Method and apparatus for DC power management within multi-channel LNBF

1. A method for energizing a multi-channel Low Noise Block Converter integrated with a Feed containing multiple Low Noise Block Converter circuits, the Low Noise Block Converter integrated with a Feed connectable to multiple Integrated Receiver Decoders, comprising the steps of:

detecting the number of Integrated Receiver Decoders present;

energizing all of the Low Noise Block Converter circuits when more than one Integrated Receiver Decoder is detected such that the Low Noise Block Converter circuits are not energized individually selectively; and

energizing one Low Noise Block Converter circuit when only a single Integrated Receiver Decoder is detected, by detecting the presence or not of a frequency tone and detecting the level of the voltage supply and selecting the single Low Noise Block Converter circuit which is to be energized by using an Low Noise Block Converter selection decode circuit to operate said one selected Low Noise Block Converter circuit.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including, where a single Integrated Receiver Decoder is detected, logically determining the selected Low Noise Block Converter circuit that the single Integrated Receiver Decoder has selected, and connecting a predetermined power level associated with the selected Low Noise Block Converter circuit.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the logically determining step is detecting the presence of a voltage level.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the logically determining step is detecting the presence of a frequency tone.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the logically determining step is detecting the presence of a voltage level and a frequency tone.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the logically determining step is decoding a series of frequency tones.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined power level is supplied by one or more rails of a sidecar supply.

8. The method of claim 1 , further including positioning a DC/DC converter inline with a power supply.

9. A power management circuit for energizing a multi-channel Low Noise Block Converter integrated with a Feed containing multiple Low Noise Block Converter circuits, the Low Noise Block Converter integrated with a Feed connectable to multiple Integrated Receiver Decoders, comprising:

a plurality of power sources; and

the plurality of power sources operable to power the Low Noise Block Converter circuits;

an Integrated Receiver Decoder detection circuit detecting the number of Integrated Receiver Decoders present;

1) when only a single Integrated Receiver Decoder is detected, engaging a desired power source to an identified Low Noise Block Converter circuit according to an Low Noise Block Converter identifier signal from the single Integrated Receiver Decoder by detecting whether the identifier signal includes a frequency tone and the detection of the level of the voltage supply and wherein

2) when more than one Integrated Receiver Decoder is detected, engaging of the plurality of power sources to all of the Low Noise Block Converter circuits such that the Low Noise Block Converter circuits are not energized selectively.

10. The power management circuit of claim 9 , wherein the Low Noise Block Converter identifier signal is detected by a voltage level monitor to determine the polarity of the signal.

11. The power management circuit of claim 9 , wherein the Low Noise Block Converter identifier signal is detected by a frequency tone monitor to determine the satellite with which the identified Low Noise Block Converter is to operate.

12. The power management circuit of claim 9 , wherein the Low Noise Block Converter identifier signal is decoded from a series of frequency tones.

13. The power management circuit of claim 9 , wherein the Low Noise Block Converter identifier signal is detected by a voltage level monitor and a frequency tone monitor.

14. The power management circuit of claim 9 , further including a DC/DC converter positioned inline with at least one of the power sources.

15. A power management circuit for energizing a multi-channel Low Noise Block Converter integrated with a Feed containing multiple Low Noise Block Converter circuits, the Low Noise Block Converter integrated with a Feed connectable to multiple Integrated Receiver Decoders, comprising:

an IRD detection circuit with a logical output indicating when the number of Integrated Receiver Decoders is detected; and

an Integrated Receiver Decoder selection decode circuit that,

1) when the logical output indicates one Integrated Receiver Decoder is detected, senses an Low Noise Block Converter identifier signal of the single Integrated Receiver Decoder and energizes the selected Low Noise Block Converter circuit with a preselected power level with reference to the presence or not of a frequency tone in the identifier signal and the voltage level, and

2) when the logical output indicates more than one Integrated Receiver Decoder is detected, energizes all Low Noise Block Converter circuits such that the Low Noise Block Converter circuits are not energized individually selectively.

16. The power management circuit of claim 15 , wherein the Low Noise Block Converter identifier signal is sensed by a voltage level monitor to determine the polarity of the signal.

17. The power management circuit of claim 15 , wherein the Low Noise Block Converter identifier signal is sensed by a frequency tone monitor to determine the satellite with which the identified Low Noise Block Converter is to operate.

18. The power management circuit of claim 15 , wherein the Low Noise Block Converter identifier signal is sensed by a voltage level monitor and a frequency tone monitor.

19. The power management circuit of claim 15 , further including a DC/DC converter positioned inline with at least one of the power sources.

20. The power management circuit of claim 15 , wherein the Low Noise Block Converter identifier signal is sensed by a tone monitor that decodes a series of frequency tones.