1. A signal processing device for radiofrequency signals comprising:
a terminal;
a terminal node for coupling to a baseband signal unit;
a frequency conversion device, which comprises a first terminal, a second terminal and a local oscillator input and is coupled by its first terminal to the terminal of the signal processing device;
a signal generator, which has a reference signal input and a control input for setting an operating point of the signal generator and is connected by a signal output to the local oscillator input of the frequency conversion device (5);
a control circuit, which is connected to the control input of the signal generator on the output side and is configured to generate a regulating signal at an output depending on at least one signal fed to the control circuit, the signal fed thereto representing a state of the signal processing device or a property of a useful signal in the signal processing device.
2. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 1, in which the signal generator is configured to generate a local oscillator signal from a reference signal present at the reference signal input.
3. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a converter, which is coupled to the second terminal of the frequency conversion device and to the terminal node, wherein the converter is configured to convert analog signals into digital signals or digital signals into analog signals.
4. (canceled)
5. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 1, in which the signal fed to the control circuit characterizes at least one of the following states:
a temperature in at least one partial region of the signal processing device;
a supply voltage or a supply current of the signal processing device;
a level of a signal fed in at the terminal or at the terminal node of the signal processing device;
a level of a signal to be output by the signal processing device;
an adjacent channel power;
a signalnoise ratio of an analog input signal;
an amplitude of an interference signal; and
a quality of a reception channel.
6. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a filter connected between the second terminal of the frequency conversion device and the converter.
7. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the filter comprises an active filter having an actuating input for setting the operating point of the filter, and the actuating input of the filter is coupled to the output of the control circuit.
8. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the converter comprises a digital-to-analog converter.
9. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the digital-to-analog converter has an actuating input coupled to the output of the control circuit, and wherein the digital-to-analog converter is configured to operate in at least one of the following operating modes:
conversion of a digital signal into an analog signal with a first resolution or at least a second resolution depending on an actuating signal at the actuating input; and
alteration of a clock rate of a clock signal for operation of the digital-to-analog converter in a manner dependent on the actuating signal at the actuating input.
10. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the converter comprises an analog-to-digital converter.
11. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the analog-to-digital converter has an actuating input coupled to the output of the control circuit, and the analog-to-digital converter is is configured to operate in at least one of the following operating modes:
conversion of an analog signal into an digital signal with a first resolution or at least a second resolution depending on an actuating signal at the actuating input; and
alteration of a clock rate of a clock signal for operation of the analog-to-digital converter in a manner dependent on the actuating signal at the actuating input.
12. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an amplifier having a variable gain is connected between the terminal of the signal processing device and the frequency conversion device.
13. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the amplifier comprises a regulating input for setting an operating point of the amplifier, which is connected to the output of the control circuit.
14. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 13, wherein a level detector arranged between the amplifier and the frequency conversion device, said level detector is configured to determine a signal level and output a level signal to the control circuit.
15. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a level detector arranged between the frequency conversion device and the converter wherein the level detector is configured to determine a signal level and output a level signal to the control circuit.
16. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frequency conversion device comprises an IQ demodulator with a first and a second frequency mixer, wherein the first and second frequency mixers are configured to provide image frequency rejection.
17. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frequency conversion device comprises an IQ modulator with a first and a second frequency mixer, wherein the first and second frequency mixers are configured to provide image frequency rejection.
18. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frequency conversion device comprises a frequency divider circuit, which is connected, on the input side, to the local oscillator input for frequency division of an oscillator signal provided thereto.
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
21. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal processing device comprises a reception device or a transmission device for radiofrequency signals.
22. (canceled)
23. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal generator comprises a phase locked loop containing a voltage controlled oscillator.
24. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the voltage controlled oscillator has a regulating input for setting its operating point, which is connected to the control input.
25. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the voltage controlled oscillator is connected, on the output side, to an amplifier, the output of which forms the signal output of the signal generator and which has a regulating input coupled to the control input and serving for setting its operating point.
26. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the voltage controlled oscillator is configured to regulate its supply current in a manner dependent on a signal present at the control input of the signal generator.
27. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to output a temperature signal from a temperature in at least one part of the signal processing device to the control circuit.
28. (canceled)
29. A signal processing device, comprising:
at least two processing elements each configured to assume one of at least two operating states that can be assumed for a signal processing of useful signals fed in in a manner dependent on a control signal;
at least one device configured to detect a parameter of the signal processing device which identifies an operating state of the signal processing; and
an evaluation device configured to generate the control signals in a manner dependent on an evaluation of the detected parameter.
30. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the detected parameter is derived from:
a temperature in at least one partial region of the signal processing device;
a supply voltage or a supply current of the signal processing device;
a level of the useful signal fed in;
a level of a signal to be output by the signal processing device;
an adjacent channel power of the useful signal fed in;
a signalnoise ratio of the useful signal fed in;
an amplitude of an interference signal in the useful signal fed in; or
a quality of a reception channel in the useful signal fed in.
31. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the at least one of the at least two processing elements is configured to set its operating point in a manner dependent on the control signal.
32. The signal processing device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the evaluation device is formed for generating configured to generate the control signal in such a way that, under a predefined quality of the signal processing, a total power consumption of the at least two processing elements is minimal.
