Scientific-atlanta, Inc.

Bart F Spriester

Robert S Collmus

James L Dale

Joel Paul Jenkins

William George Mahoney

Jeffrey P Hughes

Gregory Lucius Herrmann

Gregory K Hardy

Joshua C Yi

Sou-Pen Su

Mark A Palazzo

Robert C Loveless

Ronald J Hanson

Lee Thompson

Huang Chi-Jui

A bypass switch ( ) for use in an electronic device ( ) includes a substrate ( ) on which first, second, and third terminals ( ) are mounted and an electrically conductive primary element ( ), having first and second opposing ends, mounted to a bottom surface of the substrate ( ) and electrically coupled to the first terminal ( ) at its first end and to the second terminal ( ) at its second end. The switch ( ) also includes an electrically conductive bypass element ( ), having first and second opposing ends, mounted to the bottom surface of the substrate ( ) and electrically coupled to the third terminal ( ) at its first end and vertically aligned, at its second end, with the second end of the primary element ( ). A switch actuator ( ) is mechanically coupled to the bypass element ( ), extends through the substrate ( ), and has an actuating surface ( ) accessible at a top surface, opposite the bottom surface, of the substrate ( ). A downward force exerted upon the actuating surface ( ) of the actuator ( ) forces the second end of the bypass element ( ) away from the second end of the primary element ( ), thereby electrically decoupling the bypass element ( ) and the third terminal ( ) from the first and second terminals ( ).

Bypass device for amplifier

A bypass switch (,) for use in an electronic device (,) includes a substrate (,) on which first, second, and third terminals (,) are mounted and an electrically conductive primary element (,), having first and second opposing ends, mounted to a bottom surface of the substrate (,) and electrically coupled to the first terminal (,) at its first end and to the second terminal (,) at its second end. The switch (,) also includes an electrically conductive bypass element (,), having first and second opposing ends, mounted to the bottom surface of the substrate (,) and electrically coupled to the third terminal (,) at its first end and vertically aligned, at its second end, with the second end of the primary element (,). A switch actuator (,) is mechanically coupled to the bypass element (,), extends through the substrate (,), and has an actuating surface (,) accessible at a top surface, opposite the bottom surface, of the substrate (,). A downward force exerted upon the actuating surface (,) of the actuator (,) forces the second end of the bypass element (,) away from the second end of the primary element (,), thereby electrically decoupling the bypass element (,) and the third terminal (,) from the first and second terminals (,).

A tap (125) for use in a cable television system (100) includes an incoming port (202) for receiving an incoming signal from a head end section (105) and at least first and second outgoing subscriber ports (225, 230) for transmitting outgoing signals to system subscribers. The first and second subscriber ports (225, 230) can be enabled or disabled, depending upon whether cable service is to be provided from a particular port. The tap (125) also includes light sources (250, 260) located on the body of the tap (125) to indicate statuses, i.e., enabled or disabled, of the subscriber ports (225, 230).

Local status monitoring of taps in a cable television system

A cable television system (100) includes a head end section (105) for generating a cable signal; a communication medium (110, 117), such as fiber optic cable and coaxial cable, coupled to the head end section (105) for routing the cable signal through the cable television system (100), and cable taps (200) coupled to the communication medium (110, 117) for receiving the cable signal and providing subscriber drops to subscribers of the cable television system (100). As the cable signal is routed through the system (100), the signal levels of the signal decrease, and higher frequencies are attenuated more rapidly than are lower frequencies of the signal. Therefore, taps (200) of the cable television system (100) include equalizer circuits (212) for attenuating lower frequencies of the cable signal to provide relatively flat signal levels at the subscriber drops. The equalizer circuits (212) also conveniently attenuate reverse signals, as necessary, so that relatively equivalent reverse signal levels are seen by the headend section (105).

Signal equalizer circuit for cable tap

The present invention provides a tap off unit for use in a multiple dwelling unit. The tap off unit includes a housing having an input terminal and an output terminal for interposing the tap off unit in a cable signal line, a plurality of taps disposed within the housing, with each tap having a faceplate including associated signal coupling circuitry, and a circuitry board disposed within the housing. The circuitry board distributes a signal from the cable signal line to each of the plurality of taps within the housing and the plurality of taps are connected in parallel such that one of the plurality of taps may be removed without disruption of the signal to the remaining taps.

Multiple dwelling unit tap off including an equalizer circuit

A method and system for distributing multimedia signals to a subscriber from a headend unit. The multimedia signals are transmitted on a network media as an RF signal. The RF signal is fed to an input terminal of a tap which has an RF circuit that splits the RF signal and distributes to an output terminal. The RF circuit splits the RF signals, and feeds the split signal to a plurality of connectors on the tap's front panel. The RF signals on the output terminal are fed downstream to a plurality of subscribers. A plate is placed in the tap such that when the RF circuit is removed for repair, maintenance or service, an electrical connection is maintained between the input and output terminal to prevent a disconnection of service downstream.

Non-interruptable tap and method

A method and system for distributing multimedia signals to a subscriber from a headend unit using a tap. The multimedia signals are transmitted on a network media as a composite RF and AC signal. A tap is upgraded by with a circuit that separates the AC from the RF signal in the composite signal. The separated AC signal is split in the upgraded tap. The RF signals are split in a circuit on the faceplate of the tap. The AC signal is fed to a power distribution unit which generates an AC output signal that is surge protected, RF filtered and current limited. The split RF signal and AC output signals are fed to connectors on the faceplate. By providing a tap where the AC and RF signal are separated in the same unit, the system can be upgraded with a power distribution unit when AC signals are required to supply power to subscriber equipment.

Method and apparatus for distributing a power signal and an RF signal

Cable radio frequency signal splitter

Power distribution unit

Non-interruptible tap and method

A method and system for distributing multimedia signals to a subscriber from a headend unit. The multimedia signals are transmitted on a network media as a composite RF and AC signal. A passive unit is upgraded by with a circuit having connectors that separates the AC from the RF signal. The signals are split in the upgraded passive unit. The AC signal is fed to a power distribution unit which generates an AC output signal that is surge protected, RF filtered and current limited. The RF signal and AC output signal are separately fed to a customer interface unit where the RF signal is decoded and transmitted to a subscriber. By providing a passive unit where the AC and RF signal are separated in the same unit, the system can be upgraded with a power distribution unit when AC signals are required to supply power to subscriber equipment.

Apparatus for distributing RF signals and AC power to taps

An RF Choke and tap having improved insertion loss, amplitude modulated distortion of video and audio carrier signals at CATV frequencies. The RF choke includes a 20 AWG magnetic wire wound on a ferrite rod. The magnetic field effects of the choke are optimized by selecting the choke winding pattern, rod core material and positioning of a resistor between selected windings. The wire is wound by placing two groups of the 4 tightly wound wires adjacent the ends of the rod. A group of 3 very loosely wound wires is separated from the wound wires and placed between the groups of 4 tightly wound wires. A resistor is electrically connected to a first wire in one of the groups of tightly wound wires and connected to a first wire in the group of the loosely wound wires.

Growing community of inventors

Duluth, GA, United States of America

Bart F Spriester