Dual band digital broadcast receiver

• US 5,784,418 A
• Filed: 04/10/1995
• Issued: 07/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: British Broadcasting Corporation, Relume Corporation
• Original Assignee: British Broadcasting Corporation
• Inventors: Sykes, John Prailsford, Parnall, Simon, Laven, Philip Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Don N.
• Application Number:
  US08/403,686
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 375/347, 375/349, 375/260, 375/267, 375/299, 455/303, 455/59, 455/132, 455/133, 455/134, 455/135, 455/136, 455/272, 455/275, 455/277.1, 455/277.2, 455/137, 455/188.1, 455/273, 455/552, 370/491
• US Class Current: 375/347
• 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 1/0096 where a full band is frequency converted into another full band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/28 the receiver comprising at least one semiconductor device having three or more electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/06 among broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/22 Arrangements for broadcast of identical information via plural broadcast systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/67 Common-wave systems, i.e. using separate transmitters operating on substantially the same frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/19 digital satellite radio [DSR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/20 digital audio broadcasting [DAB]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/04 using frequency diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/06 using space diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2602 Signal structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2647 Arrangements specific to the receiver only equalisation H04L27/01

Abstract

A digital broadcast transmission system comprises a plurality of spaced transmitters (6). Each transmitter (6) receives signals for transmission from a master transmitter (2), e.g. on a satellite, along with a reference frequency (F_REF). The reference frequency is used to generate the transmission frequency at each spaced transmitter. At a receiver (12), conversion means can be used, to enable signals from the master transmitter (2) and from the other transmitter(s) to be received. A preferred application is digital audio broadcasting (DAB). Specifically, the present invention is useful in connection with Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (COFDM) modulation.

Claims

1. A dual band digital broadcast receiver comprising

means for receiving a first digital broadcast signal and reference information in a first frequency band,

means for receiving a second digital broadcast signal in a second frequency band, said second frequency band being selected independently of said first frequency band,

means for converting the first digital broadcast signal to the second frequency band, in dependence upon the received reference information, and

a combiner for combining the converted first digital broadcast signal with the second digital broadcast signal, the combiner operating in said second frequency band.

2. A dual band digital audio broadcast receiver according to claim 1,

wherein said combiner is an adder which combines the second digital broadcast signal with the converted first digital broadcast signal.

3. A dual band digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein

both of said digital broadcast signals are generated from the same source.

4. A dual band digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, further comprising a filter for separating said first digital broadcast signal from said reference information.

5. A dual band digital broadcast receiver according to claim 4, wherein said reference information comprises a pilot tone carrier.

6. A dual band digital broadcast receiver according to claim 5, wherein a frequency of said pilot tone carrier specifies a factor by which said receiver reduces the frequency of said first digital broadcast signal to convert it into said second frequency band.

7. A dual band digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein said first and second digital broadcast signals are formed as orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) signals.

8. A dual band digital broadcast receiver according to claim 7, wherein said first and second digital broadcast signals are formed as coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (COFDM) signals.

9. Apparatus for converting a single band digital broadcast receiver to a dual band digital broadcast receiver, comprising

means for receiving a first digital broadcast signal and reference information in a first frequency band,

means for receiving a second digital broadcast signal in a second frequency band, said second frequency band being selected independently of said first frequency band,

means for converting the first digital broadcast signal to the second frequency band, in dependence upon the received reference information, and

a combiner for combining the converted first digital broadcast signal with the second digital broadcast signal, the combiner operating in said second frequency band.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said combiner is an adder which combines the second digital broadcast signal with the converted first digital broadcast signal.

11. An apparatus receiver according to claim 9, further comprising a filter for separating said first digital broadcast signal from said reference information.

12. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

both of said digital broadcast signals are generated from the same source.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said reference information comprises a pilot tone carrier.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a frequency of said pilot tone carrier specifies a factor by which said receiver reduces the frequency of said first digital broadcast signal to convert it into said second frequency band.