Network interface device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11323655-B2
Application number	US-202016988935-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2020
Priority date	Oct 6, 2017
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

A network interface device includes a passive path between an entry port and a first port. The network interface device also includes an active path between the entry port and a second port. The network interface device also includes a buffer in the active path configured to absorb, attenuate, terminate, or isolate radio-frequency (RF) signals. The network interface device also includes a switching element in the active path configured to cause the RF signals to bypass the buffer when the network interface is in a first state that exists during powered operation of the network interface device, and direct the RF signals to the buffer when the network interface device is in a second state that exists during non-powered operation or faulted operation of the network interface device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A network interface device, comprising:
an entry port configured to connect the network interface device to a radio-frequency (RF) signal source;
a splitter/combiner configured to split a downstream RF signal received by the entry port from the RF signal source into a first portion of the downstream RF signal and a second portion of the downstream RF signal;
a passive port configured to connect the network interface device to a first client device;
an active port configured to connect the network interface device to a second client device;
a passive RF signal path coupling the entry port to the passive port;
an active RF signal path coupling the entry port to the active port; and
an amplifier circuit configured to amplify the second portion of the downstream RF signal in the active RF signal path;
wherein the active port is configured to provide an upstream RF signal through the amplifier circuit to the entry port.

2. The network interface device of claim 1 , wherein the active RF signal path comprises a decibel limiting device, wherein the decibel limiting device comprises an active device, and wherein the passive RF signal path lacks any active devices.

3. The network interface device of claim 1 , wherein a common terminal of the splitter/combiner is configured to receive the downstream RF signal as an input from the RF signal source via the entry port.

4. The network interface device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power supply;
wherein the active RF signal path comprises a decibel limiting device comprising a first relay, a second relay, and a buffer, and
wherein the first relay and the second relay, when actuated into a first state by the power supply, are configured to direct the upstream RF signal and the second portion of the downstream RF signal to bypass the buffer.

5. The network interface device of claim 4 , wherein the first relay and the second relay, when actuated into a second state by the power supply, are configured to direct the upstream RF signal and the second portion of the downstream RF signal to the buffer.

6. The network interface device of claim 4 , wherein a first leg of the splitter/combiner is configured to output the first portion of the downstream RF signal to the passive port.

7. The network interface device of claim 6 , wherein a second leg of the splitter/combiner is configured to output the second portion of the downstream RF signal to a common terminal of the first relay.

8. The network interface device of claim 4 , wherein:
a normally-open terminal of the first relay is configured to provide the second portion of the downstream RF signal to the buffer; and
a normally-open terminal of the second relay is configured to provide the upstream RF signal to the buffer.

9. The network interface device of claim 4 , wherein:
a normally-closed terminal of the first relay is configured to provide the second portion of the downstream RF signal to a normally-closed terminal of the second relay; and
a normally-closed terminal of the second relay is configured to provide the upstream RF signal to a normally-closed terminal of the first relay.

10. The network interface device of claim 4 , wherein a common terminal of the second relay is configured to output the second portion of the downstream RF signal to the active port through the amplifier circuit.

11. A network interface device, comprising:
an entry port configured to receive a downstream radio-frequency (RF) signal from a signal source;
a first port configured to receive a first portion of the downstream RF signal from the entry port via a passive path and configured to transmit a first upstream RF signal to the entry port via the passive path;
a second port configured to receive a second portion of the downstream RF signal from the entry port via an active path and configured to transmit a second upstream RF signal to the entry port via the active path; and
a decibel limiting device in the active path having a first state and a second state, the decibel limiting device being configured to:
in the first state, pass the second portion of the downstream RF signal and the second upstream RF signal via the active path, and
in the second state, absorb, attenuate, terminate, or isolate the second portion of the downstream RF signal, the second upstream RF signal, or both by at least 10 decibels.

12. The network interface device of claim 11 , further comprising a splitter/combiner configured to:
split the downstream RF signal into the first portion in the passive path and the second portion in the active path; and
combine the first upstream RF signal from the passive path with the second upstream RF signal from the active path.

13. The network interface device of claim 11 , further comprising an amplifier circuit in the active path configured to amplify the second portion of the downstream RF signal.

14. The network interface device of claim 13 , wherein the amplifier circuit is further configured to amplify the second upstream RF signal.

15. The network interface device of claim 13 , wherein, in the second state, the decibel limiting device is configured to absorb, attenuate, terminate, or isolate RF signals reflected by the amplifier circuit.

16. The network interface device of claim 11 , wherein:
the decibel limiting device is configured to be in the first state during powered operation of the network interface device; and
the decibel limiting device is configured to be in the second state during unpowered operation or faulted operation of the network interface device.

17. The network interface device of claim 11 , wherein the passive path lacks any active devices.

18. The network interface device of claim 11 , wherein:
the decibel limiting device comprises a first relay, a buffer, and a second relay;
in the first state, the first and second relays are configured to direct the second portion of the downstream RF signal and the second upstream RF signal to bypass the buffer;
in the second state, the first and second relays are configured to direct the second portion of the downstream RF signal and the second upstream RF signal to the buffer; and
the buffer is configured to absorb, attenuate, terminate, or isolate the second portion of the downstream RF signal and the second upstream RF signal.

19. The network interface device of claim 11 , wherein the buffer comprises:
a diode configured to:
in the first state, communicate the second portion of the downstream RF signal and the second upstream RF signal between the entry port and the second port, and
in the second state, block communication of the second portion of the downstream RF signal and the second upstream RF signal between the entry port and the second port; and

a circuit configured to, in the second state, absorb, attenuate, terminate, or isolate the second portion of the downstream RF signal and the second upstream RF signal.

20. A network interface device, comprising:
a passive path between an entry port and a first port;
an active path between the entry port and a second port;
a buffer in the active path configured to absorb, attenuate, terminate, or isolate radio-frequency (RF) signals; and
a switching element in the active path configured to:
cause the RF signals to bypass the buffer when the network interface is in a first state that exists during powered operation of the network interface device, and
direct the RF signals to the buffer when the network interface device is in a second state tha

Assignees

• Ppc Broadband Inc

Inventors

• Bailey Paul

Classifications

• H04N7/104 Primary

  Switchers or splitters · CPC title

• H03F3/62

  Two-way amplifiers · CPC title

• H03F2200/63

  the amplifier being suitable for CATV applications · CPC title

• H04H20/78

  CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems · CPC title

• H04N21/4436

  Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver (power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418) · CPC title