Patent ID: 8576947

Claim:
An apparatus including signal conversion circuitry for converting a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) packet data signal transmission to a plurality of data samples, comprising: input signal conversion circuitry responsive to at least first and second radio frequency (RF) signals and at least first and second local oscillator (LO) signals by converting said at least first and second RF signals to at least first and second frequency converted signals, wherein said at least first and second RF signals have a common RF carrier frequency, include at least first and second data streams, and form at least a portion of a MIMO packet data signal transmission; signal combining circuitry coupled to said input signal conversion circuitry to combine said at least first and second frequency converted signals to provide at least one combined signal; and output signal conversion circuitry coupled to said signal combining circuitry and responsive to said at least one combined signal by providing a plurality of data signals having a common nominal frequency and including data samples corresponding to said at least first and second data streams; wherein said input signal conversion circuitry comprises first mixer circuitry to mix at least said first RF and first and second LO signals to provide a portion of said at least first and second frequency converted signals as first substantially mutually quadrature signals, and second mixer circuitry to mix at least said second RF and first and second LO signals to provide another portion of said at least first and second frequency converted signals as second substantially mutually quadrature signals, and said signal combining circuitry is coupled to said first and second mixer circuitries to combine first ones of said first and second substantially mutually quadrature signals to provide a first combined signal, and to combine second ones of said first and second substantially mutually quadrature signals to provide a second combined signal, wherein said first and second combined signals have a common nominal signal frequency and mutually distinct signal phases.