U.S. patent number RE40,750 [Application Number 09/977,626] was granted by the patent office on 2009-06-16 for rf circuit module and chassis including amplifier.
This patent grant is currently assigned to ADC Telecommunications, Inc.. Invention is credited to Glen Backes, Zakhary Bluband, Todd Charles Ortberg.
United States Patent |
RE40,750 |
Ortberg , et al. |
June 16, 2009 |
RF circuit module and chassis including amplifier
Abstract
An amplifier module for radio frequency signal circuits includes
an electrically conductive housing. Two coax connectors are
electrically linked to an amplifier circuit contained within the
module. A separate transformer is external to the module. Both the
module and the external transformer are mountable to a chassis
frame. Other modules are usable in the system in addition to the
amplifier module. The transformer can be wall mounted to the
chassis frame, or the transformer can be internal to a module which
also mounts to the chassis frame.
Inventors: |
Ortberg; Todd Charles
(Chanhassen, MN), Bluband; Zakhary (Minnetonka, MN),
Backes; Glen (Maple Grove, MN) |
Assignee: |
ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
(Eden Praire, MN)
|
Family
ID: |
25533800 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/977,626 |
Filed: |
October 12, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
08988047 |
Dec 10, 1997 |
05966648 |
Oct 12, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/347; 361/752;
455/341; 455/349; 455/90.3; 725/144 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B
1/08 (20130101); H05K 7/1425 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04B
1/08 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;455/90,347,348,349,575,341,351,90.3,3.06,74,76,77,90.1,130,150.1,293
;361/733,752,785,796 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. document, "Handbook for Headend Products
Training School," pp. front cover, 3-1, 3-9, 4-1, 4-5, 7-4,7-5, 7-6
(8 pages) (Sep. 1983). cited by other .
Scientific-Atlanta Product Model No. 6350, 16 photographs (16
pages). cited by other .
Exhibit A "Headend Combining/Splitting Network," Cox
Communications, undated. 16 pages. cited by other .
Exhibit B Crutchfield Catalog. Summer 1994. p. 60. cited by other
.
Exhibit C Text and drawings of U.S. Appl. No. 08/761,525, filed
Dec. 6, 1996. cited by other .
Exhibit D Text and drawings of U.S. Appl. No. 08/900,187, filed
Jul. 25, 1997. cited by other .
Exhibit E Text and drawings of U.S. Appl. No. 08/761,776, filed
Dec. 6, 1996. cited by other .
Exhibit F Text and drawings of U.S. Appl. No. 08/761,723, filed
Dec. 6, 1996. cited by other .
Exhibit G ADC Telecommunications, Inc. Catalog, "Video Signal
Distribution Products," 2 front cover pages. pp. 1-17. and back
cover page, dated Oct. 1996. cited by other .
Exhibit H ADC Telecommunications, Inc. catalog "ADC's RF Worx.TM.
RF Distribution and Management Products". 12 pages. dated Dec.
1996. cited by other .
Exhibit I ADC Telecommunications Inc. document. RF Worx Passive
Splitter/Combiner and Directional Coupler User Manual. 23 pages.
dated 1997. cited by other .
Exhibit J Text and drawings of U.S. Appl. No. 08/762,519, filed
Dec. 6, 1996. cited by other.
|
Primary Examiner: Nguyen; Tony T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Merchant & Gould P.C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A chassis frame and module combination comprising: a) .Iadd.a
plurality of modules including:.Iaddend. .Iadd.1) .Iaddend.an
amplifier module having: .[.1.]. .Iadd.A.Iaddend.) a housing of
electrically conductive material defining an enclosed interior;
said housing having a front face and an opposite rear face
separated by opposite sidewalls and opposite end walls, with each
of said faces and sidewalls being of predetermined dimension and
with said sidewalls being parallel to one another; each of said end
walls having a projecting flange extending in a common plane
generally parallel to said sidewalls and with said common plane
offset from a central longitudinal axis of said housing; said front
face including end portions extending beyond each of said end
walls; .[.2.]. .Iadd.B.Iaddend.) two coax connectors secured to
said rear face with an outer shield of said coax connectors
electrically coupled to said housing; .[.3.]. .Iadd.C.Iaddend.) a
circuit board contained within said interior and positioned
generally parallel to and spaced between said sidewalls; said
circuit board having a component side opposing a first of said
sidewalls and a ground side opposing a second of said sidewalls,
said ground side including a layer of electrically conductive
material electrically connected to said housing; a plurality of
connection locations on said circuit board, each of said connection
locations including a ground connection for connecting ground
shields of coax cables to said layer of electrically conductive
material; a circuit component side of said circuit board including
a circuit component interconnected with said connection locations
through a circuit path; said circuit component including an
amplifier circuit selected to amplify a radio frequency signal
supplied to one of said coax connectors and to provide an amplified
radio frequency signal to the other of said coax connectors; said
coax connectors connected to said connection locations, each of
said outer shields of said coax connectors connected to said ground
connections of said connection locations; .[.4.]. .Iadd.D.Iaddend.)