33. A method for operating a signal processing device, comprising the steps of:
providing a signal processing device having a frequency conversion device, a signal generator;
applying a signal to be processed to the frequency conversion device;
determining at least one parameter which identifies an operating state of the signal processing device;
generating a control signal in a manner dependent on the parameter determined;
setting an operating point of at least one block for operation with the control signal, the block comprising at least one of the following elements: the signal generator, the frequency conversion device;
generating a local oscillator signal by means of the signal generator;
converting the signal to be processed with the local oscillator signal.
34. The method as claimed in claim 33, wherein when providing the signal processing device, the signal processing device comprises a converting device operated in clocked fashion to convert analog signals into digital signals or digital signals into analog signals.
35. The method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the setting step comprises changing a resolution of the converting device or changing a clock rate for operating the converting device.
36. The method as claimed in claim 33, wherein determining at least one parameter comprises at least one of the following steps:
determining a temperature;
determining a signal level of the signal to be processed;
determining a supply voltage of the signal processing device;
determining an adjacent channel power;
determining a reception signal quality;
determining an interference signal power; and
determining a signalnoise ratio of the received signal.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-18. (canceled)
19. A method for detecting protease activity in a sample solution comprising the steps of:
i) contacting the sample solution with a protease substrate labeled with an electrochemically active marker, wherein the electrochemically active marker is a metallocene moiety,
ii) providing conditions under which a protease present in the sample solution may degrade the protease substrate, wherein the protease is capable of recognizing the protease substrate, and
iii) electrochemically determining information relating to the electrochemically active marker, thereby detecting the protease activity in the sample.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the information relating to the electrochemically active marker is determined using voltammetry.
21. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the information relating to the electrochemically active marker is determined using differential pulse voltammetry.
22. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the information relating to the electrochemically active marker is determined using an amperometric technique.
23. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the information relating to the electrochemically active marker is determined using a technique that utilizes one or more electrodes that are functionally surrounded by a selectively permeable membrane.
24. (canceled)
25. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the electrochemically active marker is a ferrocene moiety.
26. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the electrochemically active marker is attached to the protease substrate through a linker.
27. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein each protease substrate molecule is, on average, labeled with more than one electrochemically active marker molecule.
28. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the protease substrate labeled with an electrochemically active marker is a single amino acid labeled with an electrochemically active marker.
29. A method for detecting a disease in a subject the method comprising the method of claim 19 further comprising a step of comparing said protease activity with a level of protease activity that is diagnostic of a disease in a subject, thereby detecting a disease in a subject.
30. A method for detecting a pathogen the method comprising the method of claim 19 further comprising a step of comparing said protease activity with a level of protease activity that is diagnostic of the presence of a pathogen, thereby detecting a pathogen.
31. A method for screening for a protease inhibitor the method comprising the method of claim 19 further comprising a step of contacting the sample solution with a putative protease inhibitor.
32. An assay kit comprising a protease substrate labeled with an electrochemically active marker, wherein the electrochemically active marker is a metallocene moiety.
33. An apparatus for detecting protease activity in a sample solution, the apparatus comprising a means for contacting the sample solution with a protease substrate labeled with an electrochemically active marker, a means for providing conditions under which a protease present in the sample solution may degrade the protease substrate, and a means for electrochemically determining information relating to the electrochemically active marker, wherein the means for electrochemically determining information relating to the electrochemically active marker is selected from the group consisting of a voltammeter, an amperometer, and one or more electrodes, wherein the electrochemically active marker is a metallocene moiety, wherein the electrochemically active marker is attached to the protease substrate through a linker, wherein the protease is capable of recognizing the protease substrate, and wherein the protease substrate labeled with an electrochemically active marker is at least a single amino acid labeled with an electrochemically active marker.
34. A compound of formula IV,
Mc-NR\u2032\u2014C(\u2550O)\u2014X\u2014(Ar)n-(L)m-R \u2003\u2003IV
wherein
Mc is a metallocenyl group in which each ring may independently be substituted or unsubstituted,
the metallocenyl group comprises a metal ion M selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium, cobalt, osmium, ruthenium, nickel, and titanium,
R\u2032 is H or lower alkyl,
X is NR\u2032 or O,
Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group,
n is 0 or 1,
L is a linker group,
m is 0 or 1, and
R is a protein, a peptide, or an amino acid residue.
35. A compound comprising a metallocenyl group attached to a carboxyl group of molecule, the molecule selected from the group consisting of an amino acid residue, a peptide, and a protein.
36. (canceled)
37. A compound as claimed in claim 35 having formula VI,
(Mc)m-(CH2)n\u2014X-(L)p-R \u2003\u2003VI
wherein
Mc is a metallocenyl group in which ring may be independently be substituted or unsubstituted,
the metallocenyl group comprises a metal ion M selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium, cobalt, osmium, ruthenium, nickel, and titanium.
m is 1, 2, 3 or 4
n is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12
X is NR\u2032 or O
R\u2032 is H or lower alkyl,
L is a linker group,
p is 0 or 1, and
R is a protein, a peptide or an amino acid residue.
38. A compound as claimed in claim 37 having formula V,
Mc-(CH2)n\u2014X\u2014R \u2003\u2003V
wherein
Mc is a metallocenyl group in which ring may be independently be substituted or unsubstituted,
the metallocenyl group comprises a metal ion M selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium, cobalt, osmium, ruthenium, nickel, and titanium,
n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12,
X is NR\u2032 or 0,
R\u2032 is H or lower alkyl, and
R is a protein, a peptide, or an amino acid residue.