US 11,109,112 B2 · CATV device with resistive signal distribution network

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a CATV & MoCA® device, such as a RF signal amplifier. The RF signal amplifier includes a RF input port to receive signals from, and transmit signals to, a service provider. The RF input port is connected to an active communication path with a downstream signal amplifier leading to an input of a resistive splitter network. The resistive splitter network has plural interconnected resistors, which split the amplified signal received at the input of the resistive splitter network and provide the signal to plural “CATV & MoCA®” output ports. Upstream CATV signals received by the “CATV & MoCA®” output ports are combined by the resistive splitter network and sent to the RF input port to be transmitted to the service provider. MoCA® signals received by any one of the “CATV & MoCA®” output ports are carried by the resistive splitter network to the other “CATV & MoCA®” output ports, and potentially to other “MoCA® only” ports of the RF signal amplifier.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A CATV radio frequency (“RF”) signal amplifier comprising:

a RF input port;
a resistive splitter network having an input and a plurality of active RF output ports;
an active communications path connecting said RF input port to said input of said resistive splitter network, said active communications path including at least one power amplifier to amplify an upstream signal or a downstream signal passing along said active communications path;
a first filter functioning as an in-home network rejection filter and coupled between said input of said resistive splitter network and said RF input port;
a passive RF output port;
a passive communications path connecting said RF input port to said passive RF output port;
and
an in-home network pass filter coupled between a first node and a second node, wherein said first node is located upstream of said passive RF output port along said passive communications path and said second node is located downstream of said first filter and upstream of said input to said resistive splitter network along said active communications path, said in-home network pass filter configured to pass signals in an in-home network frequency band and to not pass signals in upstream and downstream frequency bands of a service provider.

5 more elements

A CATV radio frequency (“RF”) signal amplifier comprising:

a housing;
an input port located on said housing, said input port for receiving downstream service provider signals from a service provider and for transmitting upstream signals from customer devices to the service provider;
a resistive splitter network having an input;
a plurality of first output ports located on said housing and configured as outputs of said resistive splitter network, said plurality of first output ports for outputting service provider signals to customer devices and for receiving signals directed to the service provider, and said plurality of first output ports also for transmitting and receiving signals associated with an in-home network, allowing customer devices within the home network to communicate with each other, said plurality of first output ports functioning as “CATV and in-home network” ports;
and
a full duplex amplifier including:
an upstream directional coupler having first, second and third terminals, wherein signals passing between said first and third terminals in either direction encounter a first level of attenuation, signals passing between said second and third terminals encounter a second level of attenuation greater than said first level of attenuation, and signals passing between said first and second terminals encounter a third level of attenuation greater than said second level of attenuation;
a downstream directional coupler having first, second and third terminals, wherein signals passing between said first and third terminals in either direction encounter a first level of attenuation, signals passing between said second and third terminals encounter a second level of attenuation greater than said first level of attenuation, and signals passing between said first and second terminals encounter a third level of attenuation greater than said second level of attenuation;
a first amplifier having an input connected to said first terminal of said upstream directional coupler and an output connected to said first terminal of said downstream directional coupler;
and
a second amplifier having an input connected to said second terminal of said downstream directional coupler and an output connected to said second terminal of said upstream directional coupler, wherein said third terminal of said upstream directional coupler is considered a first input/output of said full duplex amplifier and is connected to said input port, and wherein said third terminal of said downstream directional coupler is considered a second input/output of said full duplex amplifier and is connected to said input of said resistive splitter network.

8 more elements

A CATV radio frequency (“RF”) signal amplifier comprising:

a housing;
an input port located on said housing, said input port for receiving downstream service provider signals from a service provider and for transmitting upstream signals from customer devices to the service provider;
a resistive splitter network having an input;
a plurality of first output ports located on said housing and configured as outputs of said resistive splitter network, said plurality of first output ports for outputting service provider signals to customer devices and for receiving signals directed to the service provider, and said plurality of first output ports also for transmitting and receiving signals associated with an in-home network, allowing customer devices within the home network to communicate with each other, said plurality of first output ports functioning as “CATV and in-home network” ports;
and
a full duplex amplifier including:
an upstream directional coupler having first, second and third terminals, wherein signals passing between said first and third terminals in either direction encounter a first level of attenuation, signals passing between said second and third terminals encounter a second level of attenuation greater than said first level of attenuation, and signals passing between said first and second terminals encounter a third level of attenuation greater than said second level of attenuation;
a downstream directional coupler having first, second and third terminals, wherein signals passing between said first and third terminals in either direction encounter a first level of attenuation, signals passing between said second and third terminals encounter a second level of attenuation greater than said first level of attenuation, and signals passing between said first and second terminals encounter a third level of attenuation greater than said second level of attenuation;
a first amplifier having an input connected to one of said first or second terminals of said upstream directional coupler and an output connected to one of said first or second terminals of said downstream directional coupler;
and
a second amplifier having an input connected to the other of said first or second terminals of said downstream directional coupler and an output connected to the other of said first or second terminals of said upstream directional coupler, wherein said third terminal of said upstream directional coupler is considered a first input/output of said full duplex amplifier and is connected to said input port, and wherein said third terminal of said downstream directional coupler is considered a second input/output of said full duplex amplifier and is connected to said input of said resistive splitter network.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

CATV device with resistive signal distribution network

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CATV device with resistive signal distribution network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20