Camera, encoder, and modulator in same enclosure

Abstract

An RF signal source having a camera that provides a camera output, an encoder that encodes the camera output in a compressed digital format, and a modulator that digitally encodes and modulates the compressed camera output and that provides the digitally encoded, modulated, and compressed camera output as an RF output of the RF signal source. The camera, the encoder, and the modulator may be contained in an enclosure. Additionally or alternatively, the encoder, the modulator, and at least part of the camera may be formed on a semiconductor substrate.

1 . An RF signal source for providing an RF output comprising:
 a camera that provides a camera video output;   an MPEG encoder that receives the camera video output and that encodes the camera video output as an MPEG packetized transport stream;   a digital television modulator that receives the MPEG packetized transport stream, that digitally encodes and modulates the MPEG packetized transport stream in a digital television format, and that provides the digitally encoded and modulated camera video output as the RF output; and,   an enclosure that contains the camera, the encoder, and the modulator.   
     
     
         2 . The RF signal source of  claim 1  wherein the enclosure comprises outer walls mechanically fastened together. 
     
     
         3 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The RF signal source of  claim 1  wherein the encoder comprises an MPEG encoder. 
     
     
         6 . The RF signal source of  claim 1  wherein the modulator comprises a VSB modulator. 
     
     
         7 . The RF signal source of  claim 1  wherein the modulator comprises a QAM modulator. 
     
     
         8 . The RF signal source of  claim 1  wherein the modulator comprises a COFDM modulator. 
     
     
         9 . The RF signal source of  claim 1  wherein the modulator comprises a VSB modulator, and wherein the encoder comprises an MPEG encoder. 
     
     
         10 . The RF signal source of  claim 9  wherein the enclosure comprises outer walls mechanically fastened together. 
     
     
         11 . The RF signal source of  claim 1  further comprising an encryptor, wherein the encryptor is coupled between the encoder and the modulator, and wherein the encryptor encrypts the compressed camera video output. 
     
     
         12 . The RF signal source of  claim 1  wherein the modulator trellis encodes and Reed-Solomon encodes the compressed camera video output. 
     
     
         13 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . An RF signal source for providing an RF output comprising:
 a camera that provides a camera output;   an MPEG encoder that receives the camera output, that encodes the camera output, and that provides the encoded camera output as an MPEG transport stream output;   a VSB modulator that receives the MPEG transport stream output, that digitally encodes and modulates the MPEG transport stream output in a digital television format, and that provides the digitally encoded and modulated MPEG transport stream output as the RF output; and,   a single enclosure that contains the camera, the MPEG encoder, and the VSB modulator.   
     
     
         25 . The RF signal source of  claim 24  wherein the single enclosure comprises outer walls mechanically fastened together. 
     
     
         26 . The RF signal source of  claim 25  wherein outer walls are mechanically fastened together so as to create a cavity containing the camera, the MPEG encoder, and the VSB modulator. 
     
     
         27 . The RF signal source of  claim 26  wherein the cavity comprises a continuous cavity. 
     
     
         28 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The RF signal source of  claim 24  further comprising an encryptor, wherein the encryptor is coupled between the MPEG encoder and the VSB modulator, and wherein the encryptor encrypts the encoded camera output.