IP Library Granted Patent US 9,531,419
Granted Patent B2
US 9,531,419 · App. 14/828,687 · Granted Dec 27, 2016

Loop-through for multi-chip communication systems

Inventors: Glenn Chang (Carlsbad, CA); Sridhar Ramesh (Carlsbad, CA); Curtis Ling (Carlsbad, CA)
Assignee: MAXLINEAR, INC.
H04B1/18G06F7/00H01L25/00H04B1/10H04B1/16H04L12/2838H01L2924/0002H04L2012/2849
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,531,419
App. No.
14/828,687
Granted
Dec 27, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for multi-chip receivers with loop-through feeds. A receiver that comprises plurality of chips may receive one or more input feeds, with each of the chips generating a corresponding output comprising data (e.g., channels) extracted from the one or more input feeds. Only a first chip may handle reception and/or initial processing of the one or more input feeds, with each one of the remaining chips processing a loop-through feed generated in the first chip, in order to generate the corresponding output of that chip. The loop-through feed may be generated based on the one or more input feeds. In this regard, the loop-through feed may comprise at least one of the one or more input feeds that is partially processed in the first one of the plurality of chips.

Claims (155)

1. A system, comprising:

receiver circuitry comprising a plurality of chips, wherein:

each one of the plurality of chips is operable to generate a corresponding output based on one or more input feeds into said receiver circuitry;

only a first one of the plurality of chips is operable to:

handle reception and/or initial processing of the one or more input feeds; and

generate a loop-through feed based on the one or more input feeds, wherein said loop-through feed comprises at least one of the one or more input feeds that is partially processed in said first one of the plurality of chips; and

each one of a remaining one or more of the plurality of chips is operable to process said loop-through feed to generate the corresponding output of said each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips;

the one or more input feeds comprise a cable based feed, a satellite based feed, a terrestrial based feed, and/or a broadband based feed; and

the outputs generated by the plurality of chips based on the one or more input feeds comprise data corresponding to one or more channels.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of chips is operable to generate the corresponding output by applying one or more of channelization and/or demodulation.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the channelization and/or demodulation are configured in each one of the plurality of chips to obtain particular data associated with the each one of the plurality of chips.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the initial processing of the one or more input feeds comprises applying one or both of amplification and analog-to-digital conversion.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first one of the plurality of chips is operable to generate said loop-through feed by applying one or more of:

channelization corresponding to the each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips;

loop-through switching based processing; and

loop-through interfacing based processing.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said first one of the plurality of chips is operable to apply said channelization to obtain particular data in said one or more input feeds associated with the each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein said loop-through switching based processing comprises applying channel and/or band stacking.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein said loop-through interfacing based processing comprises applying digital-to-analog conversion and/or serialization.

9. The system of claim 5 , wherein each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips is operable to process said loop-through feed by applying loop-through interfacing based processing corresponding to said loop-through interfacing based processing applied by said first one of the plurality of chips.

10. A method, comprising:

in receiver circuitry that comprises a plurality of chips:

receiving one or more input feeds via a first one of the plurality of chips;

handling in said first one of the plurality of chips initial processing input feeds;

generating in said first one of the plurality of chips, a loop-through feed based on the one or more input feeds, said loop-through feed comprising at least one of the one or more input feeds that is partially processed in said first one of the plurality of chips;

processing in each one of a remaining one or more of the plurality of chips said loop-through feed; and

generating in each one of the plurality of chips a corresponding output, wherein:

said first one of the plurality of chips generated its corresponding output based on processing of said one or more input feeds; and

each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips generates its corresponding output based on processing of said loop-through feed;

wherein:

the one or more input feeds comprise a cable based feed, a satellite based feed, a terrestrial based feed, and/or a broadband based feed; and

the corresponding output generated by each one of the plurality of chips comprises data corresponding to one or more channels.

11. The method of claim 10 , comprising applying in each one of the plurality of chips, when generating its corresponding output, one or more of channelization and/or demodulation.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the channelization and/or demodulation are configured in the each one of the plurality of chips to obtain particular data associated with the each one of the plurality of chips.

13. The method of claim 10 , comprising applying in said first one of the plurality of chips, during said initial processing of the one or more input feeds, one or both of amplification and analog-to-digital conversion.

14. The method of claim 10 , comprising applying in said first one of the plurality of chips, during said generating of said loop-through feed, one or more of:

channelization corresponding to the each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips;

loop-through switching based processing; and

loop-through interfacing based processing.

15. The method of claim 14 , comprising applying said channelization to obtain particular data in said one or more input feeds associated with each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips.

16. The method of claim 14 , comprising applying, during said loop-through switching based processing, channel and/or band stacking.

17. The method of claim 14 , comprising applying, during said loop-through interfacing based processing, digital-to-analog conversion and/or serialization.

18. The method of claim 14 , comprising applying in the each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips, during said processing of said loop-through feed, loop-through interfacing corresponding to said loop-through interfacing based processing applied in said first one of the plurality of chips.

