U.S. patent application number 17/334883 was filed with the patent office on 2021-10-14 for moca connectivity splitter and hub.
This patent application is currently assigned to CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina. The applicant listed for this patent is CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina. Invention is credited to Shi Man Li, Mark O. Vogel.
Application Number | 20210321156 17/334883 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005667406 |
Filed Date | 2021-10-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210321156 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Li; Shi Man ; et
al. |
October 14, 2021 |
MOCA CONNECTIVITY SPLITTER AND HUB
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a splitter or hub that
provides plural ports for communicating MoCA signals between
devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
passive splitter to communicate MoCA signals between a
gateway/amplifier port and customer devices, or a passive hub to
communicate MoCA signals between customer devices. The splitter or
hub includes a resistive splitter network and may include a MoCA
passing filter and a test port.
Inventors: |
Li; Shi Man; (Mooresville,
NC) ; Vogel; Mark O.; (Statesville, NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina |
Hickory |
NC |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CommScope, Inc. of North
Carolina
|
Family ID: |
1000005667406 |
Appl. No.: |
17/334883 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16368852 |
Mar 28, 2019 |
11044113 |
|
|
17334883 |
|
|
|
|
62655078 |
Apr 9, 2018 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/426
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 21/426 20060101
H04N021/426 |
Claims
1. A passive in-home network device comprising: a housing; first,
second, third and fourth ports located on said housing; a resistive
splitter network including a plurality of resistors, interconnected
to freely pass MoCA signals between said first, second, third and
fourth ports, wherein said plurality of resistors includes first,
second, third and fourth resistors, a first terminal of said first
resistor being connected to said first port, a second terminal of
said first resistor being connected to a first terminal of each of
said second, third and fourth resistors, and a second terminal of
each of said second, third and fourth resistors being connected to
said second, third and fourth ports, respectively; and a filter
interposed between said first port and said resistive splitter
network.
2. The passive in-home network device according to claim 1, wherein
said filter has only two terminals, namely a first terminal of said
filter and a second terminal of said filter.
3. The passive in-home network device according to claim 2, wherein
said first terminal of said filter is directly connected to said
first port without any intervening circuit element.
4. The passive in-home network device according to claim 3, wherein
said second terminal of said filter is directly connected to said
first terminal of said first resistor without any intervening
circuit element.
5. The passive in-home network device according to claim 3, wherein
said second terminal of said filter is connected to a first leg of
a directional coupler, and a second leg of said directional coupler
is connected to said first terminal of said first resistor.
6. The passive in-home network device according to claim 2, wherein
said filter passes frequencies in an in-home network frequency
range and does not pass frequencies below the in-home network
frequency range, and wherein the in-home network frequency range is
about 1,125 MHz to about 1,675 MHz.
7. The passive in-home network device according to claim 1, wherein
resistive values of said first, second, third and fourth resistors
are equal.
8. The passive in-home network device according to claim 1, further
comprising: a fifth port, wherein said plurality of resistors
further includes a fifth resistor, said second terminal of said
first resistor being connected to a first terminal of said fifth
resistor, and a second terminal of said fifth resistor being
connected to said fifth port.
9. The passive in-home network device according to claim 8, wherein
said passive in-home network device consists essentially of said
housing, said first, second, third, fourth and fifth ports, said
first, second, third, fourth and fifth resistors and said
filter.
10. A passive in-home network device comprising: a housing; first,
second, third, fourth and fifth ports located on said housing; and
a resistive splitter network including a plurality of resistors,
interconnected to freely pass MoCA signals between said first,
second, third, fourth and fifth ports, wherein said plurality of
resistors includes first, second, third, fourth and fifth
resistors, a first terminal of said first resistor being directly
connected to said first port without any intervening circuit
elements, a second terminal of said first resistor being connected
to a first terminal of each of said second, third, fourth and fifth
resistors, and a second terminal of each of said second, third,
fourth and fifth resistors being connected to said second, third,
fourth and fifth ports, respectively.
11. The passive in-home network device according to claim 10,
wherein said second terminals of said second, third, fourth and
fifth resistors are directly connected to said second, third,
fourth and fifth ports, respectively, without any intervening
circuit elements.
12. The passive in-home network device according to claim 10,
wherein said second terminal of said first resistor is directly
connected to said first terminal of each of said second, third,
fourth and fifth resistors, without any intervening circuit
elements.
13. The passive in-home network device according to claim 12,
wherein said second terminals of said second, third, fourth and
fifth resistors are directly connected to said second, third,
fourth and fifth ports, respectively, without any intervening
circuit elements.
14. The passive in-home network device according to claim 10,
wherein resistive values of said first, second, third and fourth
resistors are equal.
15. The passive in-home network device according to claim 10,
wherein said passive in-home network device consists essentially of
said housing, said first, second, third, fourth and fifth ports,
and said first, second, third, fourth and fifth resistors.
16. A passive in-home network device comprising: a housing; first,
second, third and fourth ports located on said housing; a resistive
splitter network including a plurality of resistors, interconnected
to freely pass MoCA signals between said first, second, third and
fourth ports, wherein said plurality of resistors includes first,
second, third and fourth resistors, a first terminal of said first
resistor being connected to said first port, a second terminal of
said first resistor being connected to a first terminal of each of
said second, third and fourth resistors, and a second terminal of
each of said second, third and fourth resistors being connected to
said second, third and fourth ports, respectively; and a test port
interposed between said first port and said resistive splitter
network.
