Integrated Crosspoint Switch with Band Translation

Abstract

Multiple input signal sources in predetermined frequency bands are each applied to block frequency converters. Each block frequency converter frequency converts an input signal to one of a plurality of predetermined frequency bands. A crosspoint switch is configured to route the frequency converted input signals at one of the plurality of predetermined frequency bands to any one of a plurality of available band translation devices. Each of the band translation devices is configured to frequency convert the signal from a first predetermined frequency band to a second predetermined frequency band. Output signals from one or more band translation devices can be combined into a composite signal.

1 - 50 . (canceled)  
   
   
       51 . An apparatus for distributing one or more channels included within a plurality of N signals to one or more output devices, the apparatus including a crosspoint switch and a plurality of frequency translation devices, the crosspoint switch including a plurality of N crosspoint switch inputs and a plurality of crosspoint switch outputs, each of the N crosspoint switch inputs coupled to receive one of the N signals, the crosspoint switch operable to switchably couple any of the plurality of N crosspoint switch inputs to any one or more of the plurality of crosspoint switch outputs, and wherein each of the plurality of frequency translation devices includes an input coupled to a respective one of the crosspoint switch outputs and an output configured to couple to one or more output devices, each of the plurality of frequency translation devices operable to frequency translate one or more of the channels as supplied to respective one or more channels, wherein the outputs of at least two of the plurality of frequency translation devices are coupled together, the apparatus comprising: 
 at least a portion of the signal path within the crosspoint switch or one or more of the plurality of frequency translation devices configured as a differential signal path operable to support the propagation of a differential mode signal.    
   
   
       52 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the one or more channels included within one or more of the N signals comprises at least one multiplexed channel, the multiplexed channel operating at a predetermined carrier frequency and comprising the content of two or more channels.  
   
   
       53 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein the content of the two or more channels comprises digital content, and wherein the multiplexed channel comprises a multiplexed digital channel.  
   
   
       54 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein at least one of the N signals comprises a plurality of frequency bands.  
   
   
       55 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein two or more frequency translation devices are coupled to different variable local oscillator sources.  
   
   
       56 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the output of each one of the frequency translation devices is configured to couple to a single output device.  
   
   
       57 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the coupled output of the two or more frequency translation devices is configured to couple to a single output device.  
   
   
       58 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , further comprising a signal combiner having (i) a plurality of inputs coupled to respective plurality of frequency translation device outputs, and (ii) an output coupled to one or more output devices, said output comprising the coupled output of the two or more frequency translation devices.  
   
   
       59 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , wherein the output of the signal combiner is coupled to a first subset of the one or more output devices, the apparatus further comprising a second signal combiner having a plurality of inputs coupled to respective plurality of frequency translation device outputs, and an output coupled to a second subset of one or more output devices.  
   
   
       60 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , further comprising a respective plurality of filters, each respective filter coupled between a frequency translation device output and a signal combiner input.  
   
   
       61 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , further comprising a plurality of variable gain amplifiers coupled to the crosspoint switch, each of the plurality of variable gain amplifiers operable to apply gain or attenuation to a signal input thereto.  
   
   
       62 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein said crosspoint switch comprises a first crosspoint switch, said plurality of frequency translation devices comprises a plurality of first frequency translation devices, and said output devices comprise first output devices, the apparatus further including a plurality of second frequency translation devices, each having an input coupled to a respective one of the second crosspoint switch outputs and an output configured to couple to one or more second output devices, each of the one or more second frequency translation devices operable to frequency translate one or more of the channels as supplied to respective one or more channels, the apparatus further comprising: 
 a second crosspoint switch having a plurality of N crosspoint switch inputs and a plurality of crosspoint switch outputs, each of the N second crosspoint switch inputs coupled to either: (i) a respective one of the first crosspoint switch inputs, or (ii) a respective one of the first crosspoint switch outputs, each of the second crosspoint switch outputs configured to couple to one or more second output devices, the second crosspoint switch operable to switchably couple any of the plurality of N second crosspoint switch inputs to any one or more of the plurality of second crosspoint switch outputs;    wherein the outputs of at least two of the plurality of second frequency translation devices are coupled together, and at least a portion of the second crosspoint switch or at least a portion of one or more of the plurality of second frequency translation devices comprises a differential signal path.    
   
   
       63 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein the output of at least one of the first frequency translation devices is coupled to at least one output of the second frequency translation devices.  
   
   
       64 . In a signal distribution system including (i) a crosspoint switch having N inputs operable to receive a respective plurality of N signals and a plurality of crosspoint switch outputs, (ii) a respective plurality of frequency translation devices coupled to the crosspoint switch outputs, and (iii) one or more output devices coupled to at least one of the plurality of frequency translation devices, the crosspoint switch being selectively switchable, such that any of the plurality of N received signals is coupled, via one or more signal paths, to any one or more of the crosspoint switch outputs, wherein one or more crosspoint switch output signals are supplied to respective frequency translation devices, each of the one or more crosspoint switch output signals including one or more channels, and further wherein one or more of the plurality of the frequency translation devices includes a signal path, each frequency translation device operable to frequency translate one or more of the channels as supplied to respective one or more channels, the outputs of at least two of the plurality of frequency translation devices being coupled together; and wherein the frequency-translated channels are output to one or more output devices operable to render the one or more channels supplied thereto, a method for distributing one or more channels included within any one of the plurality of N received signals to the one or more output devices, the method comprising: 
 propagating the one or more channels from the respective crosspoint switch input to at least one frequency translation device output along one or more of said signal paths, wherein at least a portion of said one or more signal paths comprises a differential signal path operable to support the propagation of a differential mode signal.    
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein said crosspoint switch comprises the only crosspoint switch operable to distribute, to the one or more coupled output devices, one or more channels included within any of the plurality of N received signals.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein controlling comprises: 
 downconverting at least one of the channels from the first frequency to an intermediate frequency; and    upconverting the at least one of the channels from the intermediate frequency to the second frequency.    
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein downconverting comprises downconverting the at least one channel to baseband.  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein frequency translating comprises either (i) downconverting at least one of the channels from a first frequency to the second frequency, or (ii) up converting at least one of the channels from a first frequency to a second frequency.  
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising variably adjusting a power level of one or more of the N signals.  
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising: 
 receiving the plurality of the N signals into a second crosspoint switch, the second crosspoint switch input having a respective plurality of N inputs;    selectively switching the second crosspoint switch, whereby any one of the plurality of N received signals is coupled to any one or more of the second crosspoint switch outputs;    supplying one or more second crosspoint switch output signals to respective second frequency translation devices, each of the one or more second crosspoint switch output signals including one or more channels, wherein the outputs of at least two of the plurality of second frequency translation devices being coupled together;    controlling one or more of the plurality of the second frequency translation devices to frequency translate one or more of the channels as supplied to respective one or more channels; and    outputting the frequency-translated channels to one or more second output devices operable to render the one or more channels supplied thereto, wherein at least a portion of the second crosspoint switch or at least a portion of one or more of the plurality of second frequency translation devices comprises a differential signal path.    
   
   
       71 . An apparatus for distributing one or more channels included within each of a plurality of N satellite signals to one or more output devices, the apparatus comprising: 
 a first LNB unit operable to receive a plurality of the N satellite signals, the first LNB unit comprising: 
 a first LNB converter coupled to receive a plurality of the N satellite signals and operable to produce a plurality of first satellite IF signals;  
 a first crosspoint switch having a plurality of first crosspoint switch inputs coupled to receive respective first satellite IF signals and a plurality of first crosspoint switch outputs, the first crosspoint switch operable to switchably couple any of the first crosspoint switch inputs to any one or more of the first crosspoint switch outputs; and  
 respective plurality of first frequency translation devices, each first frequency translation device having an input coupled to a respective one of the first crosspoint switch outputs and an output configured to couple to one or more output devices, each of the first frequency translation devices operable to frequency translate one or more of the channels as supplied to respective one or more channels, wherein the outputs of the first frequency translation devices are coupled together to provide a first LNB unit output, wherein at least a portion of the first crosspoint switch or at least a portion of one or more of the plurality of first frequency translation devices comprises a differential signal path;  
   a second LNB unit operable to receive a plurality of the N satellite signals, the second LNB unit comprising: 
 a second LNB converter coupled to receive a plurality of the N satellite signals and operable to produce a plurality of second satellite IF signals;  
 a second crosspoint switch ( 140 ) having a plurality of second crosspoint switch inputs coupled to receive respective second satellite IF signals and a plurality of second crosspoint switch outputs, the second crosspoint switch operable to switchably couple any of the second crosspoint switch inputs to any one or more of the second crosspoint switch outputs; and  
 respective plurality of second frequency translation devices, each second frequency translation device having an input coupled to a respective one of the second crosspoint switch outputs and an output configured to couple to one or more output devices, each of the second frequency translation devices operable to frequency translate one or more of the channels as supplied to respective one or more channels, wherein the outputs of the second frequency translation devices are coupled together to provide a second LNB unit output;  
   wherein at least a portion of the second crosspoint switch or at least a portion of one or more of the plurality of second frequency translation devices comprises a differential signal path, and a signal combiner having inputs coupled to receive the first and second LNB unit outputs and an output coupled to one or more output devices.