Digital satellite receiver and method for expanding digital satellite radio coverage for devices

• US 20070206666A1
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hirschenberger, Frank
• Application Number:
  US11/365,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20070206666A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/211
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/02 Arrangements for relaying broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/62 for transportation systems, e.g. in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving

Abstract

A system for receiving and processing a digital satellite radio signal includes an antenna for receiving a digital satellite radio signal, and a repeater module for receiving digital satellite radio signals is a first frequency band from the antenna, converting those signals into converted satellite signals in a second frequency band, and transmitting the converted satellite signals. The system also includes at least one receiver module for receiving the converted satellite signals transmitted by the repeater module and extracting data directly from the received converted satellite signals.

Claims

1. A system for receiving and processing digital satellite radio signals, comprising:

an antenna configured to receive digital satellite radio signals;

a repeater module coupled to said antenna and having signal processing circuitry and signal transmission circuitry, said repeater module being configured to receive digital satellite radio signals in a first frequency range from said antenna, process the digital satellite radio signals to convert the digital satellite radio signals into converted satellite signals in a second frequency range, and to further transmit the converted satellite signals; and

at least one receiver module configured to receive and process the converted satellite signals in the second frequency range transmitted by said repeater module, wherein said at least one receiver module processes the received converted satellite signals in the second frequency range to extract data directly from the received converted satellite signals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital satellite radio signals received and processed by said repeater module are S-band digital satellite radio signals.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data extracted from the received converted satellite signals comprises audio/data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said repeater module and at least one of said at least one receiver modules is located in a vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least one receiver modules is connected to a portable electronic device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least one receiver modules is integrated within a portable electronic device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said repeater module is configured to receive and process a plurality of digital satellite radio signals comprising XM®

and SIRIUS™

digital satellite radio signals.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said receiver module is further configured to receive and process digital satellite radio signals in a first frequency range.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one receiver module is configured to switch between processing converted satellite signals in a second frequency range and digital satellite radio signals in a first frequency range, and wherein said receiver module directly processes digital satellite radio signals in the first frequency range when the at least one receiver module determines that a converted satellite signal in a second frequency range is unavailable.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first frequency range is a frequency range used to transmit satellite signals among satellites, terrestrial satellite repeaters and satellite receivers, wherein said second frequency range is an Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) frequency range, and wherein said converted satellite signals are converted satellite ISM signals.

11. A digital satellite radio receiver for receiving satellite digital radio signals in a first frequency band and converted satellite signals converted to a second frequency band by a repeater, comprising:

at least one antenna configured to receive at least one of a digital satellite radio signal in a first frequency band and a converted satellite signal in a second frequency band;

receiving circuitry configured to receive converted satellite signals in the second frequency band from a repeater module and extract data from the converted satellite signals; and

satellite receiving circuitry configured to receive digital satellite radio signals in a first frequency band and extract data from the digital satellite radio signals.

12. The digital satellite radio receiver of claim 11, wherein the data extracted from the converted satellite signals comprises at least one of audio and data.

13. The digital satellite radio receiver of claim 11, further comprising switching circuitry configured to switch between processing a digital satellite radio signal in a first frequency band and a converted satellite signal in a second frequency band received from a repeater, wherein said switching circuitry selects a converted satellite signal in the second frequency band for processing in said receiving circuitry when a converted satellite signal in a second frequency is available, and wherein said switching circuitry otherwise selects a digital satellite radio signal in the first frequency band for processing in said receiving circuitry.

14. The digital satellite radio receiver of claim 11, wherein at least one of said receiving circuitry and satellite receiving circuitry is located in a vehicle.

15. The digital satellite radio receiver of claim 11, wherein said satellite receiving circuitry is capable of receiving both SIRIUS™

and XM®

signals.

16. The digital satellite radio receiver of claim 11, wherein at least one of said receiving circuitry and satellite receiving circuitry is located in a portable electronic device.

17. The digital satellite radio receiver of claim 11, wherein at least one of said receiving circuitry and satellite receiving circuitry is connected to a portable electronic device.

18. The digital satellite radio receiver of claim 11, wherein said first frequency range is a satellite frequency range, and said second frequency range is a frequency range in an ISM-band.

19. A method for processing satellite digital audio signals, comprising the steps of:

receiving a digital satellite radio signal in a first frequency band in a repeater;

converting the digital satellite radio signal to a converted satellite signal in a second frequency band in the repeater;

transmitting the converted satellite signal;

receiving the converted satellite signal in at least one remote receiver module; and

processing the converted satellite signal in the at least one remote receiver module to obtain data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the data obtained by processing the converted satellite signal comprises at least one of audio and data.

21. The method of claim 19, further including the step of receiving a digital satellite radio signal at a first frequency in the at least one remote receiver module.

22. The method of claim 21, further including the step of processing the digital satellite radio signal in the first frequency band in the at least one receiver module when a converted satellite signal in a second frequency band is not available.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said first frequency band is a satellite frequency band, and wherein said second frequency band is an ISM frequency band.