GNSS SUPERBAND ASIC AND METHOD WITH SIMULTANEOUS MULTI-FREQUENCY DOWN CONVERSION

1 . A method of simultaneously down-diverting global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals in multiple frequency bands, which method comprises the steps of:

providing an integrated circuit (IC) with multiple signal paths;

receiving GNSS signals corresponding to said frequency bands;

providing a common local oscillator/synthesizer (LO/Synth);

driving each of said signal paths with said LO/Synth;

receiving in said signal paths GNSS signals corresponding to said frequency bands associated with said signal paths respectively;

providing said LO/Synth with a common programmable divider;

simultaneously down-converting said signals to lower intermediate frequencies (IF) with said programmable divider;

providing a multiplexer with multiple out puts and located externally to said IC;

connecting each said signal path to and receiving input from said multiplexer;

providing multiple analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and connecting each to said programmable divider;

each said ADC receiving a down-converted signal as an input and providing a digital signal as an output;

providing multiple low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) in said signal paths;

electrically connecting each said LNA to a respective multiplexer output;

providing first and second band pass filters located externally to said IC; and

connecting each said BPF to a respective LNA.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein each said signal frequency band comprises a superband of frequencies associated with multiple GNSSs.

3 . The method of claim 2 , which includes the additional steps of:

providing multiple mixers;

electrically connecting each said mixer to said LO/Synth in a respective signal path; and

connecting each said mixer to a respective BPF.