Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7912431?dq=5,815,488
Timestamp: 2014-03-17 10:43:47
Document Index: 317839313

Matched Legal Cases: ['Art.10', 'Art.11', 'Art.12', 'Art.14', 'Art.15', 'Art.16', 'Art.18', 'Art.19']

Patent US7912431 - Signal amplifiers having non-interruptible communication paths - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsRF signal amplifiers are provided that include an RF input port, a first RF output port, a second RF output port and a power input for receiving electrical power. These amplifiers include a first communication path between the RF input port and the first RF output port that has a power amplifier that...http://www.google.com/patents/US7912431?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7912431 - Signal amplifiers having non-interruptible communication pathsAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7912431 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 12/208,675Publication dateMar 22, 2011Filing dateSep 11, 2008Priority dateMar 10, 2005Also published asUS20090047917Publication number12208675, 208675, US 7912431 B2, US 7912431B2, US-B2-7912431, US7912431 B2, US7912431B2InventorsNeil P. Phillips, Sou-Pen Su, Fu-Chin ShenOriginal AssigneeCommscope, Inc. Of North CarolinaExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (31), Non-Patent Citations (19), Classifications (13), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSignal amplifiers having non-interruptible communication pathsUS 7912431 B2Abstract RF signal amplifiers are provided that include an RF input port, a first RF output port, a second RF output port and a power input for receiving electrical power. These amplifiers include a first communication path between the RF input port and the first RF output port that has a power amplifier that amplifies signals that are transmitted from the RF input port to the first RF output port. These amplifiers also have a second non-interruptible communication path between the RF input port and the second RF output port. The amplifiers further include a selective termination circuit that is configured to pass signals between the RF input port and the first RF output port over the first communication path when electrical power is received at the power input and to terminate the first communication path to a matched termination when an electrical power feed to the power input is interrupted.
a first communication path between the RF input port and the first RF output port, the first communication path including a power amplifier that is configured to amplify signals that are transmitted from the RF input port to the first RF output port via the first communication path;
a second non-interruptible communication path between the RF input port and the second RF output port;
a selective termination circuit that is configured to pass signals between the RF input port and the first RF output port over the first communication path when electrical power is received at the power input and that is further configured to terminate the first communication path to a matched termination when an electrical power feed to the power input is interrupted.
2. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 1, wherein the selective termination circuit comprises a relay having an input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal, wherein the first output terminal of the relay is coupled to the power amplifier and the second output terminal of the relay is connected to the matched termination.
3. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 2, further comprising a directional coupler having an input that is connected to the RF input port, a first output that is connected to the input terminal of the relay and a second output that is connected to the second non-interruptible communication path.
4. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 3, wherein the matched termination comprises a resistor that is terminated to a ground voltage.
5. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 3, further comprising a power regulation circuit that receives electrical power from the power input and that outputs a power supply voltage, wherein the power supply voltage is coupled to the power amplifier and to the relay.
8. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 1, wherein the power amplifier comprises a first power amplifier, and wherein the first communication path includes a forward path from the RF input port to the first RF output port and a reverse path from the first RF output port to the RF input port, and wherein the reverse path includes a second power amplifier.
9. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 8, wherein the second amplifier has a gain that is different than a gain of the first power amplifier.
10. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 8, wherein the first communication path further comprises a first diplexer that is between the first output terminal of the relay and the first power amplifier and a second diplexer that is between the first power amplifier and the first RF output port.
11. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 10, further comprising a power dividing circuit having an input and a plurality of outputs that is between the second diplexer and the first RF output port, wherein the first RF output port is connected to one of the plurality of outputs of the power dividing circuit.
12. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 1, wherein the second RF output port comprises a voice-over-IP RF output port.
13. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 1, wherein the power input for receiving electrical power comprises the first RF output port.
14. An RF signal amplifier, comprising
a relay having an input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal;
a directional coupler having an input that is connected to the RF input port, a first output that is connected to the input terminal of the relay and a second output that is connected to the second RF output port;
a power amplifier that is provided between the first output terminal of the relay and the first RF output port;
a termination that includes a resistive element that is coupled to the second output terminal of the relay;
a first diplexer that is between the first output terminal of the relay and the power amplifier; and
a second diplexer that is between the power amplifier and the first RF output port.
15. The RF signal amplifier of claim 14, wherein the power amplifier comprises a first power amplifier, and wherein the RF signal amplifier further comprises a second power amplifier that is between the first diplexer and the second diplexer, wherein the first power amplifier is configured to amplify signals that are carried from the first diplexer to the second diplexer and wherein the second power amplifier is configured to amplify signals that are carried from the second diplexer to the first diplexer.
