Broadband integrated television tuner

• US 6,177,964 B1
• Filed: 08/01/1997
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CSR Technology Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microtune, Inc. (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clayton, Ken, Taddiken, Albert, Birleson, Vince
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sajous, Wesner
• Application Number:
  US08/904,908
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.544, 348/725, 348/731, 348/726, 455/315, 455/339, 455/302, 455/179.1, 455/260, 455/316, 358/191.1, 358/195, 331/2, 331/16, 331/39, 331/41
• US Class Current: 348/725
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 7/161 all the frequency changers being connected in cascade
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/005 in a loop
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/14 Tunable filter in receiver contributing to image rejection
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 7/065 the counter or frequency divider being used in a phase locked loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/4446 IF amplifier circuits specially adapted for B&W TV RF amplifiers in general H03F3/189
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/455 Demodulation-circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/52 Automatic gain control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals

Abstract

A broadband integrated television receiver for receiving a standard antenna or cable input and outputting an analog composite video signal and composite audio signal is disclosed. The receiver employs an up-conversion mixer and a down-conversion mixer in series to produce an IF signal. An IF filter between the mixers performs coarse channel selection. The down-conversion mixer may be an image rejection mixer to provide additional filtering. The received RF television signals are converted to a standard 45.75 MHz IF signal for processing on-chip by additional circuitry.

Claims

1. A dual conversion IF tuner serving as the front end of a television receiver comprising:

a low noise amplifier passing all channels in a received television band;

a first mixer having a first input coupled to said low noise amplifier and a second input coupled to a first local oscillator signal, wherein said first mixer output a first IF signal;

a first IF filter coupled to said first mixer and providing coarse channel selection, wherein said first IF filter removes all channels outside a selected frequency band from said first IF signal;

a second mixer having a first input coupled to said first IF filter and a second input coupled to a second local oscillator signal;

a second IF filter coupled to said second mixer and providing tine channel selection;

an input filter coupled between a receiver input and said low noise amplifier, wherein said input filter removes all signals above an input cutoff frequency from received RF signals;

a coherent oscillator circuit coupled to said second IF filter, wherein said coherent oscillator circuit generates an in-phase reference signal and a quadrature reference signal; and

a video detector having a first input coupled to said second IF filter and a second input coupled to said in-phase reference signal from said coherent oscillator.

2. The RF tuner of claim 1 further comprising:

a sound trap coupled to said video detector;

a noise clipping circuit coupled to said sound trap; and

an analog output buffer coupled to said noise clipping circuit;

wherein said analog output buffer provides an away composite video signal.

3. A dual conversion RF tuner serving as the front end of a television receiver comprising:

a low noise amplifier passing all channels in a received television band;

a first mixer having a first input coupled to said low noise amplifier and a second input coupled to first local oscillator signal, wherein said first mixer outputs a first IF signal;

a first IF filter coupled to said first mixer and providing coarse channel selection, wherein said first IF filter removes all channels outside a selected frequency bond from said first IF signal;

a second mixer having a first input coupled to said first IF filter and a second input coupled to a second local oscillator signal, wherein said second mixer outputs a second IF signal;

a second IF filter coupled to said second mixer and providing fine channel selection;

a coherent reference phase lock loop fed by said second IF signal for generating a reference signal; and

a frequency synthesizer for generating said first and second local oscillator signals, said frequency synthesizer having a phase noise characteristic that allows said coherent reference phase lock loop to have a narrow loop bandwidth.

4. A dual conversion RF tuner serving as the front end of a television receiver comprising:

a low noise amplifier passing all channels in a received television band;

a first mixer having a first input coupled to said low noise amplifier and a second input coupled to a first local oscillator signal, wherein said first mixer outputs a first IF signal;

a first IF filter coupled to said first mixer and providing coarse channel selection, wherein said first IF filter removes all channels outside a selected frequency baud from said first IF signal;

a second mixer having a first input coupled to said first IF filter and a second input coupled to a second local oscillator signal; and

a second IF filter coupled to said second mixer and providing fine channel selection, wherein said first local oscillator signal provides coarse tuning with step size of greater than 4.5 MHZ, and wherein said coarse tuning is provided by a single voltage controlled oscillator and a wideband phase lock loop providing a highly coherent reference signal suitable for up-converting.

5. The tuner of claim 4 wherein the phase lock loop reference signal is greater than 4.5 MHZ.

38. The receiver of claim 4 wherein the PLL reference signal is greater than 4.5 MHz.

6. A dual conversion RF tuner serving as the front end of a television receiver comprising:

a low noise amplifier passing all channels in a received television band;

a first mixer having a first input coupled to said low noise amplifier and a second input coupled to a first local oscillator signal, wherein said first mixer outputs a first IF signal;

a first IF filter coupled to said first mixer and providing coarse channel selection, wherein said first IF filter removes all channels outside a selected frequency band from said first IF signal;

a second mixer having a first input coupled to said first IF filter and a second input coupled to a second local oscillator signal; and

a second IF filter coupled to said second mixer and providing fine channel selection, wherein said second local oscillator signal provides fine tuning with step size less than or equal to 100 KHz, and wherein said fine tuning is provided by 3 voltage controlled oscillators and wideband phase lock loops providing a highly coherent reference signal suitable for down-converting.

7. The tuner of claim 6 wherein said phase lock loops utilize two reference signals, one greater than 2.25 MHZ and the other greater than 4.5 MHZ.

8. A dual conversion RF tuner serving as the front end of a television receiver comprising:

a low noise amplifier passing all channels in a received televisional band;

a first mixer having a first input coupled to said low noise amplifier and a second input coupled to a first local oscillator signal, wherein said first mixer outputs a first IF signal;

a first IF filter coupled to said first mixer and providing coarse channel selection, wherein said first IF filter removes all channels outside a selected frequency band from said first IF signal;

a second mixer having a first input coupled to said first IF filter and a second input coupled to a second local oscillator signal;

a second IF filter coupled to said second mixer and providing fine channel selection;

an input filter coupled between a receiver input and said low noise amplifier, wherein said input filter removes all signals above all input cutoff frequency from received RF signals;

a coherent oscillator circuit coupled to said second IF filter, wherein said coherent oscillator circuit generates an in-phase reference signal and a quadrature reference signal; and

are audio detector having a first input coupled to said second IF filter and a second input coupled to said quadrature reference signal from said coherent oscillator.

9. The RF tuner of claim 8 further comprising:

a chroma reject filter coupled to said audio detector;

an audio down-converting mixer coupled to said chroma reject mixer;

a sound filter coupled to said audio mixer;

an FM demodulator coupled to said sound filter; and

an analog output buffer coupled to said FM demodulator;

wherein said analog output buffer provides an analog composite audio signal.

10. The RF tuner of claim 9, wherein said low noise amplifier, said first mixer and said second mixer are physically located on the same integrated circuit substrate, and wherein said sound filter is not physically located on said integrated circuit substrate.

11. The RF tuner of claim 9, wherein said low noise amplifier, said first mixer, said second mixer and said sound filter are physically located on the same integrated circuit substrate.

20. The method of receiving RF signals of claim 9 further comprising receiving digital serial bus control signal for use in controlling said generating steps, wherein said receiving digital serial bus control signals step is performed on said single integrated circuit substrate.

12. A method of receiving RF signals comprising the steps of:

receiving RF signals comprising a plurality of channels;

filtering said received RF signals, thereby removing all signals above an input cutoff frequency from said RF signals;

amplifying said received RF signals in a low noise amplifier;

converting said RF signals to first IF signals comprising substantially all of said plurality of channels;

filtering said first IF signals to remove channels having frequencies outside of a selected hand;

converting the filtered first IF signals to second IF signals, wherein said converting said filtered first IF signals to second IF signals further comprises rejecting image signals turn said second IF signals; and

filtering said second IF signals so that only one channel remains in said second IF signals, wherein said converting steps and said amplifying steps are performed on a single integrate circuit substrate, and wherein said filtering said received RF signals step is not performed on said single integrated circuit substrate.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said second IF signal have a picture carrier at 45.75 MHZ.

14. The method of claim 12 further including the steps of:

duplicating said receiving, RF converting, first IF filtering, IF converting, and second IF filtering steps for a plurality of different selected ones of said channels.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said duplicated converting steps arc performed on a single integrate circuit substrate.

16. The method of receiving RF signals of claim 15 filter comprising:

generating a first local oscillator signal for use in said converting said RF signals to first IF signals; and

generating a second local oscillator signal for use in said converting said first IF signals to second IF signals, wherein said generating steps arc duplicated for said plurality of different selected ones of said channels, and wherein said generating steps are performed on said single integrated circuit substrate.

17. The method of receiving RF signals of claim 16 further comprising receiving digital serial bus control signals for use in controlling said generating steps, wherein said receiving digital serial bus control signals step is performed on said single integrated circuit substrate.

18. The method of receiving RF signals of claim 15 wherein said duplicated filtering steps are not performed on sad single integrated circuit substrate.

19. The method of receiving RF signals of claim 18 further comprising:

generating a first local oscillator signal for use in said convert said RF signals to first IF signals; and

generating a second local oscillator of signal for use in said converting said first IF signals to second IF signals, wherein said generating steps are duplicated for said plurality of different selected once of said channels, and wherein said generate steps are performed on said single integrated circuit substrate.

21. The method of receiving RF signals of claim 12, wherein said selected band includes all of the channels available to said television receiver.

22. The method of receiving RF signals of claim 12 wherein said selected band is at least 55 MHZ to 806 MHZ.

23. The method of receiving RF signals of claim 12 further comprising:

generating a first local oscillator signal for use in said converting said RF signals to first IF signals; and

generating a second local oscillator signal for use in said converting said first IF signals to second IF signals, wherein said generating steps are performed on said single integrated circuit substrate.

24. The method of receiving RF signals of claim 23 further comprising receiving digital serial bus control signals for use in controlling said generating steps, wherein said receiving digital serial bus control signals step is performed on said single integrated circuit substrate.

25. The method of receiving RF signals of claim 12 wherein said filtering said IF signals steps are not performed on said single integrated circuit substrate.

26. The method of receiving RF signals of claim 25 further comprising:

generating a first local oscillator signal for use in said converting said RF signals to first IF signals; and

generating a second local oscillator signal for use in said converting said first IF signals to second IF signals, wherein said generating step, are performed on said single integrated circuit substrate.

27. The method of receiving RF signals of claim 26 further comprising receiving digital serial bus control signals for use in controlling said generating steps, wherein said receiving digital serial bus control signals step is performed on said single integrated circuit substrate.

28. The method of receiving RF signals of claim 12 wherein only one of said filtering said IF signals steps is not performed on said single integrated circuit substrate.

29. A method of receiving RF signals comprising the steps of:

receiving RF signals comprising a plurality of channels;

filtering said received REF signals, thereby removing all signals above an input cutoff frequency from said RF signals;

amplifying said received RF signals in a low noise amplifier;

converting said amplified RF signals to first IF signals comprising substantially all of said plurality of channels;

filtering said first IF signals to remove channels having frequencies outside of a selected band;

converting the filtered first IF signals to second IF signals, wherein said converting said filtered first IF signals to second IF signals further comprises rejecting image signals from said second IF signal;

filtering said second IF signals so that only one channel remains in said second IF

generating a first reference signal from said second IF signal, wherein said first reference signal is in-phase with said second IF signals; and

generating a second reference signal from said second IF signals, wherein said second reference signal is 90°

out-of-phase with said second IF signals.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising the steps of:

generating an analog composite video signal from said first reference signal and said second IF signals; and

generating an analog composite audio signal from said second reference signal and said second IF signals.

31. A receiver comprising one or more of dual conversion RF tuners, wherein each of said RF tuners comprises:

a low noise amplifier receiving RF signals and passing all channels in said received RF signals;

a first mixer having a first input coupled to said low noise amplifier and a second input coupled to a first local oscillator signal;

a first IF filter coupled to said first mixer and providing coarse channel selection;

a second mixer having a first input coupled to said first IF filter and a second input coupled to a second local oscillator signal; and

a second IF filter coupled to said second mixer and providing fine channel selected, wherein said first and second local oscillator signals are provided by a plurality of phase lock loops, wherein a first phase lock loop accepts a reference signal which is out of the bandwidth of a selected channel, said phase lock loops having low phase noise and a step size resolution smaller than the loop bandwidth of the individual phase lock loops, wherein said phase lock loops operate from input reference signals, some of which are outside or said bandwidth, and at least one of which is within said bandwidth, and wherein said one within said bandwidth is isolated from said output reference signal.

32. The receiver of claim 31 wherein each of said tuners are coupled to a single RF signal source.

33. The receiver of claim 32 wherein each of said tuners generates an IF signal, and wherein each said IF signal generated by said each of said tuners comprises a different channel in said RF signals.

34. The receiver of claim 31 wherein a first one of said phase lock loops provides coarse frequency resolution under control of said out of band input reference signal and wherein the step size of said coarse resolution is equal to said out of band input reference signal.

35. The receiver of claim 34 wherein a second set of phase lock loops provides fine frequency resolution under control of a combination of said out of band input reference signals and said isolated in band input reference signals.

36. The receiver of claim 31 constructed as a monolithic circuit.

37. The receiver of claim 36 wherein said coarse tuning is provided by a single VCO and wide baud PLL providing a highly coherent reference signal suitable for up-converting said signal of said first format and for said signal of said second format.

39. The receiver of claim 36 wherein sad second local oscillator signal provides fine tuning with step size less than or equal to 100 KHz.

40. The receiver of claim 39 wherein said fine tuning is provided by three VCOs and wideband PLLs providing a highly coherent reference signal suitable for down-converting said signal.

41. The receiver of claim 40 wherein said PLLs utilize two reference signals, one greater than 2.25 MHZ and the other greater than 4.6 MHZ.

42. The receiver of claim 36 wherein said second local oscillator signals provides fine tuning with step size less than or equal to 200 KHz.

43. The receiver of claim 31 further including:

a plurality of other identical receivers all constructed on a single substrate.

44. The receiver of claim 31 wherein said receiver comprises a plurality of said RF tuners substantially on a single substrate.

45. The receiver of claim 44 wherein said amplifier and said first and second mixers of said plurality of RF tuners are physically located on the same integrated circuit substrate.

46. The receiver of claim 45 wherein said first and second IF filters of said plurality of RF tuners are physically locate on said integrated circuit substrate.

47. The receiver of claim 45 wherein said first and second IF filters of said plurality of RF tuners are not physically located on said integrated circuit substrate.

48. The receiver of claim 47 further comprising a frequency synthesizers for generating said first and second local oscillator signals for each of said plurality of RF tuners, wherein said frequency synthesizers are physically located on said integrated circuit substrate.

49. The receiver of claim 48 further comprising a digital serial bus interface for receiving control signals for said RF tuner, wherein said digital serial bus interface is physically located on said integrated circuit substrate.

50. The receiver of claim 31 wherein said all channels are at least all of the channels within the bandwidth of 55 MHZ to 806 MHZ.

51. The receiver of claim 31 wherein said amplifier and said first and second mixers are physically located on the same integrated circuit substrate.

52. The receiver of claim 51 wherein said first and second IF filters are physically located on said integrated circuit substrate.

53. The receiver of claim 51 wherein said first and second IF filters are not physically located on said integrated circuit substrate.

54. The receiver of claim 53 further comprising a frequency synthesizer for generating said first and second local oscillator signals, wherein said frequency synthesizer is physically located on said integrated circuit substrate.

55. The receiver of claim 54 further comprising a digital serial bus interface for receiving control signals for said receiver, wherein said digital serial bus interface is physically located on said integrated circuit substrate.

56. The receiver of claim 51 wherein only one of said first and second IF filters is physically located on said integrated circuit substrate.

57. A dual conversion RF tuner serving as the front end of a television receiver comprising:

a low noise amplifier passing all channels in a received television band;

a first mixer having a first input coupled to said low noise amplifier and a second input coupled to a first local oscillator signal, wherein said first mixer outputs a first IF signal;

a first IF filter coupled to said first mixer and providing coarse channel selection, wherein, said first IF filter removes all channels outside a selected frequency hand from said first IF signal;

a second mixer having a first input coupled to said first IF filter and a second input coupled to a second local oscillator signal; and

a second IF filter coupled to said second mixer and providing fine channel selection, wherein said low noise amplifier, said first mixer and said second mixer are physically located on the same integrated circuit substrate, and wherein only one of said first and second IF filters is physically located on said integrated circuit substrate.