Abstract:
A broadband tuner includes a tracking filter with calibration to compensate for component errors and drift. The filters use off-die inductors that are preferably within a system-in-package (SIP) with other critical tuner components, which produces a highly integrated tuner front end with high Q filters within a single package. High voltage varactors with a large tuning range can be used for variable capacitors. The integration of the tuner into a SIP allows the tuner design to be optimized for cost and performance while keeping the critical RF layout requirements within the tuner. A configurable tuner front end enables modes for low noise, high linearity, good input return loss (S11) across the entire RF band, and applying a test tone in the calibration mode. The switchable mode enables the tuner to be effective during weak terrestrial reception, strong terrestrial reception, and connection to a cable plant.
Abstract:
A cascadable AGC amplifier in a signal distribution system includes a low noise cascadable amplifier having a through path and a cascadable output. The cascadable amplifier is also configured to provide AGC over a predetermined input power range. The cascadable AGC amplifier can be configured to provide gain or attenuation. When the cascadable AGC amplifier is implemented in a signal distribution system, typically as part of a signal distribution device, an input signal can be gain controlled and supplied to multiple signal paths without distortion due to degradation of signal to noise ratio or distortion due to higher order amplifier products. The distributed signal is not significantly degraded by distortion regardless of the number of cascadable AGC amplifiers connected in series or the position of the cascadable AGC amplifier in the signal distribution system.
Abstract:
A frequency translation system includes first and second translational switches, and a signal bus coupled therebetween. The first translational switch includes one or more inputs configured to receive a respective one or more first input signals, a first plurality of outputs, and a second plurality of outputs. The second translational switch includes one or more inputs configured to receive a respective one or more second input signals, a first output, and a second output. The signal bus, coupled between the first and second translational switches, includes (i) a first bus line coupled to a first one of the first plurality of outputs of the first translational switch, and to the first output of the second translational switch, and (ii) a second bus line coupled to a first one of the second plurality of outputs of the first translational switch, and to the second output of the second translational switch.
Abstract:
A translational switch system includes first and second translational switches, and a signal bus coupled therebetween. The first translational switch includes one or more inputs configured to receive a respective one or more first input signals, a first plurality of outputs, and a second plurality of outputs. The second translational switch includes one or more inputs configured to receive a respective one or more second input signals, a first output, and a second output. The signal bus, coupled between the first and second translational switches, includes (i) a first bus line coupled to a first one of the first plurality of outputs of the first translational switch, and to the first output of the second translational switch, and (ii) a second bus line coupled to a first one of the second plurality of outputs of the first translational switch, and to the second output of the second translational switch.
Abstract:
An N×M crosspoint switch allows a signal from any one of the N inputs to be routed to one or more of the M crosspoint switch outputs. The switches within the crosspoint switch can be configured as voltage mode or current mode switches. In voltage mode switching an input to the crosspoint switch is provided to an input device, such as an amplifier, having a low output impedance. The output of the low impedance device is provided to a switch that connects the output of the low impedance device to a high input impedance device, such as a band translation device. In current mode switching, the low impedance output of the input device is connected to selectively activated high isolation transconductance devices having high input impedances. The outputs of the transconductance devices are connected to low impedance devices that operate as summing nodes.
Abstract:
An N×M crosspoint switch allows a signal from any one of the N inputs to be routed to one or more of the M crosspoint switch outputs. The switches within the crosspoint switch can be configured as voltage mode or current mode switches. In voltage mode switching an input to the crosspoint switch is provided to an input device, such as an amplifier, having a low output impedance. The output of the low impedance device is provided to a switch that connects the output of the low impedance device to a high input impedance device, such as a band translation device. In current mode switching, the low impedance output of the input device is connected to selectively activated high isolation transconductance devices having high input impedances. The outputs of the transconductance devices are connected to low impedance devices that operate as summing nodes.
Abstract:
An outdoor satellite receiving unit (ODU) receives several independent satellite signals, selects two signals with a switch matrix, downconverts the two signals to a bandstacked signal with a high and a low band signal, and outputs the bandstacked signal on the same cable to receiver units. Several satellite signals can be selected in groups of two or more and output to independent receiver units. Signal selecting is performed at the received radio frequency (RF) and bandstacking is performed with a single downconversion step to an intermediate frequency (IF). Channel stacking on the same cable of more than two channels from several satellites can be achieved by using frequency agile downconverters and bandpass filters prior to combining at the IF output. A slow transitioning switch minimizes signal disturbances when switching and maintains input impedance at a constant value.
Abstract:
A satellite interference canceling system cancels the interference between two or more signals received by a satellite receiver. The signals can be two signals experiencing cross polarization interference or signals that experience interference from other satellite signals. Gain and phase are applied to the received signals and then combined with the other signals to result in cancellation by subtraction. The gain and phase values needed to cancel the interference are derived from measurements of carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N) as an indication of the interference level. The C/N can be measured in the set-top box indoor unit. Coherency restoration is performed in receivers that downconvert the signals before performing interference cancellation.
Abstract:
An N×M crosspoint switch allows a signal from any one of the N inputs to be routed to one or more of the M crosspoint switch outputs. The switches within the crosspoint switch can be configured as voltage mode or current mode switches. In voltage mode switching an input to the crosspoint switch is provided to an input device, such as an amplifier, having a low output impedance. The output of the low impedance device is provided to a switch that connects the output of the low impedance device to a high input impedance device, such as a band translation device. In current mode switching, the low impedance output of the input device is connected to selectively activated high isolation transconductance devices having high input impedances. The outputs of the transconductance devices are connected to low impedance devices that operate as summing nodes.
Abstract:
An outdoor satellite receiving unit (ODU) receives several independent satellite signals, selects two signals with a switch matrix, downconverts the two signals to a bandstacked signal with a high and a low band signal, and outputs the bandstacked signal on the same cable to receiver units. Several satellite signals can be selected in groups of two or more and output to independent receiver units. Signal selecting is performed at the received radio frequency (RF) and bandstacking is performed with a single downconversion step to an intermediate frequency (IF). Channel stacking on the same cable of more than two channels from several satellites can be achieved by using frequency agile downconverters and bandpass filters prior to combining at the IF output. A slow transitioning switch minimizes signal disturbances when switching and maintains input impedance at a constant value.