Network interface device having a solid-state safeguard apparatus for preserving the quality of passive operation in the event of disruptive operational conditions
First Claim
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1. A safeguard apparatus operable in a network interface device, the safeguard apparatus comprising:
- an input node;
a first field-effect transistor (FET) having a drain node, a source node and a gate node;
a first PIN diode having a first PIN diode anode and a first PIN diode cathode;
an output node;
wherein the drain node of the first FET is coupled to the first PIN diode anode and to the input node, the gate node of the first FET is connected to a ground, the first PIN diode cathode is connected to the output node, and the safeguard apparatus is configured to pass signals from the input node and the first FET through the first PIN diode before reaching the output node;
wherein the first FET is configured to be reverse biased so as to allow a CATV network and a subscriber device to communicate through the first FET, the input node, and the output node when the network interface device is in a first mode of operation;
wherein the first FET is configured to be forward biased so as to provide a dampened signal path to a ground path for a CATV signal received through the input node or the output node when the network interface device is in a second mode of operation; and
wherein the first FET is configured to dampen the CATV signal received through the input node or the output node to prevent disruptive reflections from returning through the dampened signal path.
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Abstract
A network interface device has a safeguard apparatus. The safeguard apparatus is operable in power on, power off, and degraded power conditions. In power on operation, the safeguard apparatus maintains the quality of active and passive branch communications. During power off and degraded power operation, the safeguard apparatus safeguards the quality of the passive communication path.
48 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A safeguard apparatus operable in a network interface device, the safeguard apparatus comprising:
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an input node; a first field-effect transistor (FET) having a drain node, a source node and a gate node; a first PIN diode having a first PIN diode anode and a first PIN diode cathode; an output node; wherein the drain node of the first FET is coupled to the first PIN diode anode and to the input node, the gate node of the first FET is connected to a ground, the first PIN diode cathode is connected to the output node, and the safeguard apparatus is configured to pass signals from the input node and the first FET through the first PIN diode before reaching the output node; wherein the first FET is configured to be reverse biased so as to allow a CATV network and a subscriber device to communicate through the first FET, the input node, and the output node when the network interface device is in a first mode of operation; wherein the first FET is configured to be forward biased so as to provide a dampened signal path to a ground path for a CATV signal received through the input node or the output node when the network interface device is in a second mode of operation; and wherein the first FET is configured to dampen the CATV signal received through the input node or the output node to prevent disruptive reflections from returning through the dampened signal path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A safeguard apparatus operable in a network interface device, the safeguard apparatus comprising:
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an input node; an anode inductor having a first anode inductor end and a second anode inductor end; a first field-effect transistor (FET) having a drain node, a source node and a gate node; a gate resistor having a first gate resistor end and a second gate resistor end; a cathode inductor having a first cathode inductor end and a second cathode inductor end; an cathode resistor having a first cathode resistor end and a second cathode resistor end; a first PIN diode having a first PIN diode anode and a first PIN diode cathode; an output node; wherein; the drain node of the first FET is connected to the first PIN diode anode, to the input node and to the second anode inductor end; the first anode inductor end is connected to a voltage source; the gate node of the first FET is connected to the first gate resistor end; the second gate resistor end is connected to a ground; the first cathode resistor end is connected to the ground; the second cathode resistor end is connected to the first cathode inductor end; the second cathode inductor end is connected to the first PIN diode cathode and connected to the output node; and the safeguard apparatus is configured to pass signals from the input node and the first FET through the first PIN diode before reaching the output node; wherein the first FET is configured to be reverse biased as to allow communication between a CATV network and a subscriber device via the first FET, the input node, and the output node when the network interface device is in a first mode of operation, and wherein the first FET is configured to be forward biased to provide a dampened signal path to the ground path for a CATV signal received via the input node or the output node when the network interface device is in a second mode of operation; and wherein the first FET is configured to dampen the CATV signal received via the input node or the output node to prevent disruptive reflections from returning through the dampened signal path. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A safeguard apparatus operable in a network interface device (“
- NID”
) that connects at least two subscriber devices to a cable television (“
CATV”
), the safeguard apparatus comprising;an input node configured to receive active path communications from a splitter or directional coupler of the NID and coupled to an active branch circuit of the NID; a first field-effect transistor (FET) having a drain node, a source node and a gate node; a first PIN diode having a first PIN diode anode and a first PIN diode cathode; an output node configured to provide active path communication to an active branch conditioner of the NID; wherein;
the drain node of the first FET is directly connected to the first PIN diode anode and to the input node, the gate node of the first FET is directly connected to a ground, the first PIN diode cathode is directly connected to the output node, and the safeguard apparatus is configured to pass signals from the input node and the first FET through the first PIN diode before reaching the output node; andwherein the first FET is configured to be reverse biased so as to allow a CATV network and a subscriber device to communicate through the first FET, the input node, and the output node when the network interface device is in an active mode of operation, wherein the first FET is configured to be forward biased to provide a dampened signal path to the ground path for a CATV signal received via the input node or the output node when the network interface device is in an inactive mode of operation, and wherein the first FET is configured to absorb the CATV signal received via the input node or the output node to prevent disruptive reflections from returning through the dampened signal path when the network interface device is in the inactive mode. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
- NID”
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33. A safeguard apparatus operable in a network interface device, the safeguard apparatus comprising:
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an input node; an output node; and a transistor coupled to the input and output nodes; wherein, when the transistor in a throughput state, the safeguard apparatus allows communication between the input node and the output node such that a CATV signal is exchanged between a CATV network and a subscriber device; wherein, when the transistor is in an absorptive state, the safeguard apparatus is configured to provide a dampened signal path to ground, resulting in signal reduction that prevents signal reflections back to the input node; wherein the transistor in the absorptive state is configured to absorb the CATV signal received via the input node or the output node to reduce or prevent disruptive reflections from returning through the dampened signal path; wherein the transistor is configured to be in the throughput state when the network interface device is operating in a normal condition; and wherein the transistor is configured to be in the absorptive state when the network interface is operating in an abnormal condition. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A network interface device for passively maintaining data communications quality when the network interface device is operating in a disruptive operating condition state comprising:
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a disruptive signal reflection dampener configured to selectively control communication in the network interface device by changing between a throughput state and an absorptive state; wherein, in the throughput state, a CATV signal is exchanged between a CATV network and a subscriber device through the network interface device; wherein, in the absorptive state, the CATV signal is not exchanged between the CATV network and the subscriber device through the network interface device, and a dampened signal path to a ground is provided so as to passively prevent a signal reflection between the CATV network and the subscriber device from disrupting passive operation quality of the network interface device; wherein the disruptive signal reflection dampener is configured to change from the throughput state to the absorptive state in response to the network interface device transitioning from a non-disruptive operating condition state to the disruptive operating condition state, and to dampen the CATV signal exchanged between the CATV network and the subscriber so as to passively prevent a disruptive signal reflection from returning through the dampened signal path when the network interface device is operating in the disruptive operating condition state; and wherein the disruptive signal reflection dampener comprises a solid-state configuration arranged to dampen the CATV signal by reducing an amplitude of oscillation of the CATV signal. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A network interface device for passively maintaining data communications quality when the network interface device is operating in a disruptive operating condition state comprising:
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an active circuit branch configured to be coupled to an active subscriber device, the active circuit branch comprising one or more powered components; and a disruptive reflection dampener configured to selectively control communication to the active branch by transitioning between a throughput state and an absorptive state; wherein, when the disruptive reflection dampener is in the throughput state, a CATV signal is exchanged between a CATV network and the subscriber device through the active circuit branch; wherein, when the disruptive dampener is in the absorptive state, the CATV signal is prevented from passing between the CATV network and the subscriber device through the active circuit branch, and a dampened signal path to a ground is provided so as to passively prevent a signal reflection between the CATV network and the subscriber device from disrupting passive operation quality of the network interface device; and wherein the disruptive reflection dampener is configured to transition from the throughput state to the absorptive state in response to the network interface device changing from a non-disruptive operating condition state to a disruptive operating condition state, and wherein the network interface device changes from the non-disruptive operating condition state to the disruptive operating condition state in response to at least one of the one or more powered components being inoperative or not powered. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification