Nancy A Nelson

US Patent:

50086103, Apr 16, 1991

Filed:

Jul 31, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/388208

Inventors:

Nancy W. Nelson - San Jose CA
Lee D. Cosart - Palo Alto CA
Luiz Peregrino - Cupertino CA
Eric M. Ingman - Los Altos Hills CA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G01R 2502

US Classification:

324 84

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for determining a generalized harmonic number in a harominic heterodyne converter wherein the frequency of an input signal is determined from a local oscillator frequency, an intermediate frequency obtained by mixing the local oscillator frequency with the input signal, and a harmonic number. The likelihood of error in determining harmonic number is reduced by providing a large separation between local oscillator frequencies that are used in determining harmonic number. The method involves the steps of determining an estimated harmonic number utilizing closely-spaced local oscillator frequencies and then utilizing the estimated harmonic number to compute widely-spaced local oscillator frequencies which are utilized for determining a corrected generalized harmonic number. One variation of the technique is utilized for high harmonic numbers, and another variation of the technique is utilized for low harmonic numbers.

US Patent:

54654149, Nov 7, 1995

Filed:

Jun 27, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/265981

Inventors:

Raymond W. Moskaluk - San Jose CA
Nancy W. Nelson - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

H04B 126
H04B 1700
G01R 2316

US Classification:

455313

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for detecting a high frequency signal by down converting the high frequency signal to an intermediate frequency signal by mixing the high frequency signal with the harmonics of a minimal number of local oscillator frequency signals chosen so that at least one harmonic of at least one of the local oscillator frequency signals will convert any high frequency signal in a given frequency range to an intermediate signal in another given frequency range, and applying the result to detectors sensitive to signals in the intermediate frequency range.