Harris Corporation

Plonka, Robert J.

Robert J Plonka

Edwin Ray Twitchell

Wayne Douglas Duello

Dennis J Milfs

David Simon Dassonville

David L Nickell

A filter-combiner for combining television signals from adjacent channels is presented herein. The combiner has two inputs that respectively receive an NTSC combined visual and aural signal and a DTV signal wherein the NTSC signal and the DTV signal are in adjacent channels. The DTV signal is of greater frequency than the NTSC signal. A combined output signal is provided at an output of the combiner. The combiner has sharp tuned filtering interposed between the inputs and the output and tuned to pass the DTV signal while reflecting the NTSC signal such that the passed DTV signal and the reflected NTSC signal combine as the combined output signal.

Sharp-tuned filter-combiner for combining adjacent TV channels

A sharply tuned bandpass RF filter is presented herein. The filter has an input port for receiving television RF signals and passing same to an output port for application to a load. The filter is tuned such that it exhibits the characteristic of passing only RF signals having frequencies within a given frequency channel out of a plurality of channels, all having the same frequency bandwidth while rejecting all other frequencies. The bandwidth of each channel is on the order of W MHz. The filter exhibits an amplitude response within a mandated mask such that when operated in an RF transmitter the amplitude of the response is attenuated uniformly about the center frequency of the given channel within a frequency range of about &#xb1;0.5W MHz to a maximum of about &#xb1;(0.5W+0.45) MHz and extending to an attenuated level of about &#x2212;1 to &#x2212;18 dB from the in-band power level.

Sharply tuned bandpass filter

Television signals from adjacent channels are broadcast with a common antenna. First television signals from a first channel are selected from a first frequency band including a plurality of channels. Second television signals from a second channel in the first frequency band are selected and wherein the second channel is adjacent to the first channel. The first and second signals are combined to provide a first combined signal and a second combined signal which are applied to a common antenna.

Combining adjacent TV channels for transmission by a common antenna

An antenna system for receiving horizontal and vertical components of a transmitted horizontally polarized digital RF signal. The system includes a vertical antenna for primarily receiving vertical components of the RF signal and a horizontal antenna primarily for receiving the horizontal components of the RF signal. An adjustable time delay changer is provided for adjusting any time delay of one of the components. A combiner combines the components to obtain therefrom a combined RF signal for application to an RF utilization means. The combined RF signal is a digital signal exhibiting a bit error rate dependent upon the value of the vertical component. An RF decoder decodes the bit error rate and provides a bit error rate signal having a value that varies as a function of the value of the bit error rate. An adaptive controller responds to the bit error rate signal and adjusts the time delay changer in a direction to decrease the value of said bit error rate signal.

Adaptive control of RF receiving antenna system for digital television

A transmission system ( ) broadcasts a signal. Within the system ( ), a power amplifier ( ) causes non-linear distortion. A pre-amp component, such as a band-pass filter ( ), causes linear distortion. A high power filter ( ) is located downstream of the power amplifier ( ) and causes linear distortion. A linear equalizer ( ) compensates for the distortion caused by the high power filter ( ). A non-linear corrector ( ) compensates for the distortion caused by the power amplifier ( ), and is located downstream of the linear equalizer ( ). A linear equalizer ( ) compensates for the distortion caused by the pre-amp components (e.g., ). The compensating components ( ) are located upstream of the distorting, pre-amp component (e.g., ). Signal sampling points ( ) are located downstream of each distorting component ( , and ). Sampling selectively occurs at one of the sample points ( ) for use to update compensation.

Broadcast transmission system with sampling and correction arrangement for correcting distortion caused by amplifying and signal conditioning components

An aural carrier signal is corrected in a common amplifier system wherein the correction serves to reduce cross-modulation distortion of the aural carrier signal caused by non-linearities of the common amplifier system. An aural corrector receives a modulated visual carrier signal comprised of a visual carrier signal modulated by a video baseband signal and a phase corrected aural carrier signal and provides therefrom a combined corrected aural carrier signal. The visual carrier signal is combined with the combined corrected aural carrier signal to provide a corrected output carrier signal.

System for correcting an aural carrier signal

An antenna system is provided for receiving horizontal and vertical components of a transmitted RF signal and for minimizing the magnitude of one of the components prior to application to an RF utilization means, such as a TV receiver. The system includes a vertical antenna for primarily receiving the vertical components of the RF signal. A horizontal antenna serves to primarily receive the horizontal components of the RF signal. An adjustable time delay serves to adjust the time delay between the vertical and horizontal components. A combiner combines the components to obtain therefrom a combined RF signal for application to the RF utilization means.

