Broadcast data receiver apparatus and method for controlling power supply

1. A broadcast data receiving apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a broadcast data receiver connected to at least one low noise block and providing a power supply to said low noise block having a linear regulator and to assess voltage values at the linear regulator; and

control means being provided to control the power supply from said broadcast data receiver and to minimize assessed voltage drops across the linear regulator and having a micro-controller for controlling a voltage switcher and wherein said micro-controller generates a modulating pulse source waveform to control said voltage switcher.

2. A broadcast data receiver apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one or more pre-determined voltage drops may be set in said micro-controller for controlling said voltage switcher.

3. A broadcast data receiver apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a step up voltage switcher is used.

4. A broadcast data receiver apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a step down voltage switcher is used.

5. A broadcast data receiver apparatus according to claim 1 wherein slow ramp up of said modulating pulse source is provided during switching of said voltage switcher from an on to an off condition and/or from vertical to horizontal polarity.

6. A broadcast data receiver apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said modulating pulse source switches off if no voltage measurements are received via an analogue to digital convertor.

7. A broadcast data receiver apparatus according to claim 6 wherein a visual and/or audio indication means is provided to indicate said modulating pulse source switching off.

8. A broadcast data receiver apparatus according to claim 1 wherein hardware current monitoring means are provided in said linear regulator to shut down said low noise block supply during a detected faulty condition.

9. A broadcast data receiver apparatus according to claim 1 wherein two analogue to digital converters are provided for receiving voltage data from two feedback loops.

10. A broadcast data receiver apparatus according to claim 9 wherein one of said two analogue to digital converters receives voltage feedback data from said voltage switcher and the other analogue to digital converter receives voltage feedback from across said linear regulator of said low noise block.

11. A broadcast data receiver apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one voltage rail is provided to generate the voltage from said broadcast data receiver to said low noise block.

12. A broadcast data receiver apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least two analogue to digital converter sampling points are provided to allow input and output voltage values to be measured at said low noise block, thereby allowing the voltage drop to be assessed with respect to the measurements obtained.

13. A method for controlling the power supply from a broadcast data receiver to at least one low noise block connected thereto, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a power supply from said broadcast data receiver to allow operation of said low noise block;

measuring the voltage at at least two analogue to digital converter sampling points;

calculating a voltage drop across a linear regulator of said low noise block; and

controlling the power supply from said broadcast data receiver to said low noise block in response to said voltage measurements obtained by generating a modulating pulse source waveform for controlling a voltage switcher; and

providing slow ramp up of said modulating pulse source during switching of said voltage switcher from an on to an off condition and/or from vertical to horizontal polarity.

14. A broadcast data receiving apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a broadcast data receiver connected to at least one low noise block and providing a power supply to said low noise block having a linear regulator and to assess voltage values at the linear regulator; and

control means being provided to control the power supply from said broadcast data receiver and having a micro-controller for generating a modulating pulse source wave form for controlling a voltage switcher to minimize the assessed voltage drops across the linear regulator; and

slow ramp up of said modulating pulse source being provided during switching of said voltage switcher from an on to an off condition and/or from vertical to horizontal polarity.

15. A broadcast data receiver according to claim 14 wherein one or more pre-determined voltage drops may be set in said micro-controller for controlling said voltage switcher.

16. A broadcast data receiver according to claim 14 wherein a step up and/or step down voltage switcher is used.