16. The RF signal amplifier of claim 15, further comprising a power dividing circuit having an input and a plurality of outputs that is between the second diplexer and the first RF output port, wherein the first RF output port is connected to one of the plurality of outputs of the power dividing circuit.
17. An RF signal amplifier, comprising
a power amplifier that is provided between the first output terminal of the relay and the first RF output port; and
a termination that includes a resistive element that is coupled to the second output terminal of the relay
wherein the relay is configured so that the input of the relay is connected to the first output of the relay when a power input terminal of the relay receives electrical power, and wherein the relay is configured so that the input of the relay is connected to the termination that includes the resistive element when an electrical power feed to the power input terminal is interrupted.
18. A method of providing a non-interruptible communication path through a signal amplifier that includes an RF input port and a plurality of RF output ports, the method comprising:
using a directional coupler to split a signal received at the RF input port into a first signal component and a second signal component;
passing the first signal component to a first of the plurality of output ports via a first communication path that includes an amplifier;
passing the second signal component to a second of the plurality of output ports via a second non-interruptible communication path; and
passing the first signal component to a matched termination in response to interruption of an electrical power feed to the signal amplifier.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the matched termination comprises a termination that includes a resistive element.
restoring the electrical power feed to the signal amplifier, and then;
passing the first signal component back to the first of the plurality of output ports via the first communication path after the power feed is restored.
passing electrical power from the power input to a power regulation circuit;
using the power regulation circuit to supply a power supply voltage; and
determining that the electrical power feed has been interrupted based on an interruption in the supply of the power supply voltage.
22. A bi-directional RF signal amplifier, comprising
a first communication path between the RF input port and the RF output port, the first communication path including a power amplifier that is coupled to the power input and that is configured to amplify signals that are transmitted from the RF input port to the RF output port via the first communication path;
a second non-interruptible communication path between the RF input port and the RF output port; and
at least one circuit element that is configured to connect the RF input port to the RF output port via the first communication path when electrical power is available at the power input and to connect the RF input port to the RF output port via the second non-interruptible communication path when electrical power is unavailable at the power input, wherein the at least one circuit element comprises a switch that selectively connects the RF input port to one of the first communication path and the second non-interruptible communication path and a directional coupler that connects the first communication path and the second non-interruptible communication path to the RF output port.
23. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 22, wherein the first communication path includes a power dividing circuit having an input and a plurality of outputs, and wherein the directional coupler is between a first of the plurality of outputs of the dividing circuit and the RF output port.
24. A bi-directional RF signal amplifier, comprising
a first diplexer having an input that receives signals from the first RF input port and a high frequency output and a low frequency output;
a relay having an input, a first output and a second output, wherein the input of the relay receives the high frequency output of the first diplexer;
a power amplifier having an input that is connected to the first output of the relay;
a second diplexer that includes a high frequency input that receives an output of the power amplifier and the second output of the relay and a low frequency input that receives the low frequency output of the first diplexer;
an RF output port that is coupled to an output of the second diplexer; and
a power input for receiving electrical power.
25. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 24, further comprising a second relay and a second power amplifier coupled between the low frequency input of the second diplexer and the low frequency output of the first diplexer.
26. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 24, wherein the relay and the power amplifier are implemented together as part of a single integrated circuit chip, and wherein the output of the power amplifier and the second output of the relay are combined on the integrated circuit chip so that a single pin of the integrated circuit chip is connected to the high frequency input of the second diplexer. Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. �120 as a continuation-in-part application from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/077,802, filed Mar. 10, 2005 now abandoned, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to technology for providing non-interruptible communication.
BACKGROUND In recent years, the rise of the Internet and other online communication methods have rapidly transformed the manner in which electronic communications take place. Today, rather than relying on prior-generation switched telephone communication arrangements, many service providers are turning to modern Internet Protocol (IP) based communication networks. Such networks can provide flexibility in facilitating the transmission of voice, data, video, and other information at great speeds.
As a result, many consumers now have the option of conducting telephone conversations, receiving and sending information for interactive video, and communicating over the Internet�all through a single RF connection with the consumer's service provider. However, in order to support these various services, the RF signal received from the service provider (approximately 5 dBmV/channel) may require amplification by an RF amplifier in order to properly service the various communication ports maintained by a consumer.
SUMMARY Pursuant to embodiments of the present invention, bi-directional RF signal amplifiers are provided that include an RF input port, a first RF output port, a second RF output port and a power input for receiving electrical power. These amplifiers include a first communication path between the RF input port and the first RF output port. The first communication path includes a power amplifier that amplifies signals that are transmitted from the RF input port to the first RF output port. The bi-directional RF signal amplifiers also have a second non-interruptible communication path between the RF input port and the second RF output port and a selective termination circuit. The selective termination circuit is configured to pass signals between the RF input port and the first RF output port over the first communication path when electrical power is received at the power input, and to terminate the first communication path to a matched termination when electrical power to the power input is interrupted.
In some embodiments, the selective termination circuit may comprise a relay having an input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal. The first output terminal of the relay is coupled to the first communication path and the second output terminal of the relay is connected to the matched termination. The bi-directional RF signal amplifiers may further include a directional coupler having an input that is connected to the RF input port, a first output that is connected to the input terminal of the relay and a second output that is connected to the second non-interruptible communication path. The matched termination may be a resistor that is terminated to a ground voltage. The bi-directional RF signal amplifiers may also include a power regulation circuit that receives electrical power from the power input and that outputs a power supply voltage to the power amplifier and to the relay.
In some embodiments, the first communication path includes a forward path from the RF input port to the first RF output port and a reverse path from the first RF output port to the RF input port. The reverse path may include a second power amplifier. Additionally, the first communication path may include a first diplexer that is between the first output terminal of the relay and the first power amplifier and a second diplexer that is between the first power amplifier and the first RF output port. The bi-directional RF signal amplifiers may also include a power dividing circuit having an input and a plurality of outputs that is between the second diplexer and the first RF output port. In some embodiments, a power passing path may be provided between the RF input port and the second RF output port.
According to further embodiments of the present invention, RF signal amplifiers are provided that comprise an RF input port, a first RF output port and a second RF output port. These RF signal amplifiers further include a relay and a directional coupler having an input that is connected to the RF input port, a first output that is connected to an input terminal of the relay and a second output that is connected to the second RF output port. A power amplifier is provided between a first output terminal of the relay and the first RF output port. Finally, these amplifiers include a resistive termination that is coupled to a second output terminal of the relay.
Pursuant to still further embodiments of the present invention, methods of providing a non-interruptible communication path through a signal amplifier that includes an RF input port and multiple RF output ports are provided. Pursuant to these methods, a directional coupler is used to split a signal received at the RF input port into a first signal component and a second signal component. The first signal component is passed to a first of the output ports via a first communication path that includes an amplifier. The second signal component is passed to a second of the output ports via a second non-interruptible communication path. The first signal component is then passed to a matched resistive termination in response to interruption of an electrical power feed to the signal amplifier.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a bi-directional RF signal amplifier employing a directional coupler for facilitating a non-interruptible communication port, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 9A is a block diagram of a bi-directional RF signal amplifier employing an integrated non-latching relay and amplifier in the forward path for facilitating a non-interruptible communication port, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 9B is a block diagram of a bi-directional RF signal amplifier employing an integrated non-latching relay and amplifier in both the forward and reverse paths for facilitating a non-interruptible communication port, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being �connected� or �coupled� to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being �directly connected� or �directly coupled� to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (i.e., �between� versus �directly between�, etc.).
FIGS. 1, 2, 3 a, 3 b and 7 illustrate various embodiments of such an amplifier. Schematic representations of the embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 a are set forth in FIGS. 4 a/4 b, 5 a/5 b, and 6 a/6 b, respectively.
In response to this situation, amplifier 100 further provides a second communication path�a path between input port 110 and output port 160. In this regard, a dedicated non-interruptible port 160 can communicate with port 110 through coupler 120. Using this second communication path between ports 110 and 160 through coupler 120, signals can still be passed between a device in communication with port 160 and a service provider in communication with port 110. It will be appreciated that although the second communication path of amplifier 100 does not necessarily amplify the input or output signals, the path can nevertheless permit communication of at least one or more services, such as emergency 911 telephone service.
It will be appreciated that the use of the second communication path between ports 110 and 160 can provide a significant advantage in ensuring the availability of communication to at least one communication device in the event of power failure. A communication device in communication with port 160 (such as a VoIP compatible device, or other device) can further be provided with backup battery power to maintain the operation of the communication device. As discussed above, a schematic representation of the amplifier 100 of FIG. 1 is set forth in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b. FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a bi-directional RF signal amplifier 200 employing a non-latching relay 221 and a directional coupler 225 for maintaining a non-interruptible communication port 260. As illustrated, amplifier 200 can support a plurality of bi-directional communication ports for sending and receiving RF signals to and from a variety of signal sources and destinations.
Accordingly, amplifier 200 further provides a second communication path between input port 210 and output port 260. In this regard, a dedicated non-interruptible port 260 can communicate with port 210 through relay 221 and coupler 225. As illustrated, amplifier 200 provides a VCC path 223 to relay 221. When power (i.e. VCC) is interrupted, the relay 221 will be caused to switch from the normal signal path in the �set� position, to the non-interruptible signal path in the �reset� position or vice versa. As a result, using the non-interruptible signal path between ports 210 and 260 through relay 221 and coupler 225, signals can still be passed between a device in communication with port 260 and a service provider in communication with port 210. It will be appreciated that although the second communication path of amplifier 200 does not necessarily amplify the input or output signals, the path can nevertheless permit communication of at least one or more services, such as emergency 911 telephone service.
