Semiconductor Chip Signal Routing for Broadcast Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
The expansion of digital broadcasting frequency ranges, including terrestrial and satellite broadcasting, necessitates a broadcast receiving apparatus capable of handling wider frequency bands, leading to increased circuit complexity, size, and cost.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor chip with RF and first-IF input terminals, featuring filters and a switch that dynamically route signals based on frequency, allowing sharing of filter circuits between terrestrial and satellite broadcasting, thereby reducing circuit scale and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate receiving circuits are implemented for terrestrial digital broadcasting and satellite digital broadcasting, then each receiving function can be independently optimized, but the overall circuit scale and layout area increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the terrestrial digital broadcasting receiving circuit and satellite digital broadcasting receiving circuit into a single integrated circuit. The frequency conversion circuits, filtering circuits, and signal processing units are shared between both receiving functions, reducing the overall layout area while maintaining independent receiving capabilities for both broadcasting types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs universal circuits that can perform multiple functions. The frequency conversion circuit can process both terrestrial and satellite broadcasting signals, and the filtering circuit can handle different frequency bands. This multi-functionality reduces the total circuit scale while ensuring both receiving functions operate independently and effectively.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the frequency range is expanded to receive wider frequency bands including CATV Internet services and wideband LNB, then the receiving capability is improved, but the circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic frequency conversion and filtering mechanisms that can adapt to different frequency ranges. The circuit can dynamically adjust its operating parameters to handle terrestrial digital broadcasting, satellite digital broadcasting, CATV Internet services, and wideband LNB frequencies using the same hardware infrastructure, thereby expanding frequency range without proportionally increasing circuit complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the frequency conversion and filtering stages to accommodate different frequency bands. By changing the operating parameters of existing circuits rather than adding dedicated circuits for each frequency range, the system achieves wide frequency adaptability while controlling circuit complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple filtering circuits are added to handle expanded frequency bands, then the signal filtering performance is improved, but the circuit scale and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency filtering function into multiple selectable filtering modes within a single filtering circuit. Instead of adding separate physical filtering circuits for each frequency band, the filtering circuit is designed with switchable configurations that can be activated based on the required frequency range, maintaining manufacturing efficiency while achieving comprehensive filtering performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The filtering circuit is designed to dynamically reconfigure its characteristics based on the input signal frequency. This dynamic filtering capability allows a single circuit to provide optimal filtering performance across multiple frequency bands (terrestrial, satellite, CATV, wideband LNB) without requiring multiple dedicated filtering circuits, thereby controlling manufacturing costs while maintaining high filtering precision.
Data Source
AI summary
The present technology relates to a semiconductor chip and a receiving apparatus capable of suppressing increases in size and cost due to circuit complexity.A tuner includes an RF input terminal to which an RF signal of terrestrial broadcasting is input, a first-IF input terminal to which a first-IF signal of satellite digital broadcasting is input, a first filter that filters a signal in a frequency band lower than a predetermined frequency, a second filter that filters a signal in a frequency band equal to or higher than the predetermined frequency, and a switch that causes the RF signal to be input to the first filter or to the second filter by switching according to a frequency of the RF signal, and causes the first-IF signal to be input to the first filter or to the second filter by switching according to a frequency of the first-IF signal. The present technology may be applied to a broadcast receiving system.