DC-offset correction circuit for a communication system and method of correcting a DC-offset in a communication system

1. A DC-offset correction circuit for a receiver of a band-hopping communication system with a plurality of hop bands, the receiver comprising an analog receiver chain, comprising:

an analog circuit coupled to a tap of the analog receiver chain and configured to generate a plurality of analog offset-correction signal values, each of which are assigned to a respective hop band of the plurality of hop bands, the analog circuit comprising:

a first analog selector configured to select one analog offset-correction signal value from the plurality of analog offset-correction signal values, the selected analog offset-correction signal value being assigned to a current hop band;

a combiner coupled to the first analog selector, and configured to combine a received signal with the selected analog offset-correction signal value and feed the analog receiver chain therewith; and

a plurality of analog memory elements, each of which are configured to store one offset-correction signal value.

2. The DC-offset correction circuit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of analog memory elements comprise capacitors.

3. The DC-offset correction circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first analog selector comprises a plurality of switches, each of which are coupled to a respective one of the plurality of memory elements.

4. A DC-offset correction circuit for a receiver of a band-hopping communication system with a plurality of hop bands, the receiver comprising an analog receiver chain, comprising:

means for generating a plurality of analog offset-correction signal values, each of which are assigned to a hop band of the plurality of hop bands, said means for generating being coupled to a tap of the analog receiver chain, and comprising:

means for storing the plurality of analog offset-correction signal values;

means for selecting one analog offset-correction signal value from the plurality of analog offset-correction signal values, wherein the selected analog offset-correction signal value is assigned to a current hop band; and

means for combining a received signal with the selected analog offset-correction signal value and for feeding the analog receiver chain with the combined signal.

5. The DC-offset correction circuit of claim 4 , wherein the storing means comprises a plurality of capacitors.

6. The DC-offset correction circuit of claim 4 , wherein the selecting means comprises means for switching coupled to the storing means.

7. A method of correcting a DC-offset in a receiver of a band-hopping communication system with a plurality of hop bands, the receiver comprising an analog receiver chain, comprising:

tapping analog signal values from taps of the analog receiver chain;

generating a plurality of analog offset-correction signal values from the analog signal values, each of which being assigned to a hop band;

selecting an analog offset-correction signal value from the plurality of analog offset-correction signal values, the selected analog offset-correction signal value being assigned to a current hop band; and

combining a received signal with the selected analog offset-correction signal value;

wherein the method comprises a first operational mode and a second operational mode, and wherein the tapping analog signal values, and generating a plurality of analog offset-correction signal values, are carried out in the first operational mode, and wherein selecting an analog offset-correction signal value and combining a received signal with the selected analog offset-correction signal value are carried out in the second operational mode.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the communication system comprises transmission and reception of a plurality of signal bursts, each signal burst of the plurality of signal bursts comprises a preamble and a payload, and wherein the first operational mode is carried out during the preamble and the second operational mode is carried out during the payload.

9. A DC-offset correction circuit for a receiver of a band-hopping communication system with a plurality of hop bands, the receiver comprising an analog receiver chain, comprising:

an analog-to-digital converter coupled to a tap of the analog receiver chain or connected to the analog receiver chain as part of the receiver;

a digital circuit coupled to the output of the analog-to-digital converter and configured to generate a plurality of digital offset-correction signal values, each of which are assigned to a respective hop band, where the digital circuit comprises a plurality of digital memory elements, wherein each are configured to store an offset-correction signal value;

a first digital selector coupled to the digital circuit and configured to select a digital offset-correction signal value from the plurality of digital offset-correction signal values, wherein the selected digital offset correcting signal value is assigned to a current hop band;

a digital-to-analog converter coupled to the first digital selector and configured to receive the selected digital offset-correction signal value and output an analog offset-correction signal value and response thereto; and

a combiner coupled to the digital-to-analog converter and configured to combine a received signal with the selected analog offset-correction signal value, and feed the analog receiver chain with the combined signal.

10. The DC-offset correction circuit of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of digital memory elements comprise digital registers.

11. A DC-offset correction circuit for a receiver of a band-hopping communication system with a plurality of hop bands, the receiver comprising an analog receiver chain, comprising:

first converting means for converting analog signals to digital signals, the first converting means coupled to a tap of the receiver chain or connected to the receiver chain as part of the receiver;

means for generating a plurality of digital offset-correction signal values, each of which are assigned to a respective hop band and wherein an input of the generating means is coupled to the output of the first converting means, the generating means comprising:

means for storing the plurality of digital offset-correction signal values;

means for selecting a digital offset-correction signal value from the plurality of digital offset-correction signal values, the selected digital offset correcting signal value being assigned to the current hop band;

second converting means for converting digital signals to analog signals, wherein the second converting means is adapted to receive the selected digital offset-correction signal value and output a selected analog offset-correction signal value; and

means for combining a received signal with the selected analog offset-correction signal value and for feeding the analog receiver chain with the combined signal.

