HDTV chip with a single IF strip for handling analog and digital reception

1. A method for processing television signals, the method comprising:

communicating analog and digital signals via a single processing path that couples a TV radio frequency (RF) tuner to one or both of a demodulator and/or a decoder, wherein said one or both of said demodulator and/or said decoder processes said analog and digital signals, and wherein said TV RF tuner is coupled to said one or both of said demodulator and/or said decoder only via said single processing path; and

multiplexing said communicated analog and digital signals with a baseband video signal prior to said processing of said analog and digital signal by said one or both of said demodulator and/or said decoder.

2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising filtering said analog and digital signals.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said filtering utilizes a surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter.

4. The method according to claim 2 , comprising amplifying said filtered analog and digital signals.

5. The method according to claim 4 , comprising receiving said amplified filtered analog and digital signals.

6. The method according to claim 4 , comprising demodulating said amplified filtered analog and digital signals by said demodulator to generate a demodulated output signal.

7. The method according to claim 6 , comprising decoding an audio portion of said demodulated output signal.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said decoding is achieved via a Broadcast Television Systems Committee (BTSC) decoder.

9. The method according to claim 6 , comprising multiplexing at least a portion of said amplified filtered analog and digital signals and a video portion of said demodulated output signal to generate a multiplexed signal.

10. The method according to claim 9 , comprising decoding a video portion of said multiplexed signal.

11. A system for processing television signals, the system comprising a single processing path that communicates analog and digital signals from a TV radio frequency (RF) tuner to one or both of a demodulator and/or a decoder, wherein said one or both of said demodulator and/or said decoder processes said analog and digital signals, and wherein said TV RF tuner is coupled to said one or both of said demodulator and/or said decoder only via said single processing path; and

a multiplexer that enables multiplexing of said communicated analog and digital signals with a baseband video signal prior to said processing of said analog and digital signal by said at least one of the following: said demodulator and said decoder.

12. The system according to claim 11 , comprising a filter that filters said analog and digital signals.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said filter is a surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter.

14. The system according to claim 12 , comprising an amplifier that amplifies said filtered analog and digital signals.

15. The system according to claim 14 , comprising a demodulator that receives said amplified filtered analog and digital signals.

16. The system according to claim 14 , comprising a demodulator that demodulates said amplified filtered analog and digital signals to generate a demodulated output signal.

17. The system according to claim 16 , comprising an audio decoder that decodes an audio portion of said demodulated output signal.

18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein said audio decoder is a Broadcast Television Systems Committee (BTSC) decoder.

19. The system according to claim 16 , comprising a multiplexer that multiplexes at least a portion of said amplified filtered analog and digital signals and a video portion of said demodulated output signal to generate a multiplexed signal.

20. The system according to claim 19 , comprising a video decoder that decodes a video portion of said multiplexed signal.

21. A method for processing television signals, the method comprising:

communicating analog and digital signals via a single processing path that couples a TV radio frequency (RF) tuner to one or both of a demodulator and/or a decoder;

filtering said analog and digital signals;

amplifying said filtered analog and digital signals;

demodulating said amplified filtered analog and digital signals by said demodulator to generate a demodulated output signal; and

multiplexing at least a portion of said amplified filtered analog and digital signals and a video portion of said demodulated output signal to generate a multiplexed signal,

wherein said one or both of said demodulator and said decoder processes said analog and digital signals.

22. The method according to claim 21 , comprising decoding a video portion of said multiplexed signal.

23. A system for processing television signals, the system comprising:

a single processing path that communicates analog and digital signals from a TV radio frequency (RF) tuner to one or both of a demodulator and/or a decoder;

a filter that filters said analog and digital signals;

an amplifier that amplifies said filtered analog and digital signals;

a demodulator that demodulates said amplified filtered analog and digital signals to generate a demodulated output signal; and

a multiplexer that multiplexes at least a portion of said amplified filtered analog and digital signals and a video portion of said demodulated output signal to generate a multiplexed signal,

wherein said one or both of said demodulator and/or said decoder processes said analog and digital signals.

24. The system according to claim 23 , comprising a video decoder that decodes a video portion of said multiplexed signal.