US 7,412,208 B1 · Transmission system for transmitting RF signals, power and control signals via RF coaxial cables

Abstract

A transmission system for RF signals, power and control signals over RF coaxial cables is disclosed. A coaxial cable line interconnects two devices, such as an instrument and a remote coupler. A control signal (e.g., data bit) and RF signals are multiplexed onto the coaxial cable line using a bias network at each end of the coaxial cable. In certain embodiments, power is generated at the coupler based on the state of the control bits. Each coaxial cable carries one control bit on the center conductor of the cable. A table maps the states of the one or more control bits to the desired states in the remote coupler. The all-zeroes state for the control bits is disallowed, such that at any given time, at least one of the control lines is high (e.g., at +5V). A passive network at the coupler generates the power voltage for the coupler from the control bits. In further embodiments, a power supply filter is provided at the coupler to supply power to the coupler during transitions of the passive network.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A transmission system for providing RF signals, power and control signals to a device, comprising:

at least one bias network within the device, said at least one bias network being capable of being connected to at least one respective RF coaxial cable to receive respective multiplexed RF signals and controls signals, said at least one bias network being further capable of de-multiplexing the RF signals and control signals;
at least one control line being connected to a respective one of said at least one bias network to receive a respective one of the de-multiplexed control signals;
control circuitry within the device connected to said at least one control line to receive all of the de-multiplexed control signals, said control circuitry being configured to control the state of the device based on the states of the received de-multiplexed control signals;
and
a passive network within the device connected to said at least one control line to receive all of the de-multiplexed control signals and provide power to said control circuitry based on the state of each of the de-multiplexed control signals.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Transmission system for transmitting RF signals, power and control signals via RF coaxial cables

Life of this patent

Transmission system for transmitting RF signals, power and control signals via RF coaxial cables

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13