12. The DC-offset correction circuit of claim 11 , wherein the storing means comprises a plurality of digital registers.

13. A method of correcting a DC-offset in a receiver of a band-hopping communication system with a plurality of hop bands, the receiver comprising an analog receiver chain, comprising:

tapping analog signal values from taps of the analog receiver chain,

converting the analog signal values to digital signal values;

generating a plurality of digital offset-correction signal values from the digital signal values, each of which are assigned to a respective hop band;

selecting a digital offset-correction signal value from the plurality of digital offset-correction signal values;

converting the selected digital offset-correction signal value to an analog offset-correction signal value; and

combining a received signal with the analog offset-correction signal value,

wherein the method comprises a first operational mode and a second operational mode, and wherein the tapping analog signal values, converting the analog signal values to digital signal values, and generating a plurality of digital offset-correction signal values, are carried out in the first operational mode, and wherein selecting a digital offset-correction signal value, converting the selected one digital offset-correction signal value, and combining a received signal with the selected analog offset-correction signal value are carried out in the second operational mode.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the communication system comprises transmission and reception of a plurality of signal bursts, each signal burst of the plurality of signal bursts comprises a preamble and a payload, and wherein the first operational mode is carried out during the preamble and the second operational mode is carried out during the payload.

15. A DC-offset correction circuit for a receiver of a band-hopping communication system with a plurality of hop bands, the receiver comprising an analog receiver chain, comprising:

an analog circuit coupled to a tap of the analog receiver chain and configured to generate a plurality of analog offset-correction signal values, each of which are assigned to a respective hop band of the plurality of hop bands, the analog circuit comprising:

a first analog selector configured to select one analog offset-correction signal value from the plurality of analog offset-correction signal values, the selected analog offset-correction signal value being assigned to a current hop band;

a combiner coupled to the first analog selector, and configured to combine a received signal with the selected analog offset-correction signal value and feed the analog receiver chain therewith; and

a second analog selector coupled to the analog circuit, and configured to selectively couple the analog circuit to different taps of the analog receiver chain.

16. A DC-offset correction circuit for a receiver of a band-hopping communication system with a plurality of hop bands, the receiver comprising an analog receiver chain, comprising:

means for generating a plurality of analog offset-correction signal values, each of which are assigned to a hop band of the plurality of hop bands, said means for generating being coupled to a tap of the analog receiver chain, and comprising:

means for selecting one analog offset-correction signal value from the plurality of analog offset-correction signal values, wherein the selected analog offset-correction signal value is assigned to a current hop band;

means for combining a received signal with the selected analog offset-correction signal value and for feeding the analog receiver chain with the combined signal; and

means for selectively coupling the generating means to different taps of the analog receiver chain.

17. A DC-offset correction circuit for a receiver of a band-hopping communication system with a plurality of hop bands, the receiver comprising an analog receiver chain, comprising:

an analog-to-digital converter coupled to a tap of the analog receiver chain or connected to the analog receiver chain as part of the receiver;

a digital circuit coupled to the output of the analog-to-digital converter and configured to generate a plurality of digital offset-correction signal values, each of which are assigned to a respective hop band

a first digital selector coupled to the digital circuit and configured to select a digital offset-correction signal value from the plurality of digital offset-correction signal values, wherein the selected digital offset correcting signal value is assigned to a current hop band;

a digital-to-analog converter coupled to the first digital selector and configured to receive the selected digital offset-correction signal value and output an analog offset-correction signal value and response thereto;

a combiner coupled to the digital-to-analog converter and configured to combine a received signal with the selected analog offset-correction signal value, and feed the analog receiver chain with the combined signal; and

a second selector configured to selectively couple the digital circuit to different taps of the analog receiver chain.

18. A DC-offset correction circuit for a receiver of a band-hopping communication system with a plurality of hop bands, the receiver comprising an analog receiver chain, comprising:

first converting means for converting analog signals to digital signals, the first converting means coupled to a tap of the receiver chain or connected to the receiver chain as part of the receiver;

means for generating a plurality of digital offset-correction signal values, each of which are assigned to a respective hop band and wherein an input of the generating means is coupled to the output of the first converting means, the generating means comprising:

means for selecting a digital offset-correction signal value from the plurality of digital offset-correction signal values, the selected digital offset correcting signal value being assigned to the current hop band;

second converting means for converting digital signals to analog signals, wherein the second converting means is adapted to receive the selected digital offset-correction signal value and output a selected analog offset-correction signal value; and

means for combining a received signal with the selected analog offset-correction signal value and for feeding the analog receiver chain with the combined signal; and

means for selectively coupling the generating means to different taps of the analog receiver chain.