Simultaneous tuning of multiple channels using intermediate frequency sub-sampling

A system capable of receiving a signal that includes a plurality of channels, wherein the system allows at least two channels to be selected from the plurality of channels and combined into one sub-channel, such that certain signal processing may be performed on the one sub-channel, and wherein the certain signal processing of the one sub-channel requires fewer of certain components than would be required to process the at least two channels separately, the system comprising:

• down conversion means for down converting a first channel to a first intermediate frequency (IF), relative lower than a second intermediate frequency (IF), and for down converting a second channel to the second intermediate frequency (IF), relative higher than the first intermediate frequency (IF), wherein the means for down converting is coupled to an input signal that includes a plurality of channels;
• first removal means, connected to the down conversion means, for removing signals above the first channel from the first intermediate frequency;
• second removal means, connected to the down conversion means, for removing signals below the second channel from the second intermediate frequency;
• signal combination means, connected to the first and second removal means, for combining the first intermediate frequency and the second intermediate frequency such that the first and second channel are adjacent to each other;
• and
• third removal means, connected to the signal combination means, for removing signals below the first channel and signals above the second channel from the combined first and second intermediate frequencies, wherein a resulting multiple channel intermediate frequency signal contains the adjacent first and second channels.

An integrated circuit that combines at least two channels selected from a plurality of channels into a sub-channel, wherein certain signal processing may be performed on the sub-channel using fewer of certain components than would be required to process the at least two channels separately, the system comprising:

• at least two frequency synthesizers, one for each of at least two channels to be selected from a plurality of channels included within an input signal;
• at least two mixers, each connected to one of the at least two frequency synthesizers and the input signal, wherein one of the at least two mixers position a first channel at a first intermediate frequency (IF), relative lower than a second intermediate frequency (IF) and the other positions a second channel at the second intermediate frequency (IF), relative higher than the first intermediate frequency (F);
• a low pass filter connected to one of the mixers, wherein the low pass filter receives the first IF and removes signals above the first channel;
• a high pass filter connected to one of the mixers, wherein the high pass filter receives the second IF and removes signals below the second channel;
• a summer connected to the low and high pass filters, wherein the summer receives and combines the first filtered IF and second filtered IF, such that the first channel and the second channel are adjacent to each other;
• a band pass filter connected to the summer, wherein the band pass filter receives the combined first and second filtered IFs and removes signals below the first channel and above the second channel, such that a resulting multiple channel IF signal contains the adjacent first and second channels;
• and
• an amplifier connected to the band pass filter that receives the resulting multiple channel IF signal, wherein the gain of the amplifier is controlled by an automatic gain control signal.

A method of a system capable of receiving a signal that includes a plurality of channels, that method of combining at least two channels, selected from the plurality of channels, into one sub-channel such that certain signal processing may be performed on the one sub-channel, wherein the certain signal processing of the one sub-channel requires fewer of certain components than would be required to process the at least two channels separately, the method comprising acts of:

• mixing a first channel to a first intermediate frequency;
• mixing a second channel to a second intermediate frequency, wherein the second intermediate frequency is relatively higher than the first intermediate frequency;
• filtering the first intermediate frequency to remove signals above the first channel from the first intermediate frequency;
• filtering the second intermediate frequency to remove signals below the second channel from the second intermediate frequency;
• summing to combining the first intermediate frequency and the second intermediate frequency such that the first channel and the second channel are adjacent to each other;
• and
• filtering the combined first intermediate frequency and second intermediate frequency to remove signals below the first channel and above the second channel, such that a resulting multiple channel intermediate frequency signal contains the adjacent first and second channels.

A method of a system capable of receiving a signal that includes a plurality of channels, that method of combining at least two channels, selected from the plurality of channels, into one sub-channel such that certain signal processing may be performed on the one sub-channel, wherein the certain signal processing of the one sub-channel requires fewer of certain components than would be required to process the at least two channels separately, the method comprising steps for:

• down converting a first channel to a first intermediate frequency;
• down converting a second channel to a second intermediate frequency, wherein the second intermediate frequency is relatively higher than the first intermediate frequency;
• removing signals above the first channel from the first intermediate frequency;
• removing signals below the second channel from the second intermediate frequency;
• combining the first intermediate frequency and the second intermediate frequency such that the first channel and the second channel are adjacent to each other;
• and
• removing signals below the first channel and above the second channel, such that a resulting multiple channel intermediate frequency signal contains the adjacent first and second channels.