It will be appreciated that the use of the second communication path between ports 210 and 260 can provide a significant advantage in ensuring the availability of communication to at least one communication device in the event of power failure. A communication device in communication with port 260 (such as a VoIP compatible device, or other device) can further be provided with backup battery power to maintain the operation of the communication device. As discussed above, a schematic representation of the amplifier 200 of FIG. 2 is set forth in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b. FIG. 3 a illustrates a block diagram of a bi-directional RF signal amplifier 300 employing a plurality of non-latching relays for facilitating a non-interruptible communication port 360. As illustrated, amplifier 300 can support a plurality of bi-directional communication ports for sending and receiving RF signals to and from a variety of signal sources and destinations.
As a result, amplifier 300 further provides a second communication path between input port 310 and output port 360. In this regard, a dedicated non-interruptible port 360 can communicate with port 310 through relay 320 and relay 325. As illustrated, amplifier 300 provides a VCC path 323 to relay 320, and a second VCC path 327 to relay 325. When power (i.e. VCC) is interrupted, the relays 320 and 325 will be caused to switch from the normal signal path in the �set� positions, to the non-interruptible signal path in the �reset� positions or vice versa. As a result, using the non-interruptible signal path between ports 310 and 360 through relays 320 and 325, signals can still be passed between a device in communication with port 360 and a service provider in communication with port 310. It will be appreciated that although the second communication path of amplifier 300 does not necessarily amplify the input or output signals, the path can nevertheless permit communication of at least one or more services, such as emergency 911 telephone service.
It will be appreciated that the use of the second communication path between ports 310 and 360 can provide a significant advantage in ensuring the availability of communication to at least one communication device in the event of power failure. A communication device in communication with port 360 (such as a VoIP compatible device, or other device) can further be provided with backup battery power to maintain the operation of the communication device. As discussed above, a schematic representation of the amplifier 300 of FIG. 3 a is set forth in FIGS. 6 a and 6 b. FIG. 3 b illustrates a block diagram of an alternate embodiment of bi-directional RF signal amplifier 300. As illustrated, the embodiment of FIG. 3 b revises the connections of relay 325, diplexers 335, and power dividers 350. It will be appreciated that the embodiment of FIG. 3 b allows each of the output ports 360, 362, and 366 to be switched. It will further be appreciated that a schematic representation of the embodiment of FIG. 3 b can be provided through appropriate manipulation of the schematic of FIGS. 6 a and 6 b. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a bi-directional RF signal amplifier 400 employing a non-latching relay 421 and a directional coupler 425 for maintaining a non-interruptible communication port 466. As illustrated, amplifier 400 can support a plurality of bi-directional communication ports for sending and receiving RF signals to and from a variety of signal sources and destinations.
Signals received through input port 410 can be passed through a passive directional coupler 425 to first and second communications paths. It will be appreciated that the directional coupler 425 may either evenly or unevenly split the power of the input signals between the first and second communications path, depending on the design of the overall circuit. As shown in FIG. 7, the first communication path includes an SPDT non-latching relay 421, a high/low diplexer 430, a power amplifier 440, a power amplifier 445, a high/low diplexer 435 and 1�N power dividers 450, which components connect the first output of the directional coupler 425 to the output ports 460, 462 and 464. In particular, the signals output by directional coupler 425 to the first communications path are first input to an SPDT non-latching relay 421. When the non-latching relay 421 is in the �ON� or �SET� state, these signals then pass to a high/low diplexer 430 for separating the high frequency input signal from any low frequency output signal incident in the reverse direction. In various embodiments, diplexer 430 can filter the signals in a manner such that signals with frequencies greater than approximately 45-50 MHz are passed as high frequency input signals received from port 410, while signals with frequencies lower than such range are passed in the reverse direction as low frequency output signals received from ports 460, 462, and/or 464.
The high frequency input signals filtered by diplexer 430 can be amplified by individual amplifier 440, and passed to high/low diplexer 435. The output of diplexer 435 is then provided to 1�N power dividers 450, where it is distributed to any of ports 460, 462, and/or 464.
As is also illustrated in FIG. 7, amplifier 400 provides a VCC path 422 to relay 421. When power (i.e., VCC) is interrupted, the relay 421 will be caused to switch from the normal signal path in the �ON� (or �SET�) position, to the �OFF� (or �RESET�) position (or vice versa when power is resumed). The second output port of relay 421 (the �OFF� port) is connected to a matched resistive termination (here a 75 ohm resistor 442). When the power supply is interrupted, the relay 421 senses the interruption and switches from the �ON� position to the �OFF� position. As the OFF position of relay 421 is coