Upconverter for a television signal headend distribution center handling analog and digital signals and method of making and using the same

• US 6,567,132 B1
• Filed: 03/10/1999
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Groff, Donald E., McGregor, Marlin F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): NATNAEL, PAULOS M
• Application Number:
  US09/265,814
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 348/723, 348/724, 348/469, 348/21, 348/726-729, 455/118, 455/260, 455/93, 375/216, 375/340.25, 375/340.28
• US Class Current: 348/723
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 1/06 Arrangements for supplying the carrier waves ; Arrangements for supplying synchronisation signals synchronisation in general H03B; frequency multiplication H03B19/00, H03B21/00; mixing H03D7/00, H03D9/00; carrier supply H04L5/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/40 Modulation circuits
• 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 5/46 for receiving on more than one standard at will deflecting circuits of multi-standard receivers H04N3/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0803 using frequency interleaving, e.g. with precision offset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence

Abstract

An upconverter for converting IF television signals to VHF or UHF signals prior to broadcast is configured to process either analog or digital television signals. The upconverter identifies the type of incoming television signal and generates an appropriate reference signal depending on whether the incoming television signal is digital or analog. In an analog format, the reference signal is used by the modulator generating the IF signal to synchronize phase with the signals output by various other upconverters. In a digital format, the reference signal is used, for example, as a test signal for the upconversion circuit.

Claims

1. An upconverter for converting an IF television signal to a VHF or UHF signal, said upconverter processing either digital or analog television signals, said upconverter comprising:

an upconversion circuit for receiving said IF television signal and outputting a converted television signal; and

a reference signal circuit for supplying a reference signal to a modulator, said modulator being external to said upconverter, said reference signal circuit generating a first reference signal when said IF television signal is an analog signal and a second reference signal, different from said first reference signal, when said IF television signal is a digital signal.

2. The upconverter of claim 1, wherein said reference signal circuit comprises a voltage controlled oscillator with an output range including both said first and second reference signals.

3. The upconverter of claim 2, wherein said reference signal circuit further comprises a phase locked loop circuit for controlling said oscillator to output either said first reference signal or said second reference signal.

4. The upconverter of claim 3, wherein said reference signal circuit further comprises a control circuit for determining whether said IF television signal is a digital signal or an analog signal and for configuring said phase locked loop circuit according to whether said IF television signal is said digital signal or said analog signal.

5. The upconverter of claim 4, wherein said control circuit samples said IF television signal to determine whether said input television signal is said analog signal or said digital signal.

6. The upconverter of claim 4, wherein said control circuit receives a control signal indicating whether said IF television signal is said digital signal or said analog signal.

7. The upconverter of claim 1, wherein said first reference signal has a frequency of 45.75 MHz and said second reference signal has a frequency of 44 MHz.

22. The upconverter of claim 1, wherein said converted television signal is said VHF or UHF signal.

23. The upconverter of claim 1, wherein said second reference signal being provided to said upconversion circuit as a test signal to test said upconversion circuit.

24. The upconverter of claim 4, wherein said first reference signal has a frequency of 45.75 MHz when said IF television signal is said analog signal, and said second reference signal has a frequency of 44 MHz said IF television signal is said digital signal.

8. A method of upconverting an IF television signal to a VHF or UHF signal regardless of whether said IF television signal is a digital signal or an analog signal, said method comprising:

outputting a first reference signal as a reference signal when said IF television signal is an analog signal;

outputting a second reference signal as said reference signal when said IF television signal is a digital signal, said second reference signal being different from said first reference signal; and

performing said upconverting.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

selectively generating said first reference signal or said second reference signal with a voltage controlled oscillator.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

controlling said voltage controlled oscillator with a phase locked loop circuit.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining whether said IF television signal is a digital signal or an analog signal, and

configuring said phase locked loop circuit according to whether said IF television signal is said digital signal or said analog signal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

sampling said input television signal with said control circuit to determine whether said IF television signal is said analog signal or said digital signal.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving, with said control circuit, a control signal indicating whether said IF television signal is a digital signal or an analog signal.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining whether said IF television signal is a digital signal or an analog signal and selectively providing said first reference signal or second reference signal in response.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

testing an upconversion circuit by providing said second reference signal to said upconversion circuit as a test signal.

25. The method of claim 8, wherein said first reference signal has a frequency of 45.75 MHz when said IF television signal is said analog signal, and said second reference signal has a frequency of 44 MHz said IF television signal is said digital signal.

16. An upconverter for converting an IF television signal to a VHF or UHF signal, said upconverter processing either digital or analog television signals, said upconverter comprising:

an upconversion means for receiving said IF television signal and outputting a converted television signal; and

a reference signal means for supplying a reference signal, said reference signal means outputting a first reference signal when said IF television signal is an analog signal and a second reference signal when said IF television signal is a digital signal.

17. The upconverter of claim 16, wherein said reference signal means comprises a voltage controlled oscillation means with an output range including both said first and second reference signals.

18. The upconverter of claim 17, wherein said reference signal means further comprises a phase locked loop means for controlling said voltage controlled oscillation means to output either said first reference signal or said second reference signal.

19. The upconverter of claim 18, wherein said reference signal means further comprises control means for determining whether said IF television signal is said digital signal or said analog signal and for configuring said phase locked loop means according to whether said IF television signal is said digital signal or said analog signal.

20. The upconverter of claim 19, wherein said control means samples said IF television signal to determine whether said IF television signal is said analog signal or said digital signal.

21. The upconverter of claim 19, wherein said control means receives a control signal indicating whether said IF television signal is said digital signal or said analog signal.

26. The upconverter of claim 16, wherein said first reference signal has a frequency of 45.75 MHz when said IF television signal is said analog signal, and said second reference signal has a frequency of 44 MHz said IF television signal is said digital signal.

27. The upconverter of claim 16, wherein said second reference signal being provided to said upconversion means as a test signal to test said upconversion means.

28. The upconverter of claim 16, wherein said converted television signal is said VHF or UHF signal.