Demodulator Patents (Class 348/726)
  • Publication number: 20130088646
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may comprise a tuner operable to digitize a band of frequencies comprising a plurality of television channels, a crossbar operable to select one or more of the plurality of television channels output by the tuner, a plurality of demodulators operable to receive the selected one or more television channels from the crossbar and demodulate the selected one or more television channels to recover a plurality of transport streams, a transport module operable to multiplex the plurality of transport streams into a single packet stream, and a framer operable to: encapsulate packets of the plurality of transport streams into transport stream frames of a serial datastream, and insert filler frames into the serial datastream after every Nth transport stream frame of the serial datastream, where N is an integer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventors: Anand Anandakumar, Serdar Yilmaz, Chi-Foun Kuen, Ravi Aripirala
  • Patent number: 8418209
    Abstract: Techniques for mobile devices to receive real-time digital TV are disclosed. To make such mobile devices (e.g., smart phones) readily usable regardless of what standard a local TV broadcast may comply with, more than one demodulators are provided. Each of the demodulators is implemented in accordance with one type of TV standard. Based on the received TV signal, a corresponding demodulator is activated to demodulate the TV signal. In one embodiment, the demodulators are implemented in software modules. Thus a missing demodulator may be downloaded from a designated site when a mobile device is configured to detect that a new demodulator needs installed to process a received TV signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Silicon Valley Patent Agency, Inc.
    Inventors: Dave Xiao Dong Yang, Joe Zheng
  • Patent number: 8416347
    Abstract: In a method of automatically selecting audio format for output signal of a tuner, a SAW filter is configured to a bandwidth of 5.5 MHz for filtering IF signal so as to generate CVBS signal and SSIF signal. Then, band-pass filters are used to detect a back porch of the CVBS signal thereby determining whether signal amplitude at a center frequency of 4.43 MHz is greater than that at a center frequency of 3.58 MHz. Finally, a bandwidth of 4.5 MHz is assigned to the SAW filter for filtering the intermediate frequency signal to re-generate the CVBS signal when the amplitude at 4.43 MHz is smaller than that at 3.58 MHz. Further, a video decoder decodes the CVBS signal to determine a video format from NTSC, PAL-M, and PAL-N formats, and an audio decoder decodes the SSIF signal to determine an audio format from MN, BG, DK, and I formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Yen Yang, Huan-Pin Tseng
  • Patent number: 8411761
    Abstract: When a change in sub-channel selection is made after a mobile/handheld (M/H) Frame is begun, an M/H receiver is for some time unable to correct byte errors by transverse Reed-Solomon (TRS) decoding of turbo decoding results. Despite this, later stages of the M/H receiver are supplied data that cyclic-redundancy-check (CRC) decoding of Internet protocol (IP) packets does not find to be in error. Some of the IP packets comprise Service Map Table (SMT)-mobile/handheld (MH) data used to update SMT determining how the M/H receiver is operated. SMT-MH data that have not been subjected to TRS byte-error correction are kept from updating the SMT until those SMT-MH data are verified by later SMT-MH data subjected to TRS byte-error correction. Transmitting total number of Groups (TNOG) information for the currently received M/H Frame in all its sub-frames speeds up acquisition of Fast Information Channel updates by the M/H receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Allen LeRoy Limberg
  • Patent number: 8405781
    Abstract: An analog television (TV) receiver converts a received analog TV signal to a digital TV signal and performs digital demodulation to increase demodulation efficiency. The analog TV receiver includes a radio frequency (RF) turner and an intermediate frequency (IF) circuit. The RF tuner converts the received analog RF TV signal to an analog IF TV signal. The IF circuit includes a converting circuit and a digital demodulator. The converting circuit converts the analog IF TV signal to a digital TV signal. The digital demodulator demodulates the digital TV signal to generate a digital demodulated video signal and a digital demodulated audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Mstar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Fucheng Wang
  • Publication number: 20130070161
    Abstract: A fast channel switching method and apparatus for a digital broadcast receiver having a single tuner are disclosed. The fast channel switching method includes setting an ongoing service channel and at least one standby service channel, buffering broadcast data received through the ongoing and standby service channels, outputting the buffered broadcast data of the ongoing service channel, determining whether the ongoing service channel is switched to one of the standby service channels, outputting, if the ongoing service channel is switched to one of the standby service channels, the buffered broadcast data of the switched standby service channel and resetting the ongoing and standby service channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8373803
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multistandard receiver circuit for analogue and digital broadcasting, particularly analogue and digital television broadcasting, having a demodulator arrangement with an input for applying digital or digitized values (d) for both analogue and digital broadcasting signals from a tuner (1) and with components and/or an algorithm for processing the values (d). Emphasis should be given to an embodiment and/or controller for processing the values (d) for all processing steps which are to be performed in the field of intermediate-frequency processing with shared components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Entropic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Keller, Hans Stoorvogel, Erik Venema
  • Patent number: 8373804
    Abstract: A tuner includes, in part, one or mixers, one or more filters, one or more variable gain stages, one or more analog to digital converters, and a baseband processor. Each filter is responsive to an associated mixer's output signal. Each variable gain stage is responsive to an associated filter's output. Each analog-to-digital converter is adapted to convert the output signal of an associated variable gain stage to a digital signal. The baseband processor is responsive to the digital signal supplied by the analog-to-digital converter(s). The baseband processor is further configured to supply a signal to be demodulated by a processing unit external to the integrated circuit. The baseband processor performs no or a fraction of the required demodulation functions. The processing unit may be a central processing unit or a graphical processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Maxlinear, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis Ling, Patrick Tierney, Ramakrishna Akella
  • Publication number: 20130033646
    Abstract: A demodulator comprises a reference voltage generating circuit for generating a reference voltage, a reference resistor for converting the reference voltage to a reference current, a current digital-to-analog converter (IDAC) for receiving a digital code and generating an output signal, a comparison apparatus for comparing the reference voltage with the output signal to generate a comparison output, and a calibration apparatus for updating the digital code according to the comparison output to calibrate the IDAC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Chun-Kai Wei, Yung-Hsin Lin
  • Patent number: 8368817
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filter device particularly for receiving television signals, which receives input signals and generates output signals, wherein the filter device forms a Nyquist slope by means of a passive polyphase filter (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Axel Katiner
  • Patent number: 8363169
    Abstract: A demodulator comprises a reference voltage generating circuit for generating a reference voltage, a reference resistor for converting the reference voltage to a reference current, a current digital-to-analog converter (IDAC) for receiving a digital code and generating an output signal, a comparison apparatus for comparing the reference voltage with the output signal to generate a comparison output, and a calibration apparatus for updating the digital code according to the comparison output to calibrate the IDAC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Chun-Kai Wei, Yung-Hsin Lin
  • Patent number: 8355451
    Abstract: A method of processing a digital broadcast signal includes Reed-Solomon (RS) encoding enhanced service data for each column of at least one RS frame payload and adding a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) checksum byte at a right end of each row of the at least one RS frame payload to build at least one RS frame and forming data groups including the enhanced service data in the built RS frame and a plurality of known data sequences. Forming the data groups includes mapping the RS encoded enhanced service data into each of the data groups and inserting a place holder for a non-systematic RS parity into each of the data groups. The method further includes deinterleaving data in each of the data groups including the enhanced service data and the place holder and multiplexing the enhanced service data in each of the formed data groups with main service data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Byoung Gill Kim, In Hwan Choi, Kyung Won Kang, Kook Yeon Kwak, Woo Chan Kim
  • Publication number: 20130002962
    Abstract: Digital television broadcasting signals employ parallel concatenated convolutional coding, commonly called “turbo coding”, to improve reception by receivers in motor vehicles. Turbo coded Reed-Solomon codewords are transversally disposed in the payload fields of encapsulating MPEG-2-compliant packets to improve the capability of the Reed-Solomon coding to overcome deep fades. Turbo codewords are transmitted more than once in so-called “staggercasting”. Reception of DTV signals is improved by combining soft decisions concerning repeated transmissions of turbo codewords before turbo decoding. Only the data components of turbo codewords are transmitted twice in “punctured” staggercasting of turbo codewords, with parity components being transmitted only once, so code rate is reduced by a smaller factor than two.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventor: Allen LeRoy Limberg
  • Publication number: 20120327306
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for transmitting data in a broadcasting system. Input data is encoded by an encoder. A first demultiplexer generates first transmission symbols using the encoded data. The first transmission symbols are modulated, and the modulated first transmission symbols are transmitted. A second demultiplexer generates second transmission symbols using at least a portion of the encoded data. The second transmission symbols are modulated and the modulated second transmission symbols are transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong-Sil JEONG, Se-Ho MYUNG
  • Patent number: 8334927
    Abstract: A television includes a control section, an interface and an external software module. The control section includes a processor and an internal memory that is in communication with the processor. The internal memory stores original program instructions for use by the processor to operate the television in accordance with the original program instructions. The interface is accessible exteriorly of the television and is in communication with the control section. The external software module is connectable to the interface and stores additional application program instructions that are downloadable to the control section when the external software module is connected to the interface. The downloaded additional application program instructions enable the television to function in a manner differently than any of the original program instructions. A method for adding new application program instructions to a television is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Guillermo Castano
  • Patent number: 8330872
    Abstract: A receiving apparatus is disclosed which includes: an amplification section configured to amplify a received signal including a digital broadcast signal; a mixing section configured to mix the received signal amplified by the amplification section with a selective frequency signal so as to acquire an intermediate frequency signal; a demodulation section configured to demodulate the intermediate frequency signal acquired by the mixing section so as to acquire a demodulated signal of the digital broadcast signal; and a control section configured to control the amplification factor of the amplification section in a manner bringing to a target level the signal level of the intermediate frequency signal acquired by the mixing section, the control section being further configured to set variably the target level in accordance with bit error status of the demodulated signal acquired by the demodulation section from the digital broadcast signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Furuya, Yasunari Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 8330873
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a universal television receiver that is capable of processing television channel signals broadcast according to a variety of analog and digital broadcast standards. An overmodulation handling mode is used that modifies operation when locking onto a picture carrier signal frequency in the presence of overmodulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventors: Larry Silver, Vyacheslav Shyshkin, Edmund Tam, Gary Cheng, Steve Selby
  • Patent number: 8326291
    Abstract: A fast channel switching method and apparatus for a digital broadcast receiver having a single tuner are disclosed. The fast channel switching method includes setting an ongoing service channel and at least one standby service channel, buffering broadcast data received through the ongoing and standby service channels, outputting the buffered broadcast data of the ongoing service channel, determining whether the ongoing service channel is switched to one of the standby service channels, outputting, if the ongoing service channel is switched to one of the standby service channels, the buffered broadcast data of the switched standby service channel and resetting the ongoing and standby service channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong Wook Seo, Wei Jin Park, Jong Kerl Lee
  • Patent number: 8310601
    Abstract: An interface circuit configured to connect between (a) a broadcast receiver tuner and associated circuitry for the receiving and processing of broadcast radio frequency signals, and (b) a general purpose computer device programmed with software demodulation code configured to engage a general purpose processor in signal demodulation functions, the interface circuit comprising: a data interface comprising a packetisation buffer connected to receive (i) digital signal sample data from a signal path of the tuner and associated circuitry and (ii) indications of control settings which are applied to one or more configurable components during taking of the sample data, said packetisation buffer being operable to construct packets comprising blocks of sample data and header information carrying said control settings indications; a control interface configured to receive control instructions from tuner control code running on the general purpose computer device; and a microcontroller operable to receive the control i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Mirics Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Keith Ahluwalia, Simon Atkinson, Dan Budin, Anthony Eaton
  • Publication number: 20120268657
    Abstract: Provided is an analog front end of a digital TV, a digital TV system having the same, and a method of operating the same. The analog front end includes: a first selection circuit which selectively outputs differential sound intermediate frequency signals or differential TV broadcast signals in response to a first selection signal; a second selection circuit which outputs a clock signal among a plurality of clock signals having a different sampling frequencies, in response to a second selection signal; and an analog-to-digital converter which converts output signals output from the first selection circuit to a digital code, according to a sampling frequency of a clock signal output from the second selection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Ho KIM, Ho Jin PARK, Hyung Woan KOO, Ki Ho LEE
  • Patent number: 8290035
    Abstract: Digital television broadcasting signals employ parallel concatenated convolutional coding, commonly called “turbo coding”, to improve reception by receivers in motor vehicles. Turbo coded Reed-Solomon codewords are transversally disposed in the payload fields of encapsulating MPEG-2-compliant packets to improve the capability of the Reed-Solomon coding to overcome deep fades. Turbo codewords are transmitted more than once in so-called “staggercasting”. Reception of DTV signals is improved by combining soft decisions concerning repeated transmissions of turbo codewords before turbo decoding. Only the data components of turbo codewords are transmitted twice in “punctured” staggercasting of turbo codewords, with parity components being transmitted only once, so code rate is reduced by a smaller factor than two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: Allen LeRoy Limberg
  • Publication number: 20120257015
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and a method for providing a three-dimensional (3D) broadcasting service that may provide a two-dimensional (2D) fixed broadcasting service using a fixed broadcasting signal or a 2D mobile broadcasting service using a mobile broadcasting signal when a transmitter transmits each of a left image and a right image constituting a 3D image using the fixed broadcasting signal or the mobile broadcasting signal, and the receiver receives the fixed broadcasting signal and the mobile broadcasting signal, or may provide a 3D broadcasting service by composing an image received using the fixed broadcasting signal and an image received using the mobile broadcasting signal into a 3D image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunication Research Institute
    Inventors: Sung-Hoon Kim, Chung Hyun Ahn, Sukhee Cho, Jin Woong Kim, Jin Soo Choi, Jin Woo Hong
  • Publication number: 20120249887
    Abstract: A Television (TV) receiver for faster channel switch times between a plurality of broadcasting TV channels with reduced latency in overall demodulation cycle for multiple demodulation standards is provided. The TV receiver includes a tuner that receives the broadcasting TV channels from a broadcasting system, performs a tuning operation, and sets a desired frequency for each of the broadcasting TV channels during a channel scan operation. A demodulator demodulates each of the broadcasting TV channels and acquires one or more acquisition channel parameters of each of the broadcasting TV channels during the channel scan operation. An application processor is coupled to the demodulator via a low throughput interface. The application processor performs a read operation and a write operation of the acquisition channel parameters to memory mapped registers on the demodulator when a channel status switches from a first state to a second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Saankhya Labs Pvt. Ltd.
