Description
DUAL TUNER MODULE AND BROADCASTING RECEIVER
HAVING THE SAME
Technical Field
[1] The embodiment relates to a dual tuner module and a broadcasting receiver having the same. Background Art
[2] A dual tuner module can be applied to a digital broadcasting receiver such as a digital television (TV) or a set-top box (STB).
[3] The digital broadcasting receiver, to which the dual tuner module is applied, tunes two broadcasting channels at the same time, and functions to enable an audience to watch one of the broadcasting channels and store content provided through the other broadcasting channel in a storage medium. Further, the digital broadcasting receiver having a picture in picture (PIP) function can display one of the broadcasting channels on a main screen and the other broadcasting channel on a sub-screen. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem
[4] Accordingly, the embodiment is directed to a dual tuner module and a broadcasting receiver having the same, capable of providing low cost of production and good- quality broadcasting signals. Technical Solution
[5] According to an embodiment, a dual tuner module comprises: a first tuner comprising an oscillator generating a reference frequency, selecting a channel using the reference frequency, and generating a first signal from a received radio frequency (RF) signal; a first orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) demodulator demodulating the first signal transmitted from the first tuner; a second tuner selecting a channel using the reference frequency transmitted from the first tuner, and generating a second signal from the received RF signal; and a second OFDM demodulator demodulating the second signal transmitted from the second tuner.
[6] According to an embodiment, a broadcasting receiver comprises: a first tuner comprising an oscillator generating a reference frequency, selecting a channel using the reference frequency, and generating a first signal from a received radio frequency (RF) signal; a first orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) demodulator demodulating the first signal transmitted from the first tuner; a second tuner selecting a channel using the reference frequency transmitted from the first tuner, and generating a second signal from the received RF signal; a second OFDM demodulator, which de-
modulates the second signal transmitted from the second tuner; and a display displaying at least one of a first transport stream demodulated by the first OFDM demodulator and a second transport stream demodulated by the second OFDM demodulator.
Advantageous Effects
[7] According to the embodiments, the dual tuner module and the broadcasting receiver can reduce the cost of production and provide good-quality broadcasting signal. Brief Description of the Drawings
[8] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a dual tuner module according to first embodiment;
[9] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a dual tuner module according to second embodiment; and
[10] FIGS. 3 and 4 are block diagrams illustrating an antenna diversity function in a dual tuner module according to second embodiment. Mode for the Invention
[11] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[12] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a dual tuner module according to first embodiment.
[13] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the dual tuner module according to first embodiment comprises a first antenna 110, a first tuner 120, a first orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) demodulator 130, a second tuner 150, and a second OFDM demodulator 160.
[14] The first tuner 120 comprises an oscillator 121 generating a reference frequency, and a buffer 123 buffering the reference frequency generated from the oscillator 121. The first tuner 120 may comprise a mixer oscillator phase locked loop (MOPLL) circuit, which selects a channel using the reference frequency generated from the oscillator 121. As the oscillator 121, a crystal oscillator can be employed. Further, the first tuner 120 may comprise a loop through (L/T), which outputs an input radio frequency (RF) signal.
[15] The first tuner 120 receives the RF signal received by the first antenna 110. The first tuner 120 selects a channel using the reference frequency, and generates a first intermediate frequency (IF) signal from the received RF signal. The first OFDM demodulator 130 demodulates the first IF signal transmitted from the first tuner 120, thereby outputting a transport stream (TS).
[16] The second tuner 150 selects a channel using the reference frequency transmitted from the first tuner 120, and generates a second IF signal from the received RF signal.
The second tuner 150 can receive the RF signal from the first tuner 120, and the reference frequency from the buffer 123 of the first tuner 120. The second tuner 150 may comprise an MOPLL circuit selecting a channel using the reference frequency generated from the oscillator 121. The second OFDM demodulator 160 demodulates the second IF signal transmitted from the second tuner 150, thereby outputting a transport stream.
[17] According to the embodiment, the first tuner 120 and the second tuner 150 make common use of the reference frequency generated from the oscillator 121 of the first tuner 120 in order to select the channel. Accordingly, the dual tuner module is realized using one oscillator 121, so that it can reduce the cost of production, and secure a degree of freedom when designed.
[18] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a dual tuner module according to second embodiment.
[19] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the dual tuner module according to second embodiment comprises a first antenna 210, a first tuner 220, a first OFDM demodulator 230, a second antenna 240, a second tuner 250, and a second OFDM demodulator 260.
[20] The first tuner 220 comprises an oscillator 221 generating a reference frequency, and a buffer 223 buffering the reference frequency generated from the oscillator 221. The first tuner 220 may comprise an MOPLL circuit, which selects a channel using the reference frequency generated from the oscillator 221. As the oscillator 221, a crystal oscillator can be employed. Further, the first tuner 220 may comprise an L/T, which outputs an input RF signal.
[21] The first tuner 220 receives the RF signal received by the first antenna 210. The first tuner 220 selects a channel using the reference frequency, and generates a first IF signal from the received RF signal. The first OFDM demodulator 230 demodulates the first IF signal transmitted from the first tuner 220, thereby outputting a transport stream.
[22] The second tuner 250 selects a channel using the reference frequency transmitted from the first tuner 220, and generates a second IF signal from an RF signal received by the second antenna 240. The second tuner 250 can receive the reference frequency from the buffer 223 of the first tuner 220. The second tuner 250 may comprise an MOPLL circuit, which selects a channel using the reference frequency generated from the oscillator 221. The second OFDM demodulator 260 demodulates the second IF signal transmitted from the second tuner 250, thereby outputting a transport stream.
[23] According to the embodiment, the first tuner 220 and the second tuner 250 make common use of the reference frequency generated from the oscillator 221 of the first tuner 220 in order to select the channel. Accordingly, the dual tuner module is realized using one oscillator 221, so that it can reduce the cost of production, and secure a
degree of freedom when designed.
[24] Meanwhile, this dual tuner module having this configuration makes it possible to realize an antenna diversity function as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. According to the antenna diversity function, RF signals are input through different antennas, tuners select the same channel, and demodulators demodulate the RF signals. Then, among the demodulated signals, the signal having high quality is selected and output by comparison of transport streams generated from the demodulators, thereby improving sensitivity of the output signal. FIGS. 3 and 4 are block diagrams illustrating an antenna diversity function in a dual tuner module according to second embodiment.
[25] As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the dual tuner module according to second embodiment, the first OFDM demodulator 230 receives the transport stream from the second OFDM modulator 260. The first tuner 220 selects one channel on the basis of the RF signal received by the first antenna 210. The second tuner 250 selects the same channel as the channel selected by the first tuner 210 on the basis of the RF signal received by the second antenna 240.
[26] The first OFDM demodulator 230 compares the transport stream generated by the first OFDM demodulator 230 with that generated by the second OFDM demodulator 260, and thereby selects and outputs the transport stream having relatively better quality. For example, the first and second OFDM demodulators 230 and 260 can transmit the signal through an inter-integrated circuit (IIC). Further, the first and second OFDM demodulators 230 and 260 can transmit the signal through a serial data line (SDL) and a serial clock line (SCL).
[27] According to this embodiment, the antenna diversity function is realized, so that the transport stream generated by the first OFDM demodulator 230 can be compared with that generated by the second OFDM demodulator 260, and thereby the transport stream having relatively better quality can be selected and output.
[28] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 4, in the dual tuner module according to second embodiment, the second OFDM demodulator 260 receives the transport stream from the first OFDM modulator 230. The first tuner 220 selects one channel on the basis of the RF signal received by the first antenna 210. The second tuner 250 selects the same channel as the channel selected by the first tuner 210 on the basis of the RF signal received by the second antenna 240.
[29] The second OFDM modulator 260 compares the transport stream generated by the second OFDM demodulator 260 with that generated by the first OFDM demodulator 230, and thereby selects and outputs the transport stream having relatively better quality. For example, the first and second OFDM demodulators 230 and 260 can transmit the signal through an inter-integrated circuit (IIC). Further, the first and second OFDM demodulators 230 and 260 can transmit the signal through a serial data
line (SDL) and a serial clock line (SCL).
[30] According to this embodiment, the antenna diversity function is realized, so that the transport stream generated by first OFDM demodulator 230 can be compared with that generated by the second OFDM demodulator 260, and thereby the transport stream having relatively better quality can be selected and output.
[31] Meanwhile, as described above, the dual tuner module according to the embodiment can be applied to a broadcasting receiver. The broadcasting receiver comprises a digital TV, a set-top box, or the like.
[32] The broadcasting receiver according to an embodiment can comprise a display. The display can display at least one of the first transport stream demodulated by the first OFDM demodulator and the second transport stream demodulated by the second OFDM demodulator. The display can display the transport stream generated by one of the demodulators on a main screen and the transport stream generated by the other demodulator on a sub-screen.
[33] Further, the broadcasting receiver according to an embodiment can comprise a storage medium. The storage medium can store at least one of the first transport stream demodulated by the first OFDM demodulator and the second transport stream demodulated by the second OFDM demodulator. The broadcasting receiver according to an embodiment can display the transport stream generated by one of the demodulators on the display and store the transport stream generated by the other demodulator in the storage medium.
[34] Any reference in this specification to "one embodiment", "an embodiment",
"example embodiment", etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.
[35] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Industrial Applicability
[36] According to the embodiments, the dual tuner module and the broadcasting receiver can reduce the cost of production and provide good-quality broadcasting signal.