Interface modules and methods for coupling combined communication signals to communication receivers

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein said supplying step includes the step of mixing signals in said upper DBS signal band with a mixing signal whose frequency is lower than said upper DBS signal band to, thereby, downconvert signals in said upper DBS signal band without frequency inversion.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, wherein said directing step includes the step of switching either selected one of said upper and lower DBS signal paths to said receiver.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, wherein said CATV signal band is the frequency band of 5-750 MHz, said lower DBS signal band is the frequency band of 950-1450 MHz and said upper DBS signal band is the frequency band of 1525-2025 MHz.

Claim 8

The method of claim 5, wherein said supplying step includes the step of mixing signals in said upper DBS signal band with a mixing signal whose frequency is lower than said upper DBS signal band to, thereby, downconvert signals in said upper DBS signal band without frequency inversion.

Claim 9

The method of claim 5, wherein said CATV signal band is the frequency band of 5-750 MHz, said lower DBS signal band is the frequency band of 950-1450 MHz and said upper DBS signal band is the frequency band of 1525-2025 MHz.

Claim 10

An interface module for coupling combined signals of a cable television (CATV) signal band and lower and upper intermediate-frequency direct broadcast satellite (DBS) signal bands to a television receiver, the interface module comprising: a diplexer having an input port for receiving said combined signals; a CATV output port; a DBS output port; a CATV signal path between said diplexer and said CATV output port that passes signals in said CATV signal band and attenuates signals in said lower and upper DBS signal bands; a lower DBS signal path that passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said upper DBS signal band; an upper DBS signal path that includes: a) an initial path portion which passes signals in said upper DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said lower DBS signal band; b) a final path portion which passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said upper DBS signal band; and c) a downconverter that converts signals in said upper DBS signal band to said lower DBS signal band, said downconverter coupled between said initial and final path portions; and a switch system that couples either selected one of said lower and upper DBS signal paths between said diplexer and said DBS output port.

Claim 11

An interface module for coupling combined signals of a cable television (CATV) signal band and lower and upper intermediate-frequency direct broadcast satellite (DBS) signal bands to a television receiver, the interface module comprising: a diplexer having an input port for receiving said combined signals; a CATV output port; a DBS output port; a CATV signal path between said diplexer and said CATV output port that passes signals in said CATV signal band and attenuates signals in said lower and upper DBS signal bands; a lower DBS signal path that passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said upper DBS signal band; an upper DBS signal path that includes: a) an initial path portion which passes signals in said upper DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said lower DBS signal band; b) a final path portion which passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said upper DBS signal band; and c) a downconverter that converts signals in said upper DBS signal band to said lower DBS signal band, said downconverter coupled between said initial and final path portions; and a switch system that couples either selected one of said lower and upper DBS signal paths between said diplexer and said DBS output port.

Claim 12

The interface module of claim 8, wherein said CATV signal path includes a low-pass filter that passes signals in said CATV signal band and attenuates signals in said lower and upper DBS signal bands.

Claim 13

The interface module of claim 8, wherein said lower DBS signal path includes a high-pass filter that passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band.

Claim 14

The interface module of claim 8, wherein said lower DBS signal path includes a band-pass filter that passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said upper DBS signal band.

Claim 15

The interface module of claim 8, wherein said initial path portion includes a high-pass filter that passes signals in said upper DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said lower DBS signal band.

Claim 16

The interface module of claim 8, wherein said final path portion includes a bandpass filter that passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said upper DBS signal band.

Claim 17

The interface module of claim 8, wherein said downconverter includes: a mixer; and an oscillator coupled to said mixer and having a signal frequency lower than a low-pass filter coupling said oscillator and said mixer.

Claim 18

The interface module of claim 8, wherein said CATV signal band is the frequency band of 5-750 MHz, said lower DBS signal band is the frequency band of 950-1450 MHz and said upper DBS signal band is the frequency band of 1525-2025 MHz.

Claim 19

An interface module for coupling combined signals in lower and upper intermediate-frequency direct broadcast satellite (DBS) signal bands to a television receiver, the interface module comprising: an input port for receiving said combined signals; an output port; a lower DBS signal path that passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said upper DBS signal band; an upper DBS signal path that includes: a) an initial path portion which passes signals in said upper DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said lower DBS signal band; b) a final path portion which passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said upper DBS signal band; and c) a downconverter that converts signals in said upper DBS signal band to said lower DBS signal band, said downconverter coupled between said initial and final path portions; and a switch system that selectively couples said lower and upper DBS signal paths between said diplexer and said DBS output port.

Claim 20

An interface module for coupling combined signals in lower and upper intermediate-frequency direct broadcast satellite (DBS) signal bands to a television receiver, the interface module comprising: an input port for receiving said combined signals; an output port; a lower DBS signal path that passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said upper DBS signal band; an upper DBS signal path that includes: a) an initial path portion which passes signals in said upper DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said lower DBS signal band; b) a final path portion which passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said upper DBS signal band; and c) a downconverter that converts signals in said upper DBS signal band to said lower DBS signal band, said downconverter coupled between said initial and final path portions; and a switch system that selectively couples said lower and upper DBS signal paths between said diplexer and said DBS output port.

Claim 21

The interface module of claim 16, wherein said downconverter includes: a mixer; and an oscillator coupled to said mixer and having a signal frequency lower than a low-pass filter coupling said oscillator and said mixer.

Claim 22

The interface module of claim 16, wherein said CATV signal band is the frequency band of 5-750 MHz, said lower DBS signal band is the frequency band of 950-1450 MHz and said upper DBS signal band is the frequency band of 1525-2025 MHz.

Claim 23

A receiving and distributing system for coupling combined signals in a cable television (CATV) signal band and lower and upper intermediate-frequency direct broadcast satellite (DBS) signal bands to a plurality of television receivers, the system comprising: an antenna; a dual-band, low noise block downconverter (LNB) coupled to said antenna; a plurality of interface modules that each comprises: a diplexer having an input port for receiving said combined signals; a CATV output port; a DBS output port; a CATV signal path between said diplexer and said CATV output port that passes signals in said CATV signal band and attenuates signals in said lower and upper DBS signal bands; a lower DBS signal path that passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said upper DBS signal band; an upper DBS signal path that includes: a) an initial path portion which passes signals in said upper DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said lower DBS signal band; b) a final path portion which passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said upper DBS signal band; and c) a downconverter that converts signals in said upper DBS signal band to said lower DBS signal band, said downconverter coupled between said initial and final path portions; and a switch system that selectively couples said lower and upper DBS signal paths between said diplexer and said DBS output port; and a single-cable distribution network that connects said LNB and each of said interface modules.

Claim 24

A receiving and distributing system for coupling combined signals in a cable television (CATV) signal band and lower and upper intermediate-frequency direct broadcast satellite (DBS) signal bands to a plurality of television receivers, the system comprising: an antenna; a dual-band, low noise block downconverter (LNB) coupled to said antenna; a plurality of interface modules that each comprises: a diplexer having an input port for receiving said combined signals; a CATV output port; a DBS output port; a CATV signal path between said diplexer and said CATV output port that passes signals in said CATV signal band and attenuates signals in said lower and upper DBS signal bands; a lower DBS signal path that passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said upper DBS signal band; an upper DBS signal path that includes: a) an initial path portion which passes signals in said upper DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said lower DBS signal band; b) a final path portion which passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said upper DBS signal band; and c) a downconverter that converts signals in said upper DBS signal band to said lower DBS signal band, said downconverter coupled between said initial and final path portions; and a switch system that selectively couples said lower and upper DBS signal paths between said diplexer and said DBS output port; and a single-cable distribution network that connects said LNB and each of said interface modules.

Claim 25

A receiving and distributing system for coupling combined signals in lower and upper intermediate-frequency direct broadcast satellite (DBS) signal bands to a plurality of television receivers, the system comprising: an antenna; a dual-band, low noise block downconverter (LNB) coupled to said antenna; a plurality of interface modules that each comprises: an input port for receiving said combined signals; an output port; a lower DBS signal path that passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said upper DBS signal band; an upper DBS signal path that includes: a) an initial path portion which passes signals in said upper DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said lower DBS signal band; b) a final path portion which passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said upper DBS signal band; and c) a downconverter that converts signals in said upper DBS signal band to said lower DBS signal band, said downconverter coupled between said initial and final path portions; and a switch system that selectively couples said lower and upper DBS signal paths between said diplexer and said DBS output port; and a single-cable distribution network that connects said LNB and each of said interface modules.

Claim 26

A receiving and distributing system for coupling combined signals in lower and upper intermediate-frequency direct broadcast satellite (DBS) signal bands to a plurality of television receivers, the system comprising: an antenna; a dual-band, low noise block downconverter (LNB) coupled to said antenna; a plurality of interface modules that each comprises: an input port for receiving said combined signals; an output port; a lower DBS signal path that passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said upper DBS signal band; an upper DBS signal path that includes: a) an initial path portion which passes signals in said upper DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said CATV signal band and said lower DBS signal band; b) a final path portion which passes signals in said lower DBS signal band and attenuates signals in said upper DBS signal band; and c) a downconverter that converts signals in said upper DBS signal band to said lower DBS signal band, said downconverter coupled between said initial and final path portions; and a switch system that selectively couples said lower and upper DBS signal paths between said diplexer and said DBS output port; and a single-cable distribution network that connects said LNB and each of said interface modules.