Multi-Channel Receiver Architecture for Simultaneous TV Channel Tuning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional television receivers are unable to efficiently handle multi-channel tuning due to limitations in existing architectures, which result in complex system implementation, signal quality degradation, and high costs, especially when trying to receive multiple channels simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A multi-channel receiver architecture that incorporates a partitioned time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a multi-band selector circuit, which splits the digital signal into sub-signals with reduced sampling rates, allowing for hierarchical channel selection and simultaneous reception of multiple channels without information loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple single-channel tuners are used in parallel to achieve multi-channel reception, then the number of received channels increases, but system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple single-channel tuner functions into a single integrated multi-channel receiver. The receiver uses one RF input connected to one tuner, but through RF signal replicating means and multiple baseband processors, it achieves multi-channel reception capability without needing multiple physical tuners, thus reducing system complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces RF signal replicating means as an intermediary component between the single RF input/tuner and multiple baseband processors. This mediator allows one tuner output to be distributed to multiple processing paths, enabling multi-channel reception from a single tuner and avoiding the complexity of parallel tuner implementations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If RF signal is replicated to feed multiple receivers, then multi-channel reception is enabled, but signal quality degrades significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The RF signal replicating means acts as an intermediary that distributes the RF signal to multiple baseband processors while maintaining signal integrity. By performing the replication at RF level before baseband processing, the system enables multi-channel reception without the signal quality degradation that would occur with later-stage replication, as each baseband processor receives a clean copy of the original RF signal.
3Measurement precision
If independent frequency synthesizers are used per tuner, then channel selection accuracy is maintained, but device complexity and cost become impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single frequency synthesizer that serves multiple baseband processors simultaneously. This universal frequency synthesizer provides the necessary frequency references to all processors, enabling accurate channel selection across multiple channels without requiring independent synthesizers for each processor, thus reducing complexity while maintaining precision.
4Device complexity
If conventional single-channel tuner architecture is used, then receiver design is simple, but simultaneous multi-channel reception is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the baseband processing function into multiple independent processors, each capable of handling different channels. The single tuner output is divided and fed to multiple baseband processors through the RF signal replicating means, allowing simultaneous multi-channel reception while keeping the RF front-end design simple and conventional.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single processing path to multiple parallel processing paths at the baseband level. By adding the dimension of parallel baseband processing while keeping the RF front-end conventional, the system achieves simultaneous multi-channel reception without complicating the original simple tuner design.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-channel receiver comprising an ADC and a multi-band, multi-channel selector. The ADC converts a broad-band multi-channel signal into a digital signal. The digital signal is then broken into sub-bands each containing a plurality of channels. A channel selector selects desired channels from the appropriate sub-band. The multi-channel receiver may deliver simultaneous channels equal to the number of channel selectors that have been implemented. The multi-channel receiver may be implemented on a single integrated circuit.