Common signal generation for an RF receiver

A radio frequency (RF) receiver, comprising:

• an RF/IF processing section for receiving source signals from an RF source, for performing desired filtering and for providing intermediate frequency (IF) signals and injection frequency signals;
• a common signal generating sub-system (CSGS) operatively associated with said RF/IF processing section, comprising:
• a down converter section for receiving said intermediate frequency (IF) signals and said injection frequency signals and for translating said IF signals to analog intermediate frequency (IF) signals preserving the spectra thereof, said analog IF signals comprising analog in-phase IF signals and analog quadrature IF signals;
• and
• a digitizer section for utilizing a locally generated sampling rate signal (LGSRS) and converting said analog in-phase IF signals and said analog quadrature IF signals to a common digital in-phase IF signal and a common digital quadrature IF signal;
• and,
• a digital processing section for receiving the common digital in-phase IF signal and common digital quadrature IF signal and performing the remaining digital processing for acquisition and tracking of the source signals, said LGSRS providing additional frequency translation by aliasing said analog in-phase IF signals and analog quadrature IF signals using an A/D sampler rate, wherein
• said digitizer section, comprises:
• a first analog to digital converter for receiving said analog in-phase IF signals and said LGSRS and providing said digital in-phase IF signal;
• and,
• a second analog to digital converter for receiving said analog quadrature IF signals and said LGSRS and providing said digital quadrature IF signal,
• wherein the combination of the down converter section and the digitizer section perform frequency translation in conjunction with each other.

A method for processing radio frequency (RF) signals from an RF source, comprising the steps of:

• receiving source signals from an RF source, performing desired filtering and providing intermediate frequency (IF) signals and injection frequency signals;
• translating said IF signals to analog intermediate frequency (IF) signals preserving the spectra thereof, said analog IF signals comprising analog in-phase IF signals and analog quadrature IF signals;
• utilizing a locally generated sampling rate signal (LGSRS) and converting said analog in-phase IF signals and said analog quadrature IF signals to a common digital in-phase IF signal and a common digital quadrature IF signal;
• and,
• utilizing said common digital in-phase IF signal and common digital quadrature IF signal for performing the remaining digital processing for acquisition and tracking of the source signals, said LGSRS providing additional frequency translation by aliasing said analog in-phase IF signals and analog quadrature IF signals using an A/D sampler rate, wherein,
• said step of utilizing a locally generated sampling rate signal (LGSRS) and converting said analog in-phase IF signals and said analog quadrature IF signals, comprises the steps of:
• utilizing a first analog to digital converter for receiving said analog in-phase IF signals and said LGSRS and providing said digital in-phase IF signal;
• and,
• utilizing a second analog to digital converter for receiving said analog quadrature IF signals and said LGSRS and providing said digital quadrature IF signal,
• wherein the combination of the down converter section and the digitizer section perform frequency translation in conjunction with each other.