Modular RF devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12119595-B2
Application number	US-202217667332-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 8, 2022
Priority date	Jan 17, 2018
Publication date	Oct 15, 2024
Grant date	Oct 15, 2024

Abstract

A modular RF apparatus includes an RF portal and an RF expansion module configured to be coupled with the RF portal. The modular RF apparatus is configured to expand the number of outputs of the RF portal by adding the RF expansion module in a manner that minimizes an increase in the spatial footprint of the modular RF apparatus while allowing easy access to all ports of the modular RF apparatus. The RF portal and the RF expansion module are configured to interlock to create an integrated functional block. The modular RF apparatus are configured to permit upgrading of the RF portal by adding the RF expansion module without disrupting existing connections to the RF portal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular Radio Frequency (RF) apparatus, comprising:
an RF portal having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the RF portal including a plurality of RF ports extending from the side surface;
an RF expansion module configured to be coupled with the RF portal and including a plurality of RF ports extending from a side surface of the RF expansion module parallel to the side surface of the RF portal;
wherein a first connector is configured to extend from the top surface of the RF portal, and a second connector is configured to extend from the RF expansion module;
wherein the second connector and the first connector are configured to interlock the RF portal and the RF expansion module with one another to create an integrated functional block;
wherein the first connector is configured to prevent the second connector from being removed from the first connector in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the RF portal;
wherein the RF portal includes an end wall perpendicular to the side surface, the top surface, and the bottom surface of the RF portal;
wherein a mounting portion is configured to extend from the end wall of the RF portal;
wherein a flange is configured to extend from an end wall of the RF expansion module;
wherein the mounting portion and the flange are configured to receive a fastener configured to fixedly interlock the RF expansion module with the RF portal;
wherein the plurality of ports of the RF portal are configured to extend parallel to the plurality of ports of the interlocked RF expansion module; and
wherein the modular RF apparatus is configured to expand the number of outputs of the RF portal by adding the RF expansion module while minimizing a spatial footprint of the integrated functional block while allowing suitable access to all ports of the modular RF apparatus.

2. The modular RF apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the modular RF apparatus is configured to permit upgrading of the RF portal by adding the RF expansion module without disrupting a cable connector coupled with one of the plurality of ports of the RF portal.

3. The modular RF apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the RF expansion module is configured to partially overlap the top surface of the RF portal and partially overhang the top surface of the RF portal when the RF expansion module is interlocked with the RF portal such that the side surface of the RF expansion module is above the top surface of the RF portal when viewed in a direction toward the top surface of the RF portal.

4. The modular RF apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the side surface of the RF portal and the side surface of the RF expansion module are configured to face in a same direction.

5. The modular RF apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of RF ports of the RF portal includes an input port configured to receive cable network connectivity and a plurality of output ports configured to provide electrical connectivity with at least one broadband device or at least one Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) device; and
wherein the plurality of RF ports of the RF expansion module includes an input port configured to receive electrical connectivity from one of the plurality of output ports of the RF portal and a plurality of output ports configured to provide electrical connectivity with at least one additional MoCA device.

6. The modular RF apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first connector includes a stem that is configured to extend from the top surface of the RF portal and is terminated by an enlarged head.

7. The modular RF apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second connector is configured to slidingly engage the stem of the first connector in a direction parallel to the top surface of the RF portal in order to interlock the RF expansion module with the RF portal, and the head of the first connector is configured to prevent the second connector from being removed from the first connector in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the RF portal.

8. A modular Radio Frequency (RF) apparatus comprising:
an RF portal having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the RF portal including a plurality of RF ports extending from the side surface;
an RF expansion module configured to be coupled with the RF portal and including a plurality of RF ports extending from a side surface parallel to the side surface of the RF portal;
wherein a first connector is configured to extend from the top surface of the RF portal, and a second connector is configured to extend from the RF expansion module;
wherein the second connector and the first connector are configured to interlock the RF portal and the RF expansion module with one another to create an integrated functional block;
wherein the second connector is configured to slidingly engage a first portion of the first connector in a direction parallel to the top surface of the RF portal in order to interlock the RF expansion module with the RF portal, and a second portion of the first connector is configured to prevent the second connector from being removed from the first connector in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the RF portal;
wherein the plurality of ports of the RF portal are configured to extend parallel to the plurality of ports of the interlocked RF expansion module;
wherein the modular RF apparatus is configured to expand the number of outputs of the RF portal by adding the RF expansion module while minimizing a spatial footprint of the integrated functional block while allowing suitable access to all ports of the modular RF apparatus; and
wherein the RF portal and the RF expansion module are configured to interlock with one another such that the side surface of the RF portal and the side surface of the RF expansion module are offset from one another in a port direction so as to provide suitable access to all ports of the modular RF apparatus.

9. The modular RF apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the modular RF apparatus is configured to permit upgrading of the RF portal by adding the RF expansion module without disrupting a cable connector coupled with one of the plurality of ports of the RF portal.

10. The modular RF apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the RF expansion module is configured to partially overlap the top surface of the RF portal and partially overhang the top surface of the RF portal when the RF expansion module is interlocked with the RF portal such that the side surface of the RF expansion module is above the top surface of the RF portal when viewed in a direction toward the top surface of the RF portal.

11. The modular RF apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the side surface of the RF portal and the side surface of the RF expansion module are configured to face in a same direction.

12. The modular RF apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of RF ports of the RF portal includes an input port configured to receive cable network connectivity and a plurality of output ports configured to provide electrical connectivity with at least one broadband device or at least one Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) device; and
wherein the plurality of RF ports of the RF expansion module includes an input port configured to receive electrical connectivity from one of the plurality of output ports of the RF portal and a plurality of output ports configured to provide electrical connectivity with at least one additional MoCA device.

13. The modular RF apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first portion of the first connector comprises a stem that is configured to extend from the top s

Assignees

• Ppc Broadband Inc

Inventors

• Barany David
• Adams Cameron James
• Montena Noah P

Classifications

• H04L12/2801 Primary

  Broadband local area networks · CPC title

• H04N7/104

  Switchers or splitters · CPC title

• H01R24/52

  mounted in or to a panel or structure · CPC title

• H01R2103/00

  Two poles · CPC title

• H01R2201/04

  for network, e.g. LAN connectors · CPC title