Head end having a low noise converter with channel preselecting frequency multiplexor

• US 20060015920A1
• Filed: 08/25/2003
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Vaucher, Cicero Silveira, Hooijmans, Pieter Werner
• Application Number:
  US10/528,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20060015920A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/127
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A head end (7) comprises a low noise converter (2) for providing signal bands including channels to one or more user units (3). The low noise converter is arranged as a low noise channel converter (2), which includes frequency multiplexing means (6) for multiplexing one or more user pre-selected channels to the user units (3). By effecting pre-selection in the low noise channel converter (2) the connection between the head end (7) and the user units (3) only contains a single communication medium (5), generally an already installed coaxial cable (5). Wanted channels for example for watching one television program and simultaneously recording another program are pre-selected and at the side of the low noise block put on the one cable.

Claims

1. A head end comprising a low noise converter for providing signal bands including channels to one or more user units, characterized in that the low noise converter is arranged as a low noise channel converter, which includes frequency multiplexing means for multiplexing one or more user pre-selected channels to the user units.

2. The head end according to claim 1, characterized in that the head end comprises local oscillator means coupled to the low noise channel converter.

3. The head end according to claim 2, characterized in that the local oscillator means are arranged for providing a variable local oscillator frequency.

4. The head end according to claim 2, characterized in that the local oscillator means comprise one or more phase locked loops.

5. A satellite receiver system comprising a head end according to claim 1, characterized in that the satellite receiver system further comprises one or more user units coupled to the low noise channel converter.

6. The satellite receiver system according to claim 5, characterized in that the coupling between the low noise channel converter and the user units contains a single communication medium, generally a coaxial cable.

7. The satellite receiver system according to claim 5, characterized in that the satellite receiver system comprises local oscillator means coupled to the low noise channel converter.

8. The satellite receiver system according to claim 7, characterized in that the local oscillator means are arranged for providing a variable local oscillator frequency.

9. The satellite receiver system according to claim 8, characterized in that the local oscillator means comprise one or more phase locked loops.

10. A satellite receiver system according to claim 5, characterized in that the head end includes a combining circuit, and that the satellite receiver system further comprises a parallel arrangement of one or more further low noise channel converters coupled to the combining circuit.

11. The satellite receiver system according to claim 10, characterized in that each further low noise channel converter is provided with further local oscillator means for tuning on individual user pre-selected receiving channels.