Interrogators communication systems communication methods and methods of processing a communication signal
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorsDavid K. Ovard, Roy Greeff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention includes interrogators, communication systems, communication methods, and methods of processing a communication signal. One aspect of the present invention provides a backscatter system interrogator including a downconverter configured to receive a backscatter communication signal having a first frequency and convert the backscatter communication signal having the first frequency to a subcarrier signal having a second frequency less than the first frequency; a filter coupled with the downconverter and configured to filter direct path energy from the subcarrier signal; and a gain control coupled with the filter and configured to adjust the gain of the filtered subcarrier signal.
Claims61
An interrogator comprising:
- a downconverter configured to convert a communication signal to an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal;
- filters coupled with the downconverter and individually configured to filter direct path energy from one of the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal;
- and
- gain controls coupled with respective filters and the gain controls being individually configured to adjust the gain of one of the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal.
A backscatter system interrogator comprising:
- a downconverter configured to receive a backscatter communication signal having a first frequency and convert the backscatter communication signal having the first frequency to a subcarrier signal having a second frequency less than the first frequency;
- a filter coupled with the downconverter and configured to filter direct path energy from the subcarrier signal;
- and
- a gain control coupled with the filter and configured to adjust the gain of the filtered subcarrier signal.
A backscatter system interrogator comprising:
- a downconverter configured to convert a communication signal to an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal;
- gain controls coupled with the downconverter and individually configured to adjust the gain of one of the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal;
- and
- a controller coupled with the gain controls and configured to output a control signal to the gain controls to control adjustment of the gain of the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal.
A communication system comprising:
- an electronic communication device configured to output a communication signal;
- and
- an interrogator configured to receive the communication signal, the interrogator being configured to downconvert the communication signal to a subcarrier signal and filter direct path energy from the subcarrier signal, the interrogator being further configured to adjust the gain of the subcarrier signal.
A backscatter communication system comprising:
- an electronic communication device configured to output a microwave reply signal responsive receiving a microwave command signal;
- and
- an interrogator configured to output the microwave command signal and receive the microwave reply signal and downconvert the reply signal to an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal individually having a subcarrier frequency, the interrogator being configured to band pass filter the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal comprising analog signals about the respective subcarrier frequencies to remove direct path energy, the interrogator being further configured to generate a control signal corresponding to one of the in-phase signal and quadrature signal having a greater amplitude, and adjust the gain of the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal using the control signal.
A communication method comprising:
- outputting a command signal;
- receiving a reply signal responsive to the outputting the command signal;
- downconverting the reply signal to a subcarrier signal;
- removing direct path energy from the subcarrier signal;
- and
- adjusting the gain of the subcarrier signal.
A backscatter communication method comprising:
- receiving a backscatter communication signal;
- downconverting the backscatter communication signal to an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal;
- generating a control signal;
- and
- adjusting the gain of the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal using the control signal, wherein the amplitudes of the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal are maintained relative to one another during the adjusting.
A backscatter communication method comprising:
- outputting a microwave command signal;
- receiving a microwave backscatter signal responsive to the outputting the command signal;
- downconverting the backscatter signal to an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal individually having a subcarrier frequency;
- filtering the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal comprising analog signals about the respective subcarrier frequencies to remove direct path energy from the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal;
- generating a gain control signal corresponding to one of the in-phase signal and quadrature signal having a greater amplitude;
- and
- adjusting the gain of the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal using the gain control signal.
A method of processing a communication signal, the method comprising:
- receiving a communication signal;
- downconverting the communication signal to an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal;
- removing direct path energy from the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal;
- generating a gain control signal;
- and
- adjusting the gain of the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal using the gain control signal.
A method of processing a communication signal, the method comprising:
- receiving a communication signal;
- downconverting the communication signal to an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal;
- removing direct path energy from the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal;
- and
- adjusting the gain of the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.