BROADBAND RADIO FREQUENCY DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING TWISTED PAIR WIRING

• US 20160065252A1
• Filed: 06/01/2015
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Preschutti, Joseph P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,748,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3036 in high-frequency amplifiers or in frequency-changers H03G3/3052, H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3042 in modulators, frequency-changers, transmitters or power amplifiers transmission power control in bidirectional transmission systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0475 with means for limiting noise, interference or distortion H04B1/0483 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/0416 having gain or transmission power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/32 Reducing cross-talk, e.g. by compensating
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/46 Monitoring; Testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/48 Testing attenuation H04B3/466 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/50 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via two-conductor transmission lines H04B3/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2869 Operational details of access network equipments admission control or resource allocation in access networks H04L12/5692
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation

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.

Claims

2. A broadband signal distribution device comprising:

(a) a broadband signal interface configured to receive broadband radio frequency signals;

(b) a plurality of twisted pair signal connections configured to distribute broadband radio frequency signals; and

(c) circuitry defining an upstream signal path and a downstream signal path between the broadband signal interface and the plurality of twisted pair signal connections, the upstream signal path defining a first frequency range and the downstream signal path defining a second frequency range different from the first frequency range, the circuitry including a gain control circuit positioned along the downstream path.

1. (canceled)

3. The broadband signal distribution interface device of claim 2, further comprising a slope control circuit positioned along the downstream path.

4. The broadband signal distribution interface device of claim 2, wherein the broadband signal distribution device comprises a broadband signal distribution interface device.

5. The broadband signal distribution interface device of claim 2, further comprising a low band indicator and a high band indicator providing a visual indication of a power level of a received downstream signal prior to amplification.

6. The broadband signal distribution interface device of claim 2, wherein the circuitry is configured to accommodate downstream transmission of the broadband signals onto the plurality of twisted pair signal connections.

7. The broadband signal distribution interface device of claim 2, further comprising a pilot tone generator communicatively connected to the downstream signal path.

8. The broadband signal distribution interface device of claim 7, further comprising an amplifier located on the downstream signal path upstream of the pilot tone generator.

9. The broadband signal distribution interface device of claim 8, further comprising a feedback path electrically connected between a location downstream of the amplifier and a splitter leading to high and low frequency signal sensors.

10. The broadband signal distribution interface device of claim 2, wherein the broadband signal distribution device comprises a broadband line driver.

11. The broadband signal distribution interface device of claim 10, wherein the broadband line driver includes a repeater portion and a twisted pair distribution portion.

12. The broadband signal distribution interface device of claim 11, wherein the repeater portion includes a high pass filter and a low pass filter.

13. The broadband signal distribution interface device of claim 2, wherein the broadband signal interface is a coaxial cable interface.

19. The broadband signal distribution interface device of claim 10, wherein the broadband line driver is communicatively connected to a remote balun.

20. The broadband signal distribution interface device of claim 2, wherein the broadband radio frequency signals comprise CATV signals in the range of 5 to 862 MHz.

13-1. The broadband signal distribution interface device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of twisted pair signal connections includes an RJ-45 jack.

14. A method of adjusting output power of broadband radio frequency signals on twisted pair lines, the method comprising:

upon determining that a reference voltage level exceeds a predetermined level, deactivating an amplifier connected to a downstream path leading to a 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 low 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.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving the reference voltage at a broadband line driver via a twisted pair connection.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined level indicates that there is no connection between a balun and a line driver.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising, upon determining that the reference voltage is below a second predetermined level, activating a cable simulator.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising, upon determining that the reference voltage exceeds a third predetermined level, deactivating a cable simulator.