System and method for simultaneous MIMO signal testing with single vector signal analyzer

An apparatus including signal conversion circuitry for converting a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) packet data signal transmission to a plurality of data samples, comprising:

• input signal conversion circuitry responsive to at least first and second radio frequency (RF) signals and at least first and second local oscillator (LO) signals by converting said at least first and second RF signals to at least first and second frequency converted signals, wherein said at least first and second RF signals have a common RF carrier frequency, include at least first and second data streams, and form at least a portion of a MIMO packet data signal transmission;
• signal combining circuitry coupled to said input signal conversion circuitry to combine said at least first and second frequency converted signals to provide at least one combined signal;
• and
• output signal conversion circuitry coupled to said signal combining circuitry and responsive to said at least one combined signal by providing a plurality of data signals having a common nominal frequency and including data samples corresponding to said at least first and second data streams;
• wherein
• said output signal conversion circuitry comprises
• first signal conversion circuitry responsive to said at least one combined signal by providing at least a first digital signal,
• digital filter circuitry coupled to said first signal conversion circuitry to filter said at least a first digital signal to provide at least a first filtered signal, and
• second signal conversion circuitry coupled to said digital filter circuitry and responsive to said at least a first filtered signal by providing said plurality of data signals, and
• said first signal conversion circuitry comprises
• signal mixing circuitry responsive to at least substantially mutually quadrature LO signals and said at least one combined signal by providing at least substantially mutually quadrature analog signals, and
• analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuitry coupled to said signal mixing circuitry and responsive to said at least substantially mutually quadrature analog signals by providing at least first and second digital signals.

An apparatus including signal conversion circuitry for converting a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) packet data signal transmission to a plurality of data samples, comprising:

• input signal conversion circuitry responsive to at least first and second radio frequency (RF) signals and at least first and second local oscillator (LO) signals by converting said at least first and second RF signals to at least first and second frequency converted signals, wherein said at least first and second RF signals have a common RF carrier frequency, include at least first and second data streams, and form at least a portion of a MIMO packet data signal transmission;
• signal combining circuitry coupled to said input signal conversion circuitry to combine said at least first and second frequency converted signals to provide at least one combined signal;
• and
• output signal conversion circuitry coupled to said signal combining circuitry and responsive to said at least one combined signal by providing a plurality of data signals having a common nominal frequency and including data samples corresponding to said at least first and second data streams;
• wherein
• said output signal conversion circuitry comprises
• first signal conversion circuitry responsive to said at least one combined signal by providing at least a first digital signal,
• digital filter circuitry coupled to said first signal conversion circuitry to filter said at least a first digital signal to provide at least a first filtered signal, and
• second signal conversion circuitry coupled to said digital filter circuitry and responsive to said at least a first filtered signal by providing said plurality of data signals, and
• said second signal conversion circuitry comprises frequency rotation circuitry.

An apparatus including signal conversion circuitry for converting a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) packet data signal transmission to a plurality of data samples, comprising:

• input signal conversion circuitry responsive to at least first and second radio frequency (RF) signals and at least first and second local oscillator (LO) signals by converting said at least first and second RF signals to at least first and second frequency converted signals, wherein said at least first and second RF signals have a common RF carrier frequency, include at least first and second data streams, and form at least a portion of a MIMO packet data signal transmission;
• signal combining circuitry coupled to said input signal conversion circuitry to combine said at least first and second frequency converted signals to provide at least one combined signal;
• output signal conversion circuitry coupled to said signal combining circuitry and responsive to said at least one combined signal by providing a plurality of data signals having a common nominal frequency and including data samples corresponding to said at least first and second data streams;
• and
• LO circuitry to provide said at least first and second LO signals, wherein said LO circuitry comprises
• phase lock loop (PLL) circuitry to provide substantially mutually quadrature PLL signals,
• direct digital synthesis (DDS) circuitry to provide substantially mutually quadrature DDS signals, and
• signal combining circuitry coupled to said PLL circuitry and said DDS circuitry to combine said substantially mutually quadrature PLL signals and substantially mutually quadrature DDS signals to provide at least said first and second LO signals.

An apparatus including signal conversion circuitry for converting a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) packet data signal transmission to a plurality of data samples, comprising:

• input signal conversion circuitry responsive to at least first and second radio frequency (RF) signals and at least first and second local oscillator (LO) signals by converting said at least first and second RF signals to at least first and second frequency converted signals, wherein said at least first and second RF signals have a common RF carrier frequency, include at least first and second data streams, and form at least a portion of a MIMO packet data signal transmission;
• signal combining circuitry coupled to said input signal conversion circuitry to combine said at least first and second frequency converted signals to provide at least one combined signal;
• output signal conversion circuitry coupled to said signal combining circuitry and responsive to said at least one combined signal by providing a plurality of data signals having a common nominal frequency and including data samples corresponding to said at least first and second data streams;
• and
• LO circuitry to provide said at least first and second LO signals, wherein said LO circuitry comprises
• phase lock loop (PLL) circuitry to provide substantially mutually quadrature PLL signals,
• first direct digital synthesis (DDS) circuitry to provide first substantially mutually quadrature DDS signals,
• second DDS circuitry to provide second substantially mutually quadrature DDS signals,
• first signal combining circuitry coupled to said PLL circuitry and said first DDS circuitry to combine said substantially mutually quadrature PLL signals and first substantially mutually quadrature DDS signals to provide at least said first LO signal, and
• second signal combining circuitry coupled to said PLL circuitry and said second DDS circuitry to combine said substantially mutually quadrature PLL signals and second substantially mutually quadrature DDS signals to provide at least said second LO signal.

A method of converting a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) packet data signal transmission to a plurality of data samples, comprising:

• converting, in accordance with at least first and second local oscillator (LO) signals, at least first and second RF signals to at least first and second frequency converted signals, wherein said at least first and second RF signals have a common RF carrier frequency, include at least first and second data streams, and form at least a portion of a MIMO packet data signal transmission;
• combining said at least first and second frequency converted signals to provide at least one combined signal;
• and
• converting said at least one combined signal to a plurality of data signals having a common nominal frequency and including data samples corresponding to said at least first and second data streams;
• wherein
• said converting, in accordance with at least first and second local oscillator (LO) signals, at least first and second RF signals to at least first and second frequency converted signals comprises
• mixing at least said first RF and first and second LO signals to provide a portion of said at least first and second frequency converted signals as first substantially mutually quadrature signals, and
• mixing at least said second RF and first and second LO signals to provide another portion of said at least first and second frequency converted signals as second substantially mutually quadrature signals, and
• said combining said at least first and second frequency converted signals to provide at least one combined signal comprises
• combining first ones of said first and second substantially mutually quadrature signals to provide a first combined signal, and
• combining second ones of said first and second substantially mutually quadrature signals to provide a second combined signal, wherein said first and second combined signals have a common nominal signal frequency and mutually distinct signal phases.