BAND SELECTIVE ISOLATION BRIDGE FOR SPLITTER

• US 20110181371A1
• Filed: 01/26/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Alkan, Erdogan, Palinkas, Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 8,350,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 333/132
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24

Abstract

A splitter device includes a first splitter comprising an input leg coupled to a provider content input port, a first output leg, and a second output leg. The provider content input port is configured to receive a downstream-propagating provider bandwidth. The splitter device further includes a first conductive path coupled to the first output leg of the first splitter, and a second conductive path coupled to the second output leg of the first splitter. The splitter device further includes a second splitter having an input leg coupled to a first home network bandwidth, a first output leg coupled to the first conductive path, and a second output leg. The splitter device further includes a third splitter having an input leg coupled to a second home network bandwidth, a first output leg coupled to the second conductive path, and a second output leg. The splitter device further includes a bridge circuit operatively coupled between the first conductive path and the second conductive path. The bridge circuit is configured to propagate a home network bandwidth from the first user port to the second user port and isolate the provider bandwidth from the home network bandwidth.

Claims

1. A splitter device comprising:

a first splitter comprising a provider content input port, a first output leg, and a second output leg, the provider content input port configured to receive a downstream-propagating first bandwidth;

a first conductive path coupled to the first output leg of the first splitter, the first conductive path configured to propagate the provider bandwidth in a downstream direction towards a first user port;

a second conductive path coupled to the second output leg of the first splitter, the second conductive path configured to propagate the provider bandwidth in the downstream direction towards a second user port; and

a bridge circuit operatively coupled between the first conductive path and the second conductive path, the bridge circuit configured to propagate a home network bandwidth from the first user port to the second user port and isolate the provider bandwidth from the first user port to the second user port.

2. The splitter device of claim 1, wherein the bridge circuit comprises a first band pass filter configured to attenuate the provider bandwidth and pass the home network bandwidth.

3. The splitter device of claim 1, wherein the provider bandwidth is provided by a provider group.

4. The splitter device of claim 3, wherein the provider group is selected from the group consisting of a cable provider, a satellite provider, and a telecommunications provider.

5. The splitter device of claim 4, wherein the provider bandwidth comprises a frequency range of 5 to 1000 megahertz.

6. The splitter device of claim 1, wherein the home network bandwidth is provided by an end user.

7. The splitter device of claim 6, wherein the home network bandwidth is selected from the group consisting of Ethernet, HomePlug, HPNA, 802.11n, and MoCA.

8. The splitter device of claim 2, further comprising an isolation element disposed in parallel with the bridge circuit.

9. The splitter device of claim 8, wherein the provider bandwidth has a characteristic impedance of 75 ohms, and the isolation element is a resistor having a resistance value of about 150 ohms.

10. The splitter device of claim 8, further comprising a second band pass filter disposed in series with the isolation element, the second band pass filter configured to pass the provider bandwidth and attenuate the home network bandwidth.

11. The splitter device of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of second band pass filters disposed in electrical series with the isolation element, at least one second band pass filter arranged on either side of the isolation element.

12. The splitter device of claim 10, further comprising a third band pass filter operatively coupled to the second conductive path, the third band pass filter configured to pass the provider bandwidth and attenuate the home network bandwidth.

13. The splitter device of claim 2, further comprising a second band pass filter operatively coupled to the second conductive path, the second band pass filter configured to pass the provider bandwidth and attenuate the home network bandwidth.

14. The splitter device of claim 13, wherein the second band pass filter is further configured to attenuate the home network bandwidth from the isolation resistor.

15. A splitter device comprising:

a first splitter comprising an input leg coupled to a provider content input port, a first output leg, and a second output leg, the provider content input port configured to receive a downstream-propagating provider bandwidth;

a first conductive path coupled to the first output leg of the first splitter;

a second conductive path coupled to the second output leg of the first splitter;

a second splitter having an input leg coupled to a first user port, a first output leg coupled to the first conductive path, and a second output leg;

a third splitter having an input leg coupled to a second user port, a first output leg coupled to the second conductive path, and a second output leg; and

a bridge circuit operatively coupled to the second output leg of the second splitter and the second output leg of the third splitter, the bridge circuit configured to propagate a home network bandwidth from the first user port to the second user port and isolate the provider bandwidth from the first user port to the second user port.

16. The splitter device of claim 15, wherein the bridge circuit comprises a first band pass filter and a first ground path element, the first ground path element operatively coupled between the second output leg of the second splitter and the first band pass filter.

17. The splitter device of claim 16, wherein the first band pass filter is a high pass filter.

18. The splitter device of claim 16, further comprising a second ground path element operatively coupled between the second output leg of the third splitter and the first band pass filter.

19. The splitter device of claim 16, wherein the first ground path element comprises a second band pass filter disposed in series with a termination resistor.

20. The splitter device of claim 19, wherein the second band pass filter is configured to pass the provider bandwidth and attenuate the home network bandwidth.

21. The splitter device of claim 20, wherein the second band pass filter is a low pass filter.

22. The splitter device of claim 19, wherein the provider bandwidth has a characteristic impedance of 75 ohms, and the termination resistor has a resistance value of about 75 ohms.

23. The splitter device of claim 15, wherein the provider bandwidth is provided by a provider group selected from the group consisting of a cable provider, a satellite provider, and a telecommunications provider.

24. The splitter device of claim 15, wherein the provider bandwidth comprises a frequency range of 5 megahertz to 1002 megahertz.

25. The splitter device of claim 15, wherein the home network bandwidth is provided by an end user, and is selected from the group consisting of Ethernet, HomePlug, HPNA, 802.11n, and MoCA.

26. A splitter adapter comprising:

a first provider content input port configured to receive a provider bandwidth;

a second provider content input port configured to receive the provider bandwidth;

a first splitter having an input leg coupled to a first user port, a first output leg coupled to the first provider content input port, and a second output leg;

a second splitter having an input leg coupled to a second user port, a first output leg coupled to the second provider content input port, and a second output leg; and

a bridge circuit having an input and an output, the input of the bridge circuit operatively coupled to the second output leg of the first splitter, the output of the bridge circuit operatively coupled to the second output leg of the second splitter, the bridge circuit configured to attenuate the provider bandwidth and pass a home network bandwidth from the first user port to the second user port.

27. The splitter adapter of claim 26, wherein the bridge circuit comprises a first band pass filter, a first ground path element, and a second ground path element, the first ground path element operatively coupled between the second output leg of the first splitter and the input of the first band pass filter, the second ground path element coupled between the second output leg of the second splitter and the output of the first band pass filter.

28. The splitter adapter of claim 27, wherein the first band pass filter is a high pass filter.

29. The splitter adapter of claim 28, wherein the high pass filter attenuates provider bandwidth in a frequency range of 5 to 1000 megahertz.

30. The splitter adapter of claim 27, wherein the first ground path element comprises a second band pass filter disposed in series with a termination resistor.

31. The splitter adapter of claim 30, wherein the second band pass filter is a low pass filter.

32. The splitter adapter of claim 31, wherein the low pass filter passes provider bandwidth in a frequency range of 5 to 1000 megahertz.