Integrated satellite master antenna television unit

• US 20080120655A1
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Linh H., Guzman, Jorge H.
• Application Number:
  US11/603,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20080120655A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A receiving unit 28 includes a plurality of tuner and processor circuit boards 104 that receives a plurality of satellite signals. The tuner and processor circuit boards 104 demodulate and decode the satellite signal to form a plurality of audio and video signals. The plurality of audio and video signals are provided to a modulator and combiner circuit board 110 that is separated from the plurality of tuner circuit boards 104. The modulator and combiner circuit board 104 receives the plurality of audio and video signals and modulates and combines the plurality of audio and video signals to form a modulated and combined output signal. The receiving unit 28 has an integrated bus 100 coupling the plurality of tuner and processor circuit boards with the modulator and combiner circuit board.

Claims

1. A receiving unit comprising:

a plurality of tuner and processor circuit boards receiving satellite signals, said plurality of tuner and processor circuit boards demodulating and decoding the satellite signals to form a first plurality of audio and video signals;

a modulator and combiner circuit board separated from the tuner and processor circuit board receiving the first plurality of audio and video signals and modulating and combining the plurality of audio and video signals to form a modulated and combiner output signal; and

an integrated bus comprising coupling the plurality of tuner and processor circuit boards with the modulator and combiner circuit board.

2. A receiving unit as recited in claim 1 further comprising a controller card is in communication with the plurality of tuner processor circuit boards through the integrated bus.

3. A receiving unit as recited in claim 2 wherein the controller card is in two way communication with the plurality of tuner and processor circuit boards.

4. A receiving unit as recited in claim 1 further comprising a power supply circuit board separate from the tuner and processor circuit board.

5. A receiving unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said power supply board is in communication with the integrated bus.

6. A receiving unit as recited in claim 1 wherein plurality of tuner and processor circuit boards comprising a tuner generating a transport stream signal.

7. A receiving unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the integrated bus comprises an inter-integrated circuit bus.

8. A receiving unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the integrated bus comprises a VME circuit bus.

9. A satellite television receiving system comprising a receiving unit as recited in claim 1 and a multi-switch in communication with the plurality of tuner and processor circuit boards.

10. A satellite television receiving system comprising a receiving unit as recited in claim 1 and a multi-switch in communication with a controller circuit board.

11. A satellite television receiving system comprising a receiving unit as recited in claim 1 and a multi-switch in communication with a controller circuit board through the bus.

12. A satellite television receiving as recited in claim 11 further comprising a plurality of antennas coupled to the multi-switch.

13. A receiving unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the tuner and processor board is disposed in a first plane and the modulator and combiner circuit board is disposed in a second plane spaced apart from the first plane.

14. A method of distributing a satellite signal comprises:

receiving satellite signals from an antenna at the tuner and processor circuit board;

demodulating and decoding the satellite signals to form a plurality of first signals at a plurality of tuner and processor circuit boards;

communicating the plurality of first signals to a modulator and combiner circuit board;

combining the plurality of first signals to form a combined signal;

modulating the combined signal to form an output signal; and

communicating the output signal to a device.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein communicating comprises wirelessly communicating the output signal to the device.

16. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein communicating comprises wirelessly communicating the output signal to the device through a video sender.

17. A method as recited in claim 14 further comprising selecting the satellite signals through a multi-switch.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein selecting comprises controlling the multiswitch at the tuner and processor board.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein selecting comprises controlling the multiswitch at a controller board.

20. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein communicating the plurality of first signals comprises communicating the first plurality of signals through a bus.

21. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein communicating comprises wirelessly communicating the output signal to the device.