Multi-input multi-output tuner front ends
View Patent ↗A front end circuit for a television receiver includes a demultiplexer for inputting a multi-band signal from a signal source and separating the multi-band signal into corresponding bands. A plurality of amplifiers adjust gain on signals corresponding to the bands. A multiplexer combines outputs of the amplifiers into a gain-adjusted signal. A plurality of switches direct selected bands to corresponding tuners. The amplifiers are low noise amplifiers. The amplifiers adjust gain between the bands so as to have similar signal strength in the bands. A cable TV input may also be used, wherein the switches also direct signals from the cable TV to the corresponding tuners. Each amplifier can output two (or more) identical signals for its corresponding band, the multiplexer can be a dual multiplexer, and an output of the multiplexer includes only bands selected for direction to the tuners. The signal source comprises any of a broadcast channel received from an antenna, a cable TV channel received from a cable line, and a combination of the two.
1. A front end circuit for a television receiver comprising:
a demultiplexer for receiving a multi-band signal from a signal source and separating the multi-band signal into corresponding bands;
a plurality of amplifiers for adjusting gain on signals corresponding to the bands;
a multiplexer combining outputs of the amplifiers into a gain-adjusted signal;
means for providing the gain-adjusted signal as two or more identical gain-adjusted signals; and
a plurality of switches directing any combination of signals from 1) the identical gain-adjusted signals and 2) a cable TV input to corresponding tuners.
2. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the amplifiers are low noise amplifiers.
3. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the amplifiers adjust gain between the bands so as to have similar signal strength in the bands.
4. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein each amplifier outputs two identical signals for its corresponding band,
wherein the multiplexer is a dual multiplexer, and
wherein an output of the multiplexer comprises only bands selected for direction to the tuners.
5. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the signal source comprises any of a broadcast channel received from an antenna, a cable TV channel received from a cable line, and a combination of the two.
6. The circuit of claim 5 , further comprising a diplexer receiving an upstream signal from a cable TV subscriber equipment and directing it to a cable TV headend.
7. A front end circuit for a television receiver comprising:
a demultiplexer separating a multi-band signal into corresponding bands;
a plurality of amplifiers adjusting gain on signals corresponding to the bands;
a multiplexer forming a gain-adjusted signal from outputs of the amplifiers;
means for providing the gain-adjusted signal as two or more identical gain-adjusted signals; and
a plurality of switches directing any combination of signals from 1) the identical gain-adjusted signals and 2) a cable TV input to corresponding tuners.
8. The circuit of claim 7 , wherein the amplifiers are low noise amplifiers.
9. The circuit of claim 7 , wherein the amplifiers adjust gain between the bands so as to have similar signal strength in the bands.
10. The circuit of claim 7 , wherein each amplifier outputs two identical signals for its corresponding band,
wherein the multiplexer is a dual multiplexer, and
wherein an output of the multiplexer comprises only bands selected for direction to the tuners.
11. The circuit of claim 7 , wherein a signal source of the multi-band signal comprises any of a broadcast channel received from an antenna, a cable TV channel received from a cable line, and a combination of the two.
12. The circuit of claim 11 , further comprising a diplexer receiving an upstream signal from a cable TV subscriber equipment and directing it to a cable TV headend.
13. A method of processing a signal comprising:
receiving cable TV signals and a multi-band signal from a signal source;
separating the multi-band signal into corresponding bands;
adjusting, via amplifiers, gain on signals corresponding to the bands;
combining outputs of the amplifiers into a gain-adjusted signal;
providing the gain-adjusted signal as two or more identical gain-adjusted signals; and
directing any combination of signals from 1) the identical gain-adjusted signals and 2) the cable TV signals to corresponding tuners.
14. The circuit of claim 13 , wherein the adjusting step adjusts gain between the bands so as to have similar signal strength in the bands.
15. The circuit of claim 13 , further comprising outputting two identical signals for each corresponding band.
16. The circuit of claim 13 , wherein the signal source comprises any of a broadcast channel received from an antenna, a cable TV channel received from a cable line, and a combination of the two.
17. A front end circuit for a television receiver comprising:
a demultiplexer configured to receive a multi-band signal from a signal source and separate the multi-band signal into corresponding bands;
a plurality of amplifiers configured to adjust gain on signals corresponding to the bands, wherein each amplifier outputs two identical signals for its corresponding band;
a dual multiplexer configured to combine outputs of the amplifiers into a gain-adjusted signal, wherein an output of the dual multiplexer includes only bands selected for direction to corresponding tuners and provides the selected bands as two or more identical gain-adjusted signals; and
a plurality of switches configured to direct the identical gain-adjusted signals to the corresponding tuners.
18. A front end circuit for a television receiver comprising:
a demultiplexer configured to receive a multi-band signal from a signal source and separate the multi-band signal into corresponding bands, wherein the signal source includes any of a broadcast channel received from an antenna, a cable TV channel received from a cable line, and a combination of the two;
a plurality of amplifiers configured to adjust gain on signals corresponding to the bands;
a multiplexer configured to combine outputs of the amplifiers into a gain-adjusted signal;
means for providing the gain-adjusted signal as two or more identical gain-adjusted signals;
a plurality of switches configured to direct the identical gain-adjusted signals to corresponding tuners; and
a diplexer configured to receive an upstream signal from a cable TV subscriber equipment and direct it to a cable TV headend.
19. A front end circuit for a television receiver comprising:
a demultiplexer configured to separate a multi-band signal into corresponding bands;
a plurality of amplifiers configured to adjust gain on signals corresponding to the bands, wherein each amplifier outputs two identical signals for its corresponding band;
a dual multiplexer configured to form a gain-adjusted signal from outputs of the amplifiers, wherein an output of the dual multiplexer includes only bands selected for direction to corresponding tuners and provides the selected bands as two or more identical gain-adjusted signals; and
a plurality of switches configured to direct the identical gain-adjusted signals to the corresponding tuners.
20. A front end circuit for a television receiver comprising:
a demultiplexer configured to separate a multi-band signal into corresponding bands, wherein a signal source of the multi-band signal includes any of a broadcast channel received from an antenna, a cable TV channel received from a cable line, and a combination of the two;
a plurality of amplifiers configured to adjust gain on signals corresponding to the bands;
a multiplexer configured to form a gain-adjusted signal from outputs of the amplifiers;
means for providing the gain-adjusted signal as two or more identical gain-adjusted signals;
a plurality of switches configured to direct the identical gain-adjusted signals to corresponding tuners; and
a diplexer configured to receive an upstream signal from a cable TV subscriber equipment and direct it to a cable TV headend.
21. A method of processing a signal comprising:
receiving a multi-band signal from a signal source;
separating the multi-band signal into corresponding bands;
adjusting, via amplifiers, gain on signals corresponding to the bands;
outputting, from the amplifiers, two identical signals for each corresponding band;
combining outputs of the amplifiers into a gain-adjusted signal;
providing the gain-adjusted signal as two or more identical gain-adjusted signals; and
directing the identical gain-adjusted signals to corresponding tuners, wherein the identical gain-adjusted signals include only bands selected for direction to the tuners.