequency offsets being initiated by said central radio station.

7. A multiple address radio network comprising:

(a) a central radio station for transmitting a first radio frequency carrier;

(b) a remote radio located at a remote radio site for receiving said first radio frequency carrier from said central radio station and for transmitting a second radio frequency carrier; and

(c) an automatic frequency calibration circuit connected to said remote radio for sensing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier at said remote radio site and for adjusting said remote radio at said remote radio site to reduce frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier,

(d) said automatic frequency calibration circuit comprising a microprocessor for detecting and measuring the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier for reducing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier, said microprocessor detects and measures the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier to reduce frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier in response to said first radio frequency carrier being free of data and having a signal strength in excess of a predetermined magnitude.

8. A multiple address radio network as claimed in claim 7 wherein said remote radio comprises a receiver and wherein said microprocessor detects and measures the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier to reduce frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier in response to said first radio frequency carrier having a signal strength in excess of said predetermined magnitude and said receiver of said remote radio being in a squelch state.

9. A multiple address radio network comprising:

(a) a central radio station for transmitting a first radio frequency carrier;

(b) a remote radio located at a remote radio site for receiving said first radio frequency carrier from said central radio station and for transmitting a second radio frequency carrier; and

(c) an automatic frequency calibration circuit connected to said remote radio for sensing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier at said remote radio site and for adjusting said remote radio at said remote radio site to reduce frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier,

(d) said automatic frequency calibration circuit comprising a microprocessor for detecting and measuring the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier for reducing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier, said microprocessor detects and measures the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier in response to said frequency offset being outside of a predetermined frequency range.

10. A radio frequency calibration circuit to reduce frequency offset between a first radio frequency carrier and a second radio frequency carrier comprising:

(a) a temperature compensated crystal oscillator adjustable for reducing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier;

(b) a microprocessor for detecting and measuring the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier; and

(c) a potentiometer responsive to the output of said microprocessor for adjusting said temperature compensated crystal oscillator to reduce frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier.

11. A radio frequency calibration circuit as claimed in claim 10 and comprising:

(a) a frequency synthesizer responsive to the output of said temperature compensated crystal oscillator for producing said second radio frequency carrier; and

(b) circuit means responsive to said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier for applying to said microprocessor a signal for said microprocessor to detect and measure the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier.

12. A radio frequency calibration circuit as claimed in claim 11 wherein said circuit means comprises:

(a) a first mixer circuit responsive to said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier for producing a first intermediate frequency signal; and

(b) a discriminator circuit responsive to said first intermediate frequency signal for producing a second intermediate frequency signal.

13. A radio frequency calibration circuit as claimed in claim 10 wherein said microprocessor automatically calibrates said second radio frequency carrier in response to a plurality of comparisons between successive frequency offsets between said first and second radio frequency carriers exceeding a preselected frequency offset.

14. A radio frequency calibration circuit as claimed in claim 13 wherein said comparisons between successive frequency offsets being initiated by a command to send data.

15. A radio frequency calibration circuit as claimed in claim 10 for use with a radio having a remote terminal unit and wherein said microprocessor automatically calibrating said second radio frequency carrier in response to a plurality of comparisons between successive frequency offsets between said first and second radio frequency carriers exceeding a preselected frequency offset said comparisons between successive frequency offsets being initiated by said remote terminal unit keying-in said remote radio.

16. A radio frequency calibration circuit as claimed in claim 13 wherein said microprocessor automatically detects and measures the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier to reduce frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier in response to said first radio frequency carrier having a signal strength in excess of a predetermined magnitude.

17. A radio frequency calibration circuit as claimed in claim 15 wherein said radio comprises a receiver and wherein said microprocessor detects and measures the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier to reduce frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier in response to said receiver of said radio being in a squelch state.

18. A radio frequency calibration circuit as claimed in claim 13 wherein said microprocessor detects and measures the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier to reduce frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier in response to said frequency offset being outside of a predetermined frequency range.

19. A multiple address radio network comprising:

(A) a central radio station for transmitting a first radio frequency carrier;

(B) a remote radio located at a remote radio site for receiving said first radio frequency carrier from said central radio station and for transmitting a second radio frequency carrier; and

(C) a frequency calibration circuit connected to said remote radio for adjusting said remote radio to reduce frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier;

(D) said frequency calibration circuit comprising;

(a) a temperature compensated crystal oscillator adjustable for reducing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier,

(b) a frequency synthesizer responsive to the output of said temperature compensated crystal oscillator for producing a radio frequency signal having a radio frequency the same as said second radio frequency carrier, and

(c) circuit means responsive to said first radio frequency carrier and said frequency synthesizer for applying to said microprocessor a signal for said microprocessor to detect and measure the frequency offset signal between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier,

(E) said circuit means of said frequency calibration circuit comprising;

(a) a first mixer circuit responsive to said first radio frequency carrier and said frequency synthesizer for producing a first intermediate frequency signal,

(b) a discriminator circuit responsive to said first intermediate frequency signal for producing a second intermediate frequency signal,

(c) a first divisor circuit responsive to said second intermediate frequency signal for producing a first divided frequency signal,

(d) a local oscillator for producing a signal,

(e) a second mixer circuit responsive to said first divisor circuit and responsive to the signal produced by said local oscillator for producing a signal representative of the frequency offset, and

(f) a second divisor circuit responsive to the signal produced by said second mixer circuit for applying to said microprocessor a signal representing the frequency offset for said microprocessor to detect and measure the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier.

20. A radio frequency calibration circuit to reduce frequency offset between a first radio frequency carrier and a second radio frequency carrier comprising:

(A) a temperature compensated crystal oscillator adjustable for reducing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier;

(B) a microprocessor for detecting and measuring the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier;

(C) a potentiometer responsive to the output of said microprocessor for adjusting said temperature compensated crystal oscillator to reduce frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier;

(D) a frequency synthesizer responsive to the output of said temperature compensated crystal oscillator for producing said second radio frequency carrier; and

(E) circuit means responsive to said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier for applying to said microprocessor a signal for said microprocessor to detect and measure the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier,

(F) said circuit means comprising;

(a) a first mixer circuit responsive to said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier for producing a first intermediate frequency signal,

(b) a discriminator circuit responsive to said first intermediate frequency signal for producing a second intermediate frequency signal,

(c) a first divisor circuit responsive to said second intermediate frequency signal for producing a first divided frequency signal,

(d) a local oscillator for producing a signal,

(e) a second mixer circuit responsive to said first divisor circuit and responsive to the signal produced by said local oscillator for producing a signal representative of the frequency offset, and

(f) a second divisor circuit responsive to the signal produced by said second mixer circuit for applying to said microprocessor a signal representing the frequency offset for said microprocessor to detect and measure the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier.

21. A radio frequency calibration circuit to reduce frequency offset between a first radio frequency carrier and a second radio frequency carrier comprising:

(A) a temperature compensated crystal oscillator adjustable for reducing frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier;

(B) a microprocessor for detecting and measuring the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier; and

(C) circuit means responsive to said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier for applying to said microprocessor a signal for said microprocessor to detect and measure the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier,

(D) said circuit means comprising;

(a) a first mixer circuit responsive to said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier for producing a first intermediate frequency signal,

(b) a discriminator circuit responsive to said first intermediate frequency signal for producing a second intermediate frequency signal,

(c) a first divisor circuit responsive to said second intermediate frequency signal for producing a first divided frequency signal,

(d) a local oscillator for producing a signal,

(e) a second mixer circuit responsive to said first divisor circuit and responsive to the signal produced by said local oscillator for producing a signal representative of the frequency offset, and

(f) a second divisor circuit responsive to the signal produced by said second mixer circuit for applying to said microprocessor a signal representing the frequency offset for said microprocessor to detect and measure the frequency offset between said first radio frequency carrier and said second radio frequency carrier.