19. A system, comprising:

receiver circuitry comprising a plurality of chips, wherein:

each one of the plurality of chips is operable to generate a corresponding output based on one or more input feeds into said receiver circuitry;

only a first one of the plurality of chips is operable to:

handle reception and/or initial processing of the one or more input feeds; and

generate a loop-through feed based on the one or more input feeds, wherein said loop-through feed comprises at least one of the one or more input feeds that is partially processed in said first one of the plurality of chips;

each one of a remaining one or more of the plurality of chips is operable to process said loop-through feed to generate the corresponding output of said each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips; and

each one of the plurality of chips is operable to generate the corresponding output by applying one or more of channelization and/or demodulation.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the channelization and/or demodulation are configured in each one of the plurality of chips to obtain particular data associated with the each one of the plurality of chips.

21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the initial processing of the one or more input feeds comprises applying one or both of amplification and analog-to-digital conversion.

22. The system of claim 19 , wherein said first one of the plurality of chips is operable to generate said loop-through feed by applying one or more of:

channelization corresponding to the each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips;

loop-through switching based processing; and

loop-through interfacing based processing.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein said first one of the plurality of chips is operable to apply said channelization to obtain particular data in said one or more input feeds associated with the each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips.

24. The system of claim 22 , wherein said loop-through switching based processing comprises applying channel and/or band stacking.

25. The system of claim 22 , wherein said loop-through interfacing based processing comprises applying digital-to-analog conversion and/or serialization.

26. The system of claim 22 , wherein each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips is operable to process said loop-through feed by applying loop-through interfacing based processing corresponding to said loop-through interfacing based processing applied by said first one of the plurality of chips.

27. A method, comprising:

in receiver circuitry that comprises a plurality of chips:

receiving one or more input feeds via a first one of the plurality of chips;

handling in said first one of the plurality of chips initial processing input feeds;

generating in said first one of the plurality of chips, a loop-through feed based on the one or more input feeds, said loop-through feed comprising at least one of the one or more input feeds that is partially processed in said first one of the plurality of chips;

processing in each one of a remaining one or more of the plurality of chips said loop-through feed;

generating in each one of the plurality of chips a corresponding output, wherein:

said first one of the plurality of chips generated its corresponding output based on processing of said one or more input feeds; and

each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips generates its corresponding output based on processing of said loop-through feed; and

applying in each one of the plurality of chips, during said generating its corresponding output, one or more of channelization and/or demodulation.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the channelization and/or demodulation are configured in the each one of the plurality of chips to obtain particular data associated with the each one of the plurality of chips.

29. The method of claim 27 , comprising applying in said first one of the plurality of chips, during said initial processing of the one or more input feeds, one or both of amplification and analog-to-digital conversion.

30. The method of claim 27 , comprising applying in said first one of the plurality of chips, during said generating of said loop-through feed, one or more of:

channelization corresponding to the each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips;

loop-through switching based processing; and

loop-through interfacing based processing.

31. The method of claim 30 , comprising applying said channelization to obtain particular data in said one or more input feeds associated with each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips.

32. The method of claim 30 , comprising applying, during said loop-through switching based processing, channel and/or band stacking.

33. The method of claim 30 , comprising applying, during said loop-through interfacing based processing, digital-to-analog conversion and/or serialization.

34. The method of claim 30 , comprising applying in the each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips, during said processing of said loop-through feed, loop-through interfacing corresponding to said loop-through interfacing based processing applied in said first one of the plurality of chips.

35. A system, comprising:

receiver circuitry comprising a plurality of chips, wherein:

each one of the plurality of chips is operable to generate a corresponding output based on one or more input feeds into said receiver circuitry;

only a first one of the plurality of chips is operable to:

handle reception and/or initial processing of the one or more input feeds; and

generate a loop-through feed based on the one or more input feeds, wherein said loop-through feed comprises at least one of the one or more input feeds that is partially processed in said first one of the plurality of chips;

each one of a remaining one or more of the plurality of chips is operable to process said loop-through feed to generate the corresponding output of said each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips; and

the initial processing of the one or more input feeds comprises applying one or both of amplification and analog-to-digital conversion.

36. The system of claim 35 , wherein:

each one of the plurality of chips is operable to generate the corresponding output by applying one or more of channelization and/or demodulation; and

the channelization and/or demodulation are configured in each one of the plurality of chips to obtain particular data associated with the each one of the plurality of chips.

37. The system of claim 35 , wherein said first one of the plurality of chips is operable to generate said loop-through feed by applying one or more of:

channelization corresponding to the each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips;

loop-through switching based processing; and

loop-through interfacing based processing.

38. The system of claim 37 , wherein said first one of the plurality of chips is operable to apply said channelization to obtain particular data in said one or more input feeds associated with the each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips.

39. The system of claim 37 , wherein said loop-through switching based processing comprises applying channel and/or band stacking.

40. The system of claim 37 , wherein said loop-through interfacing based processing comprises applying digital-to-analog conversion and/or serialization.

41. The system of claim 37 , wherein each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips is operable to process said loop-through feed by applying loop-through interfacing based processing corresponding to said loop-through interfacing based processing applied by said first one of the plurality of chips.

42. A method, comprising:

in receiver circuitry that comprises a plurality of chips:

receiving one or more input feeds via a first one of the plurality of chips;

handling in said first one of the plurality of chips initial processing input feeds;

generating in said first one of the plurality of chips, a loop-through feed based on the one or more input feeds, said loop-through feed comprising at least one of the one or more input feeds that is partially processed in said first one of the plurality of chips;

processing in each one of a remaining one or more of the plurality of chips said loop-through feed;

generating in each one of the plurality of chips a corresponding output, wherein:

said first one of the plurality of chips generated its corresponding output based on processing of said one or more input feeds; and

each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips generates its corresponding output based on processing of said loop-through feed;

applying in said first one of the plurality of chips, during said initial processing of the one or more input feeds, one or both of amplification and analog-to-digital conversion.

43. The method of claim 42 , comprising applying in each one of the plurality of chips, when generating its corresponding output, one or more of channelization and/or demodulation, wherein the channelization and/or demodulation are configured in the each one of the plurality of chips to obtain particular data associated with the each one of the plurality of chips.

44. The method of claim 42 , comprising applying in said first one of the plurality of chips, during said generating of said loop-through feed, one or more of:

channelization corresponding to the each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips;

loop-through switching based processing; and

loop-through interfacing based processing.

45. The method of claim 44 , comprising applying said channelization to obtain particular data in said one or more input feeds associated with each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips.

46. The method of claim 44 , comprising applying, during said loop-through switching based processing, channel and/or band stacking.

47. The method of claim 44 , comprising applying, during said loop-through interfacing based processing, digital-to-analog conversion and/or serialization.

48. The method of claim 44 , comprising applying in the each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips, during said processing of said loop-through feed, loop-through interfacing corresponding to said loop-through interfacing based processing applied in said first one of the plurality of chips.

49. A system, comprising:

receiver circuitry comprising a plurality of chips, wherein:

each one of the plurality of chips is operable to generate a corresponding output based on one or more input feeds into said receiver circuitry;

only a first one of the plurality of chips is operable to:

handle reception and/or initial processing of the one or more input feeds; and

generate a loop-through feed based on the one or more input feeds, wherein said loop-through feed comprises at least one of the one or more input feeds that is partially processed in said first one of the plurality of chips;

each one of a remaining one or more of the plurality of chips is operable to process said loop-through feed to generate the corresponding output of said each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips; and

said first one of the plurality of chips is operable to generate said loop-through feed by applying one or more of:

channelization corresponding to the each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips;

loop-through switching based processing; and

loop-through interfacing based processing.

50. The system of claim 49 , wherein:

each one of the plurality of chips is operable to generate the corresponding output by applying one or more of channelization and/or demodulation; and

the channelization and/or demodulation are configured in each one of the plurality of chips to obtain particular data associated with the each one of the plurality of chips.

51. The system of claim 49 , wherein said first one of the plurality of chips is operable to apply said channelization to obtain particular data in said one or more input feeds associated with the each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips.

52. The system of claim 49 , wherein said loop-through switching based processing comprises applying channel and/or band stacking.

53. The system of claim 49 , wherein said loop-through interfacing based processing comprises applying digital-to-analog conversion and/or serialization.

54. The system of claim 49 , wherein each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips is operable to process said loop-through feed by applying loop-through interfacing based processing corresponding to said loop-through interfacing based processing applied by said first one of the plurality of chips.

55. A method, comprising:

in receiver circuitry that comprises a plurality of chips:

receiving one or more input feeds via a first one of the plurality of chips;

handling in said first one of the plurality of chips initial processing input feeds;

generating in said first one of the plurality of chips, a loop-through feed based on the one or more input feeds, said loop-through feed comprising at least one of the one or more input feeds that is partially processed in said first one of the plurality of chips;

processing in each one of a remaining one or more of the plurality of chips said loop-through feed;

generating in each one of the plurality of chips a corresponding output, wherein:

said first one of the plurality of chips generated its corresponding output based on processing of said one or more input feeds; and

each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips generates its corresponding output based on processing of said loop-through feed; and

applying in said first one of the plurality of chips, during said generating of said loop-through feed, one or more of:

channelization corresponding to the each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips;

loop-through switching based processing; and

loop-through interfacing based processing.

56. The method of claim 55 , comprising applying in each one of the plurality of chips, when generating its corresponding output, one or more of channelization and/or demodulation, wherein the channelization and/or demodulation are configured in the each one of the plurality of chips to obtain particular data associated with the each one of the plurality of chips.

57. The method of claim 55 , comprising applying said channelization to obtain particular data in said one or more input feeds associated with each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips.

58. The method of claim 55 , comprising applying, during said loop-through switching based processing, channel and/or band stacking.

59. The method of claim 55 , comprising applying, during said loop-through interfacing based processing, digital-to-analog conversion and/or serialization.

60. The method of claim 55 , comprising applying in the each one of said remaining one or more of the plurality of chips, during said processing of said loop-through feed, loop-through interfacing corresponding to said loop-through interfacing based processing applied in said first one of the plurality of chips.

Assignments (4)
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 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14245589 · Apr 4, 2014
Provisional Application 61808291 · Apr 4, 2013
Related Publication 20160013824A1 · Jan 14, 2016