1. A global navigation satellite system receiver comprising:
a radio frequency front end including:
at least one radio frequency input;
a first variable gain amplifier configured to adjust a first gain of a first frequency range of a first analog global navigation satellite system signal received from the at least one radio frequency input by a first amount; and
a second variable gain amplifier configured to adjust a second gain of a second frequency range of a second analog global navigation satellite system signal received from the at least one radio frequency input by a second amount; and
a digital processing functionality configured to:
compare the first amount of adjustment of the first gain of the first frequency range with the second amount of adjustment of the second gain of the second frequency range; and
detect a first interference signal present in the first frequency range or the second frequency range when the first amount of adjustment of the first gain of the first frequency range differs from the second amount of adjustment of the second gain of the second frequency range by more than a first threshold amount.
2. The global navigation satellite system receiver of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency front end further includes:
a first analog to digital converter configured to receive the first analog global navigation satellite system signal and to convert the first analog global navigation satellite system signal to a first digital global navigation satellite system signal; and
a second analog to digital converter configured to receive the second analog global navigation satellite system signal and to convert the second analog global navigation satellite system signal to a second digital global navigation satellite system signal.
3. The global navigation satellite system receiver of claim 1, further comprising:
wherein the first variable gain amplifier is configured to receive the first analog global navigation satellite systems signal from the at least one radio frequency input and to apply the first gain to the first frequency range of the first analog global navigation satellite system signal received from the at least one radio frequency input by the first amount;
a first automatic gain controller configured to analyze a first signal level of the first analog global navigation satellite system signal after the first gain is applied to the first frequency range by the first variable gain amplifier and to adjust the first gain applied to the first frequency range of the first analog global navigation satellite system signal by the first amount to maintain the first signal level of the first analog global navigation satellite system signal;
wherein the second variable gain amplifier is configured to receive the second analog global navigation satellite system signal from the at least one radio frequency input and to apply the second gain to the second frequency range of the second analog global navigation satellite system signal received from the at least one radio frequency input by the second amount; and
a second automatic gain controller configured to analyze a second signal level of the second analog global navigation satellite system signal after the second gain is applied to the second frequency range by the second variable gain amplifier and to adjust the second gain applied to the second frequency range of the second analog global navigation satellite system signal by the second amount to maintain the second signal level of the second analog global navigation satellite system signal.
4. The global navigation satellite system receiver of claim 1, further comprising:
wherein the first variable gain amplifier is configured to receive the first analog global navigation satellite system signal from the at least one radio frequency input and to apply the first gain to the first frequency range of the first analog global navigation satellite system signal received from the at least one radio frequency input by the first amount;
wherein the digital processing functionality is further configured to analyze a first signal level of the first analog global navigation satellite system signal after the first gain is applied to the first frequency range by the first variable gain amplifier and to adjust the first gain applied to the first frequency range of the first analog global navigation satellite system signal by the first amount to maintain the first signal level of the first analog global navigation satellite system signal;
wherein the second variable gain amplifier is configured to receive the second analog global navigation satellite system signal from the at least one radio frequency input and to apply the second gain to the second frequency range of the second analog global navigation satellite system signal received from the at least one radio frequency input by the second amount; and
wherein the digital processing functionality is further configured to analyze a second signal level of the second analog global navigation satellite system signal after the second gain is applied to the second frequency range by the second variable gain amplifier and to adjust the second gain applied to the second frequency range of the second analog global navigation satellite system signal by the second amount to maintain the second signal level of the second analog global navigation satellite system signal.
5. The global navigation satellite system receiver of claim 1, further comprising:
wherein the radio frequency front end further includes:
a third variable gain amplifier configured to adjust a third gain of a third frequency range of a third analog global navigation satellite system signal received from the at least one radio frequency input by a third amount;
wherein the digital processing functionality is further configured to perform the following when the first interference signal is not detected as present in the second frequency range:
compare the second amount of adjustment of the second gain of the second frequency range with the third amount of adjustment of the third gain of the third frequency range; and
detect a second interference signal present in the second frequency range or the third frequency range when the second amount of adjustment of the second gain of the second frequency range differs from the third amount of adjustment of the third gain of the third frequency range by more than a second threshold amount.
