MoCA gateway splitter

• US 8,752,114 B1
• Filed: 04/23/2013
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Times Fiber Communications Incorporated (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Extreme Broadband Engineering LLC
• Inventors: Shapson, Brian J., Shapson, Jay F., Shapson, Matthew M., Romerein, Robert, Li, Rong Hui, Deutmeyer, Daniel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chokshi, Pinkal R
• Application Number:
  US13/868,261
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 725126-128, 725/149, 725/78, 370/401
• US Class Current: 725/127
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters

Abstract

A CATV/MoCA signal distribution system includes a first 2-way hybrid splitter for receiving a CATV input signal and splitting it into first and second CATV output signals, a second 2-way hybrid splitter for receiving the second CATV output signal and splitting it into third and fourth CATV output signals, with the latter being connected to a CATV output port. A first diplex filter is receptive of the first CATV output signal, and MoCA signals for providing electrical isolation therebetween and connecting them to a modem port. A second diplex filter is receptive of the third CATV output signal and MoCA signals for providing electrical isolation therebetween and connecting them to a Gateway port. A resistive splitter is connected between the first and second diplex filters and a plurality of individual MoCA signal ports for providing bidirectional MoCA signal flow therebetween.

Claims

1. A passive CATV/MoCA signal distribution system comprising:

an input port for receiving a CATV input signal;

an RF/CATV output terminal;

a modem port;

a Gateway port for connection to a Gateway device receptive of CATV and MoCA signals;

first splitter means having an input connected to said input port for splitting said CATV signal into first, second, third, and fourth CATV signal outputs, said fourth CATV output signal being directly connected to said RF/CATV output terminal;

diplex filter means individually receptive of said first and third CATV signal outputs, and individually bidirectionally receptive of MoCA signals, for both electrically isolating said first and third CATV signal outputs from said MoCA signals to prevent MoCA signals being connected to said input port, and for individually bidirectionally connecting CATV and MoCA signals to both said modem port, and to said Gateway port, respectively;

second splitter means for individually bidirectionally receiving MoCA signals from a plurality of individual MoCA devices associated with a plurality of MoCA clients, respectively, for providing said MoCA signals to said diplex filter means for connection to both said modem port, and said Gateway port, the latter connection providing each of said plurality of MoCA clients the ability to independently program said Gateway device to record their respective desired CATV programs for later viewing, whereby said system prevents said CATV signals and MoCA signals from being combined at said input port;

said diplex filter means includes;

a first diplex filter including a lowpass filter section for receiving said first CATV signal output, and a highpass filter section for bidirectionally receiving MoCA signals from said second splitter means for connecting said CATV and MoCA signals to said modem port, while electrically isolating said MoCA signals both from said first splitter means, and said input port; and

a second diplex filter including a lowpass filter section for receiving said third CATV output signal, and a highpass filter section for bidirectionally receiving MoCA signals from said second splitter means, for connecting said CATV and MoCA signals to said Gateway port, while electrically isolating said MoCA signals both from said first splitter means, and said input port; and

said second splitter means includes;

a resistive splitter including a plurality of resistors each having one end connected in common, with other ends of said plurality of resistors being individually connected to said plurality of MoCA devices, respectively, and individually connected to the highpass filter sections of said first and second diplex filters, respectively.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first splitter means includes:

a first 2-way splitter for receiving said CATV input signal from said input port, and splitting it into said first and second CATV signal outputs; and

a second 2-way splitter for receiving said second CATV signal output from said first 2-way splitter, and splitting it into said third and fourth CATV signal outputs, respectively.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said diplex filter means includes:

a first diplex filter including a lowpass filter section for receiving said first CATV signal output, and a highpass filter section for bidirectionally receiving MoCA signals from said second splitter means for connecting said CATV and MoCA signals to said modem port, while electrically isolating said MoCA signals from both said first splitter means, and said input port; and

a second diplex filter including a lowpass filter section for receiving said third CATV output signal, and a highpass filter section for bidirectionally receiving MoCA signals from said second splitter means, for connecting said CATV and MoCA signals to said Gateway port, while electrically isolating said MoCA signals from both said first splitter means, and said input port.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said second splitter means includes:

a resistive splitter including a plurality of resistors each having one end connected in common, with other ends of said plurality of resistors being individually connected to said plurality of MoCA devices, respectively, and individually connected to said diplex filter means.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said second splitter means includes:

a resistive splitter including a plurality of resistors each having one end connected in common, with other ends of said plurality of resistors being individually connected to said plurality of MoCA devices, respectively, and individually connected to the highpass filter sections of said first and second diplex filters, respectively.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said second splitter means includes:

an electrically conductive connection pad;

a plurality of resistors, two of which have one end connected in common to said connection pad, with their other ends individually connected to said diplex filter means, the remainder of said plurality of resistors each being individually connected between said connection pad, and a plurality of MoCA signal ports, respectively, the latter for connection to said plurality of individual MoCA devices, respectively.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said second splitter means includes:

an electrically conductive connection pad;

a plurality of resistors, two of which have one end connected in common to said connection pad, with their other ends individually connected to the highpass filter sections of said first and second diplex filters, respectively, the remainder of said plurality of resistors each being individually connected between said connection pad, and a plurality of MoCA signal ports, respectively, the latter for connection to said plurality of individual MoCA devices, respectively.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein said second splitter means includes:

an electrically conductive connection pad;

a plurality of resistors, two of which have one end connected in common to said connection pad, with their other ends individually connected to the highpass filter sections of said first and second diplex filters, respectively, the remainder of said plurality of resistors each being individually connected between said connection pad, and a plurality of MoCA signal ports, respectively, for connection to said plurality of individual MoCA devices, respectively.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein said first and second 2-way splitters each consist of hybrid splitter configurations.

10. Passive CATV/MoCA signal distribution apparatus, comprising:

an input port for receiving CATV input signals;

a modem port for connecting CATV and MoCA signals to a MoCA modem;

an RF output port for outputting CATV signals;

a Gateway port for connection to a Gateway device, for bidirectionally outputting and receiving CATV and MoCA signals;

a plurality of MoCA signal ports for connection to a plurality of MoCA devices, respectively, each for bidirectionally receiving and outputting MoCA signals;

a first splitter configured as a 2-way splitter having an input connected to said input port, for providing first and second CATV output signals;

a second splitter configured as a 2-way splitter having an input receptive of said second CATV output signal, for providing third and fourth CATV output signals, with said fourth CATV output signal being connected to said RF output port;

a first diplex filter including a lowpass filter section receptive of said first CATV output signal, and a highpass filter section for bidirectionally receiving MoCA signals, while isolating said MoCA signals from both said first CATV output signal, and said input port, thereby also preventing the aforesaid signals from being combined at said input port;

a second diplex filter including a lowpass filter section receptive of said third CATV output signal, and a highpass filter section for bidirectionally receiving MoCA signals, while isolating said MoCA signals from both said third CATV output signal, and said input port, thereby also preventing the aforesaid signals from being combined;

a third splitter including a first bidirectional MoCA signal line connected to the highpass filter section of said first diplex filter, a second bidirectional MoCA signal line connected to the highpass filter section of said second diplex filter, and a plurality of other bidirectional signal lines connected individually to said plurality of MoCA signal ports, respectively, whereby said apparatus permits a plurality of MoCA clients the ability to independently program said Gateway device to record their respective desired CATV programs for later viewing;

said first diplex filter further including a signal line connected to said modem port for bidirectionally passing CATV and MoCA signals therebetween; and

said second diplex filter further including a signal line connected to said Gateway device via said Gateway port for bidirectional passing CATV and MoCA signals therebetween.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said first and second splitters each consist of a hybrid 2-way splitter configuration.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the lowpass filter section, and highpass filter section, of each of said first and second diplex filters, pass 5 MHz to 1002 MHz, and 1125 MHz and 1675 MHz, respectively.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further including:

a plurality of spark gaps individually connected between electrical ground and said input, modem, RF output, Gateway, and plurality of MoCA ports, respectively.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further including:

a first DC blocking capacitor connected between said input port and said first splitter;

a second DC blocking capacitor connected between said first and second splitters for passing said second CATV output signal therebetween;

a third DC blocking capacitor connected between said second splitter and said RF output port for passing said fourth CATV output signal therebetween;

a fourth DC blocking capacitor connected between said modem port and said first diplex filter for passing CATV and MoCA signals therebetween;

a fifth DC blocking capacitor connected between said Gateway port and said second diplex filter for bidirectionally passing CATV and MoCA signals therebetween; and

a plurality of other DC blocking capacitors connected between said plurality of MoCA signal ports and said plurality of other bidirectional signal lines of said third splitter.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said third splitter includes:

an electrically conductive connection pad;

a first resistor connected between the highpass filter section of said first diplex filter, and said connection pad;

a second resistor connected between the highpass filter section of said second diplex filter, and said connection pad; and

a plurality of other resistors connected individually between said connection pad and said plurality of MoCA signal ports, respectively.