IP Library Granted Patent US 9,509,396
Granted Patent B2
US 9,509,396 · App. 14/532,918 · Granted Nov 29, 2016

Systems and methods for shared analog-to-digital conversion in a communication system

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,509,396
App. No.
14/532,918
Granted
Nov 29, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A low noise block circuit includes a first input signal trace configured to receive a first satellite signal centered at a first frequency; a second signal trace configured to receive a second satellite signal centered at a second frequency; a combiner having a first input connected to the first input signal trace and a second input connected to the second signal trace, and configured to combine the first and second satellite signals to generate and output a combined satellite signal; and an analog-to-digital converter element having a first input coupled to receive the combined satellite signal, and configured to convert the combined satellite signal from an analog signal to a digital signal.

Claims (42)

1. In a low noise block integrated circuit having a plurality of analog inputs, an analog-to-digital converter and a digital channel stacking switch (CSS), a method comprising:

receiving a first satellite signal centered at a first frequency;

receiving a second satellite signal centered at a second frequency;

combining the first and second satellite signals to form a combined signal;

the analog-to-digital converter transforming the combined signal from an analog signal to a digital signal;

providing the digital signal to the digital CSS;

receiving a third satellite signal centered at a third frequency;

receiving a fourth satellite signal centered at a fourth frequency;

translating the third satellite signal to a fifth frequency, combining the translated third satellite signal with fourth satellite signals to form a second combined signal;

a second analog-to-digital converter transforming the combined signal from an analog signal to a second digital signal; and

providing the second digital signal to the digital CSS.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second frequency are the same frequency, and further comprising adjusting at least one of the first and second frequencies prior to combining the satellite signals.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second frequency are different frequencies.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third and fourth frequency are the same frequency and wherein translating comprises translating the third frequency to a frequency far enough away from the fourth frequency to avoid interference between the translated third satellite signal with the fourth satellite signal upon combining.

5. A low noise block circuit comprising:

a first input signal trace configured to receive a first Ka-band satellite signal centered at a first frequency;

a second signal trace configured to receive a first Ku-band satellite signal centered at a second frequency;

a combiner having a first input connected to the first input signal trace and a second input connected to the second signal trace, and configured to combine the first Ka-band satellite signal with the first Ku-band satellite signal to generate and output a combined satellite signal;

an analog-to-digital converter having a first input coupled to receive the combined satellite signal, and configured to convert the combined satellite signal from an analog signal to a digital signal;

a third input signal trace configured to receive a second Ka-band satellite signal centered at the first frequency;

a fourth signal trace configured to receive a second Ku-band satellite signal centered at the second frequency;

a combiner having a first input connected to the first input signal trace and a second input connected to the second signal trace, and configured to combine the second Ka-band satellite signal with the second Ku-band satellite signal to generate and output a second combined satellite signal;

a second analog-to-digital converter having a first input coupled to receive the second combined satellite signal, and configured to convert the second combined satellite signal from an analog signal to a digital signal;

a fifth input signal trace configured to receive a third Ka-band satellite signal centered at the first frequency;

a sixth signal trace configured to receive a fourth Ka-band satellite signal centered at the first frequency;

a frequency translator configured to translate the third Ka-band satellite signal to a different frequency;

a third combiner having a first input connected to the an output of the frequency translator and a second input connected to the sixth signal trace, and configured to combine the third Ka-band satellite signal with the translated third Ka-band satellite signal to generate and output a third combined satellite signal; and

a third analog-to-digital converter having a first input coupled to receive the third combined satellite signal, and configured to convert the third combined satellite signal from an analog signal to a digital signal.

6. In a WiFi front-end module integrated circuit having a plurality of analog inputs, an analog-to-digital converter and a baseband processor, a method comprising:

receiving a first WiFi signal centered at a first frequency;

receiving a second WiFi signal centered at a second frequency;

combining the first and second WiFi signals to form a combined signal;

the analog-to-digital converter transforming the combined signal from an analog signal to a digital signal;

providing the digital signal to the digital baseband processor;

receiving a third WiFi signal centered at a third frequency;

receiving a fourth WiFi signal centered at a fourth frequency;

translating the third WiFi signal to a fifth frequency, combining the translated third WiFi signal with fourth WiFi signals to form a second combined signal;

a second analog-to-digital converter transforming the combined signal from an analog signal to a second digital signal; and

providing the second digital signal to the digital baseband processor.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first and second frequency are the same frequency, and further comprising adjusting at least one of the first and second frequencies prior to combining the WiFi signals.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first and second frequency are different frequencies.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the third and fourth frequency are the same frequency and wherein translating comprises translating the third frequency to a frequency far enough away from the fourth frequency to avoid interference between the translated third WiFi signal with the fourth WiFi signal upon combining.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 9, 2021
From: MAXLINEAR, INC.; MAXLINEAR COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; EXAR CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 056816/0089 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2021
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: MAXLINEAR, INC.; EXAR CORPORATION; MAXLINEAR COMMUNICATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 056656/0204 →
SUCCESSION OF AGENCY (REEL 042453 / FRAME 0001) Recorded Jul 1, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053115/0842 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 12, 2017
From: MAXLINEAR, INC.; ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC (F/K/A ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.); EXAR CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042453/0001 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 18, 2015
From: ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; EXCALIBUR SUBSIDIARY, LLC; ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
To: ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 035706/0188 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 15, 2015
From: EXCALIBUR ACQUISITION CORPORATION; ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 035704/0504 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2014
From: PETROVIC, BRANISLAV; YU, TOMMY; BRANDON, TROY; DUNCAN, RALPH
To: ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 034109/0743 →