Abstract: A step attenuator circuit is mounted on a printed circuit board and has a highpass filter network passing high frequency signals and a lowpass filter network passing low frequency signals. The lowpass network presents a high shunt reactance to the high frequency signals. The lowpass network includes an attenuator network. The attenuator network attenuates the low frequency signals by a specified amount. Parasitic capacitance exists between the highpass network and the attenuator network, causing an amount of electrical energy from the high frequency signals to be absorbed by the attenuator network. A first capacitive circuit is used to compensate for parasitic capacitance. The first compensation circuit is connected across the attenuator network and is coupled to the parasitic capacitance. Consequently, the amount of electrical energy from the high frequency signals absorbed by the attenuator network is reduced, and, as a result, the insertion loss of the step attenuator is reduced.

Abstract: A step attenuator circuit is mounted on a printed circuit board and has a highpass filter network passing high frequency signals and a lowpass filter network passing low frequency signals. The lowpass network presents a high shunt reactance to the high frequency signals. The lowpass network includes an attenuator network. The attenuator network attenuates the low frequency signals by a specified amount. Parasitic capacitance exists between the highpass network and the attenuator network, causing an amount of electrical energy from the high frequency signals to be absorbed by the attenuator network. A first capacitive circuit is used to compensate for parasitic capacitance. The first compensation circuit is connected across the attenuator network and is coupled to the parasitic capacitance. Consequently, the amount of electrical energy from the high frequency signals absorbed by the attenuator network is reduced, and, as a result, the insertion loss of the step attenuator is reduced.

Abstract: An electronic filter assembly comprises a housing, first and second circuit board surfaces, first and second cable TV filter circuits, a ground plane, and first and second electrical terminals. The housing includes first and second cable connectors in opposed relation to each other and contains an interior volume. The circuit board surfaces are in superposed relation to each other and engage the housing within the interior volume. The circuit board surfaces face away from each other in opposite directions. The cable TV filter circuits are mounted on the circuit board surfaces, respectively. The ground plane is disposed between the circuit board surfaces. The ground plane contacts the filter housing within the interior volume. The electrical terminals are coupled to the filter circuits. The first terminal extends into and is supported inside the first cable connector, and the second terminal extends into and is supported inside the second cable connector.

Abstract: An electronic filter assembly comprises a housing, first and second circuit board surfaces, first and second cable TV filter circuits, a ground plane, and first and second electrical terminals. The housing includes first and second cable connectors in opposed relation to each other and contains an interior volume. The circuit board surfaces are in superposed relation to each other and engage the housing within the interior volume. The circuit board surfaces face away from each other in opposite directions. The cable TV filter circuits are mounted on the circuit board surfaces, respectively. The ground plane is disposed between the circuit board surfaces. The ground plane contacts the filter housing within the interior volume. The electrical terminals are coupled to the filter circuits. The first terminal extends into and is supported inside the first cable connector, and the second terminal extends into and is supported inside the second cable connector.

Abstract: A filter assembly, comprising first and second terminal caps in opposing relation to each other. The caps are physically and electrically coupled to each other. First and second circuit boards are physically coupled to the first cap. The first circuit board includes—(i) front and rear surfaces, (ii) a first circuit located on either or both of the front and rear surfaces, (iii) a ground lead connected to the first circuit, and (iv) a first electrical terminal coupled to the first circuit. The second circuit board includes—(i) front and rear surfaces, (ii) a second circuit located on either or both of the front and rear surfaces, (iii) a ground lead connected to the second circuit, and (iv) a second electrical terminal coupled to the second circuit. The first and second circuits are electrically coupled to each other, and each are electrically coupled to the first terminal cap via the ground leads. The circuit boards are positioned substantially parallel to each other.

Abstract: A filter assembly, comprising first and second terminal caps in opposing relation to each other. The caps are physically and electrically coupled to each other. First and second circuit boards are physically coupled to the first cap. The first circuit board includes—(i) front and rear surfaces, (ii) a first circuit located on either or both of the front and rear surfaces, (iii) a ground lead connected to the first circuit, and (iv) a first electrical terminal coupled to the first circuit. The second circuit board includes—(i) front and rear surfaces, (ii) a second circuit located on either or both of the front and rear surfaces, (iii) a ground lead connected to the second circuit, and (iv) a second electrical terminal coupled to the second circuit. The first and second circuits are electrically coupled to each other, and each are electrically coupled to the first terminal cap via the ground leads. The circuit boards are positioned substantially parallel to each other.

