Apparatus having and method for implementing a distributed architecture for receiving and/or transmitting radio frequency signals

An apparatus for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals, comprising:

• a plurality of RF units, each of said RF units receiving a respective radio frequency (RF) signal and converting said RF signal into a corresponding intermediate frequency (IF) signal;
• means for combining said IF signals into a multiplexed signal;
• means for separating said multiplexed signal into information signals, each of said information signals representing a corresponding one of said IF signals, said means for separating being disposed remotely from said plurality of RF units and from said means for combining;
• and
• means for transferring said multiplexed signal from said means for combining to said means for separating.

A distributed architecture system for receiving and processing radio frequency signals, comprising:

• a receiving unit configured for receiving a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signals, said receiving unit including means for combining said plurality of RF signals into a multiplexed signal;
• a head unit receiving said multiplexed signal, said head unit configured for separating said multiplexed signal into a plurality of information signals corresponding to said plurality of RF signals, said head unit configured for preparing, at least in part, said information signals for presentation to a user, said head unit being disposed remotely from said receiving unit;
• and
• a multiplexed link electrically interconnecting said receiving unit with said head unit, said multiplexed link providing said multiplexed signal to said head unit.

In a vehicle, a device for receiving and processing radio frequency signals, comprising:

• a receiving unit configured for receiving a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signals, said receiving unit including means for combining said plurality of RF signals into a multiplexed signal, said receiving unit being disposed at a first location upon the vehicle;
• a head unit receiving said multiplexed signal, said head unit configured for separating said multiplexed signal into a plurality of information signals corresponding to said plurality of RF signals, said head unit configured for preparing, at least in part, said information signals for presentation to a user, said head unit being disposed at a second location upon the vehicle, said second location being disposed remotely from said first location;
• and
• a multiplexed link electrically interconnecting said receiving unit with said head unit, said multiplexed link providing said multiplexed signal to said head unit.

A method of implementing a distributed architecture for receiving radio frequency signals, comprising:

• receiving at a remote location a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signals;
• converting the plurality of RF signals to a corresponding plurality of intermediate frequency (IF) signals;
• forming a multiplexed signal form the plurality of IF signals;
• transferring the multiplexed signal from the remote location to a second location;
• separating the multiplexed signal into a plurality of information signals corresponding to the plurality of RF signals;
• and
• processing, at least in part, the information signals for presentation to a user.