Method and system for multiple tuner application using a low noise broadband distribution amplifier
View Patent ↗An active splitter circuit arrangement includes a first amplification module having a number of first input ports and first output ports. The first amplification module is configured to provide first stage amplification to a received input signal and produce from the amplified input signal a number of output signals, each substantially matching the input signal. Also included is a first gain control device having a number of gain input ports respectively coupled to the first output ports and a gain output port coupled to at least one of the first input ports. The first gain control device is configured to control a gain of the first amplification module. Next, a number of second amplification modules corresponding to the number of output signals has a number of second input ports respectively coupled to the first output ports. Each second amplification module is configured to receive a control signal from the second gain control device, provide second stage amplification to a corresponding one of the number of output signals based upon the control signal and produce an amplified output signal.
1. An amplifier comprising:
a first amplification module having a number of first input ports and first output ports, the first amplification module being configured to (i) provide first stage amplification to a received input signal and (ii) produce from the amplified input signal a number of output signals, each having characteristics substantially matching characteristics of the input signal;
a first gain control device having a number of gain input ports respectively coupled to the first output ports and a gain output port coupled to at least one of the first input ports, the first gain control device being configured to control a gain of the first amplification module; and
a number of second amplification modules, each having a number of second input ports respectively coupled to the first output ports;
wherein each second amplification module is configured to (i) receive a control signal from a second gain control device, (ii) provide second stage amplification to a corresponding one of the number of output signals based upon the control signal and (iii) produce an amplified output signal.
2. The amplifier of claim 1 , wherein each amplified output signal is a differential signal.
3. The amplifier of claim 2 , wherein the first amplification module is a low noise amplifier.
4. The amplifier of claim 2 , wherein the first amplification module is a low noise variable gain amplifier.
5. The amplifier of claim 2 , wherein the first gain control device simultaneously controls a gain of all of the number of second amplification modules.
6. The amplifier of claim 2 , wherein the number of output signals is representative of a predetermined frequency spectrum; and
wherein the first gain control device simultaneously controls a gain across the predetermined frequency spectrum.
7. The amplifier of claim 2 , wherein a gain of the first amplification module is digitally controlled.
8. The amplifier of claim 2 , wherein the first amplification module comprises:
a power detector configured to (i) monitor the first output ports, (ii) produce a compensating signal based upon the monitoring, and (iii) provide the compensating signal as an input to the first amplification module.
9. The amplifier of claim 1 , further comprising:
a tuner coupled to each of the second stage amplification modules and configured to receive the amplified output signal;
wherein the tuner derives information from the amplified output signal based upon a predetermined operating frequency, the tuner producing a tuned signal thereby; and
a demodulator coupled to the tuner and configured to demodulate the tuned signal, the demodulator (i) producing a gain control signal and (ii) providing the gain control signal to the second gain control device.
10. The amplifier of claim 9 , wherein the first and second amplification modules are differential amplifiers.
11. The amplifier of claim 9 , wherein the tuner comprises:
a variable gain amplifier.
12. The amplifier of claim 9 , wherein the tuner comprises:
a number of mixers and at least one filter.
13. The amplifier of claim 12 , wherein the filter is configured to have a bandwidth comprising:
five or fewer channels.
14. The amplifier of claim 12 , wherein the first amplification module comprises:
a pair of plural differential amplifiers and a dividing network.
15. The amplifier of claim 14 , wherein a gain of the first amplification module is controlled by selectively activating or deactivating particular ones of the plural differential amplifiers of the pair.
16. The amplifier of claim 14 , wherein the filter is configured to have a bandwidth comprising:
five or fewer channels.