Method and apparatus for band selection, switching and diplexing

• US 9,380,253 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2014
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MaxLinear Communications, LLC (f/k/a Entropic Communications, LLC) (Maxlinear Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Entropic Communications, LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Petrovic, Branislav, Zeng, Yonghuang
• Primary Examiner(s): Yenke, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAIEM, SEAN N
• Application Number:
  US14/293,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20150304596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/08 each combination of signals in different channels being represented by a fixed frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control

Abstract

Systems and methods for selecting, combining and duplexing signals in a communications network. Several configurations of diplexers and channel selectors are disclosed which use filters, combiners and splitters to select and combine which the signals to be either received or transmitted.

Claims

1. A channel selector comprising:

a first filter and a second filter, the first filter and the second filter each having a first terminal and a second terminal;

a first switch and a second switch, the first switch and the second switch each having a pole and two throws, the pole of the first switch being coupled to the first terminal of the first filter and the pole of the second switch being coupled to the first terminal of the second filter;

a first power amplifier and a second power amplifier, the first power amplifier and the second power amplifier each having an input and an output, the output of the first amplifier being coupled to the first throw of the first switch and the output of the second amplifier being coupled to the first throw of the second switch;

a first low noise amplifier and a second low noise amplifier, the first low noise amplifier and the second low noise amplifier each having an input and an output, the input to the first low noise amplifier being coupled to the second throw of the first switch and the input of the second low noise amplifier being coupled to the second throw of the second switch;

a splitter having a first isolation port, a second isolation port, and a common port, the first isolation port of the splitter being coupled to the input of the first power amplifier, the second isolation port of the splitter being coupled to the input of the second power amplifier; and

a combiner having a first isolation port, a second isolation port, and a common port, the first isolation port of the combiner being coupled to the output of the first low noise amplifier and the second isolation port of the combiner being coupled to the output of the second low noise amplifier.

2. The channel selector of claim 1, wherein the first filter has a frequency response that passes signals in the lower frequency range of the D-Band used for transmission of cable television signals over coaxial cable and wherein the second filter has a frequency response that passes signals in the higher frequency range of the D-Band used for transmission of cable television signals over coaxial cable, the 3 dB cutoff at the high end of the frequency response of the first filter being no higher in frequency than the low 3 dB cutoff at the low end of the frequency response of the second filter.

3. The channel selector of claim 1, wherein the first filter has a frequency response that passes signals in the lower frequency range of the E-Band used for transmission of satellite television signals over coaxial cable and wherein the second filter has a frequency response that passes signals in the higher frequency range of the E-Band used for transmission of satellite television signals over coaxial cable, the 3 dB cutoff at the high end of the frequency response of the first filter being no higher in frequency than the low 3 dB cutoff at the low end of the frequency response of the second filter.

4. A receive/transmit selection and combining module comprising:

a splitter having a first isolation port, a second isolation port, and a common port;

a combiner having a first isolation port, a second isolation port, and a common port;

a first power amplifier and a second power amplifier, the first power amplifier and the second power amplifier each having an input and an output, the input of the first power amplifier being coupled to the first isolation port of the splitter, the input of the second power amplifier being coupled to the second isolation port of the splitter;

a first low noise amplifier and a second low noise amplifier, the first power low noise amplifier and the second low noise amplifier each having an input and an output, the input of the first low noise amplifier being coupled to the first isolation port of the combiner and the output of the second low noise amplifier being coupled to the second isolation port of the combiner; and

a first single pole, double throw (SPDT) switch and second SPDT switch, the first throw of the first SPDT switch being coupled to the output of the first power amplifier, the second throw of the first SPDT switch being coupled to the input of the first low noise amplifier, the first throw of the second SPDT switch being coupled to the output of the second power amplifier, and the second throw of the second SPDT switch being coupled to the input of the second low noise amplifier.

5. A diplexer comprising:

a first filter having a first terminal and a second terminal;

a second filter having a first terminal and a second terminal, the second terminal of the first filter being coupled to the second terminal of the second filter, wherein the first filter has a frequency response with a high frequency 3 dB cutoff point that is equal to or lower in frequency than the low frequency 3 dB cutoff point of the second filter;

a third filter having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first filter being coupled to the first terminal of the third filter;

a fourth filter having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the second filter being coupled to the first terminal of the fourth filter

a first single pole double throw (SPDT) switch, the first throw of the first SPDT switch being coupled to the second terminal of the third filter and the second throw of the first SPDT switch being coupled to the second terminal of the fourth filter;

a second SPDT switch, the first throw of the second SPDT switch being coupled to the second terminal of the first filter and the second throw of the second SPDT switch being coupled to the pole of the first SPDT switch; and

a receive/transmit selection and combining module comprising;

a first filter port;

a second filter port;

a splitter having a first isolation port, a second isolation port, and a common port;

a combiner having a first isolation port, a second isolation port, and a common port;

a first power amplifier and a second power amplifier, the first power amplifier and the second power amplifier each having an input and an output, the input of the first power amplifier being coupled to the first isolation port of the splitter, the input of the second power amplifier being coupled to the second isolation port of the splitter;

a first low noise amplifier and a second low noise amplifier, the first low noise amplifier and the second low noise amplifier each having an input and an output, the input of the first low noise amplifier being coupled to the first isolation port of the combiner and the input of the second low noise amplifier being coupled to the second isolation port of the combiner; and

a third SPDT switch and a fourth SPDT switch, the first throw of the third SPDT switch being coupled to the output of the first power amplifier, the second throw of the third SPDT switch being coupled to the input of the first low noise amplifier, the pole of the third switch being coupled to the first filter port, the first throw of the fourth SPDT switch being coupled to the output of the second power amplifier, the second throw of the fourth SPDT switch being coupled to the input of the second low noise amplifier, and the pole of the fourth switch being coupled to the second filter port.

6. The channel selector of claim 5, wherein the first filter has a frequency response that passes signals in the lower frequency range of the D-Band used for transmission of cable television signals over coaxial cable and wherein the second filter has a frequency response that passes signals in the higher frequency range of the D-Band used for transmission of cable television signals over coaxial cable, the 3 dB cutoff at the high end of the frequency response of the first filter being no higher in frequency than the low 3 dB cutoff at the low end of the frequency response of the second filter.

7. The channel selector of claim 5, wherein the third filter has a frequency response that passes signals in the frequency range of the E-Band used for transmission of satellite television signals over coaxial cable and wherein the fourth filter has a frequency response that passes signals in the frequency range of the F-Band used for transmission of satellite television signals over coaxial cable, the 3 dB cutoff at the high end of the frequency response of the third filter being no higher in frequency than the low 3 dB cutoff at the low end of the frequency response of the fourth filter.

8. The diplexer of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first filter, the second filter, the third filter, and the fourth filter comprise an adjustable frequency response.

9. The diplexer of claim 5, wherein the diplexer comprises a fifth filter having a first terminal coupled to the first throw of the second SPDT switch.

10. The diplexer of claim 9, wherein the frequency response of the fifth filter will pass signals in the CATV band.

11. A diplexer comprising:

a first filter having a first terminal and a second terminal;

a second filter having a first terminal and a second terminal, the second terminal of the first filter being coupled to the second terminal of the second filter, wherein the first filter has a frequency response with a high frequency 3 dB cutoff point that is equal to or lower in frequency than the low frequency 3 dB cutoff point of the second filter;

a third filter having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first filter being coupled to the first terminal of the third filter;

a fourth filter having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the second filter being coupled to the first terminal of the fourth filter, wherein the third filter has a frequency response with a high frequency 3 dB cutoff point that is equal to or lower in frequency than the low frequency 3 dB cutoff point of the fourth filter;

a first single pole double throw (SPDT)switch, the first throw of the first SPDT switch being coupled to the second terminal of the first filter, the second throw of the first SPDT switch being coupled to the second terminal of the third filter, the second throw of the first SPDT switch also being coupled to the second terminal of the fourth filter; and

a receive/transmit selection and combining module comprising;

a first filter port;

a second filter port;

a splitter having a first isolation port, a second isolation port, and a common port;

a combiner having a first isolation port, a second isolation port, and a common port;

a first power amplifier and a second power amplifier, the first power amplifier and the second power amplifier each having an input and an output, the input of the first power amplifier being coupled to the first isolation port of the splitter, the input of the second power amplifier being coupled to the second isolation port of the splitter;

a first low noise amplifier and a second low noise amplifier, the first power low noise amplifier and the second low noise amplifier each having an input and an output, the input of the first low noise amplifier being coupled to the first isolation port of the combiner and the input of the second low noise amplifier being coupled to the second isolation port of the combiner; and

a third SPDT switch and a fourth SPDT switch, the first throw of the third SPDT switch being coupled to the output of the first power amplifier, the second throw of the third SPDT switch being coupled to the input of the first low noise amplifier, the pole of the third switch being coupled to the first filter port, the first throw of the fourth SPDT switch being coupled to the output of the second power amplifier, the second throw of the fourth SPDT switch being coupled to the input of the second low noise amplifier, and the pole of the fourth switch being coupled to the second filter port.

12. The diplexer of claim 11, wherein the diplexer comprises a fifth filter having a first terminal coupled to the first throw of the first SPDT switch.

13. A method of selecting between transmission and reception of signals from a combined signal, the method comprising:

receiving a signal within a common port of a splitter;

coupling an output of a first isolation port of the splitter to the input of a first power amplifier;

coupling an output of a second isolation port of the splitter to the input of a second power amplifier;

coupling an output of the first power amplifier to a first throw of a first single pole, double throw (SPDT) switch;

coupling an output of a second power amplifier to the input of a first throw of a second SPDT switch;

coupling the pole of the first SPDT switch to a first terminal of a first filter;

coupling the pole of the second SPDT switch to a first terminal of a second filter;

coupling a second terminal of the first filter to a second terminal of the second filter;

coupling a second throw of the first SPDT switch to the input of a first low noise amplifier;

coupling a second throw of the second SPDT switch to the input of a second low noise amplifier;

coupling an output of the first low noise amplifier to a first isolation input of a combiner;

coupling an output of the second low noise amplifier to a second isolation input of the combiner;

selecting between the first throw of the first SPDT switch and the second throw of the first SPDT switch; and

selecting between the first throw of the second SPDT switch and the second throw of the second SPDT switch;

wherein selecting between the first throw of the first SPDT switch and the second throw of the first SPDT switch and selecting between the first throw of the second SPDT switch and the second throw of the second SPDT switch enables a selection of one or more of;

transmission of signals having a frequency within a low-pass band;

reception of signals having a frequency within the low-pass band;

transmission of signals having a frequency within the high-pass band

reception of signals having a frequency within the high-pass band;

transmission of signals having a frequency within a band-pass band; and

reception of signals having a frequency within the band-pass band.