Integrated multi-sat LNB and frequency translation module

• US 8,712,318 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2008
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Norin, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sobutka, Philip
• Application Number:
  US12/127,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20080298516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,163 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving

Abstract

Systems and devices for receiving satellite signals are disclosed. A system in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier in the plurality of amplifiers receiving the signals, a Frequency Translation Module, comprising a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, wherein each amplifier in the plurality of amplifiers is coupled to a separate analog-to-digital converter in the plurality of analog-to-digital converters, wherein the plurality of analog-to-digital converters convert the signals into digital data streams, a digital signal processing section, coupled to the plurality of analog-to-digital converters, wherein the digital signal processing section at least translates the frequency of the digital data streams and filters the digital data streams, a digital-to-analog section, coupled to the digital signal processing section; wherein the digital-to-analog section downconverts the satellite signals to an intermediate frequency band, and a receiver, coupled to the digital-to-analog section, wherein the receiver receives an output of the digital-to-analog section of the module at the intermediate frequency band, the output of the digital to analog section being on a single coaxial cable.

Claims

1. A system for receiving signals, comprising:

a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier in the plurality of amplifiers receiving the signals and outputting a modulated signal, the plurality of amplifiers being integrated with a frequency translation module;

wherein the frequency translation module, comprises;

a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, wherein each amplifier in the plurality of amplifiers is coupled to a dedicated analog-to-digital converter in the plurality of analog-to-digital converters, wherein the plurality of analog-to-digital converters convert the modulated signals into digital data streams;

a digital signal processing section, coupled to the plurality of analog-to-digital converters, wherein the digital signal processing section at least translates the frequency of the digital data streams and filters the digital data streams;

a digital-to-analog section, coupled to the digital signal processing section; and

a receiver, coupled to the digital-to-analog section, wherein the receiver receives an output of the digital-to-analog section of the module at the intermediate frequency band, the output of the digital to analog section being on a single coaxial cable.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a communications section, coupled between the digital-to-analog section and the receiver, the communications section comprising circuitry to provide at least proper signal strength of the digital-to-analog section to the receiver.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the intermediate frequency band includes a band of frequencies from 250 Megahertz to 2150 Megahertz.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an antenna reflector, coupled to the plurality of amplifiers, wherein the signals are transmitted from at least one satellite.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital-to-analog section comprises only one digital-to-analog converter.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a multiswitch, coupled to the at least one antenna, wherein the multiswitch has a output separate from the output of the digital-to-analog section.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of amplifiers being integrated with the frequency translation module thereby narrows the power level range of the modulated signals provided to the plurality of analog-to-digital converters.

7. A system for receiving modulated satellite signals, comprising:

at least one antenna;

a module, coupled to the at least one antenna, the module comprising;

a plurality of translators for translating the modulated satellite signals to a modulated intermediate frequency band of signals;

a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, integrated with the plurality of translators, for digitizing the modulated satellite signals;

a digital signal processor, for filtering the digitized modulated intermediate band of signals and for combining the filtered digitized modulated intermediate band of signals into a composite signal; and

a receiver, coupled to the module, wherein the receiver receives the composite signal in the intermediate frequency band.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the modulated intermediate frequency band includes a band of frequencies from 250 Megahertz to 2150 Megahertz.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of translators being integrated with the plurality of analog-to-digital converters thereby narrows the power level range of the modulated signals provided to the plurality of analog-to-digital converters.

10. An integrated antenna, comprising:

a plurality of translators, for translating the signals received by the antenna into an intermediate frequency band of signals;

a plurality of converters, integrated with and coupled to the plurality of translators, for digitizing the intermediate frequency band of signals into a plurality of modulated data streams;

a digital processing section, coupled to the plurality of converters, wherein the digital processing section at least filters the plurality of modulated data streams; and

a combining section, coupled to the processing section, for combining the plurality of modulated data streams into a combined data stream, the combined data stream being output on a single output.

11. The integrated antenna of claim 10, wherein the digital processing section further translates the frequency of the modulated data streams.

12. The integrated antenna of claim 11, wherein the combining section further comprises a digital-to-analog section, wherein the digital-to-analog section downconverts the combined data stream.

13. The integrated antenna of claim 10, wherein the signals are transmitted to the antenna from a plurality of satellites.

15. The integrated antenna of claim 10, wherein the plurality of translators being integrated with the plurality of converters thereby narrows the power level range of the modulated signals provided to the plurality of analog-to-digital converters.