Incoming signal sampling device

1. A sampling device for sampling an incoming signal in order to generate an output signal having a different frequency spectrum from the incoming signal, the device comprising a sampler configured to sample the incoming signal at a series of intervals in time, wherein the series of intervals includes a temporally repeating sequence of intervals, and wherein a duration of successive intervals varies throughout the series.

2. The sampling device according to claim 1 , comprising a sample pulse generator configured to generate a sampling signal comprising a plurality of sampling pulses for activating the sampler.

3. The sampling device according to claim 2 , wherein the sampling device comprises a signal splitter for splitting the incoming signal into two or more signal paths, each path comprising a respective sampler for sampling the signal as it propagates along the respective path,

wherein at least one of the signal paths includes a variable delay for delaying the propagation of the signal along that path with respect to the other paths;

the device further including a signal combiner for combining the output of each sampler into a single output path.

4. The sampling device according to claim 3 , wherein the variable delay is operable to delay the propagation of the sampled signal.

5. The sampling device according to claim 4 , wherein the sample pulse generator includes an input for receiving a clock signal, the sample pulse generator being configured to output a sampling pulse for activating each sampler on receipt of a signal from the clock.

6. The sampling device according to claim 5 , wherein the sample pulse generator comprises a variable delay for varying the delay between the sampling pulses that are output on receipt of a respective clock signal.

7. The sampling device according to claim 2 , wherein the sampling signal is a stream of pulses comprising a repeating temporal sequence of pulses, and wherein the interval between successive sampling pulses varies throughout the stream.

8. The sampling device according to claim 7 , wherein the sample pulse generator includes an input for receiving a clock signal, the sample pulse generator being configured to generate the sequence of pulses each time it receives a signal from the clock.

9. The sampling device according to claim 8 , wherein the sample pulse generator comprises a local oscillator for generating the repeating sequence of pulses and a pulse generator for activating and deactivating the signal output by the local oscillator.

10. The sampling device according to claim 9 , wherein the sample pulse generator further comprises a logic gate for receiving the output of the pulse generator and the local oscillator, the logic gate being configured to transmit the signal from the local oscillator to the sampler depending on whether the pulse generator output is above or below a threshold.

11. The sampling device according to claim 7 , wherein the sample pulse generator comprises a variable delay for varying the interval between successive sampling pulses in the repeating sequence of pulses.

12. The sampling device according to claim 2 , wherein the sample pulse generator comprises a pulse generator and a pulse repeater for replicating an initial pulse output by the pulse generator.

13. The sampling device according to claim 12 , wherein the pulse repeater comprises a signal splitter for splitting the initial pulse output by the pulse generator into a plurality of pulses, each pulse being used to activate the sampler.

14. The sampling device according to claim 12 , wherein the pulse repeater comprises a filter.

15. The sampling device according to claim 2 , further comprising a digital to analogue converter for converting the input signal from a digital signal to an analogue signal.

16. The sampling device according to claim 15 , comprising a phase shifter for synchronising the phase of the digital to analogue converter with a clock signal that is used to activate the sample pulse generator.

17. The sampling device according to claim 2 , wherein the sample pulse generator is configured to generate sampling pulses at frequencies in excess of 1.0 GHz.

18. The sampling device according to claim 1 , wherein the intervals are constant throughout the repeating sequence of intervals.

19. The sampling device according to claim 1 further comprising an analogue to digital converter for converting the output signal from an analogue signal to a digital signal.

20. The sampling device according to claim 19 , comprising a phase shifter for synchronising the phase of the analogue to digital converter with a clock signal that is used to activate the sample pulse generator.