Abstract: Automatic gain control (AGC) may be accomplished in a radio frequency (RF) amplifier in a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network using a wideband RF tuner to select multiple pilot channels (e.g., frequencies in lower and upper portions of an RF signals spectrum) for use in measuring power and determining a correction to be applied to the RF amplifier. The power of the pilot channel or channels may be measured, for example, using a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) from the wideband RF tuner or using a power detector circuit. Using the wideband RF tuner allows selectable gain and/or tilt control across a wideband spectrum, such as a channel spectrum of a CATV downstream RF signal, to maintain stable RF output levels of the amplifier as RF input levels vary. The RF amplifier may be a line extender amplifier used in a CATV HFC network to amplify a wideband RF spectrum of up to 1.8 GHz.

Abstract: A broadband digital access (BDA) architecture includes a BDA hub device in a headend/hub and one or more BDA node modules in one or more HFC nodes to enable digital communications between the headend/hub and the HFC node(s) in a CATV/HFC network. The BDA hub device and the BDA node module(s) are connected by one or more downstream optical fibers and one or more upstream optical fibers to enable digital optical communications therebetween. The BDA hub device provides an analog RF interface with equipment in the headend/hub and the BDA node module provides an analog RF interface with subscriber locations via one or more coaxial cables.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a connector assembly that includes an increased outer diameter of the connector member relative to the equivalent G-type connector and an increased inner diameter of the receptable member relative to the equivalent G-type receptacle (also referred to as a seizure nut) to achieve higher current carrying capacity and target frequency rates of up to 3.0 Ghz, for example. In one preferred example, this results in a connector assembly consistent with the present disclosure having a connector member with an outer diameter of at least 10.70 mm, and more preferably 10.76±0.01 mm, rather than the 9.4 mm diameter of existing G-type connectors. Despite this increased diameter, a seizure assembly consistent with the present disclosure can achieve a functional impedance of 75 ohms to maintain nominal signal quality.

Abstract: A softgel capsule having incorporated within said capsule: (i) an active pharmaceutical ingredient in a liquid carrier exhibiting release profiles selected from the group consisting of immediate release, extended release and combinations thereof; and (ii) one or more smaller capsules or smaller solid dosage forms wherein said smaller capsules or smaller solid dosage forms have active ingredients that are compatible or not compatible with each other or with another active within the softgel capsule and wherein said smaller capsules or smaller solid dosage forms exhibit release profiles selected from the group consisting of extended release, and immediate release and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Various examples are directed to a power amplifier circuit, comprising a digital predistortion circuit, first and second power amplifiers, and a bias feedback circuit. The digital predistortion circuit may be configured to generate a predistorted input signal based at least in part on an input signal. The first power amplifier may be configured to generate a first amplified signal based at least in part on the predistorted input signal. The second power amplifier may be configured to generate a second amplified signal based at least in part on the predistorted input signal. The bias feedback circuit may be configured to adjust at least one of a bias of the first power amplifier or a bias of the second power amplifier to align a first nonlinear behavior of the first power amplifier with a second nonlinear behavior of the second power amplifier.

Abstract: A heat transfer assembly may be used to provide a thermal conduit from a module mounted on a circuit board through the circuit board, allowing a thermal path away from the module. The heat transfer assembly generally includes a thermally conductive base with at least one raised thermal pedestal accessible through at least one heat transfer aperture in the circuit board and in thermal contact with the module. In an embodiment, the heat transfer assembly is used in a remote PHY device (RPD) in an optical node, for example, in a CATV/HFC network. The RPD includes an enclosure having a base with at least one raised thermal pedestal in thermal contact with an optical module (e.g., an optical transmitter or transceiver) on a circuit board through at least one heat transfer aperture in the circuit board.

Abstract: Energy reduction in a CATV network device, such as an optical node, in a CATV network may be accomplished using a system and method for controlling an amplifier in response to channel loading. The system and method detects a channel loading condition for a CATV RF signal including a plurality of utilized channels across a channel spectrum defining a plurality of potential channels. The channel loading condition may be detected by scanning the CATV RF signal to measure the channel loading or by obtaining channel loading data from a remote PHY device (RPD) located in the optical node. The system and method then obtains an amplifier operating parameter associated with the channel loading condition and applies the amplifier operating parameter to control power consumption of an amplifier in the optical node (e.g., by changing bias current) in response to the channel loading condition.

Abstract: Various examples are directed to a power amplifier circuit, comprising a digital predistortion circuit, first and second power amplifiers, and a bias feedback circuit. The digital predistortion circuit may be configured to generate a predistorted input signal based at least in part on an input signal. The first power amplifier may be configured to generate a first amplified signal based at least in part on the predistorted input signal. The second power amplifier may be configured to generate a second amplified signal based at least in part on the predistorted input signal. The bias feedback circuit may be configured to adjust at least one of a bias of the first power amplifier or a bias of the second power amplifier to align a first nonlinear behavior of the first power amplifier with a second nonlinear behavior of the second power amplifier.

Abstract: Energy reduction in a CATV network device, such as an optical node, in a CATV network may be accomplished using a system and method for controlling an amplifier in response to channel loading. The system and method detects a channel loading condition for a CATV RF signal including a plurality of utilized channels across a channel spectrum defining a plurality of potential channels. The channel loading condition may be detected by scanning the CATV RF signal to measure the channel loading or by obtaining channel loading data from a remote PHY device (RPD) located in the optical node. The system and method then obtains an amplifier operating parameter associated with the channel loading condition and applies the amplifier operating parameter to control power consumption of an amplifier in the optical node (e.g., by changing bias current) in response to the channel loading condition.

Abstract: A heat transfer assembly may be used to provide a thermal conduit from a module mounted on a circuit board through the circuit board, allowing a thermal path away from the module. The heat transfer assembly generally includes a thermally conductive base with at least one raised thermal pedestal accessible through at least one heat transfer aperture in the circuit board and in thermal contact with the module. In an embodiment, the heat transfer assembly is used in a remote PHY device (RPD) in an optical node, for example, in a CATV/HFC network. The RPD includes an enclosure having a base with at least one raised thermal pedestal in thermal contact with an optical module (e.g., an optical transmitter or transceiver) on a circuit board through at least one heat transfer aperture in the circuit board.

Abstract: A count is made of the number of mobile assisted handoff (MAHO) attempts between a service cell and a targeted cell. A count is also made of the number of times the targeted cell is considered a Best Candidate (BestCand) for handoff from the service cell. If the targeted cell is not included in the service cell's neighbor list, a potential neighbor cell (PNC), hysteresis is added to the targeted cell to prevent handoffs to the targeted cell. The MAHO and BestCand counts are determined and if the counts meet or exceed predetermined threshold values the targeted cell is added to the list. If the targeted cell is on the neighbor list, no hysteresis is added.

Abstract: A count is made of the number of mobile assisted handoff (MAHO) attempts between a service cell and a targeted cell. A count is also made of the number of times the targeted cell is considered a Best Candidate (BestCand) for handoff from the service cell. If the targeted cell is not included in the service cell's neighbor list, a potential neighbor cell (PNC), hysteresis is added to the targeted cell to prevent handoffs to the targeted cell. The MAHO and BestCand counts are determined and if the counts meet or exceed predetermined threshold values the targeted cell is added to the list. If the targeted cell is on the neighbor list, no hysteresis is added.