Method for estimating a frequency offset of a modulated bandpass signal

1. A method for estimating a frequency offset of a bandpass signal, modulated with a modulation signal, with an assumed carrier frequency in a mobile radio receiver, the method comprising:

a) determining times of the zero cross-overs of the bandpass signal;

b) calculating a DC component of an instantaneous frequency based on the times of the zero cross-overs and the assumed carrier frequency, wherein the instantaneous frequency is given by the frequency of the modulated bandpass signal less the assumed carrier frequency; and

c) estimating the frequency offset from the calculated DC component.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein for estimating the DC component of the instantaneous frequency, a number of local changes of a phase, which is given by the phase of the modulated bandpass signal less the phase caused by the assumed carrier frequency, are determined between two adjacent times, respectively with the aid of the values of these times.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein for estimating the DC component of the instantaneous frequency, a number of local changes of the phase between respective adjacent times are added.

4. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the local change in the phase between two adjacent times is obtained from the determination of the expression

π−Ω 0 ·(τ j+1 −τ j )

where Ω 0 is an assumed angular carrier frequency and τ j and τ j+1 are two adjacent times of the zero cross-overs.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the following steps are performed within step b):

b1) determining the 0th coefficient of a Fourier series expansion of the instantaneous frequency with the aid of the times of the zero cross-overs, and

b2) determining the DC component of the instantaneous frequency from the 0th coefficient of the Fourier series expansion of the instantaneous frequency.

6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the 0 th coefficient of the Fourier series expansion of the instantaneous frequency is determined recursively.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein, for determining the times of the zero cross-overs,

the amplitude of the bandpass signal is evaluated with regard to two amplitude states.

8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein for evaluating the amplitude of the bandpass signal,

a limiting amplification of the bandpass signal is performed.

9. A device for estimating the frequency offset of a bandpass signal, modulated with a modulation signal, with an assumed carrier frequency in a mobile radio receiver, comprising:

a zero cross-over detector configured to determine the times of the zero cross-overs of the bandpass signal;

calculator configured to calculate the DC component of the instantaneous frequency based on the times of the zero cross-overs and the assumed carrier frequency, wherein the instantaneous frequency is given by the frequency of the modulated bandpass signal less the assumed carrier frequency; and

an estimator configured to estimate the frequency offset from the calculated DC component.

10. A device according to claim 9 , wherein the zero cross-over detector comprises a comparator for evaluating the amplitude of the bandpass signal or of an amplified bandpass signal with regard to two amplitude states.

11. A device according to claim 10 , wherein the zero cross-over detector comprises a limiting amplifier for amplifying the bandpass signal, the output of which is connected to the comparator.

12. A system for estimating a frequency offset of a bandpass signal, modulated with a modulation signal, with an assumed carrier frequency in a mobile radio receiver, comprising:

a) means for determining times of the zero cross-overs of the bandpass signal;

b) means for calculating a DC component of an instantaneous frequency based on the times of the zero cross-overs and the assumed carrier frequency, wherein the instantaneous frequency is given by the frequency of the modulated bandpass signal less the assumed carrier frequency; and

c) means for estimating the frequency offset from the calculated DC component.

13. A system according to claim 12 , further comprising means for determining a number of local changes of a phase, which is given by the phase of the modulated bandpass signal less the phase caused by the assumed carrier frequency, between two adjacent times, respectively with the aid of the values of these times.

14. A system according to claim 13 , further comprising means for adding a number of local changes of the phase between respective adjacent times.

15. A system according to claim 13 , further comprising means for obtaining the local change in the phase between two adjacent times from the determination of the expression

π−Ω 0 ·(τ j+1 −τ j )

where Ω 0 is an assumed angular carrier frequency and τ j and τ j+1 are two adjacent times of the zero cross-overs.

16. A system according to claim 12 , wherein the means for estimating further comprise:

b1) means for determining the 0th coefficient of a Fourier series expansion of the instantaneous frequency with the aid of the times of the zero cross-overs, and

b2) means for determining the DC component of the instantaneous frequency from the 0th coefficient of the Fourier series expansion of the instantaneous frequency.

17. A system according to claim 16 , wherein the means for determining the 0th coefficient of the Fourier series expansion of the instantaneous frequency operate recursively.

18. A system according to claim 12 , wherein the means for determining the times of the zero cross-overs evaluate the amplitude of the bandpass signal with regard to two amplitude states.

19. A system according to claim 18 , wherein for evaluating the amplitude of the bandpass signal, the means for determining the times perform a limiting amplification of the bandpass signal.