Modular receiving unit

Abstract

A receiving unit 28 includes a tuner circuit board 104 that receives a satellite signal. The tuner circuit board 104 demodulates and decodes the satellite signal to form a second signal. The second signal is provided to a processor board 112 that is separated from the tuner and formats the second signal to form an audio signal and a video signal. An integrated bus 100 couples the tuner circuit board 104 and the processor circuit board 112. The integrated bus 100 comprises the second signal, the audio signal and the video signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system level view of a satellite broadcasting system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagrammatic view of a vehicle having a receiving system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagrammatic view of a receiver unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagrammatic view of a tuner circuit board.

FIG. 5 is a block diagrammatic view of a processor circuit board.

FIG. 6 is a block diagrammatic view of an integrated display with a receiver unit according to one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a housing according to another aspect of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the housing of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a processor circuit board.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conditional access circuit board without a conditional access card.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the conditional access card of FIG. 10 with the conditional access card therein.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a tuner circuit board.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a circuit board stack having a power supply circuit, tuner circuit, a processor circuit and a connector circuit.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a housing having the stack of FIG. 13 therein.

FIG. 15 is a second embodiment of a stack having a tuner circuit board, a processor circuit board and a combination power supply conditional access and connector circuit board.

FIG. 16 is a table illustrating the pinout connection of a J1 and J2 connector.

FIG. 17 is a plot of a DIN pinout.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are a table illustrating various signals, the position on a corresponding connector, a signal description and type.

FIG. 19 is a table illustrating various signals corresponding to power and ground pinouts of a connector.

Claims

1. A receiving unit comprising: a tuner board receiving a satellite signal, said tuner board demodulating and decoding the satellite signal to form a second signal;a processor board separated from the tuner board receiving the second signal and formatting the second signal to form an audio signal and a video signal; andan integrated bus comprising coupling the tuner board and the processor board, said integrated bus comprising the second signal, the audio signal and the video signal.

2. A receiving unit as recited in claim 1 further comprising a conditional access circuit, said conditional access circuit generating an access enable signal.

3. A receiving unit as recited in claim 2 wherein the conditional access circuit is disposed on a conditional access board separated from the tuner board and the processor board.

4. A receiving unit as recited in claim 1 further comprising a power supply circuit board separate from the tuner board and the processor board.

5. A receiving unit as recited in claim 1 further comprising a connector board coupled to the integrated bus, said connector board comprising a connector.

6. A receiving unit as recited in claim 5 wherein connector comprises an audio connector, a video connector, an S-video connector and a coaxial connector.

7. A receiving unit as recited in claim 1 further comprising a digital video recorder circuit board coupled to the integrated bus.

8. A receiving unit as recited in claim 1 further comprising a remote control circuit board coupled to the integrated bus.

9. A receiving unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the processor board is disposed in a first plane and the tuner board is disposed in a second plane spaced apart from the first plane.

10. A receiving unit as recited in claim 1 further comprising an antenna coupled to the integrated bus.

11. A receiving unit as recited in claim 1 further comprising an antenna coupled directly to the tuner circuit board.

12. A receiving unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the integrated bus has a first pinout configuration, said tuner circuit board having a first connector having the first pinout configuration, said processor board having a second connector having the first pinout configuration.

13. A receiving unit as recited in claim 12 wherein the first connector is coupled to the second connector.

14. A satellite television receiving unit comprising a receiving unit as recited in claim 1.

15. A system comprising: a tuner board receiving satellite signal from an antenna, said tuner board demodulating and decoding the satellite signal to form a second signal;a processor board separated from the tuner board receiving the second signal and formatting the second signal to form an audio signal and a video signal;an integrated bus comprising coupling the tuner board and the processor board, said integrated bus comprising the second signal, the audio signal, the video signal, power and ground;a display in communication with the bus displaying the video signals; andan audio system in communication with the bus playing the audio signals.

16. A system as recited in claim 15 further comprising the antenna.

17. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein the antenna is coupled to the integrated connector.

18. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein the antenna is coupled directly to the tuner.

19. A system as recited in claim 15 wherein the satellite signal comprises a satellite television signal.

20. A system as recited in claim 15 wherein the display and the audio system are in communication with the bus through a connector board.

21. A system as recited in claim 15 further comprising a conditional access circuit, said conditional access circuit generating an access enable signal.

22. A system as recited in claim 21 wherein the conditional access circuit is disposed on a conditional access board separated from the tuner board and the processor board.

23. A system as recited in claim 15 further comprising a power supply circuit board separate from the tuner board and the processor board.

24. A system as recited in claim 15 further comprising a digital video recorder circuit board coupled to the integrated bus.

25. A system receiving unit as recited in claim 15 further comprising a remote control circuit board coupled to the integrated bus.

26. A system as recited in claim 15 wherein the processor board is disposed in a first plane and the tuner board is disposed in a second plane spaced apart from the first plane.

27. A system as recited in claim 15 wherein the integrated bus has a first pinout configuration, said tuner circuit board having a first connector having the first pinout configuration, said processor board having a second connector having the first pinout configuration.

28. A system as recited in claim 27 wherein the first connector is coupled to the second connector.

29. A method of comprising: receiving satellite signals from an antenna at a tuner circuit board;demodulating and decoding the satellite signal to form a second signal at the tuner circuit board;communicating the second signal through a bus;receiving the second signal in a processor board;formatting the second signal to form an audio signal and a video signal in the processor board; andcommunicating the audio and video signal through the bus.

30. A method as recited in claim 29 further comprising coupling a display to the bus and controlling the display in response to the video signal.

31. A method as recited in claim 29 further comprising coupling a connector board to the bus and coupling the display to the connector board.