Dynamic current sharing in KA/KU LNB design

• US 8,515,342 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ho, Kesse
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HAI V
• Application Number:
  US11/546,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20070082610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,504 Days
• Field of Search: 455/13.4
• US Class Current: 455/13.4
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/247 with frequency mixer, e.g. for direct satellite reception or Doppler radar

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system providing power to Low Noise Block Amplifiers (LNBs) in a satellite signal receiving system wherein at least one receiver provides power to the LNBs. A system in accordance with the present invention comprises a first stage of power regulation, coupled to the at least one receiver in a respective fashion, wherein the first stage of power regulation comprises linear regulation, and a second stage of power regulation, coupled between the first stage of power regulation and the LNBs, wherein the second stage of power regulation comprises a switching power regulator. Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a first stage of power regulation, coupled to the at least one receiver in a respective fashion, wherein the first stage of power regulation comprises a switching power regulator, and a second stage of power regulation, coupled between the first stage of power regulation and the LNBs, wherein the second stage of power regulation comprises a linear regulator.

Claims

1. A system for providing continuous power to Low Noise Block Amplifiers (LNBs) in a satellite signal receiving system, wherein each receiver in a plurality of receivers receives satellite signals on a satellite signal connection and provides the continuous power to all of the LNBs receiving the satellite signals, comprising:

a first stage of power regulation, coupled to each receiver in the plurality of receivers in a respective fashion, wherein the first stage of power regulation comprises linear regulation; and

a second stage of power regulation, coupled between the first stage of power regulation and the LNBs, wherein the second stage of power regulation comprises a switching power regulator which switches on and off to balance current supplied by each receiver in the plurality of receivers to allow all of the LNBs to be powered in a proper manner;

the first stage of power regulation and the second stage of power regulation providing power regulation to the continuous power provided on the satellite signal connection from each receiver in the plurality of receivers to all of the LNBs.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first stage of power regulation and the second stage of power regulation allow the plurality of receivers to share power requirements.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the switching power regulator is a DC-DC converter.

4. A system for providing continuous power to Low Noise Block Amplifiers (LNBs) in a satellite signal receiving system, wherein each receiver in a plurality of receivers receives satellite signals on a satellite signal connection and provides continuous power to all of the LNBs receiving the satellite signals, comprising:

a first stage of power regulation, coupled to each receiver in the plurality of receivers in a respective fashion, wherein the first stage of power regulation comprises a switching power regulator which switches on and off to balance current supplied by each reviver in the plurality of recievers to allow all of the LNBs to be powered in a proper manner; and

a second stage of power regulation, coupled between the first stage of power regulation and the LNBs, wherein the second stage of power regulation comprises a linear regulator;

the first stage of power regulation and the second stage of power regulation providing power regulation to the continuous power provided on the satellite signal connection from each receiver in the plurality of receivers to all of the LNBs.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first stage of power regulation and the second stage of power regulation allow the plurality of receivers to share power requirements of the LNBs.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the switching power regulator is a DC-DC converter.

7. A system for delivering satellite signals to a plurality of receivers from a plurality of satellites, wherein at least a first satellite in the plurality of satellites broadcasts a first set of satellite signals broadcast in a first frequency band, and at least a second satellite in the plurality of satellites broadcasts a second set of satellite signals in a second frequency band, the system comprising;

an antenna, the antenna receiving the first set of satellite signals and the second set of satellite signals, the antenna comprising Low Noise Block Amplifiers (LNBs);

a plurality of receivers, coupled to the LNBs, for receiving the first set of satellite signals and second set of satellite signals, wherein each receiver in the plurality of receivers receives the first set of satellite signals and the second set of satellite signals on a satellite signal connection and provides continuous power to the LNBs, and

a first stage of power regulation, coupled between the each receiver and all of the LNBs, wherein the first stage of power regulation comprises a switching power regulator which switches on and off to balance current supplied by each reviver in the plurality of receivers to allow all of the LNBs to be powered in a proper manner; and

a second stage of power regulation, coupled between the first stage of power regulation and the LNBs, wherein the second stage of power regulation comprises a linear regulator;

the first stage of power regulation and the second stage of power regulation providing power regulation to the continuous power provided on the satellite signal connection from the at least on receiver to all of the LNBs.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first stage of power regulation and the second stage of power regulation allow the plurality of receivers to share power requirements of the LNBs.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the switching power regulator is a DC-DC converter.