Abstract:
An apparatus and method for tuning a filter ( 11 ) with oscillator alignment for applications where the filter tuning signal ( 19,27 ) is generated independently of the local oscillator tuning signal and the tuning range is large, for example such as terrestrial and cable TV broadcasting (40 to 860 MHz). The filter being adapted to a filter tuning modulation signal ( 25 ) having a first frequency (F 1 ) and a second frequency (F 2 ). Values of the output signal ( 28 ) are measured, a first value (S 1 ) at the first frequency, and a second value (S 2 ) at the second frequency, and a comparison signal ( 26 ) is generated in comparing the first value and the second value to adjust filter with the tuning control signal in response to the comparison signal, modulation signal and an approximate filter tuning signal to provide a desired signal at the output signal.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for tuning oscillator and filter alignment. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus and method tracking the high frequency filters and local oscillator, used for example in TV tuners, and similar systems working over a wide frequency range such as terrestrial and cable TV broadcasting (40 to 860 MHz), satellite TV first IF (950 to 2400 MHz), shortwave receivers (2 to 30 MHz), FM broadcast receivers (88 to 108 MHz, etc.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Typical TV tuner architectures usually consist of a variable gain pre-amplifier stage with a single tuned resonant circuit at the input. The variable pre-amplifier stage is typically a dual-gate MOSFET. The output of the variable gain pre-amplifier stage is connected to a mixer stage via a tuned bandpass filter, which may comprise of two coupled parallel LC circuits. The mixer is also driven by a signal derived from a local oscillator with a frequency that is determined by a tuneable resonant circuit. The tuning of the filters and the local oscillator is usually achieved by variable capacitance diodes such that the same control voltage is applied to all of the variable capacitance diodes generated by a phase-locked-loop arrangement. The role of the filters is to reduce the level of unwanted signals to avoid overloading of the receiver and in particular any signal falling within the image frequency response created by the mixing of the input signals to an intermediate frequency. The rejection of the image frequency response is of considerable importance when the intermediate frequency is low and the image frequency falls with the band to be covered by the system. In order to cover the entire frequency range, for example 40 to 860 MHz in terrestrial and cable TV broadcasting, the range is typically divided by two or three bands, with each band covering one or more octaves. Each band then usually requires an input filter, gain controlled amplifier, bandpass filter, mixer and local oscillator, where the mixers, local oscillators and phase-locked-loop circuit are usually combined in one or more integrated circuits.  
           [0003]    Another means of covering the wide frequency range consists in mixing the incoming signals to create an image frequency outside the band to be received. It is then possible to reject the image frequency response with no-tuneable lowpass or highpass filters. However, this method does not protect the receiver from strong unwanted signals within the band to be received. A tuneable filter at the input is often required to this end. With these typical configurations, tracking over the desired band is achieved by the use of matched variable capacitance diodes and by factory adjustment of the coils on a few carefully chosen channels, for example low end, high end, and centre of band.  
           [0004]    However, with these approaches errors can occur on channels between the adjustment points, often reaching a maximum midway between them. One method to compensate for this and to reduce any degradation of performance due to mis-tracking, is to design the filters with a passband wider than required, so that any tuning errors will cause a negligible degradation of the received signal. Associated errors in tracking caused by drift with temperature have been minimised with careful design by using matched variable capacitance diodes. In order to reduce the number of external components, there is a need to integrate all the frequency determining components of the local oscillator. However, it is difficult to achieve this by using the same tuning voltage for the filters and the local oscillator fully integrated within an integrated circuit, since the characteristic of the local oscillator tuning voltage will then be different to that of the filters. If the tuning characteristics are known and stable, it is possible to generate the tuning voltage by any known analogue or digital means. However, it is difficult to compensate for different temperatures with mechanical and electrical design when the local oscillator is completely integrated. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,456 a predetermined voltage is added to the local oscillator tuning voltage to obtain a filter tuning voltage, however, as the frequency determining elements of the local oscillator are within an integrated circuit, variation of frequency with temperature of the local oscillator will differ from that of the filters. Furthermore, the frequency determining elements of the filters will undergo mechanical and electrical stresses which are largely different from those within the integrated circuit, causing ageing.  
           [0005]    Thus, there is a need for an apparatus and method for tuning the frequency of the local oscillator and of the filters for applications where filter tuning signal is generated independently of the local oscillator tuning signal in a wide tuning range, particularly when some of elements are completely integrated within an integrated circuit.  
         STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In accordance with the invention there is provided an apparatus for tuning a filter as claimed in claim  1 , and a method for tuning a filter as claimed in claim  11 . 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    Embodiments of the invention will now be more fully described, by example, with reference to the drawings, of which:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an apparatus for centring a tuneable filter around a desired signal according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIGS. 2 a ,  2   b ,  2   c  and  2   d  show graphs of filter offset conditions for the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 shows a graph of signals within the system and spurious modulation of output signal of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a level detection from automatic gain control according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIGS. 5 a ,  5   b ,  5   c  and  5   d  show graphs of the response of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in response to different types of signals according to an embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with frequency shift according to an embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    Referring to FIG. 1 a block diagram is shown of an apparatus  1  for centring a tuneable filter around a desired signal according to an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment a RF input signal  10  is received at signal processor  12  via filter  11 . The signal from the signal processor is feedback through level detection  13  and switch  15 . The feedback signal is passed to sample storage (S 1 )  21  or sample storage (S 2 )  22  and onto negative or positive inputs, respectively, of comparator  16  to provide a filter tuning correction signal  26 . The filter tuning correction signal  26  is received at summing terminal  24  together with an approximate filter tuning signal  19  generated by a filter tuning signal generator  20  that may be controlled by control signal  23 . The switch  15 , and a switch  14  between two signals corresponding to two frequencies F 1 ,F 2  that provide a filter tuning modulation signal  25  that is also received at the summing terminal, are synchronised by timing generator  17  and external synchronisation signal  18 . A filter tuning control signal  27  is received at filter  11  from the summing terminal  24 , which alters the RF input signal and resulting output signal  28 .  
         [0015]    In operation, the centre of filter  11  is shifted periodically between two frequencies F 1 ,F 2  by filter tuning modulation signal. The frequencies F 1  and F 2  are chosen to obtain a variation of the signal applied to the level detector  13  which allows comparator  16  to provide a reliable correction signal to filter  11  via the summing terminal  24 . The values of F 1  and F 2  will depend largely on the frequency response of filter  11 . For example, with a single pole filter having a half-power bandwidth of 10 MHz, the difference in frequency between F 1  and F 2  may be about 2 MHz. The signals applied to switch  14  are chosen accordingly. At each frequency the amplitude of the signal at the output of the filter is measured and stored S 1 ,S 2  respectively. It will be appreciated that the filter can cause other characteristics (other than signal amplitude) of the signal to vary, i.e. depending on the type of signal being processed. These other signal characteristics can also be measured, as long as the characteristic reaches a maximum at the centre frequency of the filter. To apply this embodiment, however, the implementation is usually more difficult than the simple measurement of amplitude. Additionally, It will be appreciated that the measurement does not have to be taken at the output of the system, but, for example, the amplitude of the signal must depend on the tuning of the filter. The two stored values S 1 ,S 2  are then compared. Depending on the comparison of S 1 ,S 2 , then the filter is retuned accordingly, which is shown in the graphs of FIGS. 2 a - d.    
         [0016]    In each of the graphs shown in FIGS. 2 a - d , the amplitudes of the signals passed through the filter, i.e. RF input signal  10  and filter tuning signal  27 , with the filter centre at different frequencies with respect to the frequencies of the input signal  10 . In FIG. 2 a , the two filter centre frequencies F 1 ,F 2 , that contribute to the filter tuning signal  27 , are below that of the input signal  10 . As the frequency of the filter changes from F 1  to F 2 , the amplitude of the output signal  28  increases. The value stored at S 2  is greater than that at S 1 . The filter tuning signal  27  must be varied to increase the centre frequency of filter  11  thereby bringing it closer to the frequency of the RF input signal  10 . FIG. 2 b  shows the case where the centre frequency of the filter  11  is always higher than that of the input signal  10 . For example, S 2  is smaller than S 1 , and the result of the comparison is inverted with respect to that of FIG. 2 a , and it will tend to lower the frequency of the filter. In FIG. 2 c , the filter centre frequency is below the input signal frequency F 1 , but above it at F 2 . As the frequency of RF input signal  10  is higher than the frequency midway between F 1  and F 2 , S 2  is greater than S 1 , which causes the filter frequency to be increased. It can be appreciated that when the frequency of RF input signal  10  is lower than the frequency midway between F 1  and F 2 , S 2  will be lower than S 1 , which causes the filter frequency to be decreased. When the values at S 1 ,S 2  are identical, the filter tuning is unchanged, as shown in FIG. 2 d . Thus, it can be appreciated that the error signal output from the comparator will tend to centre the filter on the received signal.  
         [0017]    Referring back to FIG. 1, the signal  9  at the output of the filter undergoes some form of processing, such as amplification, frequency conversion, or the like, before being applied to the level detector  13 . A signal processor  12  may perform this processing. In order to position the filter near the desired frequency, an approximate tuning voltage  19  is applied to the filter  11 . For this embodiment, it is assumed that increasing the tuning voltage applied to the filter increases the centre frequency of the filter  11 . The switch  14  applies a signal to the filter tuning input in order to position the centre at frequency F 1 . The switch  15  feeds the signal from the output of the level detector to first sample storage device (S 1 ). The switches  14 ,  15  are synchronised by timing generator  17 , which may be synchronised by external synchronisation signal  18 . Switches  14 , 15  are then inverted, which places the filter to the second frequency F 2 , and storing the second level value in sample storage device (S 2 ). Sample storage device values S 1  and S 2  are then compared in comparator  16 . Accordingly, if S 2  is greater than S 1 , then the comparator output is low, and the filter tuning voltage signal  19  is increased. Inversely, if S 2  is less than S 1 , then the comparator output is low and the filter tuning voltage and frequency signal  19  are decreased.  
         [0018]    One embodiment includes using analogue storage of the samples (S 1 ,S 2 ). For example, the sample storage values S 1 ,S 2  are stored in capacitors C 1  and C 2 , as shown in FIG. 6, by closing at the appropriate instant corresponding with switches  61 , 62 , respectively. An amplifier  16  with differential inputs may be the comparator to compare the two sample storage values S 1 ,S 2 , and applies a correction signal  26  to the filter tuning voltage signal  19 .  
         [0019]    Another embodiment includes using digital techniques and/or software associated with suitable interfaces such as analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue converters.  
         [0020]    The switching action of the switches, for example switch  14  from F 1  to F 2 , may disturb the signal at the output signal  28 . Such a disturbance may be minimised by making the transition switch from F 1  to F 2  gradual. To minimise this disturbance, an alternating modulation signal may be added to the approximate filter tuning voltage. Any form of signal, for example a squarewave signal, a pulsed signal, a sine wave signal or a sawtooth signal may be used for the filter modulation signal to accomplish the transition from F 1  to F 2 , however, a triangular waveform has proven to be easy to generate and does not introduce disagreeable jittering or jumping of the output signal. In the case of analogue TV application, the transition and sampling periods may be synchronised with the picture field frequency. In this manner, the sampling can take place during the vertical blanking period where disturbances to the picture will not be observed. Also, by making the transition period longer, for example by several field periods, the risk of disturbance to sound signal is reduced. As the drift of the filter with temperature is slow, for example causing a shift of several tens of kilohertz per second it is necessary, particularly in implementations using digital storage and/or software, to perform a correction cycle only periodically for example, once every second or every ten seconds. This further reduces the risk of disturbing the output signal  28 . The sampling operation can be carried out at a time such as a programme change. It is the use of sample and hold techniques that allows the period of the filter sweep to be long, for example lasting several seconds.  
         [0021]    Even with introducing a gradual transition at switch  14  between F 1  and F 2 , there will still exist an additional amplitude modulation of the signal at the output of the filter signal  9 , as shown in FIG. 3. The amount of amplitude modulation depends on the frequency deviation applied to the filter  11 . By reducing the deviation, the amount of amplitude modulation added to the signal will be reduced, as well as the sensitivity and accuracy of the system. However, an automatic gain control (AGC), as shown in FIG. 4, may be provided with the signal processing  12 . For example, a variable gain controlled amplifier  32  may be placed in the signal path, either in front of or behind the filter  11 . In order to maintain the level of the output signal  28  constant, an error signal  34  is feedback from the output of the system with, for example level detector  13 , and then applied to the variable gain amplifier  32 , as shown in FIG. 4. Conveniently, the error signal  34  may be recognised as a measure of the signal level. Additionally, the AGC may be able to minimise the amplitude modulation caused by the shifting of the filter centre frequency by the tuning modulation signal. In this case the AGC circuitry, for example its time constants, must be designed to minimise the amplitude modulation modulation caused by the shifting of the filter centre frequency without causing distortion of the output signal.  
         [0022]    In many applications, such as filtering of a TV signal, the signal passed through the filter is not a simple carrier and the bandwidth of the signal may be slightly narrower than that of the filter. In these applications, therefore, accurate centring of the filter  11  is vital. An analogue TV signal consists of a picture carrier and a sound carrier. Typically, the power of the sound carrier is about a tenth of the picture carrier. The sound carrier may be for example 4.5, 5.5, 6.0 or 6.5 MHz higher in frequency than the picture carrier. If the level of the detector measures only the level of the picture carrier, the filter centre will be positioned on the picture carrier signal  42  as shown in FIG. 5 a . However, if the total power is measured, taking into account both the picture carrier  42  and the sound carrier  44 , the system will tend to centre the filter nearer the centre of the complete  45 , as shown in FIG. 5 b . Further correct centring alignment may be achieved when the picture carrier  42  and the sound carrier  44  have the same amplitude, as shown in FIG. 5 c . In the case of a complex signal  46 , for example a complex signal with a gaussian or rectangular spectrum, correct centring may be achieved if the total power of the signal is measured.  
         [0023]    In another embodiment, a shift in the centring of the filter may be introduced into the system. For example one way to introduce a shift is by adding  53  a frequency offset  52  at the input of the comparator  16 . By introducing the shift, the filter may be centred around an unsymmetrical signal, such as an analogue TV signal.  
         [0024]    It will be appreciated that although the particular embodiments of the invention have been described above, various other modifications and improvements may be made by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.