# US 2019/0174072 A1 · Multi-switch module expander > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0174072 A1 - Document ID: US20190174072A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/832,472 - Filed: 2017-12-05 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-05 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Applicants: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Inventors: Richard Tatem - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190174072A1 ## CPC - H04N 5/268: Signal distribution or switching - H04N 21/4385: Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream decrypting - H04N 21/6143: {involving transmission via a satellite} - H04N 21/615: {Signal processing at physical level (signal processing in analog two-way television systems H04N7/173)} - H04N 21/6193: {involving transmission via a satellite (arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A multi-switch module expander includes a chassis that includes signal input ports and signal output ports configured to couple with signal input ports provided on a first multi-switch module and couple with signal input ports provided on a second multi-switch module. A splitting circuit is housed in the chassis and coupled to the signal input ports and the signal output ports. The splitting circuit is configured to provide signals received at each signal input port of the multi-switch module expander to respective signal input ports of the first multi-switch module and the second multi-switch module that are coupled with the signal output ports of the multi-switch module expander. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multi-switch module expander, comprising: a multi-switch module expander chassis; a first set of signal input ports provided on the multi-switch module expander chassis; a first set of signal output ports provided on a first surface of the multi-switch module expander chassis, wherein each signal output port of the first set of signal output ports is configured to directly engage with a respective signal input port of a second set of signal input ports provided on a first multi-switch module; a second set of signal output ports provided on the first surface of the multi-switch module expander chassis, wherein each signal output port of the second set of signal output ports is configured to directly engage with a respective signal input port of a third set of signal input ports provided on a second multi-switch module; and a splitting circuit housed in the multi-switch module expander chassis and coupled to the first set of signal input ports, the first set of signal output ports, and the second set of signal output ports and configured to provide signals received at each signal input port of the first set of signal input ports to a first respective signal output port of the first set of signal output ports and to a second respective signal output port of the second set of signal output ports. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multi-switch module expander of claim 1, further comprising: a first power input port provided on the multi-switch module expander chassis and configured to couple with a power source and provide power to the splitting circuit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The multi-switch module expander of claim 2, further comprising: a first power output port and a second power output port provided on the multi-switch module expander chassis; and a power divider coupled to the first power input port, the first power output port, and the second power output port, wherein the power divider is configured to provide a first portion of power received by the first power input port to the first power output port and a second portion of the power to the second power output port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The multi-switch module expander of claim 1, further comprising: an amplifying circuit housed in the multi-switch module expander chassis and coupled to the splitting circuit, wherein the amplifying circuit is configured to amplify the signals before the signals are provided to the first set of signal output ports and the second set of signal output ports to account for a loss provided by the splitting circuit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The multi-switch module expander of claim 1, wherein the first set of signal output ports and the second set of signal output ports each include a self-terminating circuit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The multi-switch module expander of claim 1, further comprising: at least one multi-switch module expander mounting member coupled to the multi-switch module expander chassis, wherein the at least one multi-switch module expander mounting member is configured to mount a surface of the multi-switch module expander chassis that does not include a port to a mounting structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The multi-switch module expander of claim 1, further comprising: a multi-switch module expander coupling member coupled to the multi-switch module expander chassis and configured to couple with a multi-switch module mounting feature provided on at least one of the first multi-switch module and the second multi-switch module, wherein the multi-switch module mounting feature is configure to mount at least one of the first multi-switch module and the second multi-switch module to a surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The multi-switch module expander of claim 1, wherein the first multi-switch module and the second multi-switch module are single-wire multi-switch modules that are configured to multiplex the signals received via the second set of signal input ports and the third set of signal input ports, respectfully, and provide a portion of those multiplexed signals through a single-wire output port provided on each of the first multi-switch module and the second multi-switch module via a plurality of channels. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The multi-switch module expander of claim 1, wherein the first set of signal input ports, the first set of signal output ports, and the second set of signal output ports include a coaxial cable port. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The multi-switch module expander of claim 1, wherein the first set of signal input ports are substantially orthogonal to the first set of signal output ports and the second set of signal output ports. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The multi-switch module expander of claim 1, wherein the signal output ports of given first or second sets thereof are aligned and equispaced from each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The multi-switch module expander of claim 1, wherein the second set of signal output ports are provided on a second surface of the multi-switch module expander chassis. ### Claim 13 A multi-switch system, comprising: a multi-switch module expander that includes: a multi-switch module expander chassis; and a splitting circuit housed in the multi-switch module expander chassis and coupled to a first set of signal input ports, a first set of signal output ports, and a second set of signal output ports and configured to provide signals received at each signal input port of the first set of signal input ports to a first respective signal output port of the first set of signal output ports and to a second respective signal output port of the second set of signal output ports; and a first multi-switch module including: a first multi-switch module chassis; a second set of signal input ports that are coupled to a respective signal output port of the first set of signal output ports; and a multiplexer housed in the first multi-switch module chassis and coupled to the second set of signal input ports, wherein the multiplexer is configured to multiplex signals received via the second set of signal input ports. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The multi-switch system of claim 13, wherein the multi-switch module expander further includes: a first power input port provided on the multi-switch module expander chassis and configured to couple with a power source and provide power to the splitting circuit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The multi-switch system of claim 14, wherein the multi-switch module expander further includes: a first power output port and a second power output port; and a power divider coupled to the first power input port, the first power output port, and the second power output port, wherein the power divider is configured to provide a first portion of power received on the first power input port to the first power output port and a second portion of the power to the second power output port. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The multi-switch system of claim 13, wherein the multi-switch module expander further includes: a multi-switch module expander coupling member coupled to the multi-switch module expander chassis and configured to couple with a multi-switch module mounting feature provided on the first multi-switch module, wherein the multi-switch module mounting feature is configure to mount the first multi-switch module to a surface. ### Claim 17 A method, comprising: receiving signals at a first set of signal input ports provided on a multi-switch module expander chassis; splitting the signals received at the first set of signal input ports to provide first signals and second signals; and providing the first signals to a first set of signal output ports provided on the multi-switch module expander chassis, wherein each signal output port of the first set of signal output ports is configured to directly engage with and provide a portion of the first signals to a respective signal input port of a second set of signal input ports provided on a first multi-switch module; and providing the second signals to a second set of signal output ports provided on the multi-switch module expander chassis, wherein each signal output port of the first set of signal output ports is configured to directly engage with and provide a portion of the second signals to a respective signal input port of a third set of signal input ports provided on a second multi-switch module. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: receiving first power on a first power input provided on the multi-switch module expander chassis; and providing a first portion of the first power to a splitting circuit that performs the splitting the signals. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: amplifying the signals before the signals are provided to the first set of signal output ports and the second set of signal output ports to account for a loss provided by splitting the signals. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: coupling a multi-switch module expander coupling member that is provided on the multi-switch module expander chassis with a multi-switch module mounting feature provided on the first multi-switch module, wherein the multi-switch module mounting feature is configured to mount the first multi-switch module to a surface.