Apparatus and methods for implementing multi-channel tuners

• US 20100323636A1
• Filed: 06/23/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Johnson, Andrew, Steeper, Terry, Gruszka, Damian, Ali, Isaac, Cowley, Nicholas, Martin, Alan J.
• Application Number:
  US12/456,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20100323636A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/77
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0083 using two or more tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/005 adapting radio receivers, transmitters andtransceivers for operation on two or more bands, i.e. frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 15/00 Suppression or limitation of noise or interference by means associated with receiver H04B1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2215/065 by changing the frequency of clock or reference frequency

Abstract

Embodiments of systems and methods for implementing multi-channel tuners are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method for mitigating multi-tuner interaction, comprising:

receiving a channel request for a first tuner;

calculating a first commutating frequency associated with the channel request;

calculating available local oscillator (LO) frequencies for a first LO based at least in part on absolute tuning range and available prescale values;

determining a second LO frequency of a second LO;

comparing the second LO frequency to the available LO frequencies for the first LO;

calculating a first LO frequency and a first prescale value based at least in part on the second LO frequency; and

transmitting the first commutating frequency.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first LO frequency is set at a multiple of the first commutating frequency.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second LO frequency is N and the first prescale value is programmable to two or more ratios not related by a ratio of 2^N.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first LO frequency is not a harmonic frequency or a sub-harmonic frequency of the second LO frequency.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a difference between the first LO frequency, or a harmonic or subharmonic thereof and the second LO frequency, or a harmonic or subharmonic thereof is maximized.

6. The method of claim 1, further including predicting if the first LO frequency is harmonically-related to the second LO frequency.

7. The method of claim 6, further including calculating a second LO frequency and a second prescale value based at least in part on the first LO frequency to provide a second commutating frequency.

8. A method of transmitting a commutating frequency according to a channel request in a multi-tuner environment, comprising receiving a request for a first commutating frequency, determining a range of local oscillator frequencies of a first LO and a range of available prescale values associated with the first LO, determining a second LO frequency of a second LO and determining a first LO frequency and a first prescale value, wherein the commutating frequency is based at least in part on the first LO frequency and the first prescale value.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first LO frequency is not a harmonic frequency or a sub-harmonic frequency of the second LO frequency.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a difference between the first LO frequency, or a harmonic or subharmonic thereof and the second LO frequency, or a harmonic or subharmonic thereof is maximized.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first LO frequency is set at a multiple of the first commutating frequency.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the second LO frequency is N and the first prescale value is programmable to two or more ratios not related by a ratio of 2^N.

13. The method of claim 8, further including predicting if the first LO frequency is harmonically-related to the second LO frequency.

14. The method of claim 13 further including calculating a second LO frequency and a second prescale value based at least in part on the first LO frequency to provide a second commutating frequency.

15. A multi-tuner system for providing a plurality of commutating frequencies, comprising

a first tuner to generate a first commutating frequency, the first tuner comprising a first local oscillator (LO) to provide a first LO frequency;

a second tuner to generate a second commutating frequency, the second tuner comprising a second LO to provide a second LO frequency and a prescaler to scale the second LO frequency, wherein the second LO frequency is offset from a haromonic or sub-harmonic of the first LO frequency; and

a controller to determine the second LO frequency and to scale the second LO frequency to provide the second commutating frequency.

16. The multi-tuner system of claim 15, wherein the prescaler is a logic block to divide the second LO frequency by a prescale ratio to provide the second commutating frequency.

17. The multi-tuner system of claim 15, wherein the multi-tuner system is a monolithic integrated circuit.

18. The multi-tuner system of claim 15, wherein each commutating frequency of the plurality of commutating frequencies is formed using at least two prescale values and two local oscillator frequencies.

19. The multi-tuner system of claim 18, wherein the first resonant network and a first amplifier of the first LO oscillator form a first high Q amplifier, and the second resonant network and a second amplifier of the second LO oscillator form a second high Q amplifier.

20. The multi-tuner system of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to predict if the first LO frequency is harmonically-related to the second LO frequency.