RF receiving antenna system

A transmission system ( ) broadcasts an information signal. Within the system ( ), several components (e.g., ) cause distortion to the information signal as the signal is processed and proceeds toward a broadcast antenna. Specifically, the group of distortion causing components ( ) is identified as a first group, and is arranged in a sequence along a signal path ( ) toward the antenna. The first group of components ( ) performs various functions, including amplification, but each subjects the information signal to distortion shifts away from intended values. A second group of components (e.g., ) modifies the information signal to compensate for the distortion shifts imposed by the first group of components ( ). The second group of components ( ) is located upstream of the first group of components ( ). The second group of components ( ) is arranged in a sequence to modify the information signal to compensate for the distortions in an order inverse to the occurrence of the distortions. Specifically, compensation for linear and non-linear distortions occurs in an order that is inverse to the occurrence of the linear and non-linear distortions.

Broadcast transmission system with distributed correction

A transmission system (,) broadcasts a signal. Within the system (,), a power amplifier (,) causes non-linear distortion. A pre-amp component, such as a band-pass filter (,), causes linear distortion. A high power filter (,) is located downstream of the power amplifier (,) and causes linear distortion. A linear equalizer (,) compensates for the distortion caused by the high power filter (,). A non-linear corrector (,) compensates for the distortion caused by the power amplifier (,), and is located downstream of the linear equalizer (,). A linear equalizer (,) compensates for the distortion caused by the pre-amp components (e.g.,,). The compensating components (,) are located upstream of the distorting, pre-amp component (e.g.,,). Signal sampling points (,) are located downstream of each distorting component (,, and,). Sampling selectively occurs at one of the sample points (,) for use to update compensation.

An antenna system is provided for receiving horizontal and vertical components of a transmitted RF signal and for minimizing the magnitude of one of the components prior to application to an RF utilization means, such as a TV receiver. The system includes a vertical antenna for primarily receiving the vertical components of the RF signal. A horizontal antenna serves to primarily receive the horizontal components of the RF signal. An adjustable time delay serves to adjust the time delay between the vertical and horizontal components. An adjustable phase adjuster serves to adjust the phase between the vertical and horizontal components. A combiner combines the adjusted horizontal and vertical components to obtain therefrom a combined RF signal for application to the RF utilization means.

Apparatus and method are provided by which television signals may be transmitted from adjacent NTSC and DTV channels. The NTSC television signals for a first channel are selected from a frequency band including a plurality of channels and wherein this first channel includes NTSC aural and NTSC visual signals. A source of DTV television signals are selected for a second channel in the same frequency band and wherein the second channel is adjacent the first channel. The NTSC visual signal and the DTV signal are combined to provide an intermediate combined signal. The intermediate combined signal and the NTSC aural signal are then combined to provide a combined output signal for application to antenna means for transmitting television signals.

Combining NTSC visual and aural signals with DTV signals

There is presented herein an N-way power combiner/divider and which includes a common output/input port, a plurality of N input/output ports together with N load ports. N transmission lines interconnect the common output/input port with the N input/output ports. A second plurality of N transmission lines interconnect the respective input/output ports with respective ones of the N load ports. Also, a third plurality of N transmission lines interconnect each of the load ports with a common point and which is, in turn, connected to ground by a capacitor. A first plurality of transmission lines and a second plurality of transmission lines include a plurality of metal foil traces respectively mounted on first and second insulator boards which are spaced from each other. At least three metal layers are provided which are electrically connected together and which serve as ground planes. These layers are spaced from and are parallel to the insulator boards such that the first insulator board is located between the first and second metal layers and the second insulator board is located between second and third metal layers. N electrical connecting pins are provided with each located at one of the N input/output ports. These pins extend between the first and second boards for electrically interconnecting transmission lines on different insulator boards.

N-way power combiner/divider

An N-way power combiner includes a common output port and N input ports, each adapted to be connected to an RF input signal source. N load ports are provided with each being adapted to be connected to a reject load. N first transmission lines are provided with each connected at one end to the common output port and each connected at its opposite end to a respective one of the N input ports. N Second transmission lines respectively interconnect each of the input ports with one of the load ports. Also, N third transmission lines are provided and wherein each connects a respective one of the load ports with a common point. N reject loads are provided with each connected to a different one of the N load ports for dissipating power in the event that one or more of the RF input signal sources is deactivated. A common heat sink is coupled to all of the N reject ports with the heat sink being sized and configured to provide a total heat dissipation capability to dissipate more than the maximum amount of heat required to be dissipated by any one of the N reject loads and less than N times that amount.

Growing community of inventors

Quincy, IL, United States of America

Robert J Plonka