Patent ID: 7082171

Claim:
A method of frequency translating and phase shifting an electromagnetic signal, the method comprising the steps of: (1) receiving an electromagnetic signal; (2) generating a control signal having a plurality of pulses that are phase-shifted relative to a reference phase; and (3) sampling the electromagnetic signal according to said control signal, resulting in a frequency translated electromagnetic signal that is phase shifted according to said phase shift of said pulses of said control signal; wherein said plurality of pulses have pulse widths; wherein step (2) comprises the steps of (a) receiving a local oscillator signal; (b) leveling shifting said local oscillator signal with a bias voltage, resulting in a biased local oscillator signal; and (c) generating a pulse when said biased local oscillator signal exceeds a threshold, whereby said reference phase corresponds to a reference bias voltage, and thereby said phase shift of said pulses of said control signal is determined by a difference between said bias voltage and said reference bias voltage.