Abstract: The present invention is a passive filter for controlling the return path loss in a communication system having a forward path and return path. The filter comprises first and second terminals, a passive filter network, and a compensation circuit. The passive filter network is coupled to the first and second terminals and to ground. The filter network has a first passband which passes signals in the forward path and a second passband which passes signals in the return path. The filter network includes a passive attenuator network which attenuates signals in the return path by a predetermined amount as the signals pass through the second passband. The compensation circuit is coupled to the passive filter network, and is configured to compensate for expected perturbations in the frequency response of the second passband of the filter network.

Abstract: A filter for controlling the return path loss in a multi-channel communication system having forward and return paths. The filter comprises a forward path filter network, and a return path filter network. The forward path network passes signals in the forward path, and includes at least one resonant circuit component, such as a capacitor, which is coupled to the return path network. The return path network passes signals in the return path, and includes at least one resonant circuit, such as a series LC trap to ground. A combined resonant circuit is formed, at least in part, by the resonant circuit of the return path network and the resonant circuit component of the forward path network (e.g., a combined series LC trap to ground). The return path network further includes an attenuator network which is designed to attenuate the signals in the return path frequency band. Preferably, the attenuator network is a resistive network which provides a predetermined amount of flat loss.

Abstract: A notch filter having increased pass band characteristics is provided by insertion of an inductor between a normally-grounded capacitor and ground, the capacitor being connected to an inductive-capacitive filter network. By this construction, the equivalent capacitor of the high-frequency equivalent circuit is not connected directly to ground, but rather has the inductor interposed between it and ground. This significantly increases the pass band of the circuit.

Abstract: A television signal is distorted by passing it through a distortion amplifier which applies a Gaussian distortion curve to the signal. The curve has a maximum increase in amplitude of about 38 dB, which is about 30 dB with respect to the amplitude increase of the video carrier. The signal is further modified by the addition of gated jamming signals between the video and audio carriers. The jamming signals are present only during the horizontal and vertical blanking intervals and so do not affect the quality of the picture reproduced by the receiver. The distorted television signal is restored by applying a filter function which is the inverse of the distortion function. The gated jamming signals are removed by the restoring filter to a degree which permits the television receiver to read the horizontal and vertical sync signals and the color burst signal during the blanking intervals.

Abstract: An in-band television signal sync suppression scrambling system has two sync suppression modes which are aperiodically alternated. Horizontal and vertical synchronizing pulses are equally suppressed in one mode, and are suppressed to different levels in a dual modulus mode. In single modulus mode, horizontal and vertical sync pulses are both suppressed at 6 dB. In the dual modulus mode, sync suppression is dynamically shifted between 10 db suppression for horizontal sync pulses and 6 db for the vertical interval. Mode control data is conveyed on the audio carrier and is detected by decoding circuitry which enables the restoration of synchronization pulses in the scrambled television signal according to the mode indicated. Mode changes are aperiodically changed depending upon the scene content in the TV picture or a random generator.

Abstract: A CATV subscription service control device has a switched buffer to prevent jamming signals from a switched attenuator from propagating throughout the system. The attenuator uses mutual inductance to achieve a high degree of attenuation.

Abstract: A television signal is distorted by passing it through a distortion amplifier which applies a Gaussian distortion curve to the signal. The curve has a maximum increase in amplitude of about 38 dB, which is about 30 dB with respect to the amplitude increase of the video carrier. The signal is further modified by the addition of gated jamming signals between the video and audio carriers. The jamming signals are present only during the horizontal and vertical blanking intervals and so do not affect the quality of the picture reproduced by the receiver. The distorted television signal is restored by applying a filter function which is the inverse of the distortion function. The gated jamming signals are removed by the restoring filter to a degree which permits the television receiver to read the horizontal and vertical sync signals and the color burst signal during the blanking intervals.