A digital single-wire multiswitch (DSWM) channel-stacking IC in 45nm CMOS for satellite outdoor units

The evolution of direct-to-home transmit/receive systems requires a solution to aggregate, switch and route signals from multiple satellites to multiple set-top boxes efficiently. Prior solutions required separate coax cables to carry signals from each low-noise block (LNB) to set-top boxes in the home, resulting in high installation cost. An existing solution called analog single-wire multiswitch (ASWM) channel stacking uses an analog frequency translation switch located near the antenna LNB to select and output signals from multiple LNB´s to a fixed frequency slot for each set-top box on a single cable [1]. Although the ASWM solution solves the problem of multiple cables, it does not provide enough flexibility and capability to increase the number of inputs, and it requires multiple external components like SAW filters which in turn would significantly increase cost [2]. This paper introduces an integrated digital single-wire multiswitch (DSWM) channel-stacking IC implemented in 45nm CMOS, which uses digital signal processing after wideband 9b 1.82GS/s ADC´s to select and reorder transponder channels. The selected and reordered channels are digitally upconverted and are stacked into L-band through a 9b 5.46GS/s DAC. It removes the need of in-band SAW filters, offers a full flexibility of channel selection, and supports many more satellites through a single L-band cable to set-top boxes at much lower cost and lower power consumption.