Abstract: A filter circuit is constructed as a triplex filter having a high-pass filter, a low-pass filter with attenuation in the passband, and a second low-pass filter without attenuation in the passband. The filter circuit has a frequency response with a high-pass portion, a flat loss portion, and a low-pass portion. Attenuation in the flat loss portion is uniform and is predetermined via selection of filter components. The filter circuit is useful in a bidirectional CATV system in which performance is improved by selectable attenuation of a first source of return path signals but without attenuation of a second source of return path signals.

Abstract: A surge suppressor for protecting electronic equipment by suppressing damaging surges of low frequency signals in a radio frequency (RF) transmission line, while allowing RF signals of a desired frequency range to pass through the transmission line. The surge suppressor can comprise a housing, a center pin connected to a stub, and at least one interface pin conductively coupled to the cable and capacitively coupled to the center pin. The surge suppressor can have a signal pass through bandwidth approximately 10 times exceeding the bandwidth of traditional quarter wavelength stub (QWS) devices, a higher return loss, and higher surge attenuation level. The surge suppressor can be symmetrically insertable into a cable providing an RF communication line.

Abstract: A filter assembly includes an electrically conductive input member, an electrically conductive output member, and filter elements. Each filter element includes a connection disposed in an open or closed configuration, and a band filter, which may be a band-pass filter or a band-stop filter. A generic filter assembly is first manufactured having all connections in their open or closed configurations. A channel-selective filter assembly is then further manufactured by structural modification of one or more of the connections. Each connection of the channel-selective filter assembly is in its open or closed configuration independently of each other connection of each other filter element. Each frequency channel in a cable television (CATV) network, for example, is restricted or permitted by the channel-selective filter assembly.

Abstract: A cable system, and a method for configuring a path of a cable system, wherein the group delay caused by one or more amplifiers having diplex filter networks is substantially equalized over all frequencies within a predetermined band by the use of one or more all-pass delay equalizers. A method of configuring a path includes steps of determining a delay versus frequency characteristic of the path within the predetermined frequency band, and providing from one to a plurality of all-pass delay equalizers in the path, wherein a collective delay versus frequency characteristic of the all-pass delay equalizer(s) within a predetermined frequency band is a mirror image of that caused by the amplifier(s), such that all frequencies within the predetermined frequency band are delayed by substantially the same amount and hence all frequency components of a signal arrive at a receiver at substantially the same time.

Abstract: A filter assembly includes an electrically conductive input member, an electrically conductive output member, and filter elements. Each filter element includes a connection disposed in an open or closed configuration, and a band filter, which may be a band-pass filter or a band-stop filter. A generic filter assembly is first manufactured having all connections in their open or closed configurations. A channel-selective filter assembly is then further manufactured by structural modification of one or more of the connections. Each connection of the channel-selective filter assembly is in its open or closed configuration independently of each other connection of each other filter element. Each frequency channel in a cable television (CATV) network, for example, is restricted or permitted by the channel-selective filter assembly.

Abstract: A surge suppressor for protecting electronic equipment by suppressing damaging surges of low frequency signals in a radio frequency (RF) transmission line, while allowing RF signals of a desired frequency range to pass through the transmission line. The surge suppressor can comprise a housing, a center pin connected to a stub, and at least one interface pin conductively coupled to the cable and capacitively coupled to the center pin. The surge suppressor can have a signal pass through bandwidth approximately 10 times exceeding the bandwidth of traditional quarter wavelength stub (QWS) devices, a higher return loss, and higher surge attenuation level. The surge suppressor can be symmetrically insertable into a cable providing an RF communication line.

Abstract: A device converts a core group of digitally encoded broadcast television channels to analog NTSC signals. The analog NTSC signals are output simultaneously into frequency bands corresponding to conventional CATV broadcast bands. The device allows a conventional analog television receiver to function in a fully digital CATV system as if the analog television receiver were functioning in an analog CATV system. The subscriber selects the channel for viewing via the tuner at the analog receiver, not via the device.

Abstract: An over-voltage surge protection device includes a circuit board having a signal carrying conductive member with a plurality of nodes positioned therealong, and a conductive member running to ground positioned therealong. The nodes on the signal carrying member and the ground conductive member each extend along a common path with corresponding ones of the signal carrying nodes positioned in adjacent, but spaced relation to the ground member, wherein the conductive member running to ground is formed along the interior of the main body enclosing the circuit board and the signal carrying conductive member. The peripheral edges of the nodes accumulate and discharge transient high voltage surges. The nodes can be shaped in the form of triangles due to this particular geometry's favorable ability to accumulate and discharge voltage, but may also be formed in a variety of other geometries.

Abstract: A filter circuit is constructed as a triplex filter having a high-pass filter, a low-pass filter with attenuation in the passband, and a second low-pass filter without attenuation in the passband. The filter circuit has a frequency response with a high-pass portion, a flat loss portion, and a low-pass portion. Attenuation in the flat loss portion is uniform and is predetermined via selection of filter components. The filter circuit is useful in a bidirectional CATV system in which performance is improved by selectable attenuation of a first source of return path signals but without attenuation of a second source of return path signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for embedding/detecting an auxiliary signal within a cable television (CATV) traffic stream is configured for inclusion within a legacy CATV system configured for sending one or more CATV signals in respective one or more frequency bands. The apparatus includes a controller configured for receiving an input signal and an auxiliary signal, and watermarking the input signal with the auxiliary signal to thereby form a watermarked signal. The input signal comprises one of the CATV signals of the CATV system, the watermarked signal being sent to the detector in the same frequency band as the respective CATV signal. The controller is also configured for sending the watermarked signal to a detector for detecting and removing the auxiliary signal from the watermarked signal to thereby recover the input signal and the auxiliary signal.

Abstract: A trap verification system for verifying the existence, proper placement and functionality of a trap on a cable television transmission line is provided, wherein the system comprises a headend configured to transmit a inquiry signal to a particular trap and receive a response signal from the trap, the trap configured to receive the inquiry signal and transmit the response signal containing an identifier code associated with the trap and a transmission line through which the signals are transmitted. The headend determines whether that the trap is present on the line, properly placed or properly functioning and may block service to the line if the trap is not present, not properly placed, or not properly functioning.

Abstract: The present invention provides an over-voltage surge protection device comprising a printed circuit board having a signal carrying conductive member having a plurality of nodes positioned therealong, and a conductive member running to ground also having a plurality of nodes positioned therealong. The nodes on the signal carrying member and ground member extend along a common path with corresponding ones of the signal carrying nodes positioned in adjacent, but spaced relation to the ground nodes. The peripheral edges of the nodes accumulate and discharge transient high voltage surges. Preferably, the nodes are shaped in the form of triangles due to this particular geometry's favorable ability to accumulate and discharge voltage, but may be formed in a variety of geometries.

Abstract: A filter circuit directed primarily to use in the CATV industry includes at least one frequency dependent component, such as an RF choke, capacitor or inductor, for attenuating signals over at least a portion of the frequency range of signals which pass through the filter. In a typical application, signals are transmitted and received in both forward and return paths at each end of a multi-channel, two-way communication system. Signals in the frequency range of the return path, or of both paths, are attenuated by a desired amount, which is essentially constant over the frequency range of attenuation. In any case, the circuit component providing the attenuation is frequency dependent, thus providing a number of advantages, such as reducing the number of circuit components, reducing filter size and cost, and/or increasing the filter's electric surge and power handling capabilities.

Abstract: A filter circuit directed primarily to use in the CATV industry includes at least one frequency dependent component, such as an RF choke, capacitor or inductor, for attenuating signals over at least a portion of the frequency range of signals which pass through the filter. In a typical application, signals are transmitted and received in both forward and return paths at each end of a multi-channel, two-way communication system. Signals in the frequency range of the return path, or of both paths, are attenuated by a desired amount, which is essentially constant over the frequency range of attenuation. In any case, the circuit component providing the attenuation is frequency dependent, thus providing a number of advantages, such as reducing the number of circuit components, reducing filter size and cost, and/or increasing the filter's electric surge and power handling capabilities.

Abstract: A protective system for reducing the possibility of injury to individuals or damage to electrical equipment due to a fault in a coaxial drop cable connected between a tap unit receiving both RF signals and AC power from a main distribution line and a premise unit coupling the RF signals to RF receiving equipment and the AC power to other AC powered equipment at user premises. The tap unit includes a circuit having a first line connected at spaced points to an inner conductor with the RF signals flowing through the inner conductor and the AC power flowing through the first line. A regulated monitoring current flows from an AC to DC converter in the first line to a difference amplifier having a pair of inputs with a resistor connected between the two, whereby the difference amplifier serves to monitor the monitoring current by measuring the voltage drop across the resistor.

Abstract: A protective system for reducing the possibility of injury to individuals or damage to electrical equipment due to a fault in a coaxial drop cable connected between a tap unit receiving both RF signals and AC power from a main distribution line and a premise unit coupling the RF signals to RF receiving equipment and the AC power to other AC powered equipment at user premises. The tap unit includes a circuit having a first line connected at spaced points to an inner conductor with the RF signals flowing through the inner conductor and the AC power flowing through the first line. A regulated monitoring current flows from an AC to DC converter in the first line to a difference amplifier having a pair of inputs with a resistor connected between the two, whereby the difference amplifier serves to monitor the monitoring current by measuring the voltage drop across the resistor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an over-voltage surge protection device comprising a printed circuit board having a signal carrying conductive member having a plurality of nodes positioned therealong, and a conductive member running to ground also having a plurality of nodes positioned therealong. The nodes on the signal carrying member and ground member extend along a common path with corresponding ones of the signal carrying nodes positioned in adjacent, but spaced relation to the ground nodes. The peripheral edges of the nodes accumulate and discharge transient high voltage surges. Preferably, the nodes are shaped in the form of triangles due to this particular geometry's favorable ability to accumulate and discharge voltage, but may be formed in a variety of geometries.

Abstract: The present invention provides an over-voltage surge protection device comprising a printed circuit board having a signal carrying conductive member having a plurality of nodes positioned therealong, and a conductive member running to ground also having a plurality of nodes positioned therealong. The nodes on the signal carrying member and ground member extend along a common path with corresponding ones of the signal carrying nodes positioned in adjacent, but spaced relation to the ground nodes. Preferably, the nodes are shaped in the form of triangles due to this particular geometry's favorable ability to accumulate and discharge voltage.

Abstract: The present invention provides an over-voltage surge protection device comprising a printed circuit board having a signal carrying conductive member having a plurality of nodes positioned therealong, and a conductive member running to ground also having a plurality of nodes positioned therealong. The nodes on the signal carrying member and ground member extend along a common path with corresponding ones of the signal carrying nodes positioned in adjacent, but spaced relation to the ground nodes. Preferably, the nodes are shaped in the form of triangles due to this particular geometry's favorable ability to accumulate and discharge voltage.