MULTIPLE RECEIVER RF INTEGRATED CIRCUIT ARCHITECTURE
A receiver has a plurality of antennas, a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), and a processor. Each antenna is coupled to a receiver channel. The voltage controlled oscillator is coupled to the receiver channels. The processor is coupled to the receiver channels and substantially continuously monitors and merges signals from the receiver channels. All the receiver channels may be integrated on a single circuit such that only a single VCO is required.
1 . A receiver, comprising:
a plurality of antennas, each antenna coupled to a receiver channel, respectively;
a voltage controlled oscillator coupled to the receiver channels; and
a processor coupled to the receiver channels capable of substantially continuously monitoring and merging signals from the receiver channels.
2 . The receiver of claim 1 , wherein the receiver channels are integrated into a single integrated circuit.
3 . The receiver of claim 1 , wherein each receiver channel includes an independently adjustable variable gain amplifier.
4 . The receiver of claim 3 , wherein the variable gain amplifiers adjust directionality of the antennas without physical movement of the antennas.
5 . The receiver of claim 1 , wherein the voltage controlled oscillator introduces different phase delays to each receiver channel.
6 . The receiver of claim 1 , wherein the processor includes a virtual phase shifter that introduces different phase delays into each signal received from the receiver channels.
7 . A transceiver having a transmitter and the receiver of claim 1 .
8 . A method, comprising:
receiving a signal at a plurality of antennas, each antenna coupled to a receiver channel, respectively, a voltage controlled oscillator coupled to the receiver channels;
processing the received signals; and
substantially continuously monitoring and merging the processed signals from the receiver channels.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the receiver channels are integrated into a single integrated circuit.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein each receiver channel includes an independently adjustable variable gain amplifier.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising adjusting directionality of the antennas without physical movement of the antennas via use of the variable gain amplifiers.
12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising introducing different phase delays to each receiver channel.
13 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising introducing different phase delays into each signal received from the receiver channels after processing by the receiver channels.
14 . A system, comprising:
means for receiving a signal at a plurality of antennas, each antenna coupled to a receiver channel, respectively, a voltage controlled oscillator coupled to the receiver channels;
means for processing the received signals; and
means for substantially continuously monitoring and merging the processed signals from the receiver channels.