Patent US6388539B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6388539B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Broadband switch/coupler
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 2001-04-16
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Granted: 2002-05-14
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Expires: 2021-04-16
Abstract
Abstract Parallel combined redundancy and switched redundancy are provided for active RF devices (i.e., amplifiers) in a cable plant system with a switch/coupler circuit of passive magnetic devices and switches that respond to an amplifier failure by switching the circuit into a combined or switched redundancy mode as needed to maintain a suitable dynamic range of operation. In either redundancy mode, the switch/coupler circuit operates with a constant 3dB reduction of dynamic range.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher W Rice
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:10
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03F; H03F3/00; H03F3/60; H03F3/602
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of providing backup for amplifier failure in a coaxial cable plant including a stage of paralleled first and second amplifiers, by the steps of: arranging for responding to a failure of one of the first and second amplifiers, by: balancing outputs of the first and second amplifier; converting the balanced output to an unbalanced state; and transforming the unbalanced state into an impedance transformer/transmission line state.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of providing backup for amplifier failure in a coaxial cable plant including a stage of paralleled first and second amplifiers, by the steps of: arranging for responding to a failure of one of the first and second amplifiers, by: balancing outputs of the first and second amplifier; converting the balanced output to an unbalanced state; and transforming the unbalanced state into an impedance transformer/transmission line state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of: balancing, converting and transforming are achieved through an agency of magnetic flux coupling.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of: balancing is achieved by bucking of magnetic flux generated by outputs of the first and second amplifier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of: converting is achieved by accumulation of magnetic flux generated by outputs of the first and second amplifiers as modulated by the balancing step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of: transforming is achieved by using magnetically coupled devices to provide a matching transmission impedance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
A broadband switch for coupling and decoupling RF amplifiers from a cable system, comprising; first and second inputs for receiving first and second RF amplifiers; a balancing network connected to the first and second inputs by first and second switch devices so as receive an output of a least one of the RF amplifiers and operative for balancing outputs of the first and second RF amplifiers; a balance-to-unbalance network connected for converting an output of the first and second RF amplifiers to an unbalanced output; and an impedance matching network for creating a matching impedance for connecting an output of the first and second RF amplifiers to a cable transmission medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
A broadband switch for coupling and decoupling RF amplifiers from a cable system, comprising; first and second inputs for receiving first and second RF amplifiers; a balancing network connected to the first and second inputs by first and second switch devices so as receive an output of a least one of the RF amplifiers and operative for balancing outputs of the first and second RF amplifiers; a balance-to-unbalance network connected for converting an output of the first and second RF amplifiers to an unbalanced output; and an impedance matching network for creating a matching impedance for connecting an output of the first and second RF amplifiers to a cable transmission medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A broadband switch for coupling and decoupling RF amplifiers from a cable system, as claimed in claim 6 , comprising; the balancing network including a magnetic device including magnetically coupled first and second windings connected to and oriented to balanced outputs of the first and second RF amplifiers; and switches to disconnect a failed amplifier from the balancing network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A broadband switch for coupling and decoupling RF amplifiers from a cable system, as claimed in claim 6 , comprising; the balance to unbalance network including a magnetic device including magnetically coupled first and second windings connected to and oriented to unbalance balanced outputs of the first and second RF amplifiers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
90 words
A broadband switch for coupling and decoupling RF amplifiers from a cable system, as claimed in claim 6 , comprising; the impedance matching network including a magnetic device having a first pair of coupled windings and a second pair of magnetically coupled windings; a switch for controllably coupling mid taps of one winding each of said first pair of coupled windings and second pair of magnetically coupled windings; and an RF output connected to one each of said first pair of coupled windings and second pair of magnetically coupled windings.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of providing redundancy in provisioning of amplifiers in a cable system; comprising the steps of constraining a balance of first and second RF amplifier outputs with a first pair of magnetically coupled windings, unbalancing the balanced outputs of said first and second RF amplifier outputs with a second pair of magnetically coupled windings to produce an unbalanced amplified signal; selectively impedance matching the unbalanced output by adjusting an impedance level based on the number of operative RF amplifiers; and disconnecting a failed amplifier from the step of constraining balance.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of providing redundancy in provisioning of amplifiers in a cable system; comprising the steps of constraining a balance of first and second RF amplifier outputs with a first pair of magnetically coupled windings, unbalancing the balanced outputs of said first and second RF amplifier outputs with a second pair of magnetically coupled windings to produce an unbalanced amplified signal; selectively impedance matching the unbalanced output by adjusting an impedance level based on the number of operative RF amplifiers; and disconnecting a failed amplifier from the step of constraining balance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein selective impedance matching includes the steps of: adjusting relative winding ratios in a magnetic device including first and second pairs of coupled windings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein constraining a balance of first and second RF amplifier outputs with the first pair of magnetically coupled windings and unbalanced with the second pair of magnetically coupled windings includes the steps of: having the winding orientation of the pair of windings generate opposing flux; and using the winding EMF to balance the RF amplifier outputs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein unbalancing the balanced outputs includes a step of: applying the balanced output to the second pair of magnetically coupled windings which generate additive magnetic flux; and grounding one of the second pair windings and taking an output from the grounded windings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-05-13 | 2005-11-12 | 2006-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-05-13 | 2009-11-12 | 2010-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-05-13 | 2013-11-12 | 2014-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |