Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for detecting intermodulation distortion in a radio frequency receiver

US5321847A · kind A · utility

33Cited by
4References
31Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 26, 1991
Grant dateJun 14, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 26, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04B1/1027
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A radio frequency receiver (300) typically contains electronic devices commonly used in amplifying or mixing circuits (315) which are seldom ideal. The non-ideal characteristics of these devices lead to intermodulation (IM) distortion. A measurement of the amplitude of the received signal (301) is taken both unattenuated (503) and attenuated (507). The difference between the two measurements is compared (511) to predetermined limits (L1, L2 or L3) wherein the received signal (310) is determined to be valid, invalid or unsure. A valid received signal is demodulated in the receiver (300). An invalid signal, confirming the presence of IM distortion, is rejected. The unsure signal may be rejected or demodulated as determined by the receiver designer. This type of signal characterization is particularly useful for cellular radiotelephones (101) attempting to gain access to the system provider (111) in which it is registered.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.