Modular RF Devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019221975-A1
Application number	US-201916251062-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 17, 2019
Priority date	Jan 17, 2018
Publication date	Jul 18, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A modular passive RF apparatus includes a passive RF portal and a passive RF expansion module configured to be removably coupled with the passive RF portal. A male connector is configured to extend from a top surface of the passive RF portal, and a female connector is configured to extend from the first end wall of the passive RF expansion portal. The female connector is configured to slidingly engage the male connector in a direction parallel to the top surface of the passive RF portal in order to mechanically couple the passive RF expansion module with the passive RF portal, and the male connector is configured to prevent the female connector from being removed from the male connector in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the passive RF portal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A modular passive MoCA apparatus configured to provide cable network connectivity to broadband devices, while connecting MoCA devices to the broadband devices, the apparatus comprising:
a passive RF portal that includes an input port configured to receive a cable that provides cable network connectivity and a plurality of output ports configured to receive cables that provide electrical connectivity with the broadband devices and the MoCA devices; and a passive RF expansion module configured to be removably coupled with the passive RF portal, wherein the passive RF expansion module includes an input port configured to receive a cable that provides electrical connectivity with one of the plurality of output ports of the passive RF portal and a plurality of output ports configured to receive cables that provide electrical connectivity with additional MoCA devices, wherein the input port and the plurality of output ports of the passive RF portal extend from a front surface of the passive RF portal, and the input port and the plurality of output ports of the passive RF expansion module extend from a front surface of the passive RF expansion module, wherein the passive RF portal includes a top surface and a bottom surface extending from a first pair of opposite ends of the front surface of the passive RF portal, the top surface and the bottom surface of the passive RF portal extending perpendicular to the front surface of the passive RF portal, wherein the bottom surface of the passive RF portal is configured to face a surface of a structure when the passive RF portal is attached to the structure, wherein a male connector is configured to extend from the top surface of the passive RF portal, the male connector including a stem that is configured to extend from the top surface of the passive RF portal and is terminated by an enlarged head, wherein the passive RF expansion module includes a top surface and a bottom surface extending from a first pair of opposite ends of the front surface of the passive RF expansion module, the top surface and the bottom surface of the passive RF expansion module extending perpendicular to the front surface of the passive RF expansion module, wherein the passive RF expansion module includes a first end wall and a second end wall extending from a second pair of opposite ends of the front surface of the passive RF expansion module, the first end wall and the second end wall of the passive RF expansion module extending perpendicular to the front surface, the top surface, and the bottom surface of the passive RF expansion module, wherein a flange having a U-shaped notch that forms a female connector is configured to extend from the first end wall of the passive RF expansion portal proximate with and parallel to the bottom surface of the passive RF expansion module, wherein the female connector is configured to slidingly engage the stem of the male connector in a direction parallel to the top surface of the passive RF portal in order to mechanically couple the passive RF expansion module with the passive RF portal, and the head of the male connector is configured to prevent the female connector from being removed from the male connector in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the passive RF portal, wherein the passive RF portal includes a first end wall and a second end wall extending from a second pair of opposite ends of the front surface of the passive RF portal, the first end wall and the second end wall of the passive RF portal extending perpendicular to the front surface, the top surface, and the bottom surface of the passive RF portal, wherein a mounting portion is configured to extend from the second end wall of the passive RF portal proximate and parallel to the top surface of the passive RF portal, wherein a second flange is configured to extend from the second end wall of the passive RF expansion module proximate with and parallel to the bottom surface of the passive RF expansion module, and wherein the mounting portion and the second flange are configured to receive a fastener for fixedly coupling the passive RF expansion module to the passive RF portal.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second passive RF expansion module configured to be removably coupled with the first passive RF expansion module; and a post configured to couple the second passive RF expansion module with the passive RF expansion module, wherein the second passive RF expansion module includes an input port and a plurality of output ports configured to receive cables that provide electrical connectivity with further additional MoCA devices, the input port being configured to receive a cable that provides electrical connectivity with either one of the plurality of output ports of the passive RF portal or one of the plurality of output ports of the passive RF expansion module, wherein the input port and the plurality of output ports of the second passive RF expansion module extend from a front surface of the second passive RF expansion module, wherein the post is configured to be removably coupled with the flange of the passive RF expansion module and includes a column and a second male connector, the second male connector including a stem that is configured to extend from a top surface of the column and is terminated by an enlarged head, wherein the second passive RF expansion module includes a top surface and a bottom surface extending from a first pair of opposite ends of the front surface of the second passive RF expansion module, the top surface and the bottom surface of the second passive RF expansion module extending perpendicular to the front surface of the second passive RF expansion module, wherein the second passive RF expansion module includes a first end wall and a second end wall extending from a second pair of opposite ends of the front surface of the second passive RF expansion module, the first end wall and the second end wall of the second passive RF expansion module extending perpendicular to the front surface, the top surface, and the bottom surface of the second passive RF expansion module, wherein a second female connector is configured to extend from the first end wall of the second passive RF expansion portal proximate with and parallel to the bottom surface of the second passive RF expansion module, wherein the second female connector is configured to slidingly engage the stem of the second male connector in a direction parallel to the top surface of the passive RF expansion module in order to mechanically couple the second passive RF expansion module with the passive RF expansion module, and the head of the second male connector is configured to prevent the second female connector from being removed from the second male connector in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the passive RF expansion module, wherein a second mounting portion is configured to extend from the second end wall of the passive RF expansion module proximate and parallel to the top surface of the passive RF expansion module, wherein a third flange is configured to extend from the second end wall of the second passive RF expansion module proximate with and parallel to the bottom surface of the second passive RF expansion module, and wherein the second mounting portion and the third flange are configured to receive a fastener for fixedly coupling the second passive RF expansion module to the passive RF expansion module.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the passive RF expansion module is configured to partially overlap the top surface of the passive RF portal and partially overhang the top surface of the passive RF portal when the passive RF expansion module is mechanically coupled with the passive RF portal such that the front surface of the passive RF expansion module is

Assignees

• Ppc Broadband Inc

Inventors

• Barany David
• Adams Cameron James
• Montena Noah P

Classifications

• H01R2103/00

  Two poles · CPC title

• H01R2201/04

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

• H01R24/52

  mounted in or to a panel or structure · CPC title

• H04N7/104

  Switchers or splitters · CPC title

• H01R25/006 Primary

  the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle · CPC title