Broadband radio frequency data communication system using twisted pair wiring
First Claim
1. A broadband signal distribution interface device comprising:
- (a) a broadband signal interface configured to receive broadband radio frequency signals;
(b) a plurality of broadband signal connections configured to distribute broadband radio frequency signals;
(c) circuitry defining an upstream signal path and a downstream signal path between the broadband signal interface and the plurality of broadband signal connections, the upstream signal path defining a low frequency range and the downstream signal path defining a high frequency range, the circuitry including a gain control circuit and a slope control circuit each positioned along the downstream signal path, wherein the circuitry is configured to accommodate downstream transmission of the broadband signals onto twisted pair wiring.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for distributing broadband signals via twisted pair wiring is disclosed. Various aspects of the system involve use of a broadband signal distribution interface device and/or a broadband line driver. In one aspect, a broadband signal distribution interface device includes a broadband signal interface configured to receive broadband radio frequency signals, and a plurality of broadband signal connections configured to distribute broadband radio frequency signals. The interface device also includes circuitry defining an upstream signal path and a downstream signal path and including a gain control circuit and a slope control circuit each positioned along the downstream signal path. The circuitry is configured to accommodate downstream transmission of the broadband signals onto twisted pair wiring.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A broadband signal distribution interface device comprising:
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(a) a broadband signal interface configured to receive broadband radio frequency signals; (b) a plurality of broadband signal connections configured to distribute broadband radio frequency signals; (c) circuitry defining an upstream signal path and a downstream signal path between the broadband signal interface and the plurality of broadband signal connections, the upstream signal path defining a low frequency range and the downstream signal path defining a high frequency range, the circuitry including a gain control circuit and a slope control circuit each positioned along the downstream signal path, wherein the circuitry is configured to accommodate downstream transmission of the broadband signals onto twisted pair wiring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A broadband line driver comprising:
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(a) a broadband signal interface configured to send and receive broadband radio frequency signals; (b) a plurality of twisted pair connections, each of the twisted pair connections configured to distribute broadband radio frequency signals; (c) circuitry defining an upstream signal path and a downstream signal path communicatively connected to the broadband signal input interface, the upstream signal path defining a low frequency range and the downstream signal path defining a high frequency range; (d) a twisted pair interface circuit having an outbound signal path connecting one of the plurality of twisted pair connections to the downstream signal path and an inbound signal path connecting the one of the plurality of twisted pair connections to the upstream signal path, the twisted pair interface circuit including; an amplifier positioned on the outbound signal path; a radio frequency switch positioned on the inbound signal path; and a voltage monitoring circuit configured to activate one or both of the amplifier and the radio frequency switch depending upon an observed voltage. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of adjusting output power of broadband radio frequency signals on twisted pair lines, the method comprising:
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monitoring a reference voltage level received at a broadband line driver via a twisted pair connection; upon determining that the reference voltage level exceeds a predetermined level, deactivating an amplifier connected to a downstream path leading to the twisted pair connection and setting a radio frequency switch connected along an upstream path to a high attenuation condition; upon determining that the reference voltage is below a second predetermined level, activating the amplifier and setting the radio frequency switch to a high attenuation condition; and upon determining that the reference voltage exceeds a third predetermined level, activating the amplifier and setting the radio frequency switch to a low attenuation condition. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A broadband signal distribution system useable at a facility, the system comprising:
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a broadband signal distribution interface device configured to receive broadband radio frequency signals from a headend and including a plurality of broadband signal connections, the broadband signal distribution interface device including circuitry defining an upstream signal path and a downstream signal path, the circuitry including a gain control circuit and a slope control circuit each positioned along the downstream signal path, wherein the circuitry is configured to accommodate downstream transmission of the broadband signals onto twisted pair wiring; a plurality of broadband line drivers communicatively coupled to the broadband signal connections of the broadband signal distribution interface device, each of the plurality of broadband line drivers including a plurality of twisted pair interfaces, each twisted pair interface associated with a twisted pair interface circuit having an outbound signal path and an inbound signal path, the twisted pair interface circuit including an amplifier positioned on the outbound signal path and a radio frequency switch positioned on the inbound signal path, and a voltage monitoring circuit configured to activate one or both of the amplifier and the radio frequency switch depending upon an observed voltage or a signal received from an active balun device configured to receive broadband signals over twisted pair wiring for connection to a broadband endpoint. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification