Radio Receiver Architecture

Abstract

Wireless communicationCommunicationsystems are result of multidisciplinary research that exploits various mathematical, scientific, and engineering principles in a very creative manner. The inner structureStructureof signal waveforms (such as a voice, for example) is revealed by FourierFouriertransformations, which enables us to design appropriate filters and amplifiers. By using FourierFouriertheoryTheorywe are able to both synthesize and decompose waveformsWaveformthat are continuous (i.e. analog) or sampledSampled(i.e. digital). By using Maxwell's theoryTheorywe explain the creation and propagationPropagationof EM waves. By using mathematical theorems and techniques and techniques, such as basicBasictrigonometrytrigonometry identities, for example, we are able to manipulate signals at the system level. By using circuit theoryTheoryand techniques, we are able to practically implement the underlying theoretical equations and therefore create ``wireless communicationCommunicationsystem''. In this chapter we briefly introduce the basicBasicRF receiverRFRFreceiverReceiverarchitecture, a.k.a. ``heterodyne receiver'' that is principal architectureArchitectureexploited in all modern RFRFsystems.