Patent Abstract:
A dual modulation transmitter apparatus ( 100 ) includes first ( 134 ), second ( 136 ), and third ( 132 ) signal paths. The first signal path includes a polar modulator ( 120 ) coupled to a data input ( 115 ). The second signal path includes a quadrature modulator ( 122 ) coupled to the data input. The third signal path is coupled to an antenna ( 142 ) and includes a switch ( 128 ) configured to couple the third signal path to the first signal path under a first condition and to couple the third signal path to the second signal path under a second condition. Thus, the transmitter apparatus enjoys the best of both worlds, since it utilizes quadrature or polar modulation in the most appropriate circumstances.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    1. Field  
           [0002]    The present invention generally relates to signal transmitters, and more particularly to a transmitter that employs multiple carrier modulation schemes (such as polar modulation and quadrature modulation) under different operational, environmental, or other conditions.  
           [0003]    2. Background  
           [0004]    The output power of code division multiple access (CDMA) wireless mobile transceivers must be tightly controlled over a significant dynamic range. Optimally, transmit power should rise and fall in harmony with the power of received signals. Namely when received signals are weaker, this might be because they originate from stations that are far away or because they are degraded by signal interference. In either case, this indicates a need to use greater levels of transmit power. Factors such as shadowing, fading, and simple transmission loss demand a wide dynamic range for a mobile station under power control.  
           [0005]    There are many ways to modulate a transmitter&#39;s information onto a carrier. Quadrature modulation is a popular method. However, quadrature modulation tends to be noisy at high levels of output power, requiring substantial filtering to limit signal corruption. Nevertheless, with its economical power consumption, quadrature modulation is well suited to low output power regimes. Polar modulation is an alternative to quadrature modulation in which the amplitude and phase of the carrier are modulated directly. Polar modulation is better suited to high power levels than quadrature modulation, but performs poorly at low power.  
           [0006]    Quadrature and polar modulation, then, have proven benefits under different circumstances. Conventional wireless mobile transceivers are designed to utilize the one modulation scheme that presents the most benefits and least drawbacks under the intended operating conditions. In fact, this conventional type of transceiver enjoys significant utility and widespread commercial use today.  
           [0007]    Nonetheless, engineers at QUALCOMM INC. are continually seeking to improve the performance and efficiency of such mobile stations. In particular, QUALCOMM engineers have recognized that both polar and quadrature modulation schemes have different disadvantages, so that neither quadrature nor polar modulation is optimal for all dynamic conditions. As discussed above, though, wireless mobile transceivers are necessarily used over a significant range of transmit power levels, and these transmit power levels can change many times during a single call. Therefore, known wireless mobile transceivers are not completely adequate in this respect.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0008]    Broadly, one aspect of the present invention is a dual modulation wireless mobile transmitter. The transmitter includes first, second, and third signal paths. The first signal path includes a polar carrier modulator coupled to a data input. The second signal path includes a quadrature carrier modulator coupled to the data input. The third signal path is coupled to an antenna and includes a switch configured to couple the third signal path to the first signal path under a first condition and to couple the third signal path to the second signal path otherwise. Thus, the transmitter enjoys the best of both worlds, utilizing quadrature or polar modulation depending upon environmental, operational, or other circumstances. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is an exemplary dual modulation wireless transmitter.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is an exemplary digital data processing machine.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is an exemplary signal bearing medium.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a graph of quadrature versus polar carrier modulation modes depending upon transmit power.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a graph of transmit power versus current consumption, and also showing quadrature and polar carrier modulation modes.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an exemplary operating sequence for a dual modulation wireless mobile transmitter. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]    The nature, objectives, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings.  
         [0016]    Structure: Hardware Components and Interconnection  
         [0017]    Introduction  
         [0018]    One aspect of this disclosure concerns a communications transmitter, which may be embodied by various hardware components and interconnections, with one example being described by the various transmit components of the transceiver  100  of FIG. 1. The transceiver  100  includes various signal and/or data processing subcomponents, each of which may be implemented by one or more hardware devices, software devices, a portion of one or more hardware or software devices, or a combination of the foregoing. The makeup of these subcomponents is described in greater detail below, with reference to an exemplary digital data processing apparatus, logic circuit, and signal bearing medium.  
         [0019]    A central processing unit (CPU)  106  is coupled to an input source  102  via an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)  103 , and also coupled to a user output  104  via a digital-to-analog converter (DAC)  105 . The CPU  106  is coupled, via a different DAC  114 , to a transmit modulator  118 . Additionally, the CPU  106  is coupled via a different ADC  116  to a receive demodulator  144 . The modulator  118  and demodulator  144  are selectively coupled to an antenna  142  by a duplexer  140 .  
         [0020]    CPU  
         [0021]    As mentioned above, the CPU  106  is coupled to the input source  102  (via ADC  103 ) and to user output  104  (via DAC  105 ). The input source  102  may include such components as a microphone, wireless internet connection, modem, or other source of customer, subscriber, or other user data to be encoded, modulated onto a carrier, and transmitted to a remote communications station. The user output  104  comprises a device for presenting information to a human user, and comprises an audio speaker in the illustrated example, although other embodiments may utilize components such as a visual display, modem, and/or other user interface.  
         [0022]    The ADC  103  converts analog signals from the input source  102  into digital signals, which are provided to the CPU  106 . Conversely, the DAC  105  converts digital signals from the CPU  106  into analog signals for the user output  104 . The ADC  103  and DAC  105  may be implemented by known types of circuits. Moreover, in one example, the CPU  106  may be implemented by CPUs such as those utilized in commercially available wireless telephones. More particularly, the CPU  106  may comprise a combination of microprocessor, digital signal processor, and various custom logic components. The CPU  106  includes an encoder  108 , decoder  110 , and controller  112 .  
         [0023]    The encoder  108  applies a digital encoding scheme to input signals from the input source  102 . In the illustrated example, the input signals comprise voice signals, where the transceiver  100  embodies a wireless mobile communications device. In one embodiment, the encoder  108  utilizes a single encoding technique such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), or another technique for transforming raw data into a from suitable for reliable transmission. Optionally, the encoder  108  may comprise multiple encoders to apply different encoding techniques under different circumstances.  
         [0024]    The decoder  110  performs the opposite function of the encoder  108 . For instance, in the illustrated example the decoder  110  removes CDMA or other encoding from signals from the receive demodulator  144 , providing the user output  104  with unencoded voice or other output signals. The decoder  110 , like the encoder  108 , may employ one predetermined decoding technique or different decoding techniques as appropriate to the type of encoding present on signals from the demodulator  144 .  
         [0025]    The controller  112  comprises a software, hardware, or other processing subcomponent of the CPU  106 , or a separate unit entirely. In one embodiment, the controller  112  includes a transmit power selector that selects the level of transmit power to be used by the modulator  118 , and also controls the switch  128  according to the selected transmit power. In this respect, the controller  112  has a link  112   a  with the switch  128  and a link  112   b  with components such as  124 ,  126 ,  130  (which are discussed in greater detail below). The controller  112  may, for instance, use higher transmit power levels when the unit  100  is communicating with more distant remote stations, or over channels with more ambient noise or interference. Conversely, the controller  112  may dictate lower transmit power levels when the unit  100  is communicating with nearby remote stations, or over channels with less interference. The level of required transmit power may be determined, for example, by evaluating the strength or weakness of received signals, for instance. There are a number of known techniques to implement a suitable transmit power selector, some of which are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,069,525, 5,056,109, 6,035,209, 5,893,035, and 5,265,119, the entirety of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. When implemented as a transmit power selector, the controller  112  is coupled to one or more components  124 ,  126 ,  130  (described below) of the transmit modulator  118  in order to implement the selected transmit power.  
         [0026]    Alternatively, rather than selecting transmit power, the controller  112  may be implemented as a module to estimate transmit power consumption, or to measure received signal strength. In these embodiments, transmit power selection is performed by another aspect (not shown) of the CPU  106 . With these embodiments, the controller  112  regulates the switch  128  according to estimated or measured transmit power or according to received signal strength or transmit power consumption.  
         [0027]    As mentioned above, the CPU  106  is coupled to the DAC  114  and ADC  116 . These may be implemented by known types of circuits. A signal path  138  includes the CPU  106 , DAC  114 , and any other components through which signals pass en route from the input source  102  to the transmit modulator  118 .  
         [0028]    Transmit Modulator  
         [0029]    The transmit modulator  118  includes signal paths  134 ,  136 , and  132 . Both of the signal paths  134 ,  136  receive input from the CPU  106  via an output  115  of the DAC  114 . The switch  128  couples the signal path  132  to one of the paths  134 ,  136  in the alternative, in order to form a continuous signal path through the CPU  106  to the duplexer  140  via  138 ,  134  and  132 , or in the alternative,  138 ,  136  and  132 . Each signal path  134 ,  136  includes a carrier modulator  120 ,  122  and any optional, other circuitry  124 ,  126 . The modulator  120  comprises circuitry to modulate a carrier, such as a radio frequency (RF) carrier, according the input signal from  115  utilizing the widely known and practiced polar modulation. The modulator  122  comprises circuitry for modulating a carrier, such as an RF carrier, according to the input signal from  115  utilizing the widely known and practiced quadrature modulation technique.  
         [0030]    The signal path  132  includes the switch  128  and any optional, additional circuitry  130 . By selecting between the path  134  and the path  136 , the switch  132  dictates whether the modulator  118  utilizes polar or quadrature type carrier modulation. In one embodiment, the switch  128  comprises a single pole double throw switch, which may be implemented by electrical, electromechanical, mechanical, or software, or other appropriate means. The switch  128  may comprise a high power or low power component, depending upon whether the modulator  118 &#39;s power amplifiers are implemented in pre-switch components  124 ,  126  or in the post-switch component  130 .  
         [0031]    In the illustrated embodiment, the state of the switch is set by the controller  112 , which is operably coupled to the switch  128  by  112   a . In one embodiment, switch state is controlled according to the transceiver  100 &#39;s transmit power. Namely, the switch  128  selects polar modulation (the path  134 ) when the CPU  106  has elected to use high transmit power. Conversely, the switch  128  selects quadrature modulation (the path  136 ) when the CPU  106  has elected to use low transmit power. Configuration of the switch is set by the controller  112 . Instead of selected transmit power, the controller  112  may set the switch according to measured (actual) output power, the type of signal encoding that the CPU  106  uses (e.g., FM, CDMA, etc.), or a combination thereof.  
         [0032]    The optional, other circuitry  124 ,  126 ,  130  includes components such as drivers, up-converter circuits, power circuits, amplifiers, and other such components as will be familiar to ordinarily skilled artisans familiar with wireless transmitter technology. Components placed at  124 ,  126  are individual to the polar or quadrature modulation paths  134 ,  136 , whereas any components at the site  130  are located in the common path  132  and therefore applied to signals regardless of whether polar or quadrature modulation is used. Optionally, the circuitry  130  and switch  128  may be changed in position. As another alternative, still further circuitry (not shown) may be added between the circuitry  124 ,  126  and the switch  128 , or other sites as required. Ordinarily skilled artisans will also recognize a variety of other changes that may be made to the placement and configuration of the foregoing components, without departing from the present disclosure.  
         [0033]    As mentioned above, the transceiver  100  also includes a receive demodulator  144 . The receive demodulator  144  performs a complementary function to the transmit modulator  118 . Namely, the demodulator  144  removes carrier modulation from signals arriving on the antenna  142 , and provides demodulated receive signals to the CPU  106 . The demodulator  144  may be implemented by a number of different well known designs.  
         [0034]    The demodulator  144  and modulator  118  are both coupled to the duplexer  140 , which is coupled to the antenna  142 . The duplexer  140  directs received signals from the antenna  142  to the receive demodulator  144 , and in the opposite direction directs transmit signals from the transmit modulator  118  to the antenna  142 . The duplexer  140  may be implemented by a number of different well known designs. Among other possible contexts, the duplexer is applicable in CDMA systems, which use different frequencies to transmit and receive. As also contemplated by the present disclosure, a switch (not shown) may be substituted for the duplexer for embodiments utilizing TDMA or other encoding that use the same frequency but different time slots to send and receive data. Depending upon the details of the application, a variety of other components may be used in place of the duplexer or switch, these components nonetheless serving to exchange transmit and receive signals with a common antenna  142 . Alternatively, separate antennas may be used for transmitting and receiving, in which case the duplexer  140  may be omitted entirely.  
         [0035]    Exemplary Digital Data Processing Apparatus  
         [0036]    As mentioned above, data processing entities such as the CPU  106 , transmit modulator  118 , receive demodulator  144 , or any one or more of their subcomponents may be implemented in various forms. One example is a digital data processing apparatus, as exemplified by the hardware components and interconnections of the digital data processing apparatus  200  of FIG. 2.  
         [0037]    The apparatus  200  includes a processor  202 , such as a microprocessor, personal computer, workstation, controller, microcontroller, state machine, or other processing machine, coupled to a storage  204 . In the present example, the storage  204  includes a fast-access storage  206 , as well as nonvolatile storage  208 . The fast-access storage  206  may comprise random access memory (“RAM”), and may be used to store the programming instructions executed by the processor  202 . The nonvolatile storage  208  may comprise, for example, battery backup RAM, EEPROM, flash PROM, one or more magnetic data storage disks such as a “hard drive”, a tape drive, or any other suitable storage device. The apparatus  200  also includes an input/output  210 , such as a line, bus, cable, electromagnetic link, or other means for the processor  202  to exchange data with other hardware external to the apparatus  200 .  
         [0038]    Despite the specific foregoing description, ordinarily skilled artisans (having the benefit of this disclosure) will recognize that the apparatus discussed above may be implemented in a machine of different construction, without departing from the scope of the invention. As a specific example, one of the components  206 ,  208  may be eliminated; furthermore, the storage  204 ,  206 , and/or  208  may be provided on-board the processor  202 , or even provided externally to the apparatus  200 .  
         [0039]    Logic Circuitry  
         [0040]    In contrast to the digital data processing apparatus discussed above, a different embodiment of the invention uses logic circuitry instead of computer executed instructions to implement various processing entities such as those mentioned above. Depending upon the particular requirements of the application in the areas of speed, expense, tooling costs, and the like, this logic may be implemented by constructing an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having thousands of tiny integrated transistors. Such an ASIC may be implemented with CMOS, TTL, VLSI, or another suitable construction. Other alternatives include a digital signal processing chip (DSP), discrete circuitry (such as resistors, capacitors, diodes, inductors, and transistors), field programmable gate array (FPGA), programmable logic array (PLA), programmable logic device (PLD), and the like.  
         [0041]    Operation  
         [0042]    Having described the structural features of the present disclosure, the operational aspect of the disclosure will now be described. As mentioned above, the operational aspect generally involves utilizing a transmitter that employs multiple modulation schemes, such as polar carrier modulation and quadrature carrier modulation, under different operational conditions. Although the present invention has broad applicability to transmitters, the specifics of the structure that has been described is particularly suited for a wireless mobile communications station such as a wireless telephone, and the explanation that follows will emphasize such an application of the invention without any intended limitation.  
         [0043]    Signal-Bearing Media  
         [0044]    Wherever the functionality of the invention is implemented using one or more machine-executed program sequences, such sequences may be embodied in various forms of signal-bearing media. Such a signal-bearing media may comprise, for example, the storage  204  (FIG. 2) or another signal-bearing media, such as a magnetic data storage diskette  300  (FIG. 3), directly or indirectly accessible by a processor  202 . Whether contained in the storage  206 , diskette  300 , or elsewhere, the instructions may be stored on a variety of machine readable data storage media. Some examples include direct access storage (e.g., a conventional “hard drive”, redundant array of inexpensive disks (“RAID”), or another direct access storage device (“DASD”)), serial-access storage such as magnetic or optical tape, electronic non-volatile memory (e.g., ROM, EPROM, flash PROM, or EEPROM), battery backup RAM, optical storage (e.g., CD-ROM, WORM, DVD, digital optical tape), paper “punch” cards, or other suitable signal bearing media including analog or digital transmission media and analog and communication links and wireless communications. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the machine-readable instructions may comprise software object code, compiled from a language such as assembly language, C, etc.  
         [0045]    Logic Circuitry  
         [0046]    In contrast to the signal-bearing medium discussed above, some or all of the invention&#39;s functionality may be implemented using logic circuitry, instead of using a processor to execute instructions. Such logic circuitry is therefore configured to perform operations to carry out the method aspect of the invention. The logic circuitry may be implemented using many different types of circuitry, as discussed above.  
         [0047]    Overall Sequence of Operation  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 6 shows a sequence  600  to illustrate one example of the method aspect of the present disclosure. For ease of explanation, but without any intended limitation, the example of FIG. 6 is described in the context of the transceiver  100  described above. In this context, the sequence  600  illustrates the operation of the transceiver  100  related to signal transmission.  
         [0049]    In step  602 , the CPU  106  receives an input signal from the input source  102  via the ADC  103 . In the presently illustrated example, the input source  102  comprises a microphone and the input signal comprises a signal representing audio signals output by this microphone. This input signal is digitized by the ADC  103 . Thus, in step  602 , the CPU  106  receives digital signals representing analog sounds sensed by the microphone/input source  102 .  
         [0050]    In step  604 , the encoder  108  encodes the input signal from the input source  102  with a predetermined type of signal encoding. Optionally, if the encoder  108  includes facilities for multiple encoding schemes, step  604  also involves the CPU  106  selecting the type of encoding to be used. For instance, CDMA encoding may be used when the transceiver user is in an area serviced by a CDMA network, whereas FM encoding may be used when a CDMA network is not available but an FM network is available.  
         [0051]    In step  606 , the controller  112  outputs information by which the switch  128  can determine its own operating state. Alternatively, the controller  112  itself may use this information to identify the proper setting for the switch, and directly configure the switch accordingly. In either case, certain information is used to determine switch state. In one embodiment, the controller  112  selects the level of transmit power to be used in the transmit modulator  118 . In this embodiment, to initiate transmitting at the selected transmit power level, the controller  112  provides representative instructions to the power circuits, drivers, or other components implemented in the transmit modulator  118  at  124 ,  126 , and/or  130 . The controller  112  also advises the switch  128  of the selected transmit power; alternatively, the controller  12  may directly control the switch  128 , in which case it sets the state of the switch according to the selected transmit power.  
         [0052]    In a different example, the controller  112  in step  606  estimates the level of transmit power being used by the modulator  118 , independent of the different component (not shown) that actually selects transmit power. The controller  112  outputs this information to the switch  128 , or directly controls the state of the switch based on this information. Transmit power may be estimated, for example, by a diode detector at the output of a power amplifier in the transmit modulator  118 .  
         [0053]    In still another example, the controller  112  in step  606  measures the strength of signals received from the remote station with which it is presently communicating (i.e., transmitting and receiving). The controller  112  outputs this information to the switch  128 , or as an alternative, directly sets the state of the switch  128  based upon this information. The strength of received signals may be measured, for example, by received signal strength indicator (RSSI) circuitry in the transceiver&#39;s receiver (not shown). As a more particular example, received signal strength may be measured as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,554, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0054]    Although step  606  is shown in a particular order relative to other steps  604 ,  608 , step  606  may be performed at any other time prior to step  610  (at which time the output of step  606  is required to operate the switch  128 , as discussed below). After step  606  (as illustrated), the DAC  114  converts the encoder  108 &#39;s output into an analog signal, and provides this analog signal to the transmit modulator  118  (step  610 ).  
         [0055]    In step  610 , the transmit modulator  118  selects the type of carrier modulation to be used, which in the present example comprises polar or quadrature modulation. More particularly, the switch  128  acts according to the information provided by the controller  112  in step  606 . For instance, if the controller  112  in step  606  indicated a high level of selected transmit power, or a high level of estimated transmit power, or a low received signal strength, then the switch  128  couples its path  132  to the path  134  in order to utilize polar modulation. If the opposite circumstances arise, the switch  128  couples its path  132  to the path  136  in order to utilize quadrature modulation. Alternatively, rather than the switch  128  acting upon such information from the controller  112  to decide which path  134 ,  136  to use, the controller  112  may perform this decision itself, in which case step  610  involves the controller  112  directly setting the state of the switch  128  to one of the paths  134 ,  136 .  
         [0056]    In one example, the switch  128  may utilize a prescribed threshold of selected transmit power, estimated transmit power, received signal strength, or other condition. Above the threshold, the switch  128  selects the one of the paths  134 ,  136 , and below the threshold the other path  134 ,  136 , as appropriate. Alternatively, this decision may be made by the controller  112 , in which case, the controller  112  directly instructs the switch  128  to connect to a particular one of the paths  134 ,  136 .  
         [0057]    A different embodiment is also contemplated for selecting the state of the switch  128  to avoid “thrashing” between polar and quadrature modulation under borderline conditions. Namely, first and second prescribed thresholds are used as discussed below. This approach is shown by FIG. 4, with transmit power being used as the exemplary condition for determining state of the switch  128 . Below the first threshold (P1), quadrature modulation is always used. Above the second threshold (P2), polar modulation is always used. Even after transmit power starts to increase past the first threshold, however, quadrature modulation is still used between the thresholds, until the second threshold is reached. Likewise, polar modulation is still used as transmit power dips below the second threshold, but only as long as transmit power does not decrease beneath the first threshold. This approach is also illustrated by FIG. 5, where transmit power is shown against current consumed by the CPU  106  and transmit modulator  118 . In FIG. 5, polar modulation is used in the regime  504  and quadrature modulation used in the regime  502 .  
         [0058]    In still another embodiment, switch state may be changed according to the type of encoding being applied by the encoder  108 , rather than transmit power or received signal strength. As a further example, a combination of signal encoding and estimated or selected transmit power (or received signal strength) may be used. For instance, the switch  128  may select polar modulation whenever the encoder  108  utilizes FM encoding, and also whenever the encoder  108  utilizes CDMA as long as transmit power exceeds a prescribed threshold (or receive signal strength does not exceed the threshold). In this example, the switch  128  only selects quadrature modulation when the encoder  108  utilizes CDMA and transmit power does not exceed the prescribed threshold (or received signal strength exceeds the given threshold). Furthermore, this approach may be modified by using dual thresholds to prevent thrashing, as discussed above in conjunction with FIGS.  4 - 5 .  
         [0059]    Having configured the switch  128  as desired (step  610 ), various components of the signal path formed by the current configuration of the switch  128  perform their assigned functions (step  612 ). Namely, in the signal path  134  or  136  selected by the switch  128 , the applicable modulator  120  or  122  modulates its carrier, and the other circuitry  124 ,  126  performs the function of its drivers, amplifiers, or other applicable circuitry. Also in step  612 , the other circuitry  130  carries out the function of its drivers, amplifiers, and the like.  
         [0060]    In step  614 , the controller  112  reevaluates the current configuration of the switch  128 , or alternatively, the switch  128  reevaluates its own configuration based upon the output of the controller  112 . This is done to determine whether present circumstances dictate using polar or quadrature modulation. In step  616 , the switch  128  or controller  112  determines whether any change is warranted. For instance, this may involve the switch  128  determining whether the output of the controller  112  has changed, the controller  112  determining whether the CPU&#39;s encoding scheme has changed, the controller  112  determining whether the current transmit power or receive signal strength has changed, etc. If circumstances have not changed, step  616  advances to step  618 , where the switch  128  continues operating in its current state. Otherwise, if step  616  detects the need to change switch configuration, control returns to step  614  which is performed in the manner discussed above.  
         [0061]    Other Embodiments  
         [0062]    Those of skill in the art will understand that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.  
         [0063]    Those of skill will further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0064]    The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.  
         [0065]    The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC.  
         [0066]    Moreover, the previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.  
         [0067]    The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7