Multi-Channel RF Tuner Using Shared Down-Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tuners can only receive one radio frequency channel at a time, limiting simultaneous reception of multiple channels carrying analog and/or digital information.
Innovation Solution
A tuner design featuring multiple up converters that select and convert channels to different intermediate frequencies, a combiner to combine these signals, and a down converter to convert them to a lower frequency range, with optional filters and a single demodulator for channel separation and demodulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple independent tuners are used to receive multiple channels simultaneously, then channel reception capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple tuner functions into a single integrated device. Multiple up-conversion modules share common components including the multi-channel signal input interface, combiner unit, down-conversion module, and demodulator. This merging approach enables simultaneous reception of multiple channels while reducing overall device complexity and cost compared to using completely separate independent tuners.
Solution Approach 2:
The single integrated tuner is designed to perform multiple functions - it can simultaneously select and process multiple different radio frequency channels through shared processing pathways. The combiner unit consolidates signals from multiple up-conversion modules, and the single down-conversion and demodulation system handles all channels, making the device universal in its channel reception capability.
2Productivity
If multiple independent tuners are used to receive multiple channels simultaneously, then channel reception capability is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple tuner functions into one integrated device with shared components, the physical footprint is significantly reduced. The common signal path, shared local oscillators, combined filtering stages, and unified demodulation system all contribute to compacting the overall device area while maintaining multi-channel reception capability.
3Productivity
If multiple independent tuners are used to receive multiple channels simultaneously, then channel reception capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated tuner architecture allows multiple channels to be processed through shared signal paths and common processing stages. The combiner unit consolidates multiple up-converted signals, enabling subsequent down-conversion and demodulation to be performed once for all channels rather than separately for each channel, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining simultaneous multi-channel reception capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables simultaneous independent selection and reception of multiple radio frequency channels, reducing cost, size, and power consumption while maintaining effective channel separation and demodulation.
Implementation Method 1
each of which is arranged to select, independently of the or each other up converter, a channel from a multi channel input signal and to convert the selected channel to a respective first intermediate frequency
Implementation Method 2
a combiner for combining the selected channels at the first intermediate frequencies from the up converters into a common signal
Implementation Method 3
a down converter for converting the common signal to a lower frequency range with the selected channels being converted to respective different second intermediate frequencies
Implementation Method 4
The tuner may comprise a respective first intermediate frequency filter between each of the up converters and the combiner
Data Source
AI summary
A tuner is provided for selecting, independently of each other, a plurality of radio frequency channels for simultaneous reception. The tuner comprises a plurality of up converters whose outputs are combined in a combiner. Each up converter operates independently of the other up converters to select a channel from a multi channel input signal and to convert the selected channel to a first high intermediate frequency. The intermediate frequencies of the up converters are different from each other. The common signal from the combiner is supplied to a down converter which converts the signals at different high intermediate frequencies to signals at different lower intermediate frequencies. Thus, the signals from the combiner and from the down converter carry all of the selected channels at different intermediate frequencies. The signal from the down converter is subsequently processed to separate the selected channels and demodulate them. This may be achieved by a common demodulation circuit, which processes channels simultaneously.