This disclosure describes a continuous tuning arrangement for a variable frequency response circuit of the type covering a relatively wide frequency range. Many techniques for accommodating a wide frequency range are known and include synthesizers, waveform generators and so on which employ various coarse tuning controls or devices for band selection. A synthesizer is described which employs a continuous tuning means enabling one to continuously tune the circuit from a first frequency to a second frequency or from said second frequency to said first in a rapid manner, whereby continuous tuning is afforded without the necessity of returning the tuning control to a start position each time a new frequency is selected by the coarse tuning control. The continuous tuning means provided according to this disclosure incorporates a variable reactance device in which the magnitude of the control voltage is alternated according to a change from the first frequency to the second frequency as accommodated by said coarse control. In another embodiment, continuous tuning is provided again from a low to a higher frequency by means of a differential capacitor.
A shortwave amplitude modulated broadcast converter having an antenna electrically connected to an output. The antenna functions to collect shortwave electromagnetic energy. Invention further includes a preselector having an input and an output. The preselector is electrically connected to an input to the antenna at an output and functions to filter unwanted noise from the antenna signal. A mixer having at least one input and an output is electrically connected to the preselector output at an input. The mixer functions to combine the filtered antenna signal and a band select signal to an output. A variable frequency oscillator having an output is electrically connected to a mixer input. The variable frequency oscillator frictions to provide a mixing frequency to the mixer. An output amplifier, having an input and an output, is electrically connected to the mixer and an input, where the output amplifier functions to amplify the combined antenna and variable frequency oscillator signals. The combined antenna and variable frequency oscillator signals are output to a radio receiver, i.e. AM or FM. A power source may be selected from the group consisting of batteries, recharageable batteries, solar, capacitive, and electro-mechanical to provide an electrical voltage to the components.
A synthesizer radio frequency (RF) signal receiver (FIG. 1) for single sideband radios is described that can eliminate interference due to internally generated spurious signals, commonly referred to as "whistler spurs". The unique receiver includes first and second mixers (102 and 106), which are intercoupled by a 75 mHz crystal filter (104) having a 20 kHz passband, and which are each coupled to signals from voltage controlled oscillators (120 and 140). The first IF frequency provided by the first mixer (102) varies about 75 mHz, and the second IF frequency provided by the second mixer (106) is fixed at 11.4 mHz. The second mixer (106) is coupled to 11.4 mHz stages (108) which have a 2.7 kHz passband. The 11.4 mHz stages (108) are followed by another mixer (110) and audio stages (112) for demodulating audio signals from the received RF signal, which are then applied to a speaker (114). The frequency of the VCO (120) coupled to the first mixer (102) can be varied by changing the divisor N of a programmable divider (123), and the frequency of the VCO (140) coupled to the second mixer (106) likewise can be varied by changing the divisor M of a programmable divider (133). When interference due to a whistler spur is present, activation of an IF pushbutton (160) enables a microcomputer (170), which changes divisors N and M for varying the frequencies of the two VCO's (120 and 140) by a multiple of 3.2 kHz, which in turn shifts the first IF frequency by 3.2 kHz. The frequency change also shifts the whistler spur outside of the 2.7 kHz passband of the 11.4 mHz stages (108) and greatly attenuates it. If the whistler spur is not sufficiently attenuated, the IF pushbutton (160) can be activated a second time.
A wideband Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) uses a resonant circuit tunable over a wide range of resonant frequencies. The resonant circuit includes voltage variable elements such that the resonant frequency, and thus the frequency of oscillation, may be electronically tuned. The voltage variable elements are arranged such that multiple control voltages determine the resonant frequency. A first control voltage is applied to a first set of tuning elements and operates as a coarse control of the resonant frequency. A second control voltage is applied to a second set of tuning elements and operates as a fine control of the resonant frequency. Using multiple control voltages on multiple elements allows for a wideband VCO while maintaining a low VCO gain.
A shielding apparatus for use with a non-conductive package has an insulated lid (102) which is retained in contact with a substrate (104) for holding an electrical circuit. The shielding apparatus includes a first conductive flash (201) deposited on the interior surface of the insulated lid (102), to produce a substantially contiguous conduction layer, and a second conductive flash (203) deposited over a film (110) disposed on the edge of the insulated lid (102), to produce a partially contiguous conduction layer. The shielding apparatus also includes a layer (108) for affixing the insulated lid (102) to the substrate (104), to produce an enclosure for isolating the electrical circuit from extraneous radio frequency (RF) energy.
