US 7,002,940 B2 · Multiple-stage filtering device and method

Abstract

A filter is provided that is formed of multiple filter stages arranged in series. Each of these filter stages has an input tap at its input that can be selectively connected to a filter input signal, and an output tap at its and output that can be selectively connected to an output selection circuit. Adjacent pairs of filter stages can also be isolated from each other. By selectively connecting the various input and output taps, and selectively isolating pairs of filter stages from each other, the filter can be formed into a single long filter or a plurality of parallel filters anywhere in size from one filter stage up to half the total number of filter stages. The output selection circuit can then sequentially select whatever filter stage outputs are connected to it and provide those as a general filter output.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A multiple-stage filtering circuit, comprising:

first through Nth filter stages, formed in series, having first through Nth input lines and first through Nth output lines, respectively, each of the first through Nth filter stages being configured to perform a filtering function;
an output circuit configured to provide a filter output signal;
input selection circuitry configured to selectively connect a filter input signal to any of the first through Nth input lines;
output selection circuitry configured to selectively connect any of the first through Nth output lines to the output circuit;
and
filter stage isolation circuitry configured to selectively isolate any adjacent pair of the first through Nth filter stages,
wherein N is an integer greater than one.

4 more elements

A method of configuring a filter having N filter stages, comprising:

configuring the N-stage filter during a first transmission environment into J1 first parallel sub-filters, each first parallel sub-filter comprising K1 consecutive filter stages from the N-stage filter;
configuring the N-stage filter during a second transmission environment into J2 second parallel sub-filters, each second parallel sub-filter comprising K2 consecutive filter stages from the N-stage filter;
wherein J1, J2, K1, and K2 are integers that each vary from 1 to N,
wherein J1>J2 and K1<K2, and
wherein (J1×K1)≦N and (J2×K2)≦N.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiple-stage filtering device and method

Life of this patent

Multiple-stage filtering device and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22