Electrically tuned RF receiver, apparatus and method therefor

An electrically tuned super-regenerative receiver comprising:

• an oscillator having a signal output and a signal input;
• phase shift means connected in a feedback loop for coupling said signal output to said signal input to cause oscillations of said oscillator at an oscillator center operating frequency;
• quench oscillator means coupled to said signal input for switching said oscillator between an oscillating and a non-oscillating condition;
• variable capacitance means connected between said signal output and a reference potential, said oscillator center operating frequency changing in response to changes in the capacitance of said variable capacitance means;
• and
• frequency control means responsive to said oscillator center operating frequency for providing a tuning signal to said variable capacitance means, the capacitance of said variable capacitance means changing in response to changes in said tuning signal for changing said oscillator center operating frequency.

The method of electrically tuning a super-regenerative receiver, the receiver having a signal output and a signal input, phase shift means connected in a feedback loop for coupling said signal output to said signal input to cause oscillations of the oscillator at an oscillator center operating frequency, and a quench oscillator coupled to the signal input for switching the oscillator between an oscillating and a non-oscillating condition, the method comprising the steps of:

• connecting variable capacitance means between the signal output and a reference potential, the oscillator center operating frequency changing in response to changes in the capacitance of said variable capacitance means;
• operating the receiver;
• detecting the oscillator center operating frequency;
• comparing the oscillator center operating frequency to a reference frequency;
• providing a control signal indicative of the difference between the oscillator center operating frequency and said reference frequency;
• providing a tuning signal to said variable capacitance means in response to said control signal, the capacitance of said variable capacitance means changing in response to said tuning signal to change the oscillator center operating frequency to be equal to said reference frequency.

The method of forming an electrically tunable super-regenerative receiver comprising the steps of:

• providing an oscillator having a signal output and a signal input;
• connecting phase shift means in a feedback loop for coupling said signal output to said signal input to cause oscillations of said oscillator at an oscillator center operating frequency;
• coupling quench oscillator means to said signal input for switching said oscillator between an oscillating and a non-oscillating condition;
• connecting variable capacitance means between said signal output and a reference potential, said oscillator center operating frequency changing in response to changes in the capacitance of said variable capacitance means;
• and
• providing a tuning signal to said variable capacitance means for changing the capacitance of said variable capacitance means.