17. The passive in-home network device according to claim 16,
further comprising: a directional coupler interposed between said
first port, said resistive splitter network and said test port,
wherein a first leg of said directional coupler is connected to
said first port, a second leg of said directional coupler is
connected to said first terminal of said first resistor, and a
third leg of said directional coupler is connected to said test
port.
18. The passive in-home network device according to claim 16,
further comprising: a filter interposed between said first port and
said resistive splitter network.
19. The passive in-home network device according to claim 18,
wherein a first terminal of said filter is connected to said first
port, a second terminal of said filter is connected to a first leg
of a directional coupler, a second leg of said directional coupler
is connected to said first terminal of said first resistor, and a
third leg of said directional coupler is connected to said test
port.
20. The passive in-home network device according to claim 18,
wherein a first terminal of said filter is directly connected to
said first port without any intervening circuit element, a second
terminal of said filter is directly connected to a first leg of a
directional coupler without any intervening circuit element, a
second leg of said directional coupler is directly connected to
said first terminal of said first resistor without any intervening
circuit element, and a third leg of said directional coupler is
directly connected to said test port without any intervening
circuit element.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
16/368,852, filed Mar. 28, 2019, which claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 62/655,078, filed Apr. 9, 2018, both of
which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention is directed to a splitter or hub that
provides plural ports for communicating MoCA signals between
devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
passive splitter to communicate MoCA signals between a gateway port
and customer devices, or a passive hub to communicate MoCA signals
between customer devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] Cable television ("CATV") networks are known types of
communications networks that are used to transmit information
between a service provider and a plurality of subscriber premises,
typically over fiber optic and/or coaxial cables. The service
provider may offer, among other things, cable television, broadband
Internet and Voice-over-Internet Protocol ("VoIP") digital
telephone service to subscribers within a particular geographic
area. The service provider transmits "forward path" or "downstream"
signals from the headend facilities of the cable television network
to the subscriber premises. "Reverse path" or "upstream" signals
may also be transmitted from the individual subscriber premises
back to the headend facilities. In the United States, the forward
path signals are typically transmitted in the 54-1,002 MHz
frequency band, and may include, for example, different tiers of
cable television channels, movies on demand, digital telephone
and/or Internet service, and other broadcast or point-to-point
offerings. The reverse path signals are typically transmitted in
the 5-42 MHz frequency band and may include, for example, signals
associated with digital telephone and/or Internet service and
ordering commands, i.e., for movies-on-demand and other
services.
[0004] Each subscriber premises typically includes one or more
power divider networks that are used to divide the downstream
signals received from the service provider, so that the downstream
signals may be fed to a plurality of service ports, such as wall
outlets that are dispersed throughout the subscriber premises.
These power divider networks also combine upstream signals that may
be transmitted from one or more of the service ports into a
composite upstream signal that is transmitted over the CATV network
back to the headend facilities, e.g., in the 5-42 MHz frequency
band.
[0005] A recent trend is to use the coaxial cables that are
installed throughout most homes, apartments and other subscriber
premises as an "in-premises" or "in-home" network that may be used
to transmit signals from a first end device that is connected to a
first wall outlet in a subscriber premises to other end devices
that are connected to other wall outlets in the same subscriber
premises. An industry alliance known as the Multi-media Over Coax
Alliance ("MoCA") has developed standards which specify frequency
bands, interfaces and other parameters that will allow equipment
from different standards-compliant vendors to be used to distribute
multi-media content over such in-premises coaxial cable networks.
These standards specify that such "MoCA" content is transmitted
over the in-premises coaxial cable networks in the 400 MHz to 1,675
MHz frequency band, although some service providers only distribute
MoCA content within a narrower frequency band that is above the
cable television band, such as, for example, the 1,125 MHz to 1,675
MHz frequency band. Thus, the MoCA content is transmitted over the
in-premises network in a pre-selected MoCA frequency band. The
power divider network in the in-premises network may be designed to
support communications between its output ports in this
pre-selected MoCA frequency band.
[0006] Examples of MoCA content that may be distributed over an
in-premises coaxial cable network are digital television,
video-on-demand programming and digitally-recorded television or
music programming. In an exemplary application, such programming
may be transmitted via the in-premises network of a home from a
primary set-top box (which may be a full service set top box having
a digital television receiver, DVR and/or video-on-demand
capabilities, etc.) to less capable, less expensive, auxiliary
set-top boxes that are installed on other televisions throughout
the premises or directly to televisions, DVD players, etc. with
MoCA ports. In this manner, the full capabilities of the primary
set top box may be enjoyed at all of the televisions within the
residence without having to provide a primary set top box for each
television.
[0007] Also, it is known to connect a gateway device to the
downstream/upstream CATV signal, and then connect the gateway
device to other devices, such as laptop computers, desktop
computers, TVs, monitors, security cameras, intercoms, internet
interface assistants, wireless light controllers, etc., via the
MoCA ports using the in-premises network.
