Nordic Semiconductor ASA
DEMODULATOR FOR USE IN RADIO COMMUNICATION RECEIVERS

Abstract:

A radio receiver device is arranged to receive a radio signal modulated with a data packet including an address portion. The radio receiver comprises: a synchronisation circuit portion arranged to produce synchronization information corresponding to the data packet; a demodulation circuit portion comprising a correlator, wherein said demodulation circuit portion is arranged to receive the radio signal and to produce an estimate of the address portion comprising a plurality of demodulated bits using said correlator and the synchronisation information; an address checking circuit portion arranged to receive the plurality of demodulated bits, to check said plurality of demodulated bits for a predetermined bit pattern, and to produce a match flag if it determines that the plurality of demodulated bits corresponds to the predetermined bit pattern. The radio receiver device is arranged such that, upon detecting an upcoming timeout event, the demodulation circuit portion sends a timeout warning signal to the address checking circuit portion using a handshaking channel therebetween; said address checking circuit portion being arranged such that, if it receives the timeout warning signal, it stops checking the plurality of demodulated bits for the predetermined bit pattern.