Combination telephone network interface and cable television apparatus and cable television module

• US 5,623,542 A
• Filed: 06/14/1996
• Issued: 04/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLC (Fujikura Limited)
• Original Assignee: Antec Corp (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tuvy, Avraham, Schneider, Pina R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US08/658,425
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 379/326, 379/397, 379/399, 379/412, 379/90, 379/53, 348/6, 348/7, 348/8, 348/10, 439/578, 439/579, 439/580, 439/581, 439/582, 439/583, 439/498, 439/92, 361/601, 361/602, 361/641, 361/823, 361/826, 361/827, 361/828
• US Class Current: 379/413.03
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/117 for multiconductor cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0293 Terminal boxes for telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/021 using pivoting mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/028 Subscriber network interface devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/16 Coaxial cable connectors

Abstract

Combination telephone network interface apparatus for interconnecting an incoming telephone lines to a telephone subscriber premises line and cable television module mounted to the telephone network interface apparatus and for connecting incoming cable television signals to a television set or sets of the telephone company subscriber(s). Cable television module embodiments, per se, for being mounted to telephone network interface apparatus and for connecting incoming cable television signals to the aforementioned television sets.

Claims

1. Apparatus for interconnecting incoming cable television signals to at least one television set, comprising:

cable television module means for being mounted to telephone network interface apparatus for connecting at least one incoming telephone line to at least one telephone subscriber'"'"'s line, said telephone network interface apparatus including a telephone company compartment portion, a telephone subscriber compartment portion, first coaxial cable access means for permitting at least a first coaxial cable carrying the incoming cable television signals to be inserted therethrough and into said telephone company compartment portion and second coaxial cable access means for permitting at least a second coaxial cable connected to the at least one television set to be inserted therethrough and into said telephone subscriber compartment portion, said second coaxial cable for carrying said incoming cable television signals to said television set;

said cable television module means including a first module portion and a second module portion, upon said cable television module means being mounted to said telephone network interface apparatus said first module portion disposed generally adjacent to and spaced from said first cable access means and said second module portion disposed generally adjacent to and opposite said second cable access means;

said cable television module means further including at least first coaxial cable connector means mounted to said first module portion and for being connected to said first coaxial cable, and at least second coaxial cable connector means mounted to said second module portion and for being connected to said second coaxial cable;

said first module portion and said second module portion disposed angularly with respect to each other to facilitate connection of at least said first coaxial cable to said first coaxial cable connector means;

interconnecting means provided in said cable television module means and interconnecting said first coaxial cable connector means to said second coaxial cable connector means to transmit said incoming cable television signals from said first coaxial cable connector means to said second coaxial cable connector means; and

mounting means for mounting said cable television module means to said telephone network interface apparatus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said subscriber compartment portion is provided with an upwardly extending inverted L-shaped member, wherein said cable television module means includes a pair of opposed ends, wherein said mounting means comprise:

(i) a member extending outwardly from one of said opposed ends and for being received under said upwardly extending inverted L-shaped member, and (ii) a threaded member extending through an opening provided on the other of said opposed ends and said threaded member for threadedly engaging said telephone network apparatus in said telephone compartment portion.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cable television module means comprise a generally hollow box-like structure provided with at least a first generally tubular member extending generally perpendicularly outwardly from said first module portion and with at least second generally tubular member extending substantially perpendicularly outwardly from said second module portion, said first tubular member receiving components providing said first coaxial cable connector means and said second tubular member receiving components providing said second coaxial cable connector means.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said telephone network interface apparatus further includes a ground buss mounted in said telephone company compartment portion for being connected to earth ground, wherein said cable television module means comprise a generally hollow box-like structure made of electrically conductive material and wherein said first and second coaxial cable connector means and said interconnecting means are connected to said box-like structure, and wherein said module means further comprise ground connecting means interconnecting said box-like structure with said ground buss.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means comprise compensation means for compensating for gain or loss in signal strength between the incoming cable television signals received by said first coaxial cable connector means and the incoming cable television signals received by said second coaxial cable connector means.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cable television module means further comprise at least third coaxial cable connector means mounted to said second module portion and connected to said interconnecting means, said third coaxial connector means for being connected to a third coaxial cable extending through said second coaxial cable access means and for being connected to a second television set, and wherein said interconnecting means comprise cable television signal splitter means for receiving and splitting said incoming cable television signals into at least two outgoing cable television signals for being carried respectively to said first and second television sets by said second and third coaxial cable connector means and said second and third coaxial cables.

7. Apparatus for interconnecting incoming cable television signals to at least two television sets, comprising:

cable television module means for being mounted to telephone network interface apparatus for connecting at least one incoming telephone line to at least one telephone subscriber'"'"'s line, said telephone network interface apparatus including a telephone company compartment portion, a telephone subscriber compartment portion, first coaxial cable access means for permitting at least one coaxial cable carrying said incoming cable television signals to be inserted therethrough and into said telephone company compartment and second coaxial cable access means for permitting at least two coaxial cables connected to said at least two television sets to be inserted therethrough and into said telephone subscriber compartment portion;

said cable television module means including a first module portion and a second module portion, upon said cable television module means being mounted to said telephone network interface apparatus said first module portion disposed generally opposite said first cable access means and said second module portion disposed generally opposite said second cable access means;

said module means including at least first coaxial cable connector mounted to said first module portion and for being connected to said at least one coaxial cable carrying said incoming cable television signals, second and third coaxial cable connectors mounted to said second module portion and for being connected to said at least two coaxial cables connected to said at least two television sets, and cable television signal splitter means mounted interiorly of said cable television module means and connected to said first, second and third coaxial cable connectors, said cable television signal splitter means for receiving and splitting said incoming cable television signals into at least two outgoing cable television signals for transmission to said at least two television sets;