A power supply port located on said rear face; said power supply
port interconnected to said amplifier circuit through a circuit
path of said circuit board; .Iadd.2) a transformer module having a
transformer electrically coupled to said power supply port of said
amplifier module for powering said amplifier circuit, the
transformer module having a housing with a front face, a rear face,
opposite sidewalls and end walls, each of the end walls having a
projecting flange;.Iaddend. b) a chassis frame including a pair of
spaced apart walls, said walls spaced apart by a distance
substantially equal to a distance between said end walls of said
.Iadd.amplifier and transformer .Iaddend..[.; module each of said
walls including a grooves, each groove sized to slideably receive
one of said projecting flanges.]. .Iadd.modules, wherein said
spaced apart walls define a plurality of pairs of aligned grooves
for slidably receiving said projecting flanges on said modules, and
wherein said transformer module is slidably receivable between each
of said pairs of aligned grooves.Iaddend.; c) a lock member for
locking at least one of said end portions .Iadd.on each of said
plurality of modules .Iaddend.to said chassis frame.[.;.]. .[.d) a
transformer separate from said amplifier module, said transformer
mounted to said chassis frame, said transformer electrically
coupled to said power supply port of said amplifier module for
powering said amplifier circuit.]. .
2. The chassis frame and module .Iadd.combination .Iaddend.of claim
1, further comprising a first test coax connector secured to said
front face .Iadd.of said amplifier module.Iaddend.; said first test
coax connector electrically coupled to .[.a.]. .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.circuit path of said circuit board to monitor the radio
frequency signal supplied to said amplifier circuit.
3. The chassis frame and module .Iadd.combination .Iaddend.of claim
2, further comprising a second test coax connector secured to said
front face .Iadd.of said amplifier module.Iaddend.; said second
test coax connector electrically coupled to .[.a.]. .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.circuit path of said circuit board to monitor the radio
frequency signal from said amplifier circuit.
4. The chassis frame and module .Iadd.combination .Iaddend.of claim
1, further comprising a test coax connector secured to said front
face .Iadd.of said amplifier module.Iaddend.; said test coax
connector electrically coupled to .[.a.]. .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.circuit path of said circuit board to monitor the radio
frequency signal from said amplifier circuit.
5. The chassis frame and module .Iadd.combination .Iaddend.of claim
1, wherein said circuit component of said amplifier module further
includes a tilt circuit.
6. The chassis frame and module .Iadd.combination .Iaddend.of claim
1, wherein said circuit component of said amplifier module further
includes a power on indicator, said power on indicator including an
LED positioned on said front face .Iadd.of said amplifier
module.Iaddend..
7. The chassis frame and module .Iadd.combination .Iaddend.of claim
1, wherein said circuit component of said amplifier module further
includes a gain potentiometer, and said front face .Iadd.of said
amplifier module .Iaddend.including an adjustment access point to
adjust said gain potentiometer.
.[.8. The chassis frame and module of claim 1, further comprising a
transformer module for holding the transformer, the transformer
module having a housing with a front face, a rear face, opposite
sidewalls and end walls, each of the end walls having projecting
flange, each projecting flange received in one of the pairs of
aligned grooves of the walls of the chassis frame..].
9. The chassis frame and module .Iadd.combination .Iaddend.of claim
1, wherein the pair of spaced apart walls is a first pair, and
wherein the chassis frame includes a second pair of spaced apart
walls spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the first
pair, each wall of the second pair including a flange receiving
groove for receiving an additional radio frequency module
configured and arranged with a housing like the housing of the
amplifier module.
.Iadd.10. A chassis frame and module combination comprising: a) a
plurality of modules including: 1) an amplifier module having: A) a
housing defining an enclosed interior; said housing having a front
face and an opposite rear face separated by opposite sidewalls and
opposite end walls, each of said end walls having a projecting
flange; B) two coax connectors secured to said rear face with an
outer shield of said coax connectors electrically coupled to said
housing; C) circuitry contained within said housing; said circuitry
including an amplifier circuit selected to amplify a radio
frequency signal supplied to one of said coax connectors and to
provide an amplified radio frequency signal to the other of said
connectors; D) a power supply port operatively coupled to said
amplifier circuit; 2) a power downconverter module for holding a
power downconverter, the power downconverter module having a
housing with a front face, a rear face, opposite sidewalls and end
walls, each of the end walls having a projecting flange, and
wherein said power downconverter is electrically coupled to said
power supply port of said amplifier module for powering said
amplifier circuit; b) a chassis frame including a pair of spaced
apart walls, said walls spaced apart by a distance substantially
equal to a distance between said end walls of said modules, wherein
said spaced apart walls define a plurality of pairs of aligned
grooves for slidably receiving said projecting flanges on said
modules, and wherein each of said plurality of modules can be
slidably received in each of said pairs of aligned
grooves..Iaddend.
.Iadd.11. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 10
wherein the power supply port is located on said rear face of said
amplifier module housing..Iaddend.
.Iadd.12. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 10
wherein the power downconverter is a transformer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.13. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 10
wherein each of the plurality of modules further comprises a lock
member for locking said housings to said chassis
frame..Iaddend.
.Iadd.14. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 10
wherein said circuitry includes a circuit board having a component
side and a ground side, said ground side including a layer of
electrically conductive material electronically connected to said
amplifier module housing and a plurality of connection locations on
said circuit board, each of said connection locations including a
ground connection for connecting ground shields of coax cables to
said layer of electrically conductive material..Iaddend.
.Iadd.15. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 14
wherein said component side includes a circuit component
interconnected with said connection locations through a circuit
path and a circuit component operatively coupled to the component
interconnect..Iaddend.
.Iadd.16. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 10
wherein said amplifier module housing is made of an electrically
conductive material..Iaddend.
.Iadd.17. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 10
wherein said faces and sidewalls of said amplifier module housing
being of predetermined dimension and said amplifier module side
walls being parallel to one another and each amplifier module
projecting flange extending in a common plane generally parallel to
said amplifier module sidewalls with said common plane generally
parallel to said amplifier module sidewalls and offset from a
central longitudinal axis of said amplifier module
housing..Iaddend.
.Iadd.18. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 13
wherein said front faces on said amplifier and power downconverter
modules have end portions extending beyond each of said end walls
on said modules and said lock members on said modules locking at
least one of said end portions to said chassis frame..Iaddend.
.Iadd.19. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 14
wherein said coax connectors are connected to said connection
locations, each of said outer shields of said coax connectors
coupled to said ground connections of said connection
locations..Iaddend.
.Iadd.20. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 10
further comprising a first test coax connector secured to said
front face of said amplifier module; said first test coax connector
electrically coupled to a circuit path of said circuitry to monitor
the radio frequency signal supplied to said amplifier
circuit..Iaddend.
.Iadd.21. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 20
further comprising a second test coax connector secured to said
front face of said amplifier module; said second test coax
connector electrically coupled to said circuit path of said
circuitry to monitor the radio frequency signal from said amplifier
circuit..Iaddend.
.Iadd.22. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 10
further comprising a test coax connector secured to said front face
of said amplifier module; said test coax connector electrically
coupled to a circuit path of said circuitry to monitor the radio
frequency signal from said amplifier circuit..Iaddend.
.Iadd.23. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 10
wherein said circuitry of said amplifier module further includes a
tilt circuit..Iaddend.
.Iadd.24. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 10
wherein said circuitry of said amplifier module further includes a
power on indicator, said power on indicator including an LED
positioned on said front face of said amplifier
module..Iaddend.
.Iadd.25. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 10
wherein said circuitry of said amplifier module further includes a
gain potentiometer, and said front face of said amplifier module
including an adjustment access point to adjust said gain
potentiometer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.26. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 10
wherein the pair of spaced apart walls in a first pair, and wherein
the chassis frame includes a second pair of spaced apart walls
spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the first pair, each
wall of the second pair including a flange receiving groove for
receiving an additional radio frequency module configured and
arranged with a housing like the housing of the amplifier
module..Iaddend.
