Apparatus for converting an analog c-band broadcast receiver into a system for simultaneously receiving analog and digital c-band broadcast television signals
US5649318A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jul 15, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B1/406
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An adapter for a direct broadcast television system enables owners of existing dish antennas to receive both current analog television broadcasts and new digital television broadcasts via C-Band satellites. The adapter includes a coaxial switch for switching between analog and digital television, a tuneable demodulator for selectively switching between transponders on the C-Band satellites, a channel selector unit for selecting the channel specified by the user from the bit stream output by the demodulator, a channel expander for decompressing the video signal, and a control unit for accepting user commands and controlling the polarization of the received signals, the steering of the TVRO antenna, the demodulated transponder frequency and the demultiplexed channel. The ability to select the user's channel from multiple channels available on different transponders and different satellites allows the dynamic reassignment of television channels based on system efficiency considerations. The adapter described herein permits a smooth transition from existing television service to a new digital C-Band television service, without requiring a new antenna or removal of the existing antenna.…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.