Cable System with Active RF Device Powered by RF Energy Converted to DC Power, and Associated Method
First Claim
1. A cable system for providing RF signals into a subscriber'"'"'s facility, comprising:
- a main line carrying first RF signals for a plurality of subscribers, the first RF signals containing information communicated between the main line and the subscribers;
a subscriber line coupled between the main line and the subscriber'"'"'s facility, the subscriber line carrying the first RF signals and also carrying second RF signals having a frequency different from that of the first RF signals;
a rectifier/voltage multiplier connected to the subscriber line, the rectifier/voltage multiplier converting AC energy in the second RF signals into DC current; and
an active RF device powered by the DC current from the rectifier/voltage multiplier, the RF device being located along the subscriber line.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cable system comprises a main line carrying first RF signals for a plurality of subscribers, and a subscriber line coupled with the main line and carrying the first RF signals between the subscriber'"'"'s facility and the main line and also carrying second RF signals that are different in frequency from the first RF signals. The system further comprises a rectifier/voltage multiplier connected to the subscriber line for converting AC energy in the second RF signals into DC current, and an active RF device powered by the DC current from the rectifier/voltage multiplier, the RF device being located along the subscriber line. The system can include a filter connected between the subscriber line and the rectifier/voltage multiplier for filtering the second RF signals. The rectifier/voltage multiplier can be located either inside or outside the subscriber'"'"'s facility.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A cable system for providing RF signals into a subscriber'"'"'s facility, comprising:
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a main line carrying first RF signals for a plurality of subscribers, the first RF signals containing information communicated between the main line and the subscribers; a subscriber line coupled between the main line and the subscriber'"'"'s facility, the subscriber line carrying the first RF signals and also carrying second RF signals having a frequency different from that of the first RF signals; a rectifier/voltage multiplier connected to the subscriber line, the rectifier/voltage multiplier converting AC energy in the second RF signals into DC current; and an active RF device powered by the DC current from the rectifier/voltage multiplier, the RF device being located along the subscriber line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A cable system for providing RF signals into a subscriber'"'"'s facility, comprising:
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a main line carrying first RF signals for a plurality of subscribers, the first RF signals containing information communicated between the main line and the subscribers; a subscriber line coupled between the main line and the subscriber'"'"'s facility, the subscriber line carrying the first RF signals; an antenna proximate the subscriber'"'"'s facility for receiving free-radiated second RF signals; a rectifier/voltage multiplier connected to the antenna, the rectifier/voltage multiplier converting AC energy in the second RF signals into DC current; and an active RF device powered by the DC current from the rectifier/voltage multiplier, the RF device being located along the subscriber line. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method for communicating RF signals between a head-end facility and a subscriber'"'"'s facility, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting first RF signals between the head-end facility and the subscriber'"'"'s facility via a main line and a subscriber line tapped into the main line, the subscriber line also carrying second RF signals different in frequency from the first RF signals; rectifying the second RF signals to produce a DC current; and using the DC current to power an active RF device located along the subscriber line. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification