IP Library Granted Patent US 7,719,253
Granted Patent B2
US 7,719,253 · App. 11/597,095 · Granted May 18, 2010

Apparatus for verifying a low noise block output voltage

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,719,253
App. No.
11/597,095
Granted
May 18, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to system diagnostic circuitry for antenna systems with active antenna components. More specifically, the present invention discloses an apparatus comprising a connection between an antenna and a power supply conducting a first DC voltage, a source of a pulse width modulated signal, a lowpass filter for converting the pulse width modulated signal to a second DC voltage, and a comparator for comparing the first DC voltage and the second DC voltage and generating an output signal responsive to the difference between the first DC voltage and the second DC voltage.

Claims (27)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a supply voltage line supplying a first DC voltage;

a source of a pulse width modulated signal;

a lowpass filter for convening the pulse width modulated signal to a second DC voltage;

a comparator, connected to said supply voltage line and an output of said low pass filter, for comparing the first DC voltage and the second DC voltage and generating an output signal responsive to the difference between the first DC voltage and the second DC voltage;

a microprocessor for generating the pulse width modulated signal and receiving the output signal; and

a switch connected between the comparator and a plurality of supply voltage lines providing a plurality of DC voltages, wherein said switch facilitates the comparison of said plurality of DC voltages with said second DC voltage generated from said pulse width modulated signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first DC voltage is a low noise block power supply voltage.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first power supply signal is a low noise block power supply voltage.

4. An apparatus comprising:

a supply voltage line conducting a first power supply signal;

a source of a pulse width modulated signal;

a lowpass filter for converting the pulse width modulated signal to a substantially DC voltage; and

a comparator, connected to an output of said supply voltage line and an output of said lowpass filter, for comparing the first power supply signal and the substantially DC voltage and generating an output signal responsive to the difference between the first power supply signal and the substantially DC voltage;

a microprocessor for generating the pulse width modulated signal and receiving the output signal; and

a switch connected between the comparator and a plurality of supply voltage lines, wherein said switch facilitates the comparison of said plurality of supply voltages with said substantially DC voltage generated from said pulse width modulated signal.

5. A method of measuring a low noise block (LNB) line voltage comprising the steps of:

applying a pulse width modulated waveform to a first input;

processing said pulse width modulated waveform to produce an effective DC voltage;

comparing said effective DC voltage to said LNB line voltage wherein said LNB line voltage has an amplitude;

adjusting the characteristics of said pulse width modulated waveform until a predetermined relationship between said effective DC value and said LNB line voltage is met; and

calculating said amplitude of said LNB line voltage using the characteristics of said pulse modulated waveform.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the duty cycle of the pulse width modulated waveform is adjusted until a predetermined relationship between said effective DC value and said LNB line voltage is met.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the amplitude of the pulse width modulated waveform is adjusted until a predetermined relationship between said effective DC value and said LNB line voltage is met.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the pulse width modulated signal is processed using a lowpass filter.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the steps of comparing said effective DC voltage to said LNB line voltage wherein said LNB line voltage has an amplitude and adjusting the characteristics of said pulse width modulated waveform until a predetermined relationship between said effective DC value and said LNB line voltage is met are performed subject to a ramp method of approximation.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein the steps of comparing said effective DC voltage to said LNB line voltage wherein said LNB line voltage has an amplitude and adjusting the characteristics of said pulse width modulated waveform until a predetermined relationship between said effective DC value and said LNB line voltage is performed by successive approximation.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2018
From: THOMSON LICENSING DTV
To: INTERDIGITAL MADISON PATENT HOLDINGS
Reel/Frame 046763/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2017
From: THOMSON LICENSING
To: THOMSON LICENSING DTV
Reel/Frame 043302/0965 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 21, 2017
From: THOMSON LICENSING S.A.
To: THOMSON LICENSING
Reel/Frame 042303/0268 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2006
From: THOMSON LICENSING S.A.
To: THOMSON LICENSING
Reel/Frame 018637/0781 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2006
From: FITZPATRICK, JOHN JAMES; SCHMIDT, ROBERT WARREN; PITSCH, ROBERT ALAN; CURTIS, JOHN JOSEPH III
To: THOMSON LICENSING S.A.
Reel/Frame 018659/0914 →