Methods and systems for down-converting a signal

• Main Authors: LOOKE RICHARD C, COOK ROBERT W, MOSES, JR. CHARLEY D, SORRELLS DAVID F, BULTMAN MICHAEL J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 19.04.2016
• Subjects: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS; BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY; DEMODULATION OR TRANSFERENCE OF MODULATION FROM ONE CARRIER TOANOTHER; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; MODULATION; TRANSMISSION; TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHICCOMMUNICATION

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down-converting a modulated carrier signal to a demodulated baseband signal by sampling a portion of the energy of the carrier signal are described herein. Briefly stated, such methods systems, and apparatuses operate by receiving a modulated carrier signal and using a control signal to control a switch or switches so as to transfer a portion of the energy from the modulated carrier signal in the form of charge to a storage capacitor during a plurality of aperture periods and to discharge the charge in the storage capacitor into a load during the time between the plurality of aperture periods. The demodulated baseband signal is generated-during both the charging and the discharging of the storage capacitor based on the energy accumulated at the storage capacitor as a net result of previous charging and discharging of the storage capacitor.