Integrated Set-Top Box with Daisy-Chaining
The present invention is an integrated set-top box having daisy-chaining capability. The set-top box includes a down-stream path having a tuner and a digital receiver portion and an up-stream path having a power amplifier. In one embodiment, the tuner, digital receiver, and power amplifier can all be disposed on a common substrate. In another embodiment, the tuner can be disposed on a first substrate, and the digital receiver and the power amplifier can be disposed on a second substrate. The set-top box includes a daisy-chain buffer having an input coupled to an input of the tuner and having an output coupled to an input of another receiving entity such as another set-top box, tuner, cable, etc., where the daisy-chain buffer is configured to provide a signal to drive the receiving entity.
1 . A set-top box, comprising:
a common carrier;
a down-stream path having a tuner and a digital receiver portion, the tuner disposed on a first substrate attached to the common carrier, and the digital receiver portion disposed on a second substrate attached to the common carrier;
an up-stream path having a power amplifier disposed on the second substrate with the digital receiver portion; and
a daisy-chain buffer having an input coupled to an input of the tuner and having an output coupled to an input of a further receiving entity, the daisy-chain buffer configured to provide a signal to drive the further receiving entity.
2 . The set-top box of claim 1 , wherein the further receiving entity is one or more of another set-top box, an integrated tuner, an isolated tuner, a television, and a cable.
3 . The set-top box of claim 1 , further comprising an amplifier having an output coupled to the input of the daisy-chain buffer.
4 . The set-top box of claim 3 , wherein the amplifier is a low noise amplifier.
5 . The set-top box of claim 4 , wherein the low noise amplifier includes tilt compensation.
6 . The set-top box of claim 3 , wherein the amplifier is disposed on the common carrier.
7 . The set-top box of claim 3 , wherein the amplifier is disposed on the first substrate.
8 . The set-top box of claim 1 , wherein the daisy-chain buffer is disposed on the first substrate.
9 . The set-top box of claim 1 , wherein the daisy-chain buffer includes tilt compensation.
10 . A set-top box, comprising:
a common substrate;
a down-stream path having a tuner and a digital receiver portion each disposed on the common substrate;
an up-stream path having a power amplifier disposed on the common substrate; and
a daisy-chain buffer having an input coupled to an input of the tuner and having an output coupled to an input of a further receiving entity, the daisy-chain buffer configured to provide a signal to drive the further receiving entity.
11 . The set-top box of claim 10 , wherein the further receiving entity is one or more of another set-top box, an integrated tuner, an isolated tuner, a television, and a cable.
12 . The set-top box of claim 10 , further comprising an amplifier having an output coupled to the input of the daisy-chain buffer.
13 . The set-top box of claim 12 , wherein the amplifier is a low noise amplifier.
14 . The set-top box of claim 13 , wherein the low noise amplifier includes tilt compensation.
15 . The set-top box of claim 12 , wherein the amplifier is disposed on the common carrier.
16 . The set-top box of claim 10 , wherein the daisy-chain buffer includes tilt compensation.
17 . A television receiver system, comprising:
two or more set-top boxes, each set-top box having
a common carrier;
a down-stream path having a tuner and a digital receiver portion, the tuner disposed on a first substrate attached to the common carrier, and the digital receiver portion disposed on a second substrate attached to the common carrier;
an up-stream path having a power amplifier disposed on the second substrate with the digital receiver portion; and
a daisy-chain buffer having an input coupled to an input of the tuner of the first set-top box and having an output coupled to an input of a second set-top box, the daisy-chain buffer configured to provide a signal to drive the second set-top box.
18 . The television receiver system of claim 17 , further comprising:
a front-end circuit configured to process the signal prior to providing the signal to one or more of the set-top boxes.
19 . A television receiver system, comprising:
two or more set-top boxes, each set-top box having
a common substrate;
a down-stream path having a tuner and a digital receiver portion each disposed on the common substrate;
an up-stream path having a power amplifier disposed on the common substrate; and
a daisy-chain buffer having an input coupled to an input of the tuner of a first set-top box and having and output coupled to an input of a second set-top box, the daisy-chain buffer configured to provide a signal to drive the second set-top box.
20 . The television receiver system of claim 19 , further comprising:
a front-end circuit configured to process the signal prior to providing the signal to one or more of the set-top boxes.
21 . A set-top box, comprising:
a tuner; and
a daisy-chain buffer configured to provide a signal to drive an additional receiving entity, the daisy-chain buffer having an input coupled to an input of the tuner and having an output capable of being coupled to an input of the additional receiving entity.
22 . The set-top box of claim 21 , wherein the additional receiving entity is one or more of another set-top box, an integrated tuner, an isolated tuner, a television, and a cable.