Integrated Crosspoint Switch with Band Translation
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Accused Products
Abstract
Multiple input signal sources in predetermined frequency bands are each applied to block frequency converters. Each block frequency converter frequency converts an input signal to one of a plurality of predetermined frequency bands. A crosspoint switch is configured to route the frequency converted input signals at one of the plurality of predetermined frequency bands to any one of a plurality of available band translation devices. Each of the band translation devices is configured to frequency convert the signal from a first predetermined frequency band to a second predetermined frequency band. Output signals from one or more band translation devices can be combined into a composite signal.
214 Citations
71 Claims
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1-50. -50. (canceled)
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51. An apparatus for distributing one or more channels included within a plurality of N signals to one or more output devices, the apparatus including a crosspoint switch and a plurality of frequency translation devices, the crosspoint switch including a plurality of N crosspoint switch inputs and a plurality of crosspoint switch outputs, each of the N crosspoint switch inputs coupled to receive one of the N signals, the crosspoint switch operable to switchably couple any of the plurality of N crosspoint switch inputs to any one or more of the plurality of crosspoint switch outputs, and wherein each of the plurality of frequency translation devices includes an input coupled to a respective one of the crosspoint switch outputs and an output configured to couple to one or more output devices, each of the plurality of frequency translation devices operable to frequency translate one or more of the channels as supplied to respective one or more channels, wherein the outputs of at least two of the plurality of frequency translation devices are coupled together, the apparatus comprising:
at least a portion of the signal path within the crosspoint switch or one or more of the plurality of frequency translation devices configured as a differential signal path operable to support the propagation of a differential mode signal. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. In a signal distribution system including (i) a crosspoint switch having N inputs operable to receive a respective plurality of N signals and a plurality of crosspoint switch outputs, (ii) a respective plurality of frequency translation devices coupled to the crosspoint switch outputs, and (iii) one or more output devices coupled to at least one of the plurality of frequency translation devices, the crosspoint switch being selectively switchable, such that any of the plurality of N received signals is coupled, via one or more signal paths, to any one or more of the crosspoint switch outputs, wherein one or more crosspoint switch output signals are supplied to respective frequency translation devices, each of the one or more crosspoint switch output signals including one or more channels, and further wherein one or more of the plurality of the frequency translation devices includes a signal path, each frequency translation device operable to frequency translate one or more of the channels as supplied to respective one or more channels, the outputs of at least two of the plurality of frequency translation devices being coupled together;
- and wherein the frequency-translated channels are output to one or more output devices operable to render the one or more channels supplied thereto, a method for distributing one or more channels included within any one of the plurality of N received signals to the one or more output devices, the method comprising;
propagating the one or more channels from the respective crosspoint switch input to at least one frequency translation device output along one or more of said signal paths, wherein at least a portion of said one or more signal paths comprises a differential signal path operable to support the propagation of a differential mode signal. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
- and wherein the frequency-translated channels are output to one or more output devices operable to render the one or more channels supplied thereto, a method for distributing one or more channels included within any one of the plurality of N received signals to the one or more output devices, the method comprising;
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71. An apparatus for distributing one or more channels included within each of a plurality of N satellite signals to one or more output devices, the apparatus comprising:
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a first LNB unit operable to receive a plurality of the N satellite signals, the first LNB unit comprising;
a first LNB converter coupled to receive a plurality of the N satellite signals and operable to produce a plurality of first satellite IF signals;
a first crosspoint switch having a plurality of first crosspoint switch inputs coupled to receive respective first satellite IF signals and a plurality of first crosspoint switch outputs, the first crosspoint switch operable to switchably couple any of the first crosspoint switch inputs to any one or more of the first crosspoint switch outputs; and
respective plurality of first frequency translation devices, each first frequency translation device having an input coupled to a respective one of the first crosspoint switch outputs and an output configured to couple to one or more output devices, each of the first frequency translation devices operable to frequency translate one or more of the channels as supplied to respective one or more channels, wherein the outputs of the first frequency translation devices are coupled together to provide a first LNB unit output, wherein at least a portion of the first crosspoint switch or at least a portion of one or more of the plurality of first frequency translation devices comprises a differential signal path;
a second LNB unit operable to receive a plurality of the N satellite signals, the second LNB unit comprising;
a second LNB converter coupled to receive a plurality of the N satellite signals and operable to produce a plurality of second satellite IF signals;
a second crosspoint switch (140) having a plurality of second crosspoint switch inputs coupled to receive respective second satellite IF signals and a plurality of second crosspoint switch outputs, the second crosspoint switch operable to switchably couple any of the second crosspoint switch inputs to any one or more of the second crosspoint switch outputs; and
respective plurality of second frequency translation devices, each second frequency translation device having an input coupled to a respective one of the second crosspoint switch outputs and an output configured to couple to one or more output devices, each of the second frequency translation devices operable to frequency translate one or more of the channels as supplied to respective one or more channels, wherein the outputs of the second frequency translation devices are coupled together to provide a second LNB unit output;
wherein at least a portion of the second crosspoint switch or at least a portion of one or more of the plurality of second frequency translation devices comprises a differential signal path, and a signal combiner having inputs coupled to receive the first and second LNB unit outputs and an output coupled to one or more output devices.
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Specification