Method and subsystem for processing signals utilizing a plurality of vibrating micromechanical devices
First Claim
1. In an RF receiver subsystem, a micromechanical mixer-filter apparatus for converting and filtering an information signal having a frequency without the need for a front end filter, the apparatus comprising:
- a mixing micromechanical transducer having a first port for receiving the information signal, a second port for receiving an AC signal having a desired frequency and an output port; and
a micromechanical resonator coupled to the transducer wherein the apparatus converts the frequency of the information signal based on the desired frequency and filters the information signal without the need for a front end filter.
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Abstract
Several MEMS-based methods and architectures which utilize vibrating micromechanical resonators in circuits to implement filtering, mixing, frequency reference and amplifying functions are provided. A method and subsystem are provided for processing RF signals utilizing a plurality of vibrating micromechanical devices typically in the form of an IF mixer-filter and an RF channel selector or an image-reject RF filter. One of the primary benefits of the use of such architectures is a savings in power consumption by trading power for high selectivity (i.e., high Q). Also, such methods and circuits can eliminate the need for a low noise amplifier in a receiver or transceiver subsystem. Consequently, the present invention relies on the use of a large number of micromechanical links in SSI networks to implement signal processing functions with basically zero DC power consumption.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. In an RF receiver subsystem, a micromechanical mixer-filter apparatus for converting and filtering an information signal having a frequency without the need for a front end filter, the apparatus comprising:
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a mixing micromechanical transducer having a first port for receiving the information signal, a second port for receiving an AC signal having a desired frequency and an output port; and
a micromechanical resonator coupled to the transducer wherein the apparatus converts the frequency of the information signal based on the desired frequency and filters the information signal without the need for a front end filter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In an RF receiver subsystem, a method for converting and filtering an information signal having a frequency without the need for a front end filter, the method comprising:
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providing a micromechanical device having a first port for receiving the information signal, a second port for receiving an AC signal having a desired frequency and an output port; and
vibrating the micromechanical device so that the micromechanical device converts the frequency of the information signal based on the desired frequency and filters the information signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification