Satellite broadcast reception system capable of connection with plurality of satellite receivers

• US 6,832,071 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2000
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Imai, Takao, Wakiyama, Masanori, Okahashi, Tetsuhide, Atarashi, Hiroshi, Nakamura, Makio
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Application Number:
  US09/664,562
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.02, 455/3.03, 455/3.04, 455/428, 455/430, 455/13.3, 370/326, 725/68, 725/69, 725/71, 342/361, 342/362, 342/364, 342/365, 342/366
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/247 with frequency mixer, e.g. for direct satellite reception or Doppler radar
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 7/165 at least two frequency changers being located in different paths, e.g. in two paths with carriers in quadrature combined with amplitude demodulation H03D1/2245, combined with angle demodulation H03D3/007; N-path filters H03H19/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/18 Input circuits, e.g. for coupling to an antenna or a transmission line coupling networks between antennas or lines and receivers independent of the nature of the receiver H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/28 the receiver comprising at least one semiconductor device having three or more electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving

Abstract

An LNB (low noise block down converter) that can have a plurality of receivers connected includes a conversion unit receiving a plurality of types of polarized wave signals transmitted from each of a plurality of satellites to convert the plurality of polarized wave signals into a plurality of intermediate frequency signals, an amplify switch connected to the conversion unit to receive the plurality of intermediate frequency signals as inputs, and having a plurality of outputs connected to a plurality of output ports, respectively, determining a status according to a select signal and providing an amplified intermediate frequency signal, and a first control unit receiving digital serial data to select a satellite from an external source via an output port and providing a select signal according to the digital serial data.

Claims

1. A low noise block down converter comprising:

a conversion unit receiving a plurality of types of polarized wave signals transmitted from each of a plurality of satellites to convert the plurality of polarized wave signals into a plurality of intermediate frequency signals,

an amplify switch connected to said conversion unit to receive said plurality of intermediate frequency signals as inputs, and having a plurality of outputs connected to a plurality of output ports, respectively, determining a status according to a select signal and providing amplified said intermediate frequency signals,

a first control unit receiving digital serial data to select a satellite from an external source via said output port, and providing said select signal according to said digital serial data,

wherein said conversion unit comprises;

a plurality of low noise amplifiers provided corresponding to said plurality of satellites, respectively, each low noise amplifier receiving said plurality of types of polarized wave signals to amplify low noise,

a plurality of filters connected to said plurality of low noise amplifiers to remove an image signal from said plurality of types of polarized wave signals amplified in low noise,

a local oscillator generating a local oscillator signal,

a plurality of buffer amplifiers provided corresponding to said plurality of satellites, respectively, and connected to said local oscillator to amplify said local oscillator signal, and

a plurality of mixers provided corresponding to said plurality of satellites, respectively, connected to a filter and a buffer amplifier corresponding to a satellite, mixing said local oscillator signal with said plurality of types of polarized wave signals removed in image signal to provide an intermediate frequency signal.

2. The low noise block down converter according to claim 1, wherein said filter is a trap.

3. The low noise block down converter according to claim 1, wherein said filter is a band pass filter.

4. The low noise block down converter according to claim 1, wherein said filter is a high pass filter.

5. The low noise block down converter according to claim 1, wherein said digital serial signal is serial data having two types of voltage values.

6. A low noise block down converter comprising:

a conversion unit receiving a plurality of types of polarized wave signals transmitted from each of a plurality of satellites to convert the plurality of polarized wave signals into a plurality of intermediate frequency signals,

an amplify switch connected to said conversion unit to receive said plurality of intermediate frequency signals as inputs, and having a plurality of outputs connected to a plurality of output ports, respectively, determining a status according to a select signal and providing amplified said intermediate frequency signals,

a first control unit receiving digital serial data to select a satellite from an external source via said output port, and providing said select signal according to said digital serial data,

wherein said amplify switch comprises comprises;

an amplify unit connected to said conversion unit to amplify said plurality of intermediate frequency signals, and

a switch connected to said amplify unit, receiving said amplified plurality of intermediate frequency signals as inputs, and including a plurality of outputs connected to said plurality of output ports, respectively, determining a status according to said select signal.

7. The low noise block down converter according to claim 6, wherein said switch comprises

a first switch identical in number to the numbers of said plurality of satellites, provided corresponding to said plurality of satellites, respectively, each first switch circuit having a plurality of output ports, providing a polarized wave signal of the same type from the same output port according to said select signal, and

a plurality of second switch circuits, each second switch circuit receiving as an input the same output port differing from the other of said first switch circuit identical in number with said plurality of satellites, and providing said input to the output according to said select signal.

8. The low noise block down converter according to claim 6, wherein said switch includes a switch having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs.

9. A low noise block down converter comprising:

a conversion unit receiving a plurality of types of polarized wave signals transmitted from each of a plurality of satellites to convert the plurality of polarized wave signals into a plurality of intermediate frequency signals

an amplify switch connected to said conversion unit to receive said plurality of intermediate frequency signals as inputs, and having a plurality of outputs connected to a plurality of output ports, respectively, determining a status according to a select signal and providing amplified said intermediate frequency signals,

a first control unit receiving digital serial data to select a satellite from an external source via said output port, and providing said select signal according to said digital serial data,

wherein said amplifier switch comprises

a switch having a plurality of outputs, connected to said conversion unit to receive said plurality of intermediate frequency signals as inputs, and determining a status according to said select signal, and

an amplify unit connected to said switch, and having a plurality of outputs connected to said plurality of output ports, respectively, to amplify said plurality of outputs of said switch.

10. The low noise block down converter according to claim 9, wherein said amplify unit comprises a plurality of amplifiers connected to said plurality of outputs, respectively, of said switch to amplify respective said plurality of outputs,

said low noise block down converter further comprising a plurality of constant voltage regulators receiving power from an external source via said plurality of output ports to supply to said plurality of amplifiers.

11. A low noise block down converter comprising:

a conversion unit receiving a plurality of types of polarized wave signals transmitted from each of a plurality of satellites to convert the plurality of polarized wave signals into a plurality of intermediate frequency signals,

an amplify switch connected to said conversion unit to receive said plurality of intermediate frequency signals as inputs, and having a plurality of outputs connected to a plurality of output ports, respectively, determining a status according to a select signal and providing amplified said intermediate frequency signals,

a first control unit receiving digital serial data to select a satellite from an external source via said output port, and providing said select signal according to said digital serial data,

wherein said first control unit includes a second control unit receiving digital serial data to select a satellite and a direct current having a voltage value corresponding to the type of polarized wave signal from an external source via said output port, and providing said select signal according to said digital serial data and the voltage value of said direct current.

12. The low noise block down converter according to claim 11, further comprising:

a power switch connected to said plurality of output ports to select any of said plurality of output ports according to a control signal and connecting the selected output port to the output, and

a constant voltage power supply circuit connected to said power switch, receiving said direct current output from said power switch to supply power subjected to conversion to a constant voltage to said conversion unit and said second control unit,

wherein said second control unit comprises

a select signal output unit providing said select signal according to said digital serial data and the voltage value of said direct current, and

a control signal output unit providing said control signal according to said digital serial data and the voltage value of said direct current.

13. The low noise block down converter according to claim 12, wherein said power switch is connected to said plurality of output ports to select an output port determined according to a predetermined priority and connecting the selected output port to the output.

14. The low noise block down converter according to claim 12, wherein said power switch comprises {n (n−

1)/2} comparators when the number of said output ports is n.

15. A satellite broadcast reception system comprising:

a conversion unit receiving a plurality of types of polarized wave signals transmitted from each of a plurality of satellites to convert the plurality of polarized wave signals into a plurality of intermediate frequency signals,

an amplify switch connected to said conversion unit to receive said plurality of intermediate frequency signals as inputs, and having a plurality of outputs connected to a plurality of output ports, respectively, determining a status according to a select signal and providing amplified said intermediate frequency signals,

a low noise block down converter receiving digital serial data to select a satellite from an external source via said output port to output said select signal according to said digital serial data, and

a satellite broadcast receiver connected to said low noise block down converter for usage;

wherein said conversion unit comprises;

a plurality of low noise amplifiers provided corresponding to said plurality of satellites, respectively, each low noise amplifier receiving said plurality of polarized wave signals to amplify low noise,

a plurality of filters connected to said plurality of low noise amplifiers to remove an image signal from said plurality of types of polarized wave signals amplified in low noise,

a local oscillator generating a local oscillator signal,

a plurality of buffer amplifiers provided corresponding to said plurality of satellites, respectively, and connected to said local oscillator to amplify said local oscillator signals respectively, and

a plurality of mixers provided corresponding to said plurality of satellites, respectively, connected to a filter and a buffer amplifier corresponding to a satellite, mixing said local oscillator signal with said plurality of types of polarized wave signals removed in image signal to output an intermediate frequency signal.

16. The satellite broadcast reception system according to claim 15, wherein said filter is a trap.

17. The satellite broadcast reception system according to claim 15, wherein said filter is a band pass filter.

18. The satellite broadcast reception system according to claim 15, wherein said filter is a high pass filter.

19. The satellite broadcast reception system according to claim 15, wherein said digital serial signal is serial data having two types of voltage values.

20. The satellite broadcast reception system according to claim 15, wherein said satellite broadcast receiver comprises

an intermediate frequency signal conversion unit extracting and providing a video signal and an audio signal from an intermediate frequency signal based on a wave from a satellite input to said input port,

an input unit to input a select signal to select a satellite, and

a digital serial data supply unit connected to said input unit to supply digital serial data to select a satellite to said input port according to said select signal.

21. A satellite broadcast reception system comprising:

a conversion unit receiving a plurality of types of polarized wave signals transmitted from each of a plurality of satellites to convert the plurality of polarized wave signals into a plurality of intermediate frequency signals,

an amplify switch connected to said conversion unit to receive said plurality of intermediate frequency signals as inputs, and having a plurality of outputs connected to a plurality of output ports, respectively, determining a status according to a select signal and providing amplified said intermediate frequency signals,

a low noise block down converter receiving digital serial data to select a satellite from an external source via said output port to output said select signal according to said digital serial data, and

a satellite broadcast receiver connected to said low noise block down converter for usage;

wherein said amplify switch comprises;

an amplify unit connected to said conversion unit to amplify said plurality of intermediate frequency signals, and

a switch connected to said amplify unit, receiving said plurality of intermediate frequency signals amplified as inputs, having a plurality of outputs connected to said plurality of output ports, respectively, determining a status according to said select signal.

22. The satellite broadcast reception system according to claim 21, wherein said switch comprises

a first switch circuit identical in number to the numbers of said plurality of satellites, provided corresponding to said plurality of satellites, each first switch circuit having a plurality of output ports, providing a polarized wave signal of the same type from the same output port according to said select signal, and

a plurality of second switch circuits, each receiving as an input the same output port respectively differing from the other of said first switch circuits identical in number with said plurality of satellites to provide said input to the output according to said select signal.

23. The satellite broadcast reception system according to claim 21, wherein said switch includes a switch having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs.

24. A satellite broadcast reception system comprising:

a conversion unit receiving a plurality of types of polarized wave signals transmitted from each of a plurality of satellites to convert the plurality of polarized wave signals into a plurality of intermediate frequency signals,

an amplify switch connected to said conversion unit to receive said plurality of intermediate frequency signals as inputs, and having a plurality of outputs connected to a plurality of output ports, respectively, determining a status according to a select signal and providing amplified said intermediate frequency signals,

a low noise block down converter receiving digital serial data to select a satellite from an external source via said output port to output said select signal according to said digital serial data, and

a satellite broadcast receiver connected to said low noise block down converter for usage;

wherein said amplify switch comprises

a switch connected to said conversion unit, and having a plurality of outputs, receiving said plurality of intermediate frequency signals as inputs, and determining a status according to said select signal, and

an amplify unit connected to said switch, and having a plurality of outputs connected to said plurality of output ports, respectively, to amplify respective said plurality of outputs of said switch.

25. The satellite broadcast reception system according to claim 24, wherein said amplify unit includes a plurality of amplifiers connected to said plurality of outputs, respectively of said switch to amplify respective said plurality of outputs,

said satellite broadcast reception system further comprising a plurality of constant voltage regulators receiving power from an external source via said plurality of output ports to supply to said plurality of amplifiers.

26. A satellite broadcast reception system comprising:

a conversion unit receiving a plurality of types of polarized wave signals transmitted from each of a plurality of satellites to convert the plurality of polarized wave signals into a plurality of intermediate frequency signals,

an amplify switch connected to said conversion unit to receive said plurality of intermediate frequency signals as inputs, and having a plurality of outputs connected to a plurality of output ports, respectively, determining a status according to a select signal and providing amplified said intermediate frequency signals,

a low noise block down converter receiving digital serial data to select a satellite from an external source via said output port to output said select signal according to said digital serial data, and

a satellite broadcast receiver connected to said low noise block down converter for usage, a first control unit receiving digital serial data to select a satellite from an external source via said output ports, and providing said select signal according to said digital serial data,

wherein said first control unit includes a second control unit receiving digital serial data to select a satellite and a direct current having a voltage value corresponding to the type of polarized wave signal from an external source through said output port, and providing said select signal according to said digital serial data and the voltage value of said direct current.

27. The satellite broadcast reception system according to claim 26, wherein said low noise block down converter comprises

a power switch connected to said plurality of output ports to select any of the output ports according to a control signal and connecting the selected output port to its output, and

a constant value power supply circuit connected to said power switch to receive said current output by said power switch to supply power subjected to conversion into constant voltage to said conversion unit and said second control unit,

wherein said second control unit comprises

a select signal output unit providing said select signal according to said digital serial data and the voltage value of said direct current, and

a control signal output unit providing said control signal according to said digital serial data and the voltage value of said direct current.

28. The satellite broadcast reception system according to claim 27, wherein said power switch is connected to said plurality of output ports to select an output port determined according to a predetermined priority and connecting the selected output port to its output.

29. The satellite broadcast reception system according to claim 27, wherein said power switch comprises {n (n−

1)/2} comparators when the number of said output ports is n.

30. A satellite broadcast reception system comprising:

a conversion unit receiving a plurality of types of polarized wave signals transmitted from each of a plurality of satellites to convert the plurality of polarized wave signals into a plurality of intermediate frequency signals,

an amplify switch connected to said conversion unit to receive said plurality of intermediate frequency signals as inputs, and having a plurality of outputs connected to a plurality of output ports, respectively, determining a status according to a select signal and providing amplified said intermediate frequency signals,

a low noise block down converter receiving digital serial data to select a satellite from an external source via said output port to output said select signal according to said digital serial data, and

a satellite broadcast receiver connected to said low noise block down converter for usage;

wherein said satellite broadcast receiver comprises;

an intermediate frequency signal conversion unit extracting and providing a video signal and an audio signal from an intermediate frequency signal based on a wave from a satellite input to said input port,

an input unit to input a select signal to select a satellite, and

a digital serial data supply unit connected to said input unit to supply digital serial data to select a satellite to said input port according to said select signal;

wherein said intermediate frequency signal conversion unit comprises;

a video•

audio signal extraction unit extracting and providing a video signal and an audio signal from said intermediate frequency signal,

a reception signal information output unit providing reception signal information representing a reception status of a satellite by said intermediate frequency signal,

said satellite broadcast receiver further comprising a status signal output unit connected to said input and said reception signal information output unit to output said select signal and said reception signal information.