Abstract: There is provided an optical network device (30) comprising separate downstream and upstream signal paths (33, 34) disposed between a wavelength division multiplexing unit (16) and a signal splitting element (32, 44, 50), an optical to electrical signal converter (18) disposed in the downstream path and an electrical to optical signal converter (22) disposed in the upstream path, wherein the signal splitting element (32, 44, 50) is capable of splitting signals independent of signal frequency and is configured with an isolation of 30 to 50 dB thereby to substantially prevent leakage of downstream signals into upstream path (34). The signal splitting element is capable of splitting signals independent of signal frequency and may be a directional coupler, two-way signal splitter or hybrid coupler comprising at least two different types of coupler element.

Abstract: There is provided an amplifier device comprising a first directional coupler (12: 30, 32) and a second directional coupler (14: 30?, 32?) connected together so as to create separate upstream (16) and downstream (18) paths in which amplifier means (24, 24?) are located, wherein the first and second directional couplers (12, 14: 30, 32; 30?, 32?) are configured to have different signal loss characteristics, one of the directional couplers having low signal loss characteristics for upstream signals and the other directional coupler having low signal loss characteristics for downstream signals. The signal loss characteristics are preferably the coupling loss of each directional coupler (12, 14: 30, 32; 30?, 32?). The first and second directional couplers may each comprise a microstrip directional coupler (30; 30?) connected to a ferrite directional coupler (50; 50?).

Abstract: There is provided fiber-coaxial amplifier device (10) comprising at least one output (14) and a test point (26) associated with the at least one output (14), wherein alternative first and second electrical paths (36, 38) are connectable to the at least one output (14), the first path (36) connectable to the at least one output (14) whilst bypassing the test point, the second path (38) connectable to both the at least one output (14) and the test point (26), and a relay (30) operable to connect one of the first path or the second path to the at least one output (14). The fiber-coaxial amplifier device (10) is configured for signals complying with Extended Spectrum DOCSIS.

Abstract: There is provided an optical network device (30) comprising separate downstream and upstream signal paths (33, 34) disposed between a wavelength division multiplexing unit (16) and a signal splitting element (32, 44, 50), an optical to electrical signal converter (18) disposed in the downstream path and an electrical to optical signal converter (22) disposed in the upstream path, wherein the signal splitting element (32, 44, 50) is capable of splitting signals independent of signal frequency and is configured with an isolation of 30 to 50 dB thereby to substantially prevent leakage of downstream signals into upstream path (34). The signal splitting element is capable of splitting signals independent of signal frequency and may be a directional coupler, two-way signal splitter or hybrid coupler comprising at least two different types of coupler element.

Abstract: There is provided a cable tap device comprising a microstrip directional coupler having a first input port, a first output port, an isolation port and a first coupling port and a ferrite directional coupler having a second input port, a second output port and a second coupling port, wherein the microstrip directional coupler and the ferrite directional coupler are connected together to form a tap unit such that the first output port is connected to the second input port, the isolation port is connected to the second coupling port and the first coupling port connects to one or more tap ports. Capacitive elements can be associated with both types of directional coupler to prevent passage of low frequency signals through the directional couplers. Inductive elements to prevent passage of high frequency signals through the directional couplers.

Abstract: There is provided a cable tap device comprising a microstrip directional coupler having a first input port, a first output port, an isolation port and a first coupling port and a ferrite directional coupler having a second input port, a second output port and a second coupling port, wherein the microstrip directional coupler and the ferrite directional coupler are connected together to form a tap unit such that the first output port is connected to the second input port, the isolation port is connected to the second coupling port and the first coupling port connects to one or more tap ports. Capacitive elements can be associated with both types of directional coupler to prevent passage of low frequency signals through the directional couplers. Inductive elements to prevent passage of high frequency signals through the directional couplers.

Abstract: There is provided a cable network device comprising an input associated with a plurality of outputs, wherein each output is connected to a respective microstrip directional coupler and each microstrip directional coupler is connected to at least one of the other microstrip directional couplers. The microstrip directional couplers form a series of microstrip directional couplers, with a last microstrip directional coupler in the series having its output port terminated by a resistive element. An isolated port of each microstrip directional coupler is in electrical communication with the upstream path.

Abstract: There is provided a cable tap device for a CATV network comprising a microstrip directional coupler on an electrical path between an input and an output and arranged to communicate with a splitter device associated with a plurality of tap ports. A tilt compensating circuit is disposed between the microstrip directional coupler and the splitter device. A feedback path comprising resistive, inductive and capacitive elements connects an isolated port of the microstrip directional coupler to that part of the electrical path between the input and the input port of the microstrip directional coupler.

Abstract: There is provided a cable tap device for a CATV network comprising a microstrip directional coupler on an electrical path between an input and an output arranged to communicate with a splitter device associated with a plurality of tap ports. A ferrite core directional coupler is arranged in parallel with microstrip directional coupler with low frequency signals passing through ferrite core directional coupler and high frequency signals passing through the microstrip directional coupler.

Abstract: There is provided a signal splitter comprising at least four outputs and a plurality of step-up transformers, wherein each step-up transformer has less than seven turns. A first step-up transformer is connected to a common port and positioned between the input and second and third step-up transformers. The first step-up transformer has a different number of turns to the second and third step-up transformers.

Abstract: There is provided a cable network device comprising an input associated with a plurality of outputs, wherein each output is connected to a respective microstrip directional coupler and each microstrip directional coupler is connected to at least one of the other microstrip directional couplers. The microstrip directional couplers form a series of microstrip directional couplers, with a last microstrip directional coupler in the series having its output port terminated by a resistive element. An isolated port of each microstrip directional coupler is in electrical communication with the upstream path.

Abstract: There is provided a cable tap device for a CATV network comprising a microstrip directional coupler on an electrical path between an input and an output and arranged to communicate with a splitter device associated with a plurality of tap ports. A tilt compensating circuit is disposed between the microstrip directional coupler and the splitter device. A feedback path comprising resistive, inductive and capacitive elements connects an isolated port of the microstrip directional coupler to that part of the electrical path between the input and the input port of the microstrip directional coupler.

Abstract: There is provided a cable tap device for a CATV network comprising a microstrip directional coupler on an electrical path between an input and an output arranged to communicate with a splitter device associated with a plurality of tap ports. A ferrite core directional coupler is arranged in parallel with microstrip directional coupler with low frequency signals passing through ferrite core directional coupler and high frequency signals passing through the microstrip directional coupler.

Abstract: There is provided an amplifier device for a CATV network comprising a first amplifier element for upstream signals and a second amplifier element for downstream signals, wherein the first and second amplifier elements are disposed between first and second directional couplers. The combined isolation of the first and second directional couplers is greater than the sum of the gain of the first and second amplifier elements. The first directional coupler has one port attached to an input of the downstream amplification element and one port attached to an output of an upstream amplification element (38) and the second directional coupler has one port attached to an output of the downstream amplifier and one port attached to an input of the upstream amplifier.

Abstract: There is provided a signal splitter comprising at least four outputs and a plurality of step-up transformers, wherein each step-up transformer has less than seven turns. A first step-up transformer is connected to a common port and positioned between the input and second and third step-up transformers. The first step-up transformer has a different number of turns to the second and third step-up transformers.

Abstract: There is provided a splitter circuit means for use with a CATV network comprising a signal input (34) in communication with a transformer or balun (32) to supply two signal outputs (36, 38), with a resistor (52) connected in parallel between the outputs (36, 38) and wherein additional capacitive, inductive and resistive elements (48, 50, 52, 54) are associated with the resistor (42), thereby to give an insertion loss in to out in the range of 3 to 10 dB and isolation 10 out to out of <17 dB for signal frequencies in the range 1125 MHz to 1700 MHz, while at the same time maintaining good RF performance in the frequency range 5 MHz to 1000 MHz.

Abstract: There is provided a splitter circuit for use with a CATV network comprising a signal input in communication with a balun to supply two signal outputs, a resistor connected in parallel between the outputs, and capacitive, inductive, and resistive elements associated with the resistor, thereby to give an insertion loss in to out in the range of 3 to 10 dB.

Abstract: There is provided a splitter circuit means for use with a CATV network comprising a signal input (34) in communication with a transformer or balun (32) to supply two signal outputs (36, 38), with a resistor (52) connected in parallel between the outputs (36, 38) and wherein additional capacitive, inductive and resistive elements (48, 50, 52, 54) are associated with the resistor (42), thereby to give an insertion loss in to out in the range of 3 to 10 dB and isolation 10 out to out of <17 dB for signal frequencies in the range 1125 MHz to 1700 MHz, while at the same time maintaining good RF performance in the frequency range 5 MHz to 1000 MHz.

Abstract: There is provided a signal dividing device (10) for use in a co-axial network used for distributing signals within the home, the signal dividing device (10) comprising an impedance transformer (12), a first (14) and a second (16) two-way signal splitter, each two-way signal splitter having an input, and first and second outputs. The output (22) of the impedance transformer is connected to the input of the first and the second signal splitter, the other port (20) of the impedance transformer being connected to earth. Resistive elements (32, 34) are connected between the outputs of the first and second signal splitters respectively. A diplex filter (40) may be connected at the input (18) of the impedance transformer (12).

Abstract: There is provided a splitter circuit for use with a CATV network comprising a signal input in communication with a balun to supply two signal outputs, a resistor connected in parallel between the outputs, and capacitive, inductive, and resistive elements associated with the resistor, thereby to give an insertion loss in to out in the range of 3 to 10 dB.