Patent ID: 6879817

Claim:
An apparatus for down-converting an electromagnetic signal, comprising: a first frequency down-conversion module that receives an input signal, wherein said first frequency down-conversion module down-converts said input signal according to a first control signal and outputs a first down-converted signal; a second frequency down-conversion module that receives said input signal, wherein said second frequency down-conversion module down-converts said input signal according to a second control signal and outputs a second down-converted signal; a first subtractor module that subtracts said second down-converted signal from said first down-converted signal and outputs a channel down-converted signal; a third frequency down-conversion module that receives said input signal, wherein said third frequency down-conversion module down-converts said input signal according to a third control signal and outputs a third down-converted signal; a fourth frequency down-conversion module that receives said input signal, wherein said fourth frequency down-conversion module down-converts said input signal according to a fourth control signal and outputs a fourth down-converted signal; and a second subtractor module that subtracts said fourth down-converted signal from said third down-converted signal and outputs a second channel down-converted signal; wherein said input signal comprises an I/Q modulated signal; wherein said first channel down-converted signal comprises an I-phase information signal portion of said I/Q modulated signal, and wherein said second channel down-converted signal comprises a Q-phase information signal portion of said I/Q modulated signal; and wherein said first universal frequency down-conversion module under-samples said input signal according to said first control signal, and said second universal frequency down-conversion module under-samples said input signal according to said second control signal.