.Iadd.27. A chassis frame and module combination comprising: a) a
plurality of modules including: 1) an amplifier module having: A) a
housing defining an enclosed interior; said housing having a front
face and an opposite rear face separated by opposite sidewalls and
opposite end walls; B) two coax connectors secured to said rear
face with an outer shield of said coax connectors electrically
coupled to said housing; C) circuitry contained within said
housing; said circuitry including an amplifier circuit selected to
amplify a radio frequency signal supplied to one of said coax
connectors and to provide an amplified radio frequency signal to
the other of said coax connectors; D) a power supply port
operatively coupled to said amplifier circuit; 2) a power
downconverter module for holding a power downconverter, the power
downconverter module having a housing with a front face, a rear
face, opposite sidewalls and end walls, said power downconverter
electrically coupled to said power supply port of said amplifier
module for powering said amplifier circuit; b) a chassis frame
including a pair of spaced apart walls wherein said pair of spaced
apart walls define a plurality of module attachment locations, and
wherein each of said modules can be selectively received in each of
said plurality of attachment locations; c) A retainer for retaining
each of said plurality of modules in said chassis
frame..Iaddend.
.Iadd.28. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 27
wherein each of the housings has end portions and each of the
retainers is a lock member that locks at least one of said end
portions on each of said module housings to said chassis
frame..Iaddend.
.Iadd.29. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 27
wherein the power supply port is located on said rear face of said
amplifier module housing..Iaddend.
.Iadd.30. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 27
wherein the power downconverter is a transformer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.31. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 27
wherein said circuitry includes a circuit board having a component
side and a ground side, said ground side including a layer of
electrically conductive material electronically connected to said
amplifier module housing and a plurality of connection locations on
said circuit board, each of said connection locations including a
ground connection for connecting ground shields of coax cables to
said layer of electrically conductive material..Iaddend.
.Iadd.32. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 31
wherein said component side includes a circuit component
interconnected with said connection locations through a circuit
path and a circuit component operatively coupled to the component
interconnect..Iaddend.
.Iadd.33. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 27
wherein said amplifier module housing is made of an electrically
conductive material..Iaddend.
.Iadd.34. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 31
wherein said coax connectors are connected to said connection
locations, each of said outer shields of said coax connectors
coupled to said ground connections of said connection
locations..Iaddend.
.Iadd.35. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 27
further comprising a first test coax connector secured to said
front face of said amplifier module; said first test coax connector
electrically coupled to a circuit path of said circuitry to monitor
the radio frequency signal supplied to said amplifier
circuit..Iaddend.
.Iadd.36. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 35
further comprising a second test coax connector secured to said
front face of said amplifier module; said second test coax
connector electrically coupled to said circuit path of said
circuitry to monitor the radio frequency signal from said amplifier
circuit..Iaddend.
.Iadd.37. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 27
further comprising a test coax connector secured to said front face
of said amplifier module; said test coax connector electrically
coupled to a circuit path of said circuitry to monitor the radio
frequency signal from said amplifier circuit..Iaddend.
.Iadd.38. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 27
wherein said circuitry of said amplifier module further includes a
tilt circuit..Iaddend.
.Iadd.39. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 27
wherein said circuitry of said amplifier module further includes a
power on indicator, said power on indicator including an LED
positioned on said amplifier module front face..Iaddend.
.Iadd.40. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 27
wherein said circuitry of said amplifier module further includes a
gain potentiometer, and said amplifier module front face including
an adjustment access point to adjust said gain
potentiometer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.41. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 27
wherein the pair of spaced apart walls is a first pair, and wherein
the chassis frame includes a second pair of spaced apart walls
spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the first pair, each
wall of the second pair including a flange receiving groove for
receiving an additional radio frequency module configured and
arranged with a housing like the housing of the amplifier
module..Iaddend.
.Iadd.42. A chassis frame and module combination comprising: a) a
plurality of modules including: 1) an amplifier module having: A) a
housing defining an enclosed interior; said housing having a front
and a back; B) two coax connectors secured to said housing with an
outer shield of said coax connectors electrically coupled to said
housing; C) circuitry contained within said housing; said circuitry
including an amplifier circuit selected to amplify a radio
frequency signal supplied to one of said coax connectors and to
provide an amplified radio frequency signal to the other of said
connectors; D) a power supply port operatively coupled to said
amplifier circuit; 2) a power downconverter module having a power
downconverter electrically coupled to said power supply port of
said amplifier module for powering said amplifier circuit; b) a
chassis frame sized to receive said amplifier and power
downconverter modules, wherein said power downconverter module is
selectively receivable in a plurality of positions in said
chassis..Iaddend.
.Iadd.43. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 42
wherein said coax connectors are secured to said back of said
amplifier module housing..Iaddend.
.Iadd.44. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 42
wherein said downconverter is a transformer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.45. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 42
wherein said amplifier module housing has a front face and an
opposite rear face separated by opposite sidewalls and opposite end
walls, each of said end walls having a projecting flange, and
wherein said chassis includes a pair of spaced apart walls, said
spaced apart walls spaced apart by a distance substantially equal
to a distance between said end walls of said module; each of said
spaced apart walls including a groove sized to slidably receive one
of said projecting flanges..Iaddend.
.Iadd.46. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 45
wherein the power supply port is located on said rear face of said
amplifier module housing..Iaddend.
.Iadd.47. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 45
wherein said faces and sidewalls of said amplifier and power
downconverter module housings being of predetermined dimension and
said side walls of said amplifier and power downconverter modules
being parallel to one another and each projecting flange on said
modules extending in a common plane generally parallel to said
sidewalls with said common plane generally parallel to said
sidewalls of said modules and offset from a central longitudinal
axis of said module housings..Iaddend.
.Iadd.48. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 45
further comprising a first test coax connector secured to said
front face of said amplifier module; said first test coax connector
electrically coupled to a circuit path of said circuitry to monitor
the radio frequency signal supplied to said amplifier
circuit..Iaddend.
.Iadd.49. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 48
further comprising a second test coax connector secured to said
front face of said amplifier module; said second test coax
connector electrically coupled to said circuit path of said
circuitry to monitor the radio frequency signal from said amplifier
circuit..Iaddend.
.Iadd.50. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 45
further comprising a test coax connector secured to said front face
of said amplifier module; said test coax connector electrically
coupled to a circuit path of said circuitry to monitor the radio
frequency signal from said amplifier circuit..Iaddend.
.Iadd.51. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 45
wherein the transformer module has a housing with a front face, a
rear face, opposite sidewalls and end walls, each of the end walls
having a projecting flange, and wherein each of said spaced apart
walls of said chassis includes a second groove sized to slidably
receive one of said projecting flanges of said transformer
module..Iaddend.
.Iadd.52. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 45
wherein the pair of spaced apart walls is a first pair, and wherein
the chassis frame includes a second pair of spaced apart walls
spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the first pair, each
wall of the second pair including a flange receiving groove for
receiving an additional radio frequency module configured and
arranged with a housing like the housing of the amplifier
module..Iaddend.
.Iadd.53. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 42
wherein said circuitry includes a circuit board having a component
side and a ground side, said ground side including a layer of
electrically conductive material electronically connected to said
amplifier module housing and a plurality of connection locations on
said circuit board, each of said connection locations including a
ground connection for connecting ground shields of coax cables to
said layer of electrically conductive material..Iaddend.
.Iadd.54. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 53
wherein said component side includes a circuit component
interconnected with said connection locations through a circuit
path and a circuit component operatively coupled to the component
interconnect..Iaddend.
.Iadd.55. The chassis frame and module combination of claim 54
wherein said coax connectors are connected to said connection
locations, each of said outer shields of said coax connectors
coupled to said ground connections of said connection
locations..Iaddend.
Description
I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to circuits for broad-band RF (radio
frequency) systems. More particularly, this invention pertains to
modular RF circuit components.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the telecommunications industry and more particularly in the
video transmission industry, broad-band radio frequency (RF)
signals (i.e., 5 MHz to 1 GHz) are carried over coax conductors
from a headend to consumers. At the headend of the system,
numberous signals are manipulated to achieve a wide variety of
functions and objectives. For example, signals carried on the coax
cables may need to be amplified, such as for return path
applications. Also, the signals from numerous coax cables may be
combined onto a single coax conductor. Similarly, a signal on a
main coax conductor may be divided into a plurality of signals
carried on branch coax conductors. Additionally, signals may be
added or removed from a main conductor through directional couplers
or the like.
