Amplifier switch controller and system

A headend system for processing cable television channel signals, said headend system comprising:

• a. a plurality of receivers, each receiving a cable television channel signal;
• b. a combiner operatively connected to said plurality of receivers for receiving each of the channel signals from each of said plurality of receivers, said combiner combining said channel signals into a combined signal having one frequency band;
• c. an amplifier input signal path operatively connected to said combiner for transmitting said combined signal;
• d. a first amplifier and a second amplifier, one of said first and second amplifiers being currently activated, said currently activated amplifier operatively connected to said amplifier input signal path for receiving said combined signal and generating an amplified combined signal;
• e. an amplifier output signal path operatively connected to said currently activated amplifier for transmitting said amplified combined signal;
• f. a controller connected to said input and output signal paths, said controller comprising:
• i. an input sampler operatively connected to said input signal path for sampling said combined signal from said input signal path and for measuring an input signal level;
• ii. an output sampler operatively connected to said output signal path for sampling the amplified combined signal from said output signal path and for measuring an output signal level;
• iii. program means for using the input signal level and the output signal level to determine whether said currently activated amplifier is functioning properly and for providing a control signal when said currently activated amplifier is not functioning properly;
• and
• iv. a switch controllably energized in response to said control signal for switching said input and output signal paths from said currently activated amplifier to the other one of said first and second amplifiers, the switch being coupled to the input signal path between the input sampler and the currently activated amplifier, and being coupled to the output signal path between the currently activated amplifier and the output sampler;
• and
• g. a splitter operatively connected to said output signal path for receiving said amplified combined signal and generating a plurality of combined signals for distribution to a plurality of customers.

An amplifier switch controller for a headend processing system having at least a first amplifier and a second amplifier, one of the first and second amplifiers being currently activated, the currently activated amplifier operatively connected to an input signal path and an output signal path, the input signal path carrying an input signal to the currently activated amplifier and the output signal path transmitting an amplified output signal from the currently activated amplifier, the controller comprising:

• an input sampler for sampling the input signal carried on the input signal path and measuring an input signal level of the input signal;
• an output sampler for sampling the amplified output signal on the output signal path and measuring an output signal level of the amplified output signal;
• program means for receiving the input and output signal levels, for calculating an actual gain of the currently activated amplifier from the input signal level and the output signal level, comparing the actual gain to a desired range of amplifier gain of the currently activated amplifier, generating a control signal when the actual gain does not fall within the desired range of amplifier gain of the currently activated amplifier;
• and
• a switch controllably energized in response to said control signal for disconnecting the input and output signal paths from the currently activated amplifier and for connecting each of the input and output signal paths to the other one of the first and second amplifiers.

An amplifier switch control system for a headend processing system having at least a first amplifier and a second amplifier, one of the first and second amplifiers being in use, and the currently activated amplifier operatively connected to an input signal path and an output signal path, the input signal path carrying an input signal to the currently activated amplifier and the output signal path transmitting an amplified output signal from the currently activated amplifier, the controller comprising:

• an input sampler circuit operatively connectable to the input signal path to measure an input signal level on the input signal path;
• an output sampler circuit operatively connectable to the output signal path to measure an amplified signal level on the output signal path;
• a controller coupled to receive the input and amplified signal levels and to generate a control signal indicative of an operating condition of the amplifier in use in response to the received input and amplified signal levels;
• and
• a switch element connected to the controller and couplable to the first and second amplifiers to disconnect the input and output signal paths from the amplifier in use and to connect the input and output signal paths to the other one of the first and second amplifiers in response to the control signal, the switch element being coupled to the input signal path between the input sampler and the currently activated amplifier, and being coupled to the output signal path between the currently activated amplifier and the output sampler.

An amplifier switch controller for a headend processing system having at least a first amplifier and a second amplifier, one of the first and second amplifiers being currently activated, and the currently activated amplifier operatively connected to an input signal path and an output signal path, the input signal path carrying an input signal to the currently activated amplifier and the output signal path transmitting an amplified output signal from the currently activated amplifier, the controller comprising:

• an input sampler operatively connected to the input signal path for sampling the signal on the input signal path and measuring an input signal level;
• an output sampler operatively connected to the output signal path for sampling the amplified signal on the output signal path and measuring an amplified signal level;
• program means for receiving the input signal level and the amplified signal level, for determining actual amplifier gain from the received input and output signal levels, comparing the actual amplifier gain to a desired range of amplifier gain and for generating a control signal when the actual gain of the currently activated amplifier falls outside the desired range of amplifier gain;
• and
• a signal switching component controllably energized in response to said control signal for disconnecting the input and output signal paths from the currently activated amplifier and connecting each of the input and output signal paths to the other one of the first and second amplifiers.

A headend system for processing cable television channel signals, said headend system comprising:

• a. a plurality of receivers, each receiving a cable television channel signal;
• b. a combiner operatively connected to said plurality of receivers for receiving each of the channel signals from each of said plurality of receivers, said combiner combining said channel signals into a combined signal having one frequency band;
• c. an amplifier input signal path operatively connected to said combiner for transmitting said combined signal;
• d. a first amplifier and a second amplifier, one of said first and second amplifiers being currently activated, said currently activated amplifier operatively connected to said amplifier input signal path for receiving said combined signal and generating an amplified combined signal;
• e. an amplifier output signal path operatively connected to said currently activated amplifier for transmitting said amplified combined signal;
• f. a controller connected to said input and output signal paths, said controller comprising:
• i. an input sampler operatively connected to said input signal path for sampling said combined signal from said input signal path and for measuring an input signal level;
• ii. an output sampler operatively connected to said output signal path for sampling the amplified combined signal from said output signal path and for measuring an output signal level;
• iii. program means for determining a level of gain of said currently operating amplifier from the input signal level and the output signal level, determining whether the determined level of gain lies within a predetermined acceptable gain range, and for providing a control signal when the determined level of gain is outside the predetermined acceptable gain range;
• and
• iv. a switch controllably energized in response to said control signal for switching said input and output signal paths from said currently activated amplifier to the other one of said first and second amplifiers;
• and
• g. a splitter operatively connected to said output signal path for receiving said amplified combined signal and generating a plurality of combined signals for distribution to a plurality of customers.

An amplifier switch control system for a headend processing system having at least a first amplifier and a second amplifier, one of the first and second amplifiers being in use, and the currently activated amplifier operatively connected to an input signal path and an output signal path, the input signal path carrying an input signal to the currently activated amplifier and the output signal path transmitting an amplified output signal from the currently activated amplifier, the controller comprising:

• an input sampler circuit operatively connectable to the input signal path to measure an input signal level on the input signal path;
• an output sampler circuit operatively connectable to the output signal path to measure an amplified signal level on the output signal path;
• a controller coupled to receive the input and amplified signal levels and to generate a control signal indicative of whether an actual amplifier gain level, calculated from the input and amplified signal levels, lies within a predetermined gain range;
• and
• a switch element connected to the controller and couplable to the first and second amplifiers to disconnect the input and output signal paths from the amplifier in use and to connect the input and output signal paths to the other one of the first and second amplifiers in response to the control signal.