Wide frequency spectrum television tuner with single local oscillator

• US 5,983,088 A
• Filed: 07/10/1997
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RCA Thomson Licensing Corporation
• Original Assignee: RCA Thomson Licensing Corporation
• Inventors: Aschwanden, Felix
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC M
• Application Number:
  US08/860,989
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 455/193.1, 455/180.1, 455/180.2, 455/188.1, 455/188.2, 455/190.1, 455/142, 455/553, 455/313, 455/184.1, 455/323, 375/316, 375/344, 348/542, 348/543, 348/457, 348/555, 348/731
• US Class Current: 455/188.2
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0041 for frequency synthesis with counters or frequency dividers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control

Abstract

A tuner includes a conversion (or heterodyning) stage, including a local oscillator and a mixer, for converting an RF signal corresponding to a selected channel to an IF signal. The local oscillator has only one tunable oscillating portion for generating a signal, and a frequency converter, such as a controllable frequency divider, for converting the frequency of the signal generated by said oscillating portion, so that the receiver is able to tune through the UHF and VHF bands. The operation of the requency converter is responsive to a digital controller, such as a microprocessor.

Claims

1. Apparatus for generating a conversion signal for a mixer, comprising:

variable oscillator means for generating a first RF signal over a predetermined frequency range;

frequency conversion means for converting the frequency of said first RF signal in accordance with a binary number, N, to provide a second RF signal having a frequency range which varies as a function of said binary number, N, for application to said mixer; and

control means for selecting values of said binary number, N, to provide a respective frequency range for said second RF signal for each selected value of said binary number, N;

first means for applying digital phase shift to said second RF signal to produce a digitally phase shifted signal;

second means for applying analog phase shift to said second RF signal to produce an analog phase shifted signal; and

third means for selecting said analog phase shifted signal for application to said mixer as said second RF signal at frequencies above a given frequency and for selecting said digitally phase shifted signal for application to said mixer as said second RF signal at frequencies below said given frequency.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein for operation within a highest frequency range of said apparatus:

said control means selects a value of unity, N=1, for said binary number; and

said third means selects said analog phase shifted signal for application to said mixer whereby said second RF signal supplied to said mixer occupies a frequency range equal to that of said first RF signal produced by said variable oscillator means.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said first means comprises:

means for applying true and complemented versions of said first RF signal to respective inputs of a first divider and a second divider; and

means for applying an output of said first divider to control input of said second divider for producing at an output of said second divider a phase shifted second RF signal for application to said mixer having a frequency equal to one-half of that of said first RF signal produced by said variable oscillator means.

4. A method for generating a conversion signal for a mixer, comprising:

generating a first RF signal over a predetermined frequency range;

converting the frequency of said first RF signal in accordance with a binary number, N, to provide a second RF signal having a frequency range which varies as a function of said binary number, N, for application to said mixer;

selecting values of said binary number, N, to provide a respective frequency range for said second RF signal for each selected value of said binary number, N;

applying digital phase shift to said second RF signal to produce a digitally phase shifted signal;

applying analog phase shift to said second RF signal to produce an analog phase shifted signal; and

selecting said analog phase shifted signal for application to said mixer as said second RF signal at frequencies above a given frequency and for selecting said digitally phase shifted signal for application to said mixer as said second RF signal at frequencies below said given frequency.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising:

selecting a value of unity, N=I, for said binary number; and

concurrently selecting said analog phase shifted signal for application to said mixer (MI) whereby said second RF signal supplied to said mixer occupies a frequency range equal to that of said first RF signal.

6. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the step of applying digital phase shift to said second RF signal comprises:

applying true and complemented versions of said first RF signal to respective inputs of a first divider and a second divider; and

applying an output of said first divider to a control input of said second divider for producing at an output of said second divider,

said analog phase shifted second RF signal for application to said mixer,

said analog phase shifted second RF signal having a frequency equal to one-half of that of said first RF signal produced by said variable oscillator means.