METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING ISOLATION IN A HOME NETWORK

• US 20120159556A1
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Alkan, Erdogan
• Granted Patent: US 10,021,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters

Abstract

This invention disclosure relates to a community access television (CATV) signal distribution system which improves signal isolation issues for systems which are distributing both CATV signals and in-home entertainment (IHE) signals. The signal distribution system includes a signal input port, a first multi-port signal splitter and a second multi-port signal splitter. The first multi-port signal splitter is coupled to the signal input port through a first diplexer, and the second multi-port signal splitter is coupled to the signal input port through a second diplexer. In some embodiments the first diplexer high-pass node and the second diplexer high-pass node are coupled together. In some embodiment the signal distribution system includes a signal output port coupled to the signal input port through a third diplexer. The high-pass node of the third diplexer is coupled to the high-pass node of the first diplexer.

Claims

1. A community access television (CATV) signal distribution system comprising:

a signal input port;

a first multi-port signal splitter, wherein a first multi-port splitter input port of the first multi-port signal splitter is coupled to the signal input port through a first diplexer;

a second multi-port signal splitter, wherein a second multi-port splitter input port of the second multi-port signal splitter is coupled to the signal input port through a second diplexer;

and

a signal output port, wherein the signal output port is coupled to the signal input port through a third diplexer.

2. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 1, wherein the signal input port is coupled to:

a first diplexer low-pass node of the first diplexer;

a second diplexer low-pass node of the second diplexer;

and

a third diplexer low-pass node of the third diplexer.

3. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 2, wherein the third diplexer comprises:

a third diplexer common node coupled to the signal output port;

a third diplexer high-pass node coupled to the first and the second diplexers;

and

the third diplexer low-pass node coupled to the signal input port.

4. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 3, wherein the first diplexer comprises:

a first diplexer common node coupled to the first four-way signal splitter input port;

and

a first diplexer high-pass node coupled to the third diplexer high-pass node.

5. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 4, wherein the second diplexer comprises:

a second diplexer common node coupled to the second four-way signal splitter input port;

and

a second diplexer high-pass node coupled to the first diplexer high-pass node through an attenuator circuit.

6. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 5, wherein the attenuator circuit includes an equalizer circuit.

7. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 4, wherein the first diplexer high-pass node is coupled to the third diplexer high-pass node through an attenuator circuit, and wherein the second diplexer comprises:

a second diplexer common node coupled to the second four-way signal splitter input port;

and

a second diplexer high-pass node coupled to the first diplexer high-pass node.

8. A community access television (CATV) signal distribution system comprising:

a signal input port;

a first four-way signal splitter, wherein the first four-way signal splitter is coupled to the signal input port through a first diplexer;

and

a second four-way signal splitter, wherein the second four-way signal splitter is coupled to the signal input port through a second diplexer;

wherein a first diplexer high-pass node of the first diplexer and a second diplexer high-pass node of the second diplexer are coupled together.

9. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 8, wherein the CATV signal distribution system is contained within a single building.

10. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 9, wherein the first diplexer comprises:

a first diplexer common node coupled to a first four-way signal splitter input port;

and

a first diplexer low-pass node coupled to the signal input port.

11. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 10, wherein the second diplexer comprises:

a second diplexer common node coupled to a second four-way splitter input port;

and

a second diplexer low-pass node coupled to the signal input port.

12. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 11, wherein the first diplexer high-pass node and the second diplexer high-pass node are coupled together through an attenuator circuit.

13. The CATV signal distribution system of claim 12, wherein the attenuator circuit includes an equalizer circuit.

14. A method of electrically coupling two four-way signal splitters comprising:

coupling a first four-way signal splitter to a signal input port through a first diplexer;

coupling a second four-way signal splitter to the signal input port through a second diplexer;

and

coupling a first diplexer high-pass node of the first diplexer to a second diplexer high pass node of the second diplexer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein coupling a first four-way signal splitter to a signal input port through a first diplexer comprises:

coupling a first diplexer common node to a first four-way signal splitter input port;

and

coupling a first diplexer low-pass node to the signal input port.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein coupling a second four-way signal splitter to a signal input port through a second diplexer comprises:

coupling a second diplexer common node to a second four-way signal splitter input port;

and

coupling a second diplexer low-pass node to the signal input port.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein coupling a first diplexer high-pass node of the first diplexer to a second diplexer high-pass node of the second diplexer comprises coupling the first diplexer high-pass node of the first diplexer to the second diplexer high-pass node of the second diplexer through an attenuator circuit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the attenuator circuit includes an equalizer circuit.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of coupling a signal output port to the signal input port through a third diplexer, wherein a third diplexer common node is coupled to the signal output port, and wherein a third diplexer low-pass node is coupled to the signal input port.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising coupling a high-pass node of the third diplexer to the high-pass node of the first diplexer.