Receiver capable of selectively receiving satellite broadcast TV signals and audio SCPC signals

• US 5,532,760 A
• Filed: 04/08/1994
• Issued: 07/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Uniden Corporation (Cornwall Capital Management LP)
• Original Assignee: Uniden Corporation (Cornwall Capital Management LP)
• Inventors: Inoue, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, John W.
• Application Number:
  US08/224,717
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.2, 348/725, 348/726, 348/727, 348/728, 348/729, 348/423, 348/473, 348/484, 348/485, 348/486, 348/10, 348/11
• US Class Current: 348/729
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A satellite broadcast receiver capable of receiving audio SCPC signals is disclosed in which the receiver comprises an RF reception unit for receiving television signals and audio SCPC signals broadcast from a satellite, frequency converter for converting an RF output from said RF reception unit into an IF signal, separator for separating the output of said frequency converter into a television signal and an audio SCPC signal, a TV signal processing unit for receiving and processing a first output from the separator, an SCPC signal processing unit for receiving and processing a second output from the separator, and a selector for selecting any one of the outputs from the TV signal processing unit and said SCPC signal processing unit, thereby enabling selective reception of TV signals and audio SCPC signals broadcast from a satellite. The RF reception unit comprises an RF amplifier, and the frequency converter comprises a feedback circuit for selectively feeding the first and the second outputs of the separator back to the RF amplifier, thereby controlling a gain of the RF amplifier. The TV signal processing unit includes a video detector for receiving and detecting a television signal from the separator, an audio circuit for receiving an audio signal from the video detector, and a video circuit for receiving a video signal from the video detector. The selector comprises a switch for selecting any one of the outputs of the SCPC signal processing unit and the audio circuit.

Claims

1. A receiver capable of selectively receiving satellite broadcast television signals of audio SCPC signals, comprising:

RF reception means for receiving television signals and audio SCPC signals broadcast from a satellite;

frequency conversion means for converting an RF output from said RF reception means into an IF signal;

separation means for separating the output of said frequency conversion means into a television signal and an audio SCPC signal, and for producing a first output including the television signal and a second output including the audio SCPC signal;

a TV signal processing unit for receiving and processing the first output from said separation means;

an SCPC signal processing unit for receiving and processing the second output from said separation means; and

selection means for selecting any one of the outputs from said TV signal processing unit and said SCPC signal processing unit, thereby enabling selective reception of TV signals and audio SCPC signals broadcast from a satellite.

2. A receiver as set forth in claim 1, wherein said RF reception means comprises an RF amplifier, said receiver further comprising means for selectively feeding either the first output or the second output of said separation means back to said RF amplifier to control a gain of said RF amplifier, the first output being fed back when a desired portion of the RF output is a television signal and the second output being fed back when a desired portion of the RF output is an audio SCPC signal.

3. A receiver as set forth in claim 2, wherein said TV signal processing unit includes a video detector for receiving and detecting a television signal from said separation means, an audio circuit for receiving an audio signal from said video detector, and a video circuit for receiving a video signal from said video detector, and wherein said selection means comprises a switch for selecting any one of the outputs of said SCPC signal processing unit and the audio circuit.

4. A receiver capable of selectively receiving satellite broadcast television signals or audio SCPC signals, comprising:

an IF unit for converting a signal including satellite broadcast signals or audio SCPC signals into an IF signal;

separator means for receiving and separating the IF signal into a first output corresponding to an audio SCPC signal and a second output corresponding to a satellite broadcast signal;

SCPC reception means connected to receive the first output of said separator means;

video detector means connected to receive the second output of said separator means;

audio signal processing means connected to receive an audio output of said video detector means;

video signal processing means connected to receive a video output of said video detector means;

audio signal switching means connected to outputs of said SCPC signal processing means and said audio signal processing means for selecting an audio signal produced by the SCPC reception means or an audio signal produced by the audio signal processing means.

5. A receiver as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:

a first IF amplifier connected between said separator means and said SCPC reception means; and

a second IF amplifier connected between said separator means and said video detector means.

6. A receiver as set forth in claim 5, further comprising an RF amplifier, wherein in the case of audio SCPC signal reception, a first AGC signal is fed from said first IF amplifier back to an RF amplifier, whereas, in the case of satellite broadcast signal reception, a second AGC signal is fed from said second IF amplifier back to said RF amplifier.

7. A receiver capable of selectively receiving satellite broadcast television signals or audio SCPC signals, comprising:

reception means for receiving television signals and audio SCPC signals broadcast from a satellite and producing an RF signal;

RF amplification means for amplifying the RF signal from said reception means to produce an amplified RF signal;

frequency conversion means for converting the amplified RF signal into an IF signal;

separation means for separating the output of said frequency conversion means into a first output corresponding to a television signal and a second output corresponding to an audio SCPC signal;

SCPC reception means connected to the first output of said separation means;

video detector means connected to the second output of said separation means;

audio signal processing means connected to receive the output of said video detector means;

video signal processing means connected to receive the output of said video detector means;

audio signal changeover means connected to said SCPC reception means and said audio signal processing means for selecting any one of the outputs of those means; and

control means for controlling said SCPC reception means in response to information about a condition of receipt of the audio SCPC signal.

8. A receiver as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:

a first IF amplifier provided between said separation means and said SCPC reception means; and

a second IF amplifier between said separation means and said video detector means.

9. A receiver as set forth in claim 8, wherein, in the case of receiving an SCPC signal, a first AGC signal is fed from said first IF amplifier back to an RF amplifier, and wherein, in the case of receiving a satellite broadcast signal, a second AGC signal is fed from said second IF amplifier to said RF amplifier.

10. A receiver as set forth in claim 7, wherein said SCPC reception means comprises:

a frequency converter for mixing the output of a frequency synthesizer and an audio ACPC signal from said separation means for converting it into a SCPC.IF signal having a predetermined center frequency;

an FM detector for FM-detecting the SCPC.IF signal from said frequency converter to output an audio signal; and

measurement means for outputting an SL value representing a signal level of the SCPC.IF signal inputted to said FM detector and an AFC value indicating a deviation of the center frequency of the SCPC.IF signal from the predetermined center frequency,

and wherein said control means comprises a microcomputer which, responsive to the SL and AFC values from said measurement means, control an oscillation frequency generated by said frequency synthesizer to cause a frequency of the SCPC.IF signal to coincide with the predetermined center frequency.

11. A receiver as set forth in claim 10, wherein said microcomputer comprises:

means for changing an oscillation frequency of said frequency synthesizer at predetermined intervals;

means for receiving the SL and AFC values from said measurement means during the change of the oscillation frequency in the predetermined interval; and

means for determining a frequency of the SCPC.IF signal using the received SL and AFC values, thereby controlling the oscillation frequency of said frequency synthesizer on the basis of the determined frequency.

12. A receiver as set forth in claim 7, further comprising an OSG circuit for changing information about a reception condition of an audio SCPC signal to a video signal to cause the video signal to be displayed.