Abstract:
An out-door unit with multiple ports comprises a plurality of circuit blocks, a DC-DC converter and a plurality of ports. The DC-DC converter is configured to provide current to the plurality of circuit blocks. The plurality of ports is connected to a plurality of in-door units respectively via a diode and provides current from the plurality of in-door units to the DC-DC converter via a diode respectively. At least one of the plurality of ports is connected to a first circuit block of the plurality of circuit blocks to provide current to the first circuit block.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an out-door unit, and more particularly, to an out-door unit with multiple ports. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    An out-door unit (ODU) is a wireless communication transceiver apparatus, such as a wireless communication transceiver apparatus applied to satellite communication, installed outdoors. A typical ODU applied to satellite communication comprises a low noise block (LNB) to process and convert a high frequency signal broadcasted by a satellite to an intermediate frequency signal for an in-door unit (IDU), such as a setup box, to receive. 
         [0005]    Power is supplied to an ODU by the IDUs to which it is connect with multiple ports.  FIG. 1  shows a conventional ODU with multiple ports. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the ODU  100  is connected to a plurality of IDUs  11  to  14  and comprises a plurality of ports  101  to  104 , a plurality of low noise amplifiers  111  to  114 , a plurality of local oscillators  121  to  124 , a plurality of mixers  131  to  134 , a plurality of front-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  141  to  144 , a plurality of switches  151  and  152  and a plurality of back-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  161  to  164 . The plurality of low noise amplifiers  111  to  114  is configured to amplify received vertical and horizontal high-frequency satellite signals. The plurality of local oscillators  121  to  124  is configured to generate a plurality of intermediate frequency signals. The plurality of mixers  131  to  134  is configured to convert the received high-frequency satellite signals to a plurality intermediate frequency satellite signals by using the plurality of intermediate frequency signals. The plurality of front-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  141  to  144  is configured to amplify these intermediate frequency satellite signals and provide the amplified intermediate frequency satellite signals to the input terminals of the plurality of switches  151  and  152 . The plurality of back-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  161  to  164  is configured to amplify the intermediate frequency satellite signals outputted by the plurality of switches  151  and  152  and provided to the plurality of IDUs  11  to  14  via the plurality of ports  101  to  104 . 
         [0006]      FIG. 2  shows a power supply network of the ODU with multiple ports shown in  FIG. 1 . The ODU  100  further comprises a plurality of voltage regulators  201  to  204  and a plurality of diodes  211  to  214 . The plurality of voltage regulators  201  to  204  is configured to regulate the power provided by the plurality of IDUs  11  to  14  such that stable currents can be provided to the plurality of back-end intermediate frequency amplifiers. In addition, the plurality of voltage regulators  201  to  204  can provide stable currents via the plurality of diodes  211  to  214  to the plurality of low noise amplifiers  111  to  114 , the plurality of local oscillators  121  to  124 , the plurality of mixers  131  to  134 , and the plurality of front-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  141  to  144  in a current-sharing manner. 
         [0007]    However, the power supply network shown in  FIG. 2  requires too much power to meet the requirements of the industry. To reduce power consumption, adjustments can be made to the power supply network shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 3  shows a part of another power supply network of the ODU with multiple ports shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the ODU  100  further comprises a plurality of diodes  301  to  304 . The plurality of voltage regulators  201  to  204  shown in  FIG. 2  can be combined to become a DC-DC converter  311 . The power provided by the plurality of IDUs  11  to  14  is sent to the DC-DC converter  311 , which then provides power to other devices, via the plurality of diodes  301  to  304  in a current-sharing manner. The DC-DC converter  311  replaces the plurality of voltage regulators  201  to  204  to reduce the output voltage and thus reduce the total power consumption. 
         [0008]    However, many of the IDUs require minimum supply currents. When power is supplied in a current-sharing manner, and the provided voltages of the plurality of IDUs are different, e.g. the provided voltage of the IDU  11  is different from that of the IDU  12 , one of the IDUs does not provide current, which does not meet the requirements of the industry. 