    Inventors: Sunil HR, Gururaj Padaki, Abdul Aziz, Parag Naik
  • Publication number: 20120249884
    Abstract: A receiver allows controlling a device to be controlled such as a display device based on reference timing acquired from reception data without delay and with low power consumption, and includes: a communication device receiving data incoming intermittently; a first control circuit analyzing the data received by the communication device to identify the presence of a predetermined reference timing signal pattern in the data; and a timer for counting a clock from an initial value, generating a control signal for the device to be controlled according to a resulting count value, and if the count value reaches a predetermined interval value, resuming counting the clock at the initial value. The timer changes the initial value to reduce a count of the clock between the initial value and the interval value if the first control circuit identifies the predetermined reference timing signal pattern to be present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20120249888
    Abstract: A Software Defined Radio (SDR) subsystem capable of supporting a multiple communication standards and platforms for modulation, demodulation and trans-modulation of an input signal is provided. The SDR subsystem includes a Signal Conditioning Cluster (SCC) unit that includes a signal conditioning CPU adapted for sample based signal processing, a Signal Processing Cluster (SPC) unit that includes a signal processing CPU adapted for block based signal processing, and a Channel Codec Cluster (CCC) unit that performs a channel encoding or a channel decoding operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SAANKHYA LABS PRIVATE LIMITED
    Inventors: Parag NAIK, Anindya SAHA, Hemant MALLAPUR, Sunil HR, Gururaj PADAKI
  • Publication number: 20120249889
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a Television (TV) receiver to perform a method of synchronizing a demodulator at a Viterbi decode input in the TV receiver using one or more bit de-interleaved even and odd Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols is provided. The method includes (i) performing a Viterbi decoding on the bit de-interleaved even and odd OFDM symbols when a frame boundary does not exist for the bit de-interleaved even and odd OFDM symbols, (ii) performing a convolutional encoding on an decoded data output of the Viterbi decoding, (iii) determining whether an output of the convolutional encoding of the bit de-interleaved OFDM symbols matches an input at a Viterbi decode, and (iv) determining whether the output of the convolutional encoding of the bit de-interleaved even and odd OFDM symbols matches with a SYNC pattern or a SYNC? pattern to obtain a RS packet align boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SAANKHYA LABS PRIVATE LIMITED
    Inventors: Gururaj Padaki, Sunil Hosur Ramesh, Rakesh A. Joshi, Raghavendra Raichur, Rajendra Hegde
  • Patent number: 8279354
    Abstract: A video signal processing apparatus may include a frame memory and a separator and deinterlacer circuit. The frame memory may store an interlaced video signal. The separator and deinterlacer circuit may execute operations of separating and deinterlacing the interlaced video signal stored in the frame memory. The apparatus may output a sequential video signal. A data processing system may include the video signal processing apparatus. A method for processing video signals may include storing an interlaced video signal in a frame memory and executing operations of separating and deinterlacing the interlaced video signal stored in the frame memory. The method may also include outputting a sequential video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung-jun Lim, Sung-cheol Park, Jae-hong Park
  • Patent number: 8264617
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an analog television broadcast signal receiving apparatus including: a tuner section configured to convert an analog television broadcast signal into a predetermined intermediate frequency band signal; a demodulation circuit section configured to obtain a picture output signal and a sound intermediate frequency signal from the predetermined intermediate frequency band signal coming from the tuner section; a picture processing circuit section configured to convert the picture output signal into a display-ready picture signal; a sound demodulation processing circuit section configured to demodulate the sound intermediate frequency signal; and a control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Takamori, Toshihisa Hyakudai, Nobuaki Tsuchiya, Gerd Spalink
  • Publication number: 20120212675
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for digital television demodulation, comprising using adjacent-channel power dependent automatic gain control (AGC) for the digital television demodulation, wherein an AGC technique takes into account a total power as well as power of adjacent channels to control gain of a gain control amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Parveen K. Shukla, Bernard Arambepola, Thushara Hewavithana, Sahan S. Gamage
  • Patent number: 8248539
