Optical conversion device

• US 7,313,811 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2000
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sheppard, Steve, McInnis, A. J., Eldering, Charles, Eames, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ustaris, Joseph G
• Application Number:
  US09/526,100
• Time in Patent Office: 2,841 Days
• Field of Search: 725/74, 725/78, 725/80, 725/81, 725/82, 725/85, 725/131, 725/133, 725/139, 725/141, 725/151, 725/153, 398/115, 398/116, 398/127, 398/70, 379/56.2, 379/56.3, 348/734, 340/825.57, 340/825.72, 340/825.73, 359/142
• US Class Current: 725/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25751 Optical arrangements for CATV or video distribution adaptations of television systems for optical transmission H04N7/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/22 Adaptations for optical transmission

Abstract

A residential gateway (RG) for distributing video, data and telephony services to multiple devices within a residence is disclosed. The RG receives signals from a telecommunications network, converts the signals to formats compatible with the multiple devices, and transmits the appropriate signals to the appropriate devices. Optical Remote Control devices (RCs) associated with remotely located televisions (TVs) transmit channel select commands to the RG as optical signals. The optical signals are received by an optical receiver located in close proximity to the remotely located TVs. The optical signal is then converted to an RF signal by an RF transmitter which transmits the RF signal over coaxial cable. A Remote Antennae Module (RAM) extracts the channel select command from the RF signal and provides it to the RG.

Claims

1. An optical conversion device for receiving optical signals, converting the optical signals to RF signals, and transmitting the RF signals over media, the optical conversion device comprising:

an optical receiver for detecting the optical signal and generating a corresponding pulse train;

a bias switch connected to said optical receiver, said bias switch turning on and off solely in response to the pulse train;

an oscillator connected to said bias switch for producing a modulated RF signal, the modulated RF signal being produced by said oscillator turning on and off in response to said bias switch; and

a diplexer filter for directionally injecting the RF signal onto the media.

2. The optical conversion device of claim 1, further comprising an attenuator connected between said oscillator and said diplexer for reducing the amplitude of the RF signal.

3. The optical conversion device of claim 1, wherein the optical conversion device is connected to a television and receives optical signals corresponding to channel select commands associated with the television from a corresponding remote control device.

4. The optical conversion device of claim 3, wherein said diplexer filter injects the RF signal onto the media in the direction of the direction of a residential gateway that controls communications between the television and a telecommunications network.

5. The optical conversion device of claim 1, wherein the media is a coaxial cable.

6. An optical conversion device for receiving optical signals representing channel select commands from an optical remote control device associated with a television, converting the optical signal to an RF signal, and transmitting the RF signal over media to a residential gateway, the optical conversion device comprising:

an optical receiver for detecting the optical signal and generating a corresponding pulse train;

a bias switch connected to said optical receiver, said bias switch turning on and off solely in response to the pulse train;

an oscillator connected to said bias switch for producing a modulated RF signal, the modulated RF signal being produced by said oscillator turning on and off in response to said bias switch; and

a diplexer filter for injecting the RF signal onto the media in the direction of the residential gateway.

7. The optical conversion device of claim 6, further comprising an attenuator connected between said oscillator and said diplexer for reducing the amplitude of the RF signal.