US 7,321,751 B2
Method and apparatus for improving dynamic range in a communication system
David F Sorrells, Middleburg, Fla. (US); Michael J Bultman, Jacksonville, Fla. (US); Robert W Cook, Switzerland, Fla. (US); Richard C Looke, Jacksonville, Fla. (US); Charley D Moses, Jr., DeBary, Fla. (US); Gregory S Rawlins, Heathrow, Fla. (US); and Michael W Rawlins, Lake Mary, Fla. (US)
Assigned to ParkerVision, Inc., Jacksonville, Fla. (US)
Filed on Nov. 27, 2002, as Appl. No. 10/305,299.
Application 10/305299 is a division of application No. 09/526041, filed on Mar. 14, 2000, granted, now 6,879,817.
Prior Publication US 2003/0181190 A1, Sep. 25, 2003
Int. Cl. H01Q 11/12 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 455—118  [455/190.1; 455/313; 455/323; 327/119; 327/113] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for improving dynamic range, comprising:
a frequency down-conversion module that receives an input signal; and
a bias circuit comprising:
a first resistor with a first terminal coupled to a bias point and a second terminal coupled to a first voltage reference; and
a second resistor with a first terminal coupled to said bias point and a second terminal coupled to a second voltage reference;
wherein said bias point is coupled to said input signal;
wherein said frequency down-conversion module comprises a switch and a storage element;
wherein the switch transfers energy from the input signal to the storage element by non-impulse under-sampling the input signal according to non-impulse pulses of a control signal;
wherein an output signal is generated by integrating the transferred energy;
wherein the bias point is configured to bias the input signal to have a center voltage that varies within a minimum and a maximum of a voltage range of the control signal; and
wherein said frequency down-conversion module outputs a down-converted output signal.