Patent ID: 6804828
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: H01P,H04H

Abstract:
A tap device of a cable broadcasting system, connected to a transmission line leading to a terminal side from a center apparatus for branching a part of a transmission signal running through the transmission line to a subscriber terminal device, comprising:a directional coupler for branching the part of the transmission signal running through said transmission line and transmitting the branched transmission signal to each of a plurality of signal paths leading to corresponding branched output terminals; a plurality of latching relays, each latching relay being disposed on a corresponding signal path for switching the signal path to one of a connected state and a disconnected state to a corresponding branched output terminal; a receiving circuit for receiving from the transmission line a command signal indicating whether the latching relay is to be switched to the connected state or to the disconnected state to provide the branched transmission signal to the corresponding branched output terminal; and a control means for controlling the connected and disconnected state of each latching relay and corresponding signal path to a corresponding branched output terminal, including a control circuit connected from the receiving circuit and responsive to the command signal for providing a plurality of latching relay control signals to the latching relays to control the connected and disconnected state of each latching relay, a manual operation switch for providing a manual output command to the control circuit, the control circuit being responsive to the manual output command to generate the latching relay control signal to each of the plurality of latching relays directing each of the latching relays into the connected state to provide the branched transmission signal to each of the branched output terminals, wherein if the control circuit receives the command to switch a plurality of latching relays, the control circuit energizes a plurality of targeted latching relays in sequence, instead of energizing the same simultaneously, to place each of the plurality of latching relays in the connected and disconnected states in sequence.