[0008] In many cases, significant attenuation may occur as signals
are passed through the cable television network of a service
provider, and hence the power level of the RF signal that is
received at a subscriber premises may be on the order of 0-5
dBmV/channel. Such received signal levels may be insufficient to
support the various services at an acceptable quality of service
level. Accordingly, an RF signal amplifier may be provided at or
near an entrance point of an individual subscriber's premises. The
RF signal amplifier is used to amplify the downstream RF signals to
a more useful level. The RF signal amplifier may also be configured
to amplify the upstream RF signals that are transmitted from the
subscriber premises to the headend facilities of the cable
television network. Typically, the RF signal amplifiers are
incorporated into the power divider network as the first unit,
which takes the form of a powered bi-directional RF signal
amplifier with an input port for receiving a coaxial cable from the
service provider side and plural output ports which receive coaxial
cables connected to the various service ports, such as the wall
outlets that are dispersed throughout the subscriber's
premises.
[0009] In accordance with the known power divider network unit, a
RF signal amplifier receives a composite downstream RF signal of
approximately 5 dBmV/channel in the range of approximately 54-1,002
MHz comprising information for telephone, cable television (CATV),
Internet, VoIP, and/or data communications from a service provider.
The RF signal amplifier may increase this downstream signal to a
more useful level of approximately 20 dBmV/channel at each output
port of the unit and pass the amplified downstream signal to one or
more devices in communication with the RF signal amplifier through
connections to the various coaxial wall outlets. Such devices may
include, but need not be limited to: televisions, modems,
telephones, computers, and/or other communications devices known in
the art. In the event of power failure, unamplified signals may
still be passed (in both directions) through a passive
communications path between the service provider and at least one
communications device.
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a high level schematic of a
bi-directional RF signal amplifier 100 according to the background
art. More information concerning the bi-directional RF signal
amplifier 100 can be found in the Assignee's U.S. Pat. No.
9,699,516, granted Jul. 4, 2017, the entire contents of which are
herein incorporated by reference.
[0011] The RF signal amplifier 100 includes a plurality of RF
output ports 181-188 that may be used to pass downstream and
upstream signals between a service provider and multiple
communications devices located in the subscriber premises when the
RF signal amplifier is powered and operating normally. Moreover, RF
signal amplifier 100 further includes a non-interruptible RF output
port 189 that may be used to maintain bi-directional RF
communications even during power outages.
[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, RF signal amplifier 100 includes a
bi-directional RF input port 105 for receiving downstream RF
signals from a service provider, or any other appropriate signal
source. RF input port 105 can also pass upstream signals in the
reverse direction from the RF signal amplifier 100 to the service
provider. Due to the bi-directional nature of communications
through RF signal amplifiers, it will be appreciated that an
"input" port will act as an "output" port and an "output" port will
act as an "input" port if the direction of signal flow is reversed.
Consequently, it will be appreciated that the terms "input" and
"output" are used herein solely for purposes of distinguishing
various ports from one another, and are not used to require a
direction of signal flow.
[0013] As noted above, RF signal amplifier 100 further includes a
plurality of bi-directional output ports 181-189 that may be used
to pass downstream RF signals from the RF signal amplifier 100 to
one or more devices in communication with the output ports 181-189,
and to receive upstream RF signals from those devices so that they
may be passed through the RF signal amplifier 100 to the service
provider. It will be appreciated that any appropriate device that
may advantageously send and/or receive an RF signal may be placed
in communication with one or more of the various output ports
181-189. For example, it is contemplated that telephone, CATV,
Internet, VoIP, and/or data communication devices may be placed in
such communication with a service provider where the RF signal
amplifier 100 is installed in the residence of a subscriber.
However, it will further be appreciated that any desired
combination of these and/or other devices may be used where
appropriate.
[0014] Signals received through RF input port 105 can be passed
through RF signal amplifier 100 via an active communications path
114 that extends between RF input port 105 and RF output ports
181-188 and/or 189. Specifically, the downstream signals that are
received at RF input port 105 from the service provider are passed
to a passive directional coupler 110 that has a first output port
that connects to the active communications path 114 and a second
output port that connects to a passive communications path 118. The
directional coupler 110 splits downstream RF signals onto the
active communications path 114 and the passive communications path
118. It will be appreciated that the directional coupler 110 may
either evenly or unevenly split the power of the downstream signals
between the communications paths 114, 118, depending on the design
of the overall circuit. The active communications path 114
amplifies at least one of downstream signals from the service
provider to the subscriber premises or upstream signals from the
subscriber premises to the service provider. The passive
communications path 118 acts as a "non-interruptible"
communications path that has no active components thereon, which
allows downstream and/or upstream signals to traverse the passive
communications path 118 even if a power supply to the RF signal
amplifier 100 is interrupted. In some embodiments, the passive
communications path 118 may provide a communications path for VoIP
telephone service that will operate even during power outages at
the subscriber premises (assuming that the modem and/or telephone,
as necessary, are powered by a battery backup unit).
[0015] As is further shown in FIG. 1, downstream signals traversing
the active communications path 114 pass from the first output of
directional coupler 110 to an input port of a switching device such
as, for example, an SPDT non-latching relay 120. A first output 122
of the relay 120 is connected to an input of a high/low diplexer
130. A second output 124 of the relay 120 is connected to a
resistor 126, such as a 75 ohm resistor connected between the
second output 124 and ground.
[0016] The diplexer 130 separates the high frequency downstream
signal from any low frequency upstream signals incident in the
reverse direction. In various embodiments, diplexer 130 can filter
the signals in a manner such that signals with frequencies greater
than approximately 45-50 MHz are passed as high frequency
downstream signals, while signals with frequencies lower than such
range are passed in the reverse direction as low frequency upstream
signals received from ports 181-188. It will be appreciated,
however, that other diplexer designs may be utilized.
[0017] The high frequency downstream signals filtered by diplexer
130 can be amplified by individual power amplifier 140, and passed
through a second high/low diplexer 150 to a MoCA rejection filter
160. MoCA rejection filter 160 attenuates any frequencies in the
MoCA frequency range. Typically, no signals in the downstream
direction will contain MoCA frequencies and hence the downstream
signal will be unaffected.
[0018] Next, the downstream signal passes to an input 169 of a
power divider network 170. The power divider network 170 splits the
downstream signal so that it may be distributed to each of ports
181-188. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the power divider network 170
includes a power divider 171 in a first tier, feeding power
dividers 172 and 173 in a second tier, feeding power dividers 174,
175, 176 and 177 in a third tier. The first, second and third tiers
form a pyramid structure. While the power divider network 170
illustrated in FIG. 1 splits the downstream signals for
distribution to eight different ports, it will be appreciated that
the power divider network 170 may split the downstream signals for
distribution to different numbers of ports (e.g., four, six, ten,
etc.).
[0019] Turning now to the reverse (upstream) signal flow through
the active communications path 114 of RF signal amplifier 100,
upstream signals received by the RF signal amplifier 100 from
devices in communication with ports 181-188 are passed to power
divider network 170 where they are combined into a composite
upstream signal. This composite upstream signal is fed out of input
169 through the MoCA rejection filter 160. The MoCA rejection
filter 160 attenuates frequencies in the MoCA frequency range so as
to prevent the MoCA signaling, which freely traverses between the
ports 181-188, from entering the high/low diplexer 150. The
high/low diplexer 150 separates the low frequency composite
upstream signal from any high frequency downstream signals incident
in the forward direction. As previously discussed in relation to
diplexer 130, the diplexer 150 can filter the signals such that
signals with frequencies greater than approximately 45-50 MHz are
passed in the forward direction as high frequency downstream
signals, while signals with frequencies lower than such range are
passed in the reverse direction as low frequency upstream signals
received from ports 181-188.
[0020] The composite low frequency upstream signal, filtered by
diplexer 150, can be passed directly to high/low diplexer 130 (or
optionally the upstream signal, filtered by the diplexer 150, can
pass through an upstream power amplifier 142 prior to reaching the
diplexer 130), where it is then passed through the first output
port 122 of the non-latching SPDT relay 120 to the first output
port of the directional coupler 110. The directional coupler 110
combines the upstream signal received at output port 122 with any
upstream signal received from the passive communications path 118
and passes this combined signal to the RF input port 105 for output
to a service provider or other entity in communication with RF
input port 105.
[0021] The power amplifiers 140 and 142 that are included on the
active communications path 114 are active devices that must be
powered via a power source, such as a DC linear regulator 195 that
outputs a power supply voltage VCC. During normal operation, the RF
signal amplifier 100 can be powered from a power input port 190
and/or power that is reverse fed through one of the RF output ports
(e.g., output port 188, which is labeled "VDC IN"). In a typical
installation at a subscriber premises, it is contemplated that RF
signal amplifier 100 may be powered by an AC/DC adapter receiving
power provided by the residence (for example, 100-240 VAC, 50/60
Hz). As illustrated in FIG. 1, the power received from either power
input 190 or power input 188 may be provided to the DC voltage
regulator 195 which supplies an operating voltage VCC to the power
amplifiers 140 and 142 and the relay 120.
[0022] In the event that power to the DC voltage regulator 195 is
interrupted, DC voltage regulator 195 will be unable to provide
operating voltage VCC to power amplifiers 140 and 142 and relay
120. Consequently, during power outages, the downstream portion
(and also the upstream portion, if the upstream power amplifier 142
is employed) of the active communications path 114 will be lost,
and the relay 120 will connect the resistor 126 to the first output
of directional coupler 110.
[0023] As noted above, RF signal amplifier 100 also has the passive
communications path 118 that extends from the second output of the
directional coupler 110 to the port 189. This passive communication
path 118 bypasses the power amplifiers 140 and 142 and does not
include any active components. Consequently, the passive
communications path 118 will remain available to pass
communications between port 105 and port 189, even when the power
supply to RF signal amplifier 100 is interrupted. Accordingly, the
passive communications path 118 is also referred to as a
"non-interruptible" communications path. The passive communications
path 118 may be used to maintain essential services to the
subscriber premises such as, for example, 911 emergency lifeline
services, even during power outages, so long as the subscriber has
a battery backup for the necessary devices connected to port
189.
[0024] The passive communications path 118 is connected to the
active communications path 114 at the input 169 of the power
divider network 170. Within the passive communication path 118,
upstream signals from the port 189 pass into an input 168 of a
diplexer 162. Signals in the MoCA frequency range exit the diplexer
162 via output 164 and pass to the active communication path
directly upstream of the power divider network 170. By this
arrangement, MoCA signals from the port 189 may enter the input 169
of the power divider network 170. Hence, MoCA signals may be passed
between all of the devices connected to ports 181-189.
[0025] The signals from the port 189 which pass into the input 168
of a diplexer 162, which are in the high/low frequency range for
downstream and upstream communication with the service provider
exit the diplexer 160 via output 166 and pass to the second output
of the directional coupler 110, where the signals are combined with
the signals on the active communication path 114 and are then
passed to the port 105.
[0026] Additional background art can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,676,744; 6,969,278; 7,310,355; 7,530,091; 8,695,055; 8,752,114;
8,810,334; 9,167,286; 9,209,774; 9,356,796 and 9,516,376, and in US
Published Application Nos. 2005/0044573; 2006/0205442;
2008/0120667; 2008/0148325; 2009/0320086; 2013/0081096 and
2015/0288920, which are herein incorporated by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0027] The Applicant has appreciated some drawbacks in the RF
signal amplifier 100 of FIG. 1. One drawback is that the downstream
signal from the service provider must be provided to the port 105
at a relative high power level, or the downstream amplifier 140
must be made rather robust and will consume a high level of power,
if the CATV signal is to be provided at each of the ports 181-188
at a power level sufficient to provide a high quality of service.
In other words, assuming that each power divider 171-177 is set to
split the incoming signal power to 50% going to each output leg,
the CATV signal entering the input of the power divider 170 will be
reduced by at least 87.5% before it reaches the port 181. Assuming
no losses in the power dividers 171-177, each of the eight ports
181-188 will present, at best, 12.5% of the signal power level
initially input into power divider network 170.
[0028] The Applicant has appreciated that it is common in household
installations that not every coaxial outlet in the household needs
to be prepared for CATV downstream signal feeds. Rather, many of
the coaxial outlets are simply used for MoCA devices. For example,
a typical household might need only one, two, or at most three,
coaxial outlets with CATV downstream and upstream signaling
abilities. Most houses seem to have one of the expensive set top
boxes with DVR abilities and a modem for internet communications.
Other outlets in the house might only need MoCA abilities. For
example, a TV that is used to watch recorded events from the DVR, a
computer that interacts with the modem for internet access, a VoIP
phone that interacts with the modem, a gaming station that only
interacts with another gaming station at another wall outlet,
etc.
[0029] Further, often times the signal strength of the downstream
signal from the service provider is sufficient to power one, two or
even three CATV downstream signal feeds within a household without
the need of an amplifier within the customer's premises. Even if
the signal strength of the downstream signal from the service
provider is not sufficient to power two or three CATV downstream
signal feeds, the amplifier capacity and power consumption does not
need to be so large as to power eight CATV output ports (as shown
in FIG. 1), when only two or three CATV output ports are needed in
the customer's premises. To this end, a smaller device 11, like a
passive gateway device, active gateway device or a RF signal
amplifier, as shown in FIG. 2 may be provided at the customer's
premises. The smaller device 11 has an input port 13 for
communicating signals with a service provider line, two RF/MoCA
ports 15 and 17, and a single "MoCA only" port 19. The smaller
device 11 may also include a power port 21, in the case of a RF
signal amplifier or active gateway device, where the signal to the
two RF/MoCA ports needs to be amplified to be useable.
[0030] Also, the MoCA alliance has established the MoCA frequency
band to be 400 MHz to 1,675 MHz. Due to conflicts with CATV
signaling, the usable MoCA frequency band is narrower in the device
of FIG. 1, such as about 1,125 MHz to 1,675 MHz. The reduced MoCA
frequency band can impose limits on the speed and/or volume of
signaling between the customer devices in the subscriber's
premises.
[0031] Therefore, the Applicant has appreciated a new device, which
functions in combination with a gateway device, or amplifier having
one or more RF/MoCA output ports. The device functions as a passive
splitter and strips away the CATV RF signal and provides plural
ports for communicating MoCA signals between the CATV/MoCA output
port and plural devices in the subscriber's premises.
Alternatively, the device may be attached to a "MoCA only" port of
the gateway or amplifier and provide plural ports for communicating
MoCA signals between the "MoCA only" port and plural devices in the
subscriber's premises. Further, the device may act as a passive hub
for communicating MoCA signals between plural devices in the
subscriber's premises, with no connection to a gateway or amplifier
port.
[0032] By keeping the MoCA signaling isolated from the CATV
signals, the full range of MoCA signaling, e.g., 400 MHz to 1,675
MHz, may be used by the devices within the subscriber's premises
without inference with the CATV signal.
[0033] Also, the passive splitter or passive hub may include a test
port to monitor the MoCA signaling by a technician and troubleshoot
any in-home network problems. The test port has a high isolation,
e.g., 20 dbs or greater, from the MoCA ports and therefore does not
significantly reduce the signal strength of the MoCA signals
passing between the ports. In one embodiment, the test port is
coupled to one or more of the MoCA ports by a directional coupler.
In one embodiment, the test port is configured differently relative
to the MoCA ports, so as to reduce confusion by the end user, so
that the test port is not accidentally used as a MoCA port for a
customer device within the subscriber's premises.
[0034] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are
not limits of the present invention, and wherein:
[0036] FIG. 1 is a high level schematic of a bi-directional RF
signal amplifier, in accordance with the background art;
[0037] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a gateway device or RF
signal amplifier device having two RF/MoCA ports and one "MoCA
only" port;
[0038] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a housing of a passive
in-home network device, in accordance with a first embodiment of
the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 4 is a high level schematic of the circuitry within the
housing of FIG. 3;
[0040] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a housing of a passive
in-home network device, in accordance with a second embodiment of
the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 6 is a high level schematic of the circuitry within the
housing of FIG. 5;
[0042] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a housing of a passive
in-home network device, in accordance with a third embodiment of
the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 8 is a high level schematic of the circuitry within the
housing of FIG. 7;
[0044] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a housing of a passive
in-home network device, in accordance with a fourth embodiment of
the present invention;
[0045] FIG. 10 is a high level schematic of the circuitry within
the housing of FIG. 9; and
[0046] FIG. 11 is a high level schematic of the circuitry of a
passive in-home network device, in accordance with a fifth
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0047] The present invention now is described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may,
however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather,
these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be
thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the
invention to those skilled in the art.
[0048] Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the
figures, the thickness of certain lines, layers, components,
elements or features may be exaggerated for clarity. Broken lines
illustrate optional features or operations unless specified
otherwise.
[0049] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the invention. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including
technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning
as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which
this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms,
such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be
interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their
meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and
should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense
unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or
constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or
clarity.
[0050] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are
intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the
terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As
used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of
one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, phrases
such as "between X and Y" and "between about X and Y" should be
interpreted to include X and Y. As used herein, phrases such as
"between about X and Y" mean "between about X and about Y." As used
herein, phrases such as "from about X to Y" mean "from about X to
about Y."
[0051] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as
being "on", "attached" to, "connected" to, "coupled" with,
"contacting", etc., another element, it can be directly on,
attached to, connected to, coupled with or contacting the other
element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast,
when an element is referred to as being, for example, "directly
on", "directly attached" to, "directly connected" to, "directly
coupled" with or "directly contacting" another element, there are
no intervening elements present. It will also be appreciated by
those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature
that is disposed "adjacent" another feature may have portions that
overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.
[0052] Spatially relative terms, such as "under", "below", "lower",
"over", "upper", "lateral", "left", "right" and the like, may be
used herein for ease of description to describe one element or
feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as
illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the
spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different
orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the
orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in
the figures is inverted, elements described as "under" or "beneath"
other elements or features would then be oriented "over" the other
elements or features. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated
90 degrees or at other orientations) and the descriptors of
relative spatial relationships used herein interpreted
accordingly.
[0053] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a passive in-home network
device 200 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present
invention. The device 200 includes a housing 201. The housing 201
includes a female coaxial input port, or first port 203. The first
port 203 is provided for attachment to a RF/MoCA port of an RF
signal amplifier device, an active gateway device or a passive
gateway device. For example, the first port 203 may be connected to
one of ports 15 or 17 of the device 11 of FIG. 2 by a coaxial
cable.
[0054] The housing 201 may include one or more mounting brackets
202. Further, the housing 201 may include a grounding block
204.
[0055] Second, third, fourth and fifth ports 205, 207, 209 and 211
are provided on the housing 201 for connection, via coaxial cables,
to the various ports within the subscriber's premises, e.g., the
wall ports. The second, third, fourth and fifth ports 205, 207, 209
and 211 are provided for transmitting and receiving in-home network
signals, e.g., MoCA signals, allowing customer devices within the
in-home network to communication with each other and with the first
port 203, connected to the device 11 of FIG. 2. The second, third,
fourth and fifth ports 205, 207, 209 and 211 are also provided in
the form of female coaxial ports.
[0056] The second, third, fourth and fifth ports 205, 207, 209 and
211 do not output service provider signals, e.g., downstream CATV
signals, to customer devices and do pass customer device signals in
the CATV range, e.g., upstream CATV signals, to the service
provider.
[0057] The housing 201 also includes a test port 213. The test port
213 can receive signals from and send signals to the second, third,
fourth and fifth ports 205, 207, 209 and 211 with less than a 30 db
signal loss, such as less than a 20 db signal loss. The test port
213 can receive signals from and send signals to the first port 201
with greater than a 30 db signal loss, such as greater than a 40 db
signal loss. The test port 213 may be used by a technician to
troubleshoot the in-home network and verify the signal strengths of
the various customer devices attached to the in-home network.
[0058] In a preferred embodiment, the test port 213 has a different
mating configuration than the first, second, third, fourth and
fifth ports 203, 205, 207, 209 and 211. For example, FIG. 3
illustrates the test port 213 as a female socket for a 1/4 inch
plug. The technician would carry signal testing/monitoring
equipment with a male 1/4 plug connector. By making the test port
213 different from the first, second, third, fourth and fifth ports
203, 205, 207, 209 and 211, confusion can be avoided in that a
customer will not be able to inadvertently connect a male coaxial
connector associated with a customer device to the test port,
mistaking it for a MoCA port.
[0059] FIG. 4 is a high level electrical schematic of the circuitry
contained within the housing 201 of FIG. 3. The circuitry includes
a resistive splitter network 215 including a plurality of
resistors. The plurality of resistors are interconnected to freely
pass MoCA signals between the first, second, third, fourth and
fifth ports 203, 205, 207, 209 and 211. The resistive splitter
network 215 includes first, second, third, fourth and fifth
resistors 217, 219, 221, 223 and 225. A first terminal 227 of the
first resistor 217 is connected to the first port 203, albeit with
one or more intervening circuit elements. A second terminal 229 of
the first resistor 217 is connected to first terminals 231, 233,
235 and 237 of each of the second, third, fourth and fifth
resistors 219, 221, 223 and 225, respectively, with no intervening
circuit element. Second terminals 239, 241, 243 and 245 of each of
the second, third, fourth and fifth resistors 219, 221, 223 and 225
are connected to the second, third, fourth and fifth ports 205,
207, 209 and 211, respectively, with no intervening circuit
element.
[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the resistive values of the
first, second, third, fourth and fifth resistors 217, 219, 221, 223
and 225 are equal, or at least approximately equal. For example,
the resistive value may be a fixed value in the range of 30 ohms to
80 ohms, such as in the range of 40 to 70 ohms. In a preferred
embodiment the resistors are all set to a value between about 50 to
about 60 ohms, such as about 53 ohms.
[0061] The circuitry of FIG. 4 also includes a filter 247
interposed between the first port 203 and the resistive splitter
network 215. The filter 247 passes frequencies in a MoCA frequency
range and does not pass frequencies below a MoCA frequency range.
In a preferred embodiment, the MoCA frequency range is about 400
MHz to about 1,675 MHz, which takes advantage of the entire MoCA
frequency range afforded by the MoCA standards. However, the MoCA
frequency range can be abbreviated to reside between about 1,125
MHz to about 1,675 MHz, if desired. The filter 247 may be formed as
a high pass filter to attenuate frequencies below the MoCA band.
Alternatively, the filter 247 may be formed as a band pass filter
to pass only frequencies within the MoCA band, so as to attenuate
both low and high frequency noise within the in-home network.
[0062] A first terminal 249 of the filter 247 is directly connected
to the first port 203 without any intervening circuit element. A
second terminal 251 of the filter 247 is connected to the first
terminal 227 of the first resistor 217, albeit with one or more
intervening circuit elements.
[0063] The circuitry of FIG. 4 also includes a directional coupler
253 interposed between the first port 203 and the resistive
splitter network 215. A first leg 255 of the directional coupler
253 is directly connected to the second terminal 251 of the filter
247 without any intervening circuit element. A second leg 257 of
the directional coupler 253 is directly connected to the first
terminal 227 of the first resistor 217 without any intervening
circuit element. A third leg 259 of the directional coupler 253 is
directly connected to the test port 213 without any intervening
circuit element. It should be noted that the serial connection of
the filter 247 (closer to the first port 203) and the directional
coupler 253 (closer to the resistive splitter network 215) may be
reversed, if desired, so that the directional coupler 253 is closer
to the first port 203.
[0064] The embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 enables the first port 203
of the device 200 to be attached to port 15 of the device 11 of
FIG. 2, e.g., an active gateway device, a passive gateway device or
RF signal amplifier. The CATV signal, which exits the port 15, will
be blocked by the filter 247. MoCA signals, which exit the port 15,
will freely pass through the filter 247 to communicate with the
second, third, fourth and fifth ports 205, 207, 209 and 211.
Further, MoCA signals from the second, third, fourth and fifth
ports 205, 207, 209 and 211 will freely pass through the filter 247
and exit the first port 203 to communicate with the port 15 of the
device 11.
[0065] A technician can use the test port 213 to troubleshoot
issues within the in-home network. In sampling the in-home network
signals, the technician will appreciate that the directional
coupler 253 will greatly reduced the signal strength of the signals
from the first, second, third, fourth and fifth ports 203, 205,
207, 209 and 211, as seen at the test port 213. For example, the
directional coupler 253 may provide 10 db to 30 db of signal
attenuation between the test port 213 and the second, third, fourth
and fifth ports 205, 207, 209 and 211, such as 20 db to 25 db.
Also, the directional coupler 253 may provide 30 db to 60 db of
signal attenuation between the test port 213 and the first port
203, such as 40 db to 50 db. In other words, the directional
coupler 253 redirects a very small percentage of the signal
strength to the test port 213, which results in very low attention
between the first port 203 and the resistive splitter network 215,
such as less than 3 db, less than 2 db, or even less than 1 db,
such as about a 0.5 db loss.
[0066] The test port 213 is an optional feature, and other
embodiments of the present invention do not require the test port
213. For example, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a passive in-home
network device 300 in accordance with a second embodiment of the
present invention. The device 300 includes a housing 301. The
housing 301 is identical to the housing 201 of FIG. 3 except for
the absence of the test port 213.
[0067] Like the device 200, the first port 203 of the device 300 is
provided for attachment to a RF/MoCA port of an RF signal amplifier
device, active gateway device or passive gateway device. For
example, the first port 203 may be connected to one of ports 15 or
17 of the device 11 of FIG. 2 by a coaxial cable.
[0068] FIG. 6 is a high level electrical schematic of the circuitry
contained within the housing 301 of FIG. 5. The circuitry of FIG. 6
is identical to the circuitry of FIG. 4, except for the absence of
the directional coupler 253, with its first, second and third legs
255, 257 and 259, and the absence of the test port 213.
[0069] In the circuitry of FIG. 6, the second terminal 251 of the
filter 247 is directly connected to the first terminal 227 of the
first resistor 217 without any intervening circuit element. The
device 300 functions the same as the device 200, described in
conjunction with FIGS. 3-4, except for the absence of the test port
features.
[0070] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a passive in-home network
device 400 in accordance with a third embodiment of the present
invention. The device 400 includes a housing 401, identical to the
housing 201 shown in FIG. 3, except for the labeling of the first
port 203.
[0071] Unlike the device 200 of FIG. 3, the first port 203 of the
device 400 is provided for attachment to a "MoCA Only" port of an
RF signal amplifier device, active gateway device or passive
gateway device. For example, the first port 203 may be connected to
port 19 of the device 11 of FIG. 2 by a coaxial cable.
[0072] FIG. 8 is a high level electrical schematic of the circuitry
contained within the housing 401 of FIG. 7. The circuitry of FIG. 8
is identical to the circuitry of FIG. 4 except for the absence of
the filter 247 with its first and second terminals 249 and 251.
[0073] In the circuitry of FIG. 8, the first leg 255 of the
directional coupler 253 is directly connected to the first port 203
without any intervening circuit element. The device 400 functions
the same as the device 200, described in conjunction with FIGS.
3-4, except that the device 400 has no way to filter out
frequencies outside of the MoCA band. The device 400 therefore
depends upon a filter internal to the device 11 of FIG. 2 to filter
out the frequencies outside of the MoCA band. In other words, the
first port 203 must be connected to a "MoCA only" port of the
device 11 of FIG. 2, and not one of the RF/MoCA ports, e.g., ports
15 and 17.
[0074] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a passive in-home network
device 500 in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present
invention. The device 500 includes a housing 501, identical to the
housing 301 shown in FIG. 5, except for the labeling of the first
port 203.
[0075] Unlike the device 300 of FIG. 5, the first port 203 of the
device 500 is provided for attachment to a "MoCA Only" port of an
RF signal amplifier device, active gateway device or passive
gateway device. For example, the first port 203 may be connected to
port 19 of the device 11 of FIG. 2 by a coaxial cable.
[0076] FIG. 10 is a high level electrical schematic of the
circuitry contained within the housing 501 of FIG. 9. The circuitry
of FIG. 10 is identical to the circuitry of FIG. 6 except for the
absence of the filter 247 with its first and second terminals 249
and 251.
[0077] In the circuitry of FIG. 10, the first terminal 227 of the
first resistor 217 is directly connected to the first port 203
without any intervening circuit element. The device 500 functions
the same as the device 300, described in conjunction with FIGS.
5-6, except that the device 500 has no way to filter out
frequencies outside of the MoCA band. The device 500 therefore
depends upon a filter internal to the device 11 of FIG. 2 to filter
out the frequencies outside of the MoCA band. In other words, the
first port 203 must be connected to a "MoCA only" port of the
device 11 of FIG. 2 and not one of the RF/MoCA ports, e.g., ports
15 and 17.
[0078] Although the above embodiments have illustrated a device
200, 300, 400 and 500 having five female coaxial ports located on a
housing 201, 301, 401 and 501, it would be possible to have more or
fewer female coaxial ports. FIG. 11 illustrates the circuitry
within a housing to support the provision of seven coaxial ports on
a housing, namely first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and
seventh ports 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 503 and 505.
[0079] The circuitry of FIG. 11 is identical to the circuitry of
FIG. 4 except for the addition of sixth and seventh resistors 507
and 509. A first terminal 511 of the sixth resistor 507 is directly
connected to the second terminal 229 of the first resistor 217
without any intervening circuit element. A second terminal 513 of
the sixth resistor 507 is directly connected to the sixth port 503
without any intervening circuit element. A first terminal 515 of
the seventh resistor 509 is directly connected to the second
terminal 229 of the first resistor 217 without any intervening
circuit element. A second terminal 517 of the seventh resistor 509
is directly connected to the seventh port 505 without any
intervening circuit element. The circuitry of FIG. 11 functions the
same as the circuitry of FIG. 4, except that the circuitry now
supports a device with seven coaxial ports instead of five coaxial
ports.
[0080] Although the above embodiments have illustrated a device
200, 300, 400 and 500 for connection to a port of a gateway or RF
signal amplifier, such as the device 11 shown in FIG. 2, the above
embodiments are useful when not attached to such a device. For
example, each of the above embodiments could have one, some or all
of its ports attached to MoCA ports of customer devices within the
in-home network. In such situations, the devices 200, 300, 400 and
500 would function as a hub. The devices 200, 300, 400 and 500
allow MoCA signaling between multiple customer devices. For
example, a monitor in one room could watch content from a DVD
player in another room, video from a security camera could be
displayed on a monitor, a gaming device in one room could be linked
to a gaming device in another room, etc. When the device functions
as a MoCA hub, the devices 400 and 500, which lack the filter 247,
are particularly well suited, since no upstream/downstream CATV
signal needs to be filtered out of the MoCA signaling.
[0081] One advantage of the present invention is the simple and
cost effective design of the devices 200, 300, 400 and 500. The
devices 200, 300, 400 and 500 have small housings, as compared to
the much larger housings of the prior art devices, such as shown in
FIG. 1. The circuitry is simple in design, low cost and introduces
minimal signal losses. The devices are passive, e.g., do not
require a power source. The lack of signal amplifiers and power
dividers, like power dividers 171-177 in FIG. 1, reduces the costs
of the devices 200, 300, 400 and 500.
[0082] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are to be included within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *