Subsampling communication receiver architecture with gain control and RSSI generation

An apparatus for downconverting a first periodic voltage waveform into a second periodic voltage waveform, comprising:

• an input for receiving the first voltage waveform;
• a sampler coupled to said input for obtaining from the first voltage waveform a plurality of temporally distinct samples respectively indicative of areas under corresponding fractional-cycles of the first voltage waveform;
• a combiner coupled to said sampler for combining the samples to produce the second voltage waveform;
• and
• at least one of said sampler and said combiner for manipulating the samples to provide gain adjustment to the second voltage waveform.

A communication receiving apparatus, comprising:

• an input for receiving a communication signal formed as a first periodic voltage waveform;
• a mixer coupled to said input for downconverting the first periodic voltage waveform into a second periodic voltage waveform, including a sampler coupled to said input for obtaining from the first voltage waveform a plurality of temporally distinct samples respectively indicative of areas under corresponding fractional-cycles of the first voltage waveform, a combiner coupled to said sampler for combining the samples to produce the second voltage waveform, and at least one of said sampler and said combiner for manipulating the samples to provide gain adjustment to the second voltage waveform;
• and
• a signal processing portion coupled to said mixer for receiving and processing the second voltage waveform.

A method of downconverting a first periodic voltage waveform into a second periodic voltage waveform, comprising:

• obtaining from the first voltage waveform a plurality of temporally distinct samples respectively indicative of areas under corresponding fractional-cycles of the first voltage waveform;
• combining the samples to produce the second voltage waveform;
• said obtaining step including transforming the first voltage waveform into a corresponding current waveform and, during respective non-overlapping sample time intervals of equal length, using at least one fractional-cycle of the current waveform to charge respective capacitances whose values differ from one another;
• and
• determining a signal strength associated with the first voltage waveform based on portions of the second voltage waveform that respectively correspond to said sample time intervals.

An apparatus for downconverting a first periodic voltage waveform into a second periodic voltage waveform, comprising:

• an input for receiving the first voltage waveform;
• a sampler coupled to said input for obtaining from the first voltage waveform a plurality of temporally distinct samples respectively indicative of areas under corresponding fractional-cycles of the first voltage waveform;
• a combiner coupled to said sampler for combing the samples to produce the second voltage waveform;
• said sampler including a transconductance amplifier for transforming the first voltage waveform into a corresponding current waveform, and a plurality of capacitors coupled to said transconductance amplifier for integrating fractional-cycles of the current waveform, said sampler operable for using at least one fractional-cycle of the current waveform to charge a corresponding capacitance provided by at least one of said capacitors, said sampler further for, during respective non-overlapping sample time intervals of equal length, using at least one fractional-cycle of the current waveform to charge respective capacitances whose values differ from one another;
• and
• a signal strength determiner coupled to said combiner for receiving the second voltage waveform, said signal strength determiner for determining a signal strength associated with the first voltage waveform based on portions of the second voltage waveform that respectively correspond to said sample time intervals.

A communication receiving apparatus, comprising:

• an input for receiving a communication signal formed as a first periodic voltage waveform;
• a mixer coupled to said input for downconverting the first periodic voltage waveform into a second periodic voltage waveform, including a sampler coupled to said input for obtaining from the first voltage waveform a plurality of temporarily distinct samples respectively indicative of areas under corresponding fractional-cycles of the first voltage waveform, and a combiner coupled to said sampler for combining the samples to produce the second voltage waveform;
• said sampler including a transconductance amplifier for transforming the first voltage waveform into a corresponding current waveform, and a plurality of capacitors coupled to said transconductance amplifier for integrating fractional-cycles of the current waveform, said sampler operable for using at least one fractional-cycle of the current waveform to charge a corresponding capacitance provided by at least one of said capacitors, said sampler further for, during respective non-overlapping sample time intervals of equal length, using at least one fractional-cycle of the current waveform to charge respective capacitances whose values differ from one another;
• and
• a signal processing portion coupled to said mixer for receiving and processing the second voltage waveform, including a signal strength determiner for determining a signal strength associated with the first voltage waveform based on portions of the second voltage waveform that respectively correspond to said sample time intervals.