# US 7,610,033 B2 · Radio frequency tuner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,033 B2 - Document ID: US7610033B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/333,806 - Filed: 2006-01-17 - Published: 2006-08-17 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2005-01-17 - Assignees: Intel Corporation - Inventors: Nicholas Paul Cowley; Peter Coe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610033B2 ## CPC - H04B 1/18: Input circuits, e.g. for coupling to an antenna or a transmission line (coupling networks between antennas or lines and receivers independent of the nature of the receiver H03H) - H03D 7/165: {at least two frequency changers being located in different paths, e.g. in two paths with carriers in quadrature (combined with amplitude demodulation H03D1/2245, combined with angle demodulation H03D3/007; N-path filters H03H19/002)} - H04B 1/0064: {with separate antennas for the more than one band (H04B1/0053 takes precedence)} - H04B 1/0075: {using different intermediate frequencied for the different bands} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H03D: DEMODULATION OR TRANSFERENCE OF MODULATION FROM ONE CARRIER TO ANOTHER (masers, lasers H01S; circuits capable of acting both as modulator and demodulator H03C; details applicable to both modulators and frequency-changers H03C; demodulating pulses H03K9/00; transforming types of pulse modulation H03K11/00; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M; repeater stations H04B7/14; demodulators adapted for AC systems of digital information transmission H04L27/00; synchronous demodulators adapted for colour television H04N9/66) ## Abstract A radio frequency tuner is provided having inputs for receiving signals in common or overlapping frequency ranges from distribution networks. Each input is connected to a respective first converter, for example performing upconversion to a first intermediate frequency above the RF frequency ranges of the incoming signals. The first frequency changers are arranged to be active one at a time. The outputs of the first frequency changers are supplied to a second frequency changer which performs downconversion on the output signal of the active first converter to convert a selected channel from one of the distribution networks to a second intermediate frequency. Sufficient RF isolation may therefore be provided without requiring mechanical switching components such as RF relays. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A radio frequency tuner comprising: a plurality of inputs for receiving signals in a plurality of frequency ranges, each signal having a component associated with each of one or more channels within the frequency range, wherein at least two of the frequency ranges at least partially overlap; a plurality of first frequency changers configured to be active one at a time, wherein each of said first frequency changers, when active, converts a selected signal component associated with a desired channel of the one or more channels to a first intermediate frequency outside all of said frequency ranges to generate an intermediate signal; and a switch to select which of the plurality of first frequency changers are active by supplying power to an active frequency changer; a controller to simultaneously control the switch and select a desired channel for reception; a second frequency changer arranged to convert said intermediate signal to a second intermediate frequency outside all of said frequency ranges. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A tuner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second frequency changer comprises a single second frequency changer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A tuner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second intermediate frequency is the same intermediate frequency for the intermediate signal generated by any of said first frequency changers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A tuner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second intermediate frequency is below all of said frequency ranges. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A tuner as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second intermediate frequency is one of a zero intermediate frequency and a near zero intermediate frequency. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A tuner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first intermediate frequency is the same intermediate frequency for all of said first frequency changers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A tuner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first intermediate frequency is above all of said frequency ranges. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A tuner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least two of the frequency ranges are the same frequency range. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A tuner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least two of the frequency ranges have the same channel frequency allocation where said at least two of the frequency ranges at least partially overlap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A tuner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first frequency changers have a common phase locked loop. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A tuner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first frequency changers have a common local oscillator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A tuner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first frequency changers are arranged to be depowered when deactivated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A tuner as claimed in claim 1, wherein providing power to only the active frequency changer prevents undesired channels from one or more inactive frequency changers from being converted. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A tuner as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first intermediate frequency filter between said first frequency changers and said second frequency changer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A tuner as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first substrate having said second frequency changer and a first of said first frequency changers disposed thereon. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A tuner as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a second substrate having a second of said first frequency changers disposed thereon. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A tuner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first intermediate frequency is at or around 1.2 GHz. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A tuner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second intermediate frequency is between 30 MHz and 50 MHz. ### Claim 19 A radio frequency tuner comprising: a plurality of inputs for receiving signals in a plurality of frequency ranges, each signal having a component associated with each of one or more channels within the frequency range, wherein at least two of the frequency ranges at least partially overlap; a plurality of upconverters configured to be active one at a time, wherein each of said upconverters, when active, converts a selected signal component associated with a desired channel of the one or more channels to a first intermediate frequency above all of said frequency ranges to generate an intermediate signal; a switch to select which of the plurality of upconverters are active by supplying power to an active frequency upconverter; a controller to simultaneously control the switch and select a desired channel for reception; and a downconverter arranged to convert said intermediate signal to a second intermediate frequency below all of said frequency ranges. ### Claim 20 A method of radio frequency tuning, comprising: receiving signals in a plurality of frequency ranges on a plurality of inputs, each signal having a component associated with each of one or more channels within the frequency range, wherein at least two of the frequency ranges at least partially overlap; selecting one of a plurality of first frequency changers to be active, wherein each of said first frequency changers, when active, converts a selected signal component associated with a desired channel of the one or more channels to a first intermediate frequency outside all of said frequency ranges to generate an intermediate signal; supplying power to one of the plurality of upconverters to select an active frequency upconverter; and converting said intermediate signal to a second intermediate frequency outside all of said frequency ranges.