    Abstract: A channel selecting device includes: a tuner unit selecting a broadcast wave signal of a channel-selection frequency corresponding to supplied frequency information and frequency-converting the broadcast wave signal into an intermediate frequency signal; and a demodulation unit checking whether a desired carrier exists on the basis of the intermediate frequency signal from the tuner unit, setting a carrier frequency as the channel-selection frequency when checking that the desired carrier exists, performing a first process of determining whether a current zone is a zone of which a frequency should be set lower than the channel-selection frequency so as to raise the channel-selection frequency and a second process of determining whether the current zone is a zone of which a frequency should be set higher than the channel-selection frequency so as to lower the channel-selection frequency, and setting the channel-selection frequency as a target just-tuning frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20120200781
    Abstract: In a digital broadcast receiving apparatus, a channel selection and demodulation section performs channel selection and demodulation processing for a broadcast wave of a digital broadcast received via an antenna. A microcomputer reads data stored in a nonvolatile memory via an access bus, stores a program included in the read data into a volatile memory, and executes the program. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus is configured to permit retrieval of transfer data on the access bus by the channel selection and demodulation section, and the channel selection and demodulation section recognizes a parameter used for the channel selection and demodulation processing and acquires the parameter, out of the transfer data on the access bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuhisa TANAKA
  • Patent number: 8237870
    Abstract: Disclosed is a receiver system, capable of receiving RF signals on television channels of multiple bandwidths. The receiver system includes a tuner, an analog IF filter, an ADC, a mixer module, one or more digital filters, an AGC module and a controller. The tuner converts an RF signal into an IF signal using a mixer frequency. The analog IF filter filters out a fixed band signal from the IF signal. The ADC module converts the fixed band signal into a digital signal, which is filtered by digital filters. The output of the digital filters is converted to a base band signal and the power level of the base band signal is controlled by the AGC module. The controller selects a mixer frequency from a group of mixer frequencies based on a function of power of the output of the AGC module by applying each mixer frequency to the tuner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Parveen K Shukla, Bernard Arambepola, Thushara Hewavithana
  • Patent number: 8237869
    Abstract: A multi-standard single-chip receiver for digital demodulation of TV signals broadcasted over any of multiple digital television means, e.g., satellite, cable and terrestrial, is provided. The receiver can receive and demodulate a variety of different signal types received from one or more up-front tuners. A demodulator architecture in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can be optimized to re-use common demodulation processing blocks for the different incoming signal types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Pascal Blouin, Frederic Nicolas, David Rault, Olivier Souloumiac, Emmanuel Gautier, Stephane Faudeil, Eric Vapillon, Gaetan Guillaume, Laurent Appercel
  • Patent number: 8233093
    Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic video gain control circuit, which includes an analog to digital converter, an envelope detector and an extreme value detector. The analog to digital converter converts an analog video signal to a digital video signal. The envelope detector detects a baseband amplitude signal according to the digital video signal. The extreme value detector generates an extreme value to control RF signal gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Shan-Tsung Wu
  • Publication number: 20120176550
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a tuner, a digital television (DTV) demodulator, an analog television (ATV) demodulator, and a controller. The tuner includes an input for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal including at least one of an analog television signal and digital television signal, and including a first output terminal and a second output terminal. The DTV demodulator includes a DTV input coupled to the first output terminal of the tuner and includes a DTV output terminal. The ATV demodulator includes an ATV input coupled to the second output terminal of the tuner and includes an ATV output terminal. The controller is coupled to the tuner, the DTV demodulator, and the ATV demodulator to configure the tuner and at least one of the DTV demodulator and the ATV demodulator for receiving television content in a selected television format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Alan F. Hendrickson, Alessandro Piovaccari, Ramin Khoini-Poorfard, Mitchell Reid, Frederick Alan Rush, Jean-Marc Guyot, David Le Goff, Michael Robert May, Henry William Singor, Qi Cai, Peter Jozef Vancorenland, Chunyu Xin, Pascal Blouin
  • Publication number: 20120176551
    Abstract: An apparatus to start channel switchover processing with reliability and to shorten an image non-displaying period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Daiki Matsuura, Satoru Tokuyama, Jun Yukawa, Satoko Miki, Kensuke Ueda
  • Patent number: 8218081
    Abstract: A video standard detector and operation method thereof are provided. The video standard detector includes a low pass filter (LPF) unit and a standard detector unit. The LPF filters a baseband signal. The feature detector detects vertical synchronization information of the baseband signal and horizontal synchronization information of the baseband signal using the output of the LPF, and determines the video standard corresponding to the baseband signal according to the vertical synchronization information and the horizontal synchronization information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Himax Media Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Chao-Wei Huang
  • Patent number: 8218092
    Abstract: A television receiver includes a tuner, a bandpass filter, an intermediate frequency amplifier and a demodulator. The tuner has an input to receive radio frequency signals and an output to provide modulated analog and digital television signals at an intermediate frequency. The bandpass filter and the intermediate frequency amplifier provide a singular signal path to filter and amplify both the modulated analog and digital television signals at the intermediate frequency. The demodulator has a singular input coupled to the output of the intermediate frequency amplifier and a plurality of outputs. The plurality of outputs includes a first output to provide demodulated analog television signals in response to the output of the tuner providing modulated analog television signals at the intermediate frequency and a second output to provide demodulated digital television signals in response to the output of the tuner providing modulated digital television signals at the intermediate frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: CSR Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Yossef Cohen, Itamar Gold-Gavriely, Avraham Epstein
  • Patent number: 8212942
    Abstract: A digital front-end architecture for television receivers with sigma-delta ADC input. An input digital signal is fed to the architecture and the gain is controlled by a gain stage. In the first method, the gain stage is controlled by a first AGC. Here, the gain is increased if the first threshold value is larger than the magnitude of a complex phase-locked loop (CPLL) output, and the gain is decreased if the first threshold value is lower than the magnitude of the CPLL output. In the second method, the gain is controlled through a second AGC. The gain is controlled by increasing the gain if the second threshold value is larger than a line peak of the moving average filter output, and the gain is decreased if the second threshold value is lower than the peak. The second threshold value and the peak are compared in a peak search block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Newport Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongru Gu, Nabil Yousef Wasily
  • Patent number: 8212941
    Abstract: A digitized analog television signal processing system is disclosed, comprising an analog-to-digital converter, a demodulation unit, a decoding unit, and a control unit. The analog-to-digital converter samples a television signal comprising a video signal. The demodulation unit demodulates the video signal. The decoding unit decodes the demodulated video signal. The control unit adjusts the demodulation unit according to a signal quality indicator generated during and/or after the decoding of the decoding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventors: Ming-Luen Liou, Ray-Kuo Lin, Yi-Fu Chen
  • Patent number: 8212940
    Abstract: A hybrid architecture of a television (TV) receiving system is disclosed. The architecture includes two portions, a hardware portion and a software portion. The hardware portion includes a minimum amount of hardware to achieve operations of receiving a RF signal, producing an IF signal and outputting data representing the IP signal. The software portion, taking advantage of available computing power (e.g., high-speed microprocessor and a lot of memory) in a computing device and executed therein, includes one or more demodulators, all implemented in software. Each of the demodulators is implemented in accordance with one type of TV standard. Thus depending on the received data, a corresponding demodulator is activated to demodulate the received data and subsequently produces audio and video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Inventors: Dave Xiao Dong Yang, Ling Chen, Nien-Tsu Wang, Hsi-Chen Wang, Chih-Ching Steve Chou
  • Patent number: 8203653
    Abstract: An analog video receiver implemented in an integrated circuit device. The analog video receiver includes an amplifier to amplify an analog video signal having a desired carrier frequency, and a mixing circuit to mix the amplified analog video signal with a complex sinusoid having a frequency substantially equal to the carrier frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Telegent Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Weijie Yun, Samuel Sheng, Dennis G. Yee
  • Patent number: 8204137
    Abstract: A channel equalizer includes a first transformer, an estimator, an average calculator, a second transformer, a coefficient calculator, a compensator, and a third transformer. The first transformer converts normal data into frequency domain data, where a known data sequence is periodically repeated in the normal data. The estimator estimates channel impulse responses (CIR) during known data intervals adjacent to each normal data block. The average calculator calculates an average value of the CIRs. The second transformer converts the average value into frequency domain data. The coefficient calculator calculates equalization coefficients using the average value, and the compensator compensates channel distortion of each normal data block using the coefficients. The third transformer converts the compensated data block into time domain data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Byoung Gill Kim, In Hwan Choi, Kyung Won Kang, Kook Yeon Kwak, Woo Chan Kim
  • Publication number: 20120147273
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for transmitting and receiving a data stream in a digital video broadcast system. The data stream is segmented into a plurality of segments of the data stream. A frame is generated. The frame includes a preamble section and a data section. The data section carries the data stream, and the preamble section carries signalling information. The frame is transmitted to a receiver. In generating the frame, the data section of the frame is segmented into a plurality of frequency zones, and at least one segment of the data stream is mapped to a frequency zone of the plurality of frequency zones. The signalling information includes first segmentation information of the data stream and second segmentation information of the plurality of frequency zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alain Mourad, Ismael Guiterrez, Suno-Ryul Yun
  • Publication number: 20120151547
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data having a data stream in a wireless broadcast system are provided. A frame is generated. The frame includes preamble section and a data section. The data section carries the data stream. The preamble section carries signalling information. The frame is transmitted to a receiver. In generating the frame, the data section of the frame is segmented into a plurality of frequency zones, and the data stream is mapped to a frequency zone of the plurality of frequency zones. The signalling information includes segmentation information of the frequency zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alain MOURAD, Ismael GUTIERREZ, Sung-Ryul YUN
  • Patent number: 8199260
    Abstract: In a VIF circuit for synchronously detecting a picture signal from an AM-modulated PIF signal, the accuracy of a picture signal to be demodulated is maintained even in a state of overmodulation. A comparator (68) determines whether the picture signal exceeds VTH, which is a state of overmodulation. In a period in which the signal is less than or equal to VTH, a switch circuit (56) inputs an output voltage of an APC filter (54) to a VCO (48), and a PLL is formed. The PLL operates so as to lock onto the PIF signal, and reproduces a carrier wave. On the other hand, in a period in which the signal exceeds VTH, the switch circuit (56) inputs an output voltage VSH of an SH circuit (58) to the VCO (48). The SH circuit (58) holds the voltage of the APC filter (54) that is in a locked state in a horizontal synchronizing period and uses the voltage to control the VCO (48), whereby free run and frequency drifting are minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tanaka, Mutsuki Niki
  • Patent number: 8199839
    Abstract: A digital broadcast transmitting/receiving system and a signal processing method thereof that can improve the receiving performance of the system. A digital broadcast transmitter has a randomizer to randomize an input data stream which has null bytes being inserted at a specified position, a multiplexer to output a data stream formed by inserting specified known data into the position of the null bytes of the randomized data stream, an encoder to encode the data stream outputted from the multiplexer, and a modulator/RF-converter to modulate the encoded data, RF-convert the modulated data and transmit the RF-converted data. The receiving performance of the digital broadcast transmitting/receiving system can be improved even in a multi-path channel by detecting the known data from the received signal and using the known data in synchronization and equalization in a digital broadcast receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hae-joo Jeong, Yong-deok Chang
  • Patent number: 8189117
    Abstract: In a receiver, a synchronization circuit (MIX2, OSC, C1, R1) provides a set of oscillator signals (OSI, OSQ) that are synchronized with a carrier of an amplitude-modulated signal. The set of oscillator signals (OSI, OSQ) comprises a quadrature oscillator signal (OSQ), which is substantially 90° phase shifted with respect to the carrier of the amplitude-modulated signal. A quadrature mixer (MIX2) mixes the quadrature oscillator signal (OSQ) with the amplitude-modulated signal so as to obtain a quadrature mixer output signal (MO2a). A phase-error corrector (PEC) adjusts the phase of the oscillator signals in response to a variation in the magnitude of an alternating current component (AC) in the quadrature mixer output signal (MO2a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Rob Fortuin, Hubertus J. F. Maas
  • Patent number: 8185076
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a radio receiver including: an oscillator circuit including a phase-locked circuit and a voltage-controlled oscillator circuit; a first frequency divider circuit; a frequency converter circuit; a signal adding circuit; a test signal generating circuit including at least one second frequency divider circuit; and a controlling section configured to set frequency dividing factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Miura, Michiko Miura, legal representative
  • Publication number: 20120120321
    Abstract: An audio-video display device includes a licensable component requiring software code to execute a licensable function. The device is vended with the software code but without the critical piece of code. Upon determining that a license for the licensable function has been activated, the critical piece of code is downloaded to the device to enable execution of the licensed function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventor: PETER SHINTANI