         [0009]    To meet the minimum supply currents requirement, adjustments can be made to the power supply network shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 4  shows a part of another power supply network of the ODU with multiple ports shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the ODU  100  further comprises a plurality of resistors  401  to  404 . The plurality of resistors  401  to  404  are connected to the power providing paths of the plurality of IDUs  11  to  14  respectively such that the minimum supply current requirement of each of the plurality of IDUs  11  to  14  is met. However, the additional resistors  401  to  404  will increase the total power consumption. 
         [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a part of another power supply network of the ODU with multiple ports shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the plurality of back-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  161  to  164  are re-connected at the current supplying paths of the plurality of IDUs  11  to  14 . Accordingly, the plurality of IDUs  11  to  14  provides the required current to the plurality of back-end intermediate frequency amplifiers to meet the minimum supply currents requirements. However, since the currents required by the plurality of back-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  161  to  164  are much higher than the minimum supply currents required by the plurality of IDUs  11  to  14 , the total power consumption will increase. 
         [0011]    In addition, each of the current supplying paths shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  can be serially connected with a DC-DC converter to reduce the current consumption of the plurality of resistors  401  to  404  and the plurality of back-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  161  to  164 . However, the additional DC-DC converters will greatly increase the hardware costs. 
         [0012]    Therefore, there is a need for an ODU with multiple ports, which can meet the minimum supply currents of IDUs and thus has the advantages of low power consumption and low hardware costs at the same time. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The ODU with multiple ports according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of circuit blocks, a DC-DC converter and a plurality of ports. The DC-DC converter is configured to provide current to the plurality of circuit blocks. The plurality of ports is configured to be respectively connected to a plurality of in-door units and configured to respectively provide current from the plurality of in-door units to the DC-DC converter via a diode. At least one of the plurality of ports is connected to a first circuit block of the plurality of circuit blocks to provide current to the first circuit block. 
         [0014]    The ODU with multiple ports according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of circuit blocks, a DC-DC converter and a plurality of ports. The DC-DC converter is configured to provide current to the plurality of circuit blocks in a current-sharing manner. The plurality of ports are configured to be respectively connected to a plurality of in-door units and configured to provide current from the plurality of in-door units to the DC-DC converter in a current-sharing manner. At least two of the plurality of ports is connected to a first circuit block of the plurality of circuit blocks to provide current to the first circuit block in a current-sharing manner. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description and upon referring to the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a conventional ODU with multiple ports; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a power supply network of a conventional ODU with multiple ports; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a part of another power supply network of a conventional ODU with multiple ports; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a part of another power supply network of a conventional ODU with multiple ports; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows a part of another power supply network of a conventional ODU with multiple ports; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  shows a schematic view of an ODU with multiple ports according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  shows a power supply network of an ODU with multiple ports according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  shows a power supply network of an ODU with multiple ports according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]      FIG. 6  shows a schematic view of an ODU with multiple ports according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ODU  600  is applied to satellite communication. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the ODU  60  comprises an LNB and is connected to a plurality of IDUs  21  to  24 , wherein the plurality of IDUs is setup box devices. The ODU  600  comprises a plurality of ports  601  to  604 , a plurality of low noise amplifiers  611  to  614 , a plurality of local oscillators  621  to  624 , a plurality of mixers  631  to  634 , a plurality of front-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  641  to  644 , a plurality of switches  651  and  652  and a plurality of back-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  661  to  664 . The plurality of low noise amplifiers  611  to  614  are configured to amplify received vertical and horizontal high-frequency satellite signals. The plurality of local oscillators  621  to  624  is configured to generate a plurality of intermediate frequency signals. The plurality of mixers  631  to  634  are configured to convert the received high-frequency satellite signals to a plurality intermediate frequency satellite signals by using the plurality of intermediate frequency signals. The plurality of front-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  641  to  644  are configured to amplify these intermediate frequency satellite signals and provide the amplified intermediate frequency satellite signals to the input terminals of the plurality of switches  651  and  652 . The plurality of back-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  661  to  664  are configured to amplify the intermediate frequency satellite signals outputted by the plurality of switches  651  and  652  provided to the plurality of IDUs  21  to  24  via the plurality of ports  601  to  604 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 7  shows a power supply network of the ODU with multiple ports shown in  FIG. 6 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the ODU  600  further comprises a DC-DC converter  701  and a plurality of diodes  711  to  714  and uses the DC-DC converter  701  to provide power in a current-sharing manner. The DC-DC converter  701  is configured to convert the power provided by the plurality of IDUs  21  to  24  to provide stable currents to the low noise amplifiers  611  to  614 , the plurality of local oscillators  621  to  624 , the plurality of mixers  631  to  634 , the plurality of front-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  641  to  644  and the plurality of back-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  661  to  664 . 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the plurality of back-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  661  to  664  are also connected to the plurality of ports  601  to  604  such that the plurality of IDUs  21  to  24  can provide power to the plurality of back-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  661  to  664 . For the plurality of back-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  661  to  664 , e.g. the back-end intermediate frequency amplifier  661 , the required current is provided by the DC-DC converter  701  and the IDU  21 . Accordingly, the IDU  21  only provides a part of the current required by the back-end intermediate frequency amplifier  661  to meet its minimum supply current requirement. The other part of the current required by the back-end intermediate frequency amplifier  661  is provided by the DC-DC converter  701 . In other words, the ODU  600  provides the minimum supply currents of the plurality of IDUs  21  to  24  to the plurality of back-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  661  to  664  without significantly increasing the supply currents of the plurality of IDUs  21  to  24 . Therefore, the minimum supply currents to the IDUs and low power consumption can be achieved at the same time. In addition, the ODU  600  uses only one DC-DC converter  701  and thus reduces the hardware costs. 
         [0027]    Preferably, a plurality of switches  721  to  724  are deployed at each of the current supplying paths of the plurality of back-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  661  to  664 , respectively. The plurality of switches  721  to  724  are configured to stop the DC-DC converter  701  from providing current to the plurality of back-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  661  to  664  when the plurality of ports  601  to  604  are not connected to the plurality of IDUs  21  to  24 . 
         [0028]    The plurality of ports  601  to  604  are not limited to be connected to the plurality of back-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  661  to  664 , but can also connected to other circuit blocks, including function blocks used for signal processing, and can be implemented by circuit devices or integrated circuits, such as the plurality of low noise amplifiers  611  to  614 , the plurality of local oscillators  621  to  624 , the plurality of mixers  631  to  634  or the plurality of front-end intermediate frequency amplifiers  641  to  644 , to meet the minimum supply current requirements. 
         [0029]      FIG. 8  shows another power supply network of the ODU with multiple ports shown in  FIG. 6 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the ODU  600  further comprises a plurality of diodes  801  to  804  and a plurality of resistors  811  to  814 . The plurality of ports  601  to  604  are connected to the plurality of low noise amplifiers  613  and  614 . Since the number of the plurality of low noise amplifiers  613  and  614  is half of that of the plurality of ports  601  to  604 , the plurality of ports  601  to  604  are connected to the plurality of low noise amplifiers  613  and  614  in a current-sharing manner. Accordingly, the plurality of ports  601  and  602  are connected to the low noise amplifiers  613  via the plurality of diodes  801  and  802  and the plurality of resistors  811  and  812 . The plurality of ports  603  and  604  are connected to the low noise amplifiers  614  via the plurality of diodes  803  and  804  and the plurality of resistors  813  and  814 . The plurality of IDUs  21  to  24  provide a portion of the currents required by the plurality of low noise amplifiers  613  and  614  to meet their minimum supply current requirements. 
         [0030]    Compared with the power supply network of a conventional ODU with multiple ports, under the same circumstances, the ODUs with multiple ports according to the embodiments of the present invention can meet the minimum supply current requirements of IDUs and have the advantages of low power consumption and low hardware costs at the same time. Compared to the power supply network shown in  FIG. 4 , the power supply network shown in  FIG. 7  can reduce current consumption by about 29.9%. Such current consumption reduction can meet the requirements of the industry. Further, the ODUs with multiple ports according to the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to four ports, but can have any other number of ports. 
         [0031]    In conclusion, the ODUs with multiple ports according to the embodiments of the present invention use their ports to provide a portion of the circuit blocks a portion of their required currents such that the minimum supply current requirements can be satisfied. In addition, as mentioned above, the ODUs with multiple ports according to the embodiments of the present invention have the advantages of low power consumption and low hardware costs, and thus can be easily applied by the industry. 
         [0032]    The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrative only. Those skilled in the art may devise numerous alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the following claims.