said first and second module portions disposed angularly with respect to each other at an included angle to facilitate the connection of said at least one coaxial cable carrying said incoming cable television signals to said first coaxial cable connector; and

mounting means for mounting said cable television module means to said telephone network interface apparatus.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said telephone compartment portion is provided with a ground buss for being connected to earth ground, and wherein said cable television module means further includes ground connecting means connected to all of said coaxial cable connectors and said cable television signal splitter means and for being connected to said ground buss to connect all of said coaxial cable connectors and said cable television signal splitter means to earth ground.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said cable television signal splitter means comprise a printed circuit board and a plurality of electrical components mounted on and electrically connected by said board, said plurality of electrical components connected to said first, second and third coaxial cable connectors.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said cable television module means comprise a generally box-like structure made of electrically conductive material, wherein said printed circuit board is provided with outwardly extending electrical conductor means for engaging and electrically connecting said plurality of electrical components to said box-like structure and wherein said ground connecting means comprise electrical conductor means for being connected between said box-like structure and said ground buss to electrically connect said box-like structure to said ground buss and thereby to electrically interconnect all of said coaxial cable connectors and said plurality of electrical components comprising said cable television splitter means to said ground buss.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said telephone subscriber compartment portion is provided with an upwardly extending inverted L-shaped member, wherein said cable television module means includes a pair of opposed ends, wherein said mounting means comprise:

(i) a member extending outwardly from one of said opposed ends and for being received under said upwardly extending inverted L-shaped member, and (ii) a threaded member extending through an opening provided on the other of said opposed ends of said module and said threaded member for threadedly engaging a portion of said telephone network interface apparatus in said telephone compartment portion.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said cable television module means comprises a generally hollow box-like structure providing said first and said second module portions, a generally tubular member extending generally perpendicularly outwardly from said first module portion of said box-like structure and towards said first coaxial cable access means and at least two generally tubular members extending generally perpendicularly outwardly from said second module portion of said box-like structure and towards said second coaxial cable access means, wherein said first coaxial cable connector comprises a first plurality of coaxial cable connector components residing in said first tubular member and wherein said second and third coaxial cable connectors comprise second and third pluralities of coaxial cable connector components residing respectively in said second and third tubular members.

13. Combination apparatus for connecting at least one incoming telephone line to at least one telephone subscriber premises line and for interconnecting incoming cable television signals to at least one television set, comprising:

telephone network interface apparatus for connecting at least one incoming telephone line to said at least one telephone subscriber'"'"'s line, said telephone network interface apparatus including a telephone company compartment portion, a telephone subscriber compartment portion, first coaxial cable access means for permitting at least a first coaxial cable carrying said incoming cable television signals to be inserted therethrough and into said telephone company compartment portion, and second coaxial cable access means for permitting at least a second coaxial cable connected to said at least one television set to be inserted therethrough and into said telephone subscriber compartment portion, said second coaxial cable for carrying said incoming cable television signals to said television set;

cable television module means mounted to said telephone interface apparatus and including a first module portion and a second module portion, said first module portion generally residing in said telephone compartment portion and disposed generally adjacent to and spaced from said first cable access means, and said second module portion generally residing in said telephone subscriber compartment portion and disposed generally adjacent to and spaced from said second cable access means;

said module means further including at least first coaxial cable connector means mounted to said first module portion and for being connected to said first coaxial cable, and at least second coaxial cable connector means mounted to said second module portion and for being connected to said second coaxial cable;

interconnecting means provided in said module and interconnecting said first coaxial cable connector means to said second coaxial cable connector means to carry said incoming cable television signals from said first coaxial cable connector means to said second coaxial cable connector means;

said first and second module portions disposed angularly with respect to each other at an included angle to facilitate connection of at least said first coaxial cable to said first coaxial cable connector means; and

mounting means for mounting said cable television module means to said telephone network interface apparatus.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said telephone subscriber compartment portion is provided with an upwardly extending inverted L-shaped member, wherein said module means includes a pair of opposed ends, wherein said mounting means comprise:

(i) a member extending outwardly from one of said opposed ends and for being received under said upwardly extending inverted L-shaped member, and (ii) a threaded member extending through an opening provided on the other of said opposed ends of said module means and said threaded member for threadedly engaging a portion of said telephone network interface apparatus in said telephone compartment portion.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said cable television module means comprise a generally hollow box-like structure providing said first and second module portions, at least one tubular member extending generally perpendicularly outwardly from said first module portion and towards said first coaxial cable access means and at least a second generally tubular member extending substantially perpendicularly outwardly from said second module portion and towards said second coaxial cable access means, said first tubular member receiving components providing said first coaxial cable connector means and said second tubular member receiving components providing said second coaxial cable connector means.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said telephone network interface apparatus further includes a ground buss mounted in said telephone company compartment portion for being connected to earth ground, wherein said module means comprise a generally hollow box-like structure made of electrically conductive material and wherein said first and second coaxial cable connectors and said interconnecting means are connected to said box-like structure, and wherein said module means further comprise ground connecting means interconnecting said box-like structure with said ground buss.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said interconnecting means comprise compensation means for compensating for gain or loss in signal strength between the incoming cable television signals received by said first coaxial cable connector means and the incoming cable television signals received by said second coaxial cable connector means.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said cable television module means further comprise at least third coaxial cable connector means mounted to said second module portion and connected to said interconnecting means, said third coaxial connector means for being connected to a third coaxial cable extending through said second coaxial cable access means and for being connected to a second television set, and wherein said interconnecting means comprise cable television signal splitter means for receiving and splitting said incoming cable television signals into at least two outgoing cable television signals for being carried respectively to said first and second television sets by said second and third coaxial cable connector means and said second and third coaxial cables.