6. The global navigation satellite system receiver of claim 5, wherein the digital processing functionality is further configured to perform the following when the second interference signal is not detected as present in the third frequency range:
compare the third amount of adjustment of the third gain of the third frequency range with the first amount of adjustment of the first gain of the first frequency range; and
detect a third interference signal present in the third frequency range or the first frequency range when the third amount of adjustment of the third gain of the third frequency range differs from the first amount of adjustment of the first gain of the first frequency range by more than a third threshold amount.
7. The global navigation satellite system receiver of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency front end further includes a first analog processing functionality communicatively coupled between the at least one radio frequency input and the first variable gain amplifier; and
wherein the radio frequency front end further includes a second analog processing functionality communicatively coupled between the at least one radio frequency input and the second variable gain amplifier.
8. The global navigation satellite system receiver of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first analog processing functionality and the second analog processing functionality includes at least one of a mixer and an amplifier.
9. A method of detecting an interference signal present in a first frequency of a first analog global navigation satellite system signal received from at least one radio frequency input, comprising:
adjusting a first gain of a first frequency range of a first analog global navigation satellite system signal received from the at least one radio frequency input by a first amount;
adjusting a second gain of a second frequency range of a second analog global navigation satellite system signal received from the at least one radio frequency input by a second amount;
comparing the first amount of adjustment of the first gain of the first frequency range with the second amount of adjustment of the second gain of the second frequency range; and
detecting a first interference signal present in the first frequency range or the second frequency range when the first amount of adjustment of the first gain of the first frequency range differs from the second amount of adjustment of the second gain of the second frequency range by more than a first threshold amount.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
converting the first analog global navigation satellite system signal to a first digital global navigation satellite system signal; and
converting the second analog global navigation satellite system signal to a second digital global navigation satellite system signal.
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
analyzing a first signal level of the first analog global navigation system signal after the first gain is applied to the first frequency range of the first analog global navigation satellite system signal; and
analyzing a second signal level of the second analog global navigation system signal after the second gain is applied to the second frequency range of the second analog global navigation satellite system signal.
12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
comparing the first amount of adjustment of the first gain of the first frequency range with the second amount of adjustment of the second gain of the second frequency range by correlating the first amount of adjustment of the first gain of the first frequency range with the second amount of adjustment of the second gain of the second frequency range.
13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
adjusting a third gain of a third frequency range of a third analog global navigation satellite system signal received from the at least one radio frequency input by a third amount;
comparing the second amount of adjustment of the second gain of the second frequency range with the third amount of adjustment of the third gain of the third frequency range; and
detecting a second interference signal present in the second frequency range or the third frequency range when the second amount of adjustment of the second gain of the second frequency range differs from the third amount of adjustment of the third gain of the third frequency range by more than a second threshold amount.
14. The method of claim 9, further comprising the following:
adjusting a third gain of a third frequency range of a third analog global navigation satellite system signal received from the at least one radio frequency input by a third amount;
comparing the second amount of adjustment of the second gain of the second frequency range with the third amount of adjustment of the third gain of the third frequency range when the first interference signal is not detected as present in the second frequency range; and
detecting a second interference signal present in the second frequency range or the third frequency range when the second amount of adjustment of the second gain of the second frequency range differs from the third amount of adjustment of the third gain of the third frequency range by more than a second threshold amount and when the first interference signal is not detected as present in the second frequency range.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the following only when the second interference signal is not detected as present in the third frequency range:
comparing the third amount of adjustment of the third gain of the third frequency range with the first amount of adjustment of the first gain of the first frequency range; and
detecting a third interference signal present in the third frequency range or the first frequency range when the third amount of adjustment of the third gain of the third frequency range differs from the first amount of adjustment of the first gain of the first frequency range by more than a third threshold amount.
16. The method of claim 9, further comprising at least one of:
processing the first analog global navigation satellite system signal received from the at least one radio frequency input before adjusting the first gain of the first frequency range of the first analog global navigation satellite system signal; and
processing the second analog global navigation satellite system signal received from the at least one radio frequency input before adjusting the second gain of the second frequency range of the second analog global navigation satellite system signal.
17. The method of claim 9, further comprising at least one of:
down-converting the first analog global navigation satellite system signal from a first radio frequency spectrum to a first intermediate frequency spectrum before adjusting the first gain of the first frequency range of the first analog global navigation satellite system signal; and
down-converting the second analog global navigation satellite system signal from a second radio frequency spectrum to a second intermediate frequency spectrum before adjusting the second gain of the second frequency range of the second analog global navigation satellite system signal.
18. A programmable processor of a global navigation satellite system receiver comprising:
wherein the programmable processor is configured to compare a first amount of adjustment of a first gain of a first frequency range of a first analog global navigation satellite system signal received from at least one radio frequency input with a second amount of adjustment of a second gain of a second frequency range of a second analog global navigation satellite system signal received from the at least one radio frequency input; and
wherein the programmable processor is further configured to detect a first interference signal present in the first frequency range or the second frequency range when the first amount of adjustment of the first gain of the first frequency range differs from the second amount of adjustment of the second gain of the second frequency range by more than a first threshold amount.
19. The programmable processor of claim 18, wherein the programmable processor is further configured to:
analyze a first signal level of the first analog global navigation system signal after the first gain is applied to the first frequency range of the first analog global navigation satellite system signal; and
analyze a second signal level of the second analog global navigation system signal after the second gain is applied to the second frequency range of the second analog global navigation satellite system signal.
20. The programmable processor of claim 18, wherein the programmable processor is further configured to:
compare the second amount of adjustment of the second gain of the second frequency range of the second analog global navigation system signal received from the at least one radio frequency input with a third amount of adjustment of a third gain of a third frequency range of a third analog global navigation satellite system signal received from the at least one radio frequency input when the first interference signal is not detected present in the second frequency range; and
detect a second interference signal present in the second frequency range or the third frequency range when the second amount of adjustment of the second gain of the second frequency range differs from the third amount of adjustment of the third gain of the third frequency range by more than a second threshold amount and when the first interference signal is not detected present in the second frequency range.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method comprising:
perturbing a sensor with photons to create an extraordinary optoconductance (EOC) effect by the sensor, wherein the sensor comprises (1) a metal shunt, and (2) a planar semiconductor material in electrical contact with the metal shunt, the metal shunt located on a surface of the semiconductor material, thereby defining a semiconductormetal interface for passing a flow of current between the semiconductor material and the metal shunt in response to the sensor being under an electrical bias, wherein a portion of that semiconductor material surface is not covered by the metal shunt, wherein the semiconductor material and the metal shunt lie in different planes that are substantially parallel planes, the semiconductormetal interface thereby being parallel to the plane of semiconductor material, and wherein the semiconductormetal interface is configured to exhibit a change in resistance corresponding to the EOC effect in response to the perturbing step.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
generating an image in response to the created EOC effect.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the EOC effect comprises an I-EOC effect.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:
perturbing the sensor with an electrical charge to create an extraordinary electroconductance (EEC) effect by the sensor.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising generating an image in response to the created EEC effect.
6. The method of claim 3 further comprising performing the method at room temperature.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein the semiconductormetal interface is configured as a Schottky barrier interface.
8. The method of claim 3 wherein the metal shunt has a nanoscale length and a nanoscale width.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the semiconductor layer has a nanoscale length and a nanoscale width that is greater than the nanoscale length and the nanoscale width of the metal shunt.
10. The method of claim 3 wherein the semiconductor material comprises a semiconductor film, the semiconductor film having a thickness in a range of approximately 25 nm to approximately 2000 nm, wherein the metal shunt has a thickness in a range of approximately 25 nm to approximately 2000 nm, and wherein the semiconductor film has a dimension in a range of approximately 25 nm to approximately 500 nm, wherein the dimension comprises at least one member of the group consisting of a length, a width, and a diameter.
11. The method of claim 3 wherein the semiconductor layer comprises a mesa portion on which the metal shunt is located.
12. The method of claim 3 wherein the sensor further comprises an insulation layer covering an exposed surface of the metal shunt and the semiconductor layer.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of the sensors formed into an array.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the array comprises a plurality of individually-addressable pixels, each pixel corresponding to a different one of the sensors.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
generating a multi-pixel image in response to the created EOC effect.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the EOC effect comprises an I-EOC effect.
17. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
perturbing the array with an electrical charge to create an extraordinary electroconductance (EEC) effect by the sensors.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising generating a multi-pixel image in response to the created EEC effect.
19. The method of claim 13 wherein the array further comprises a plurality of extraordinary acoustoconductance (EAC) sensors, the method further comprising perturbing the EAC sensors with an acoustic perturbation to create an EAC effect by the EAC sensors.
20. The method of claim 13 wherein the array further comprises a plurality of extraordinary magnetoresistance (EMR) sensors, the method further comprising perturbing the EMR sensors with a magnetic perturbation to create an EMR effect by the EMR sensors.
21. The method of claim 13 further comprising performing the method at room temperature.
22. A method comprising:
perturbing a sensor with photons to create an extraordinary optoconductance (EOC) effect by the sensor, wherein the sensor comprises (1) a semiconductor layer, (2) a metal shunt located on a surface of the semiconductor layer, thereby defining a semiconductormetal interface, wherein a portion of the semiconductor layer surface is not covered by the metal shunt, and wherein the semiconductor layer and the metal shunt are in substantially parallel planes but are not co-planar, and wherein the semiconductormetal interface is configured to exhibit a change in resistance corresponding to the EOC effect in response to the perturbing step.
23. A method comprising:
perturbing an array formed of a plurality of nanoscale I-EOC sensors with photons to generate an I-EOC response by the sensors; and
generating an image having a nanoscale resolution from the generated I-EOC response.
24. A method comprising:
perturbing a metal-semiconductor hybrid (MSH) device with photons to generate an EOC response, wherein the MSH device comprises a semiconductormetal interface that acts as a Schottky barrier to carrier flow.
25. The method of claim 24 further comprising measuring data indicative of the EOC response.
26. An apparatus comprising:
a sensor; and
a processor for communication with the sensor;
wherein the sensor comprises (1) a semiconductor layer and (2) a metal shunt located on a surface of the semiconductor layer, thereby defining a semiconductormetal interface, wherein a portion of the semiconductor layer surface is not covered by the metal shunt, and wherein the semiconductor layer and the metal shunt are in substantially parallel planes but are not co-planar, and wherein the semiconductormetal interface is configured to exhibit a change in resistance thereof in response to the semiconductormetal interface being perturbed by an optical perturbation; and
wherein the processor is configured to receive and process data from the sensor that is indicative of the changed resistance in response to the optical perturbation.
27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the sensor is configured to exhibit an inverse extraordinary optoconductance (I-EOC) response to the optical perturbation.
28. The apparatus claim 27 wherein the semiconductormetal interface is configured as a Schottky barrier interface.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the sensor is configured to transition from a primarily ballistic carrier flow across the semiconductormetal interface to a primarily diffusive carrier flow across the semiconductormetal interface in response to the optical perturbation.
30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the sensor further comprises a plurality of leads in contact with the semiconductor layer.
31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the leads comprise:
at least two Ohmic current leads in contact with the semiconductor layer; and
at least two Ohmic voltage leads in contact with the semiconductor layer.
32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the sensor further comprises a lead in contact with the metal shunt.
33. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the metal shunt has a nanoscale length and a nanoscale width.
34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the leads are positioned to contact the semiconductor layer such that there is a spacing between the leads and the metal shunt on the order of a mean free path for an active layer of the semiconductor layer.
35. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the semiconductor layer has a nanoscale length and a nanoscale width that is greater than the nanoscale length and the nanoscale width of the metal shunt.
36. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the sensor further comprises a substrate on which the semiconductor layer is located, wherein the metal shunt is not in contact with the substrate.
37. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the semiconductor layer comprises a mesa portion on which the metal shunt is located.
38. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the semiconductormetal interface is configured to exhibit a change in resistance thereof in response to the semiconductormetal interface being perturbed by an electrical field perturbation.
39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the apparatus is configured to exhibit an extraordinary electroconductance (EEC) response to the electrical field perturbation.
40. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the processor is further configured to generate image data based on the data indicative of the resistance change.
41. The apparatus of claim 40 further comprising an array for communication with the processor, the array comprising a plurality of the sensors, and wherein the processor is further configured to generate the image data based on the data indicative of the resistance changes of the sensors in response to optical perturbation of the sensors.
42. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the processor is further configured to generate image data based on the data indicative of the resistance change.
43. The apparatus of claim 42 further comprising an array for communication with the processor, the array comprising a plurality of the sensors, and wherein the processor is further configured to generate the image data based on the data indicative of the resistance changes of the sensors in response to optical perturbation of the sensors.
44. The apparatus of claim 43 further comprising a camera, wherein the array and the processor comprise parts of the camera.