In addition to combining, splitting, diverting or adding signals,
the headend will also include apparatus for modifying signals. For
example, in order to adequately tune the system, it may be
desirable to provide attenuators or the like to attenuate a signal
to a desired level. Further, as a broadband RF signal is carried
over a length of cable, the high frequency range of the signal may
be attenuated more than a low frequency range of the signal. As a
result, equalizers are utilized to modify the signal to have a
level intensity throughout its frequency range.
Throughout the system, performance characteristics are critical.
For example, a common performance criteria is to maintain the
flatness of a signal. Flatness refers to maintaining a level
intensity of a signal throughout its frequency range. For example,
if the signal is attenuated by 2 dB at 1 Ghz, then it is desirable
that the signal be attenuated at 2 dB at the 5 Mhz frequency.
Further, the system needs to be tuned for impedance matching.
Prior art headends include a wide variety of devices to accommodate
and accomplish the functions described above. It is desirable to
provide an apparatus to accommodate the various functions required
at the headend through a modular construction to permit ease of
maintenance and cable management in a headend. Such a device must
accommodate the performance characteristics of the headend while
permitting the modular construction to enhance the cable management
and organization of a headend.
II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a
chassis and module combination is provided for amplification of a
radio frequency signal. The amplifier module comprises a housing of
electrically conductive material defining an enclosed interior. The
housing has a front face, and an opposite rear face separated by
opposite sidewalls and opposite end walls. Each of the faces and
sidewalls has a predetermined dimension with the sidewalls being
parallel to one another. Each of the end walls has a projecting
flange extending in a common plane generally parallel to the
sidewalls and with the common plane offset from a central
longitudinal axis of the housing. The front face includes end
portions extending beyond each of the end walls. Two coax
connectors are secured to the rear face for carrying the radio
frequency signal to and from the module. A circuit board is
contained within an interior of the housing and is positioned
generally parallel to and spaced between the sidewalls. The circuit
board includes an amplifier circuit selected to amplify a radio
frequency signal supplied to one of the coax connectors, and to
provide the amplified radio frequency signal to the other of the
coax connectors. A power supply port is also located on the rear
face of the module. The power supply port is interconnected to the
amplifier circuit within the module through a circuit path of the
circuit board. A chassis frame for holding the amplifier module
comprises a pair of spaced apart walls which are spaced apart by a
distance substantially equal to a distance between the end walls of
the module. Each of the walls of the chassis frame includes a
plurality of aligned grooves sized to slidably receive the
projecting flanges of the module. The grooves are spaced apart
along the walls to allow for a predetermined number of similarly
configured additional radio frequency modules to be received by the
chassis frame. The other modules can have the same or other
functions. A lock member locks at least one of the end portions of
the amplifier module to the chassis frame. A separate transformer
is mounted to the chassis frame wherein the transformer is
electrically coupled to the power supply port of the amplifier
module for powering the amplifier circuit of the simplifier module.
The separate transformer can be positioned in a module mountable to
the chassis frame in a similar manner as the amplifier module, as
desired.
In the preferred embodiment, first and second test coax connectors
are secured to the front face of the amplifier module to provide
two access monitor test points for the amplifier circuit, one test
point to allow for monitoring of the radio frequency signal
supplied to the amplifier circuit, the other to allow for
monitoring of the radio frequency signal from the amplifier
circuit. Further preferred features include a tilt circuit, a power
on indicator, and a gain potentiometer for the amplifier
module.
III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of two amplifier modules,
vertically mounted, and a chassis frame according to one embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the amplifier modules and
chassis frame shown in FIG. 1, and showing two chassis frame
mounted transformers coupled to the amplifier modules;
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of one of the amplifier
modules;
FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the amplifier module of FIG.
3;
FIG. 5 is an exploded front perspective view of the amplifier
module of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is an exploded rear perspective view of the amplifier module
of FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged rear perspective view of a portion of the
amplifier module, including portions of the housing broken away for
viewing internal components;
FIG. 8 is an electrical schematic of the amplifier module and
external transformer;
FIG. 9 is a front perspective alternative chassis frame including a
horizontal mounting of the modules, and where one of the modules is
configured and arranged to house a transformer for an amplifier
module;
FIG. 10 is a rear perspective of the embodiment of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 9; and
FIG. 12 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 9.
IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the several drawing figures in whcih identical
elements are numbered identically throughout, a description of the
preferred embodiments of the present invention will not be
provided.
With initial reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an amplifier module 10
according to the present invention will be described for use with a
chassis frame 12. In FIGS. 1 and 2, two modules 10 are shown. Each
module 10 receives a radio frequency signal and provides an
amplified radio frequency signal as an output. Module 10 is
constructed generally as a modular unit usable with other radio
frequency modules and chassis frames as described in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 08/761,525, filed Dec. 6, 1996, the disclosure
of which is incorporated by reference. The various modules of U.S.
application Ser. No. 08/761,525 include splitter/combimer modules,
equalizer modules, and directional coupler modules. These modules
and other modules which perform various functions on the radio
frequency signal required at the headend are usable with the
amplifier module 10 of the present invention.
The module 10 includes a housing 13 having a front face 14, and a
rear face 16. The front face 14 and the rear face 16 are separated
by opposing sidewalls 18, 20 and opposite end walls 22, 24. The
housing 13 is formed of electrically conductive material.
Preferably, the material is nickel-plated aluminum. Various vent
holes 27 are provided to allow air to enter and exit housing
13.
Sidewall 18 and end walls 22, 24 are integrally formed as a box
configuration with walls 22,24 having inwardly protruding
peripheral ledges 26. Rear wall 16 is secured to walls 18, 22, 24
by Phillips head screws 28 in aligned holes 30 and threaded holes
32. Front face 14 also has a ledge 26a. The sidewall 20 is fastened
to the ledges 26, 26a and rear wall 16 by a plurality of screws 28
received in aligned holes 30 and threaded holes 32.
Sidewall 20 is sized to have a length grater than the longitudinal
dimension between walls 22, 24 such that ends 20a, 20b extend
beyond end walls 22, 24 as flanges for mounting to chassis frame
12. The front face 14 includes extending end portions 14a, 14b
which extend beyond end walls 22, 24. Apertures 14c, 14d receive
fasteners 29 to lock each module 10 to chassis frame 12.
Two coax connectors 40, 41 are secured to the rear face 16. Each of
coax connectors 40, 41 is a 75 ohm F-type connector press fit into
rear face 16 and includes a central conductor 42 surrounded by a
grounded shield 43. The grounded shields 43 of the coax connectors
40, 41 are in direct physical and electrical contact with the
electrically conductive material of the rear face 16.
Contained within the interior of the housing 12 is a printed
circuit board 44. The printed circuit board 44 is supported on
ports 45 by screws 46. The ports 45 are electrically conductive and
connected to wall 18. Printed circuit board 44 includes a component
side 44a and a ground side 44b. The ground side 44b opposes the
wall 18 and the component side 44a opposes the wall 20. The printed
circuit board 44 is maintained in parallel, spaced relation between
the walls 18, 20 by posts 42.
A layer 44c (FIG. 7) of electrically conductive material (such as a
sheet layer of copper) is provided on the exterior surface of
surface 44b. Two connection locations 48a, 48b, are provided on the
ground side 44b of the printed circuit board 44. Each of the
connection locations 48a, 48b includes a ground connection for
connecting the ground shield at the tabs 43a of the coax connectors
40, 41 to the conductive layer 44c, such as by soldering. Central
conductor 42 of each connector 40, 41 are also soldered to printed
circuit board 44 to component side 44a at connection locations 48c,
48d.
A plurality of circuit components are disposed on the component
side 44a of the printed circuit board 44 (leaded through hole or
surface mount). In the embodiment shown, an amplifier circuit 50
(see FIG. 8) is included in the circuit components. An amplifier
module 52 is screwed to the rear face 16 at screw holes 52b so as
to form a heat sink. Pins 53 of the amplifier module 52 plug into
sockets on the printed circuit board 44 at connection location 49a.
Two cable assemblies 56, 58 run from the printed circuit board 44
at connection locations 56a, 58a to the front face 14. Front face
14 includes two 75 ohm F-type coax cable connectors 59, 60 mounted
to front face 14, such as with a threaded nut, to form termination
points of cable assemblies 56, 58 which provide front access
monitor test points for monitoring the radio frequency signal
before and after amplification. An indicator circuit 61 mounted to
printed circuit board 44, and including an LED 62 on the front face
14 indicates power on. A gain potentiometer 70 with an access
adjustment point 72 is also on the front face 14 and can be
adjusted (from 0 to 20 dB in the example shown) with a flat head
screwdriver. A power supply port 90 is mounted adjacent to rear
face 16. Pins 91 of port 90 connect to printed circuit board 44 at
connection locations 49b. A transformer 100 connected via cord 101
to an external power source converts 120 volts of alternating
current to 24 volts of alternating current. Transformer 100
supplies the 24 volts of alternating current to the power supply
port 90 through wires 120. Alternatively, the power input of the
amplifier module 10 can be minus 48 volts of direct current to the
transformer 100, whereby a suitably configured transformer 100
would convert it to 24 volts of direct current to power the
amplifier circuit 50.
A full-wave bridge rectifier circuit 120 is provided as part of the
power supply circuit for amplifier circuit 50 of amplifier module
10. A heat sink 122 is mounted to printed circuit board 44 at
connection location 49c to provide a heat sink for voltage
regulator 124 of rectifier circuit 120. A tilt circuit 130 is
provided to compensate for slope in the magnetic and connector
features. Such a circuit flattens out the frequency response of the
amplifier circuit 50. The cable assemblies 56, 58 including the
monitor coax connectors 59, 60 draw a 20 dB signal due to the 17.5
dB couplers 140 and the 2.5 dB pads 150.
Chassis frame 12 includes spaced apart walls 202, 204 spaced apart
by a distance substantially equal to a distance between the end
walls 22, 24 of the module 10. Each of the walls 202, 204 includes
a plurality of vertically aligned grooves 210. The grooves 210 are
sized to slidably receive the projecting flanges 20a, 20b of the
module 10 such that a module may be slideably inserted into the
chassis frame 12 with the modules 10 vertically positioned. In the
embodiment shown, there are multiple pairs of vertically aligned
grooves 210 such that additional modules may be inserted into the
chassis frame 12. Since the flanges 20a, 20b of the modules 10 are
offset from a longitudinal plane of the module 10, the grooves 210
are offset from module receiving spaces so that the entire open
space between the sidewalls of the chassis frame may be filled with
modules. Also, the grooves 210 are spaced apart a distance selected
such that as modules as slideably inserted into the frame, adjacent
modules are positioned with a small spacing between opposite
sidewalls of adjacent modules. The locking fasteners 29 are
provided through the projecting end portions 14a, 14b of the front
faces 14 of the module 10 for receipt in corresponding threaded
locking holes 216 provided on walls 202, 204 of chassis frame
12.
Transformer 100 is shown separate from amplifier module 10.
Transformer 100 is vertically mounted to a vertical side piece 220
of chassis frame 12. Chassis frame extension 220a (not illustrated
in FIG. 2) could also be a mounting location for transformer
100.
From time to time, a customer or purchaser of the module 10 may
desire to hold the modules and other radio frequency modules in a
horizontal alignment rather than the vertical alignment of FIGS. 1
and 2. An alternative chassis frame 12' is shown in FIGS. 9-12 for
holding the modules 10 in a horizontal alignment. Two pairs of
walls 202', 204' are provided, and each wall has the flange
receiving grooves 210'.
Instead of transformer 100 being a wall mounted unit separate from
module 10, the transformer can also be internal to its own module
10' also separate from amplifier module 10 which is received by one
of the chassis frames 12, 12'. FIGS. 9-12 illustrate transformer
module 10' having an internal transformer disposed within housing
13'. Power supply post 240 links an external power source (i.e.,
120 volts a.c., -48 volts d.c.) over wires 242 to transformer
module 10'. The internal transformer outputs the proper voltage
through port 240 over wires 244 to the power supply port 90 of
amplifier module 10. Power on indicator 260 provided visual output
whether transformer module 10' is supplied with external power.
Also, transformer module 10' can be two or more modules 10 in width
between walls 18' and 20', as desired, to provide more internal
space for components.
Having described the present invention in a preferred embodiment,
modifications and equivalents may occur to one skilled in the art.
It is intended that such modifications and equivalents shall be
included within the scope of the claims which are appended
hereto.
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