Satellite digital audio radio service tuner architecture for reception of satellite and terrestrial signals

• US 6,510,317 B1
• Filed: 11/04/1999
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sirius XM Radio Inc. (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: XM Satellite Radio Incorporated (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Marko, Paul D., Nguyen, Anh X.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Iqbal, Khawar
• Application Number:
  US09/435,317
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 455/502, 455/503, 455/11.1, 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/313, 455/314, 455/315, 455/323, 455/302, 455/304, 455/306, 455/428, 455/552, 455/553, 455/277.1, 455/277.2, 455/3.02, 455/3.06, 375/347
• US Class Current: 455/428
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/005 adapting radio receivers, transmitters andtransceivers for operation on two or more bands, i.e. frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0057 using diplexing or multiplexing filters for selecting the desired band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/28 the receiver comprising at least one semiconductor device having three or more electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18523 Satellite systems for providing broadcast service to terrestrial stations, i.e. broadcast satellite service arrangements specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving H04H40/90; picture transmission via satellite H04N1/00103; television transmission via satellite H04N7/20

Abstract

A satellite digital audio radio receiver system and method. The inventive receiver includes a circuit for down-converting a first ensemble in a received combined signal in a first mode of operation and for down-converting a second ensemble from the received combined signal in a second mode of operation. The first ensemble includes a first signal received from a first transmitter, a second signal received from a second transmitter, and a third signal received from a third transmitter. The second ensemble includes a second signal from the first transmitter, a second signal from the second transmitter, and a second signal from the third transmitter. A controller is included to selectively switch the circuit from the first mode to the second mode. The first ensemble comprises first, second and third frequency slots and the second ensemble comprises fourth, fifth, and sixth frequency slots. In the illustrative embodiment, the first and second transmitters are mounted on first and second satellites and the third transmitter is a terrestrial repeater. Both ensembles are transmitted in accordance with the XM frequency plan. The first ensemble is down-converted using low side injection and the second ensemble down-converted using high side injection. The inventive circuit includes a synthesized frequency source. The circuit further includes a first intermediate frequency down-conversion stage with a first mixer for mixing the received combined signals with the output of synthesized frequency source. The circuit further includes first and second surface acoustic wave filters for separating the first and second signals received from the third signals. The inventive circuit further includes a second intermediate frequency down-conversion stage having second and third mixers for mixing the outputs of the first and second filters, respectively, with the output of a local oscillator.

Claims

1. A receiver comprising:

first means for down-converting a first ensemble in a received signal in a first mode of operation and for down-converting a second ensemble in said received signal in a second mode of operation, said first ensemble being transmitted with a first carrier and comprising a first signal received from a first transmitter, a first signal received from a second transmitter, and a first signal received from a third transmitter and said second ensemble being transmitted with a second carrier and comprising a second signal from said first transmitter, a second signal from said second transmitter, and a second signal from said third transmitter and

second means for selectively switching said first means from said first mode to said second mode.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first and second transmitters are mounted on first and second satellites respectively.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said third transmitter is a terrestrial repeater.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first ensemble comprises first, second and third frequency slots.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said second ensemble comprises fourth, fifth, and sixth frequency slots.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first means includes means for down-converting signals in said first ensemble using low side injection.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said second means includes means for down converting signals in said second ensemble using high side injection.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said ensembles are transmitted in accordance with the XM frequency plan.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first means includes a switchable dual voltage controlled oscillator.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said first means further includes a first intermediate frequency down-conversion stage with a first mixer for mixing said received combined signals with the output of said voltage controlled oscillator.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said first means further includes first and second filters for separating said first and second signals received from said third signals.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said first and second filters are surface acoustic wave filters.

13. The invention of claim 11 wherein said first means further includes a second intermediate frequency down-conversion stage having second and third mixers for mixing the outputs of said first and second filters, respectively, with the output of a local oscillator.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said second mixer and said third mixer receive a reference input from a single local oscillator.

15. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second means is a system controller.

16. A receiver comprising:

a switchable dual voltage controlled oscillator circuit for down-converting a first ensemble in a received combined signal in a first mod e of operation and for down-converting a second ensemble in a second mode of operation, said first ensemble being transmitted with a first carrier and including first, second and third frequency slots having a first signal in said first slot received from a first satellite, a first signal in said second slot received from a second satellite, and a first signal in said third slot received from a terrestrial repeater and said second ensemble being transmitted with a second carrier and including fourth, fifth, and sixth frequency slots from having a second signal from said first satellite in said fourth slot, a second signal from said second satellite in said fifth slot, and a second signal from said terrestrial repeater in said sixth slot and

a controller for selectively switching said switchable dual voltage controlled oscillator circuit from said first mode to said second mode.

17. The invention of claim 16 wherein said voltage controlled oscillator includes a circuit for down-converting signals in said first ensemble using low side injection.

18. The invention of claim 17 wherein said voltage controlled oscillator includes a circuit for down-converting signals in said second ensemble using high side injection.

19. The invention of claim 18 wherein said ensembles are transmitted in accordance with the XM frequency plan.

20. A receiver comprising:

a switchable dual voltage controlled oscillator circuit for down-converting a first ensemble in a received combined signal the first mode operation and for down-converting a second ensemble in said received combined signal in a second mode of operation, said first ensemble being transmitted with a first carrier and comprising a first signal received from a first satellite, a first signal received from a second satellite, and a first signal received from a terrestrial repeater and said second ensemble being transmitted with a second carrier and comprising a second signal from said first satellite, a second signal from said second satellite, and a second signal from said terrestrial repeater, said switchable voltage controlled oscillator circuit including;

a first intermediate frequency down-conversion stage with a first mixer for mixing said received combined signals with the output of said voltage controlled oscillator,

first and second filters for separating said first and second signals received from said third signals, and

a second intermediate frequency down-conversion stage having second and third mixers for mixing the outputs of said first and second filters, respectively, with the output of a local oscillator and

a controller for selectively switching said switchable dual voltage controlled oscillator circuit from said first mode to said second mode.

21. The invention of claim 20 wherein said first and second filters are surface acoustic wave filters.

22. The invention of claim 20 wherein said second mixer and said third mixer receive a reference input from a single local oscillator.

23. A method for down-converting a received signal including the steps of:

down-converting a first ensemble in a received combined signal in a first mode of operation and for down-converting a second ensemble in said received combined signal in a second mode of operation, said first ensemble being transmitted with a first carrier and comprising a first signal received from a first transmitter, a first signal received from a second transmitter, and a first signal received from a third transmitter and said second ensemble being transmitted with a second carrier and comprising a second signal from said first transmitter, a second signal from said second transmitter, and a second signal from said third transmitter and

selectively switching from said first mode to said second mode.

24. A receiver comprising:

first means for down-converting a first ensemble in a received signal in a first mode of operation and for down-converting a second ensemble in said received signal in a second mode of operation, said first ensemble being transmitted with a first carrier and comprising a first signal received from a first transmitter, a first signal received from a second transmitter, and a first signal received from a third transmitter and said second ensemble being transmitted with a second carrier and comprising a second signal from said first transmitter, a second signal from said second transmitter, and a second signal from said third transmitter, said first means including;

a switchable dual voltage controlled oscillator,

a first intermediate frequency down-conversion stage with a first mixer for mixing said received combined signals with the output of said voltage controlled oscillator,

first and second filters for separating said first and second signals received from said third signals, and

a second intermediate frequency down-conversion stage having second and third mixers for mixing the outputs of said first and second filters, respectively, with the output of a local oscillator and

second means for selectively switching said first means from said first mode to said second mode.