Signal Amplifiers Having Communications Paths that Automatically Terminate to a Matched Termination in Response to a Power Interruption and Related Methods
First Claim
1. A bi-directional RF signal amplifier, comprisingan RF input port;
- a first RF output port;
a second RF output port;
a directional coupler having an input that is coupled to the RF input port, a first output and a second output, wherein the second output of the directional coupler is connected to the second RF output port via a non-interruptible communication path;
a first switching device having an input, a first output and a second output, wherein the second output of the first switching device is coupled to a first matched termination;
a first diplexer that is coupled between the first output of the directional coupler and the input of the first switching device;
a first power amplifier having an input that is coupled to the first output of the first switching device;
a second diplexer that is coupled between an output of the first power amplifier and the first RF output port; and
a power input for receiving electrical power;
wherein the first switching device is configured to pass signals received at the input to the first switching device to the first output of the first switching device when electrical power is received at the power input and that is further configured to terminate signals received at the input to the first switching device through the second output of the first switching device when an electrical power feed to the power input is interrupted.
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Abstract
RF signal amplifiers are provided that include an RF input port, a first RF output port, a second RF output port and a power input for receiving electrical power. These amplifiers further include a directional coupler having an input that is coupled to the RF input port, a first output and a second output. The second output of the directional coupler is connected to the second RF output port via a non-interruptible communication path. A first switching device having an input, a first output and a second output is also provided. The second output of the first switching device is coupled to a first matched termination. A first diplexer is provided that is coupled between the first output of the directional coupler and the input of the first switching device. A first power amplifier is coupled to the first output of the first switching device, and a second diplexer is coupled between an output of the first power amplifier and the first RF output port. The first switching device is configured to pass signals received at the input to the first switching device to the first output of the first switching device when electrical power is received at the power input and is further configured to terminate signals received at the input to the first switching device through the second output of the first switching device when an electrical power feed to the power input is interrupted.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A bi-directional RF signal amplifier, comprising
an RF input port; -
a first RF output port; a second RF output port; a directional coupler having an input that is coupled to the RF input port, a first output and a second output, wherein the second output of the directional coupler is connected to the second RF output port via a non-interruptible communication path; a first switching device having an input, a first output and a second output, wherein the second output of the first switching device is coupled to a first matched termination; a first diplexer that is coupled between the first output of the directional coupler and the input of the first switching device; a first power amplifier having an input that is coupled to the first output of the first switching device; a second diplexer that is coupled between an output of the first power amplifier and the first RF output port; and a power input for receiving electrical power; wherein the first switching device is configured to pass signals received at the input to the first switching device to the first output of the first switching device when electrical power is received at the power input and that is further configured to terminate signals received at the input to the first switching device through the second output of the first switching device when an electrical power feed to the power input is interrupted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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- 4. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 4, wherein the first matched termination comprises a first resistor that is terminated to a ground voltage and wherein the second matched termination comprises a second resistor that is terminated to a ground voltage.
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13. An RF signal amplifier, comprising:
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an RF input port; an RF output port; a switching device having an input that is coupled to the RF input port, a first output and a second output, wherein the second output of the switching device is coupled to a matched termination; a first power amplifier coupled between the first output of the switching device and the RF output port; and a power input for receiving electrical power; wherein the switching device is configured to couple the RF input port to the first output of the switching device when electrical power is received at the power input and to couple the RF input port to the second output of the switching device when an electrical power feed to the power input is interrupted. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of automatically terminating an RF signal amplifier, the method comprising:
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coupling an input of the RF signal amplifier to a cable television network, where the RF signal amplifier comprises a power amplifier and a switching device having a switch input that is coupled to the cable television network, a first switch output that is coupled to the power amplifier and a second switch output that is coupled to a matched termination; automatically switching the switching device to connect the switch input from the first switch output to the second switch output in response to an electrical power feed to the RF signal amplifier being interrupted. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification