Demodulating digital video broadcast signals

Abstract

Apparatus for demodulating digital video broadcast signals with an improved automatic frequency control comprises data modulated on a multiplicity of spaced carrier frequencies, including: analog to digital conversion device for providing a series of digital samples of the broadcast signal, Fourier Transform for analysing the samples to provide a series of data signal values for each carrier frequency signal processing devices for processing the series of data signal values including the phase-error-correcting, and automatic frequency control device for controlling the frequency of the signals input to the Fourier Transform Processor, wherein the automatic frequency control device includes coarse frequency control unit for controlling the frequency in terms of increments of the carrier spacing frequency, and fine frequency control unit for controlling the frequency for values less than a single carrier spacing frequency interval, wherein the coarse frequency unit includes recursive of filtering for assessing a predetermined number (N) of carrier signals on either side of the nominal position of a predetermined continual pilot signal, wherein the outputs of the filter are provided to respective memory locations of a memory, the memory being divided into a plurality of sections, first device for determining within each section a first signal best representing the continual pilot signal, and device means for determining from among the first signals from the plurality of sections, a second signal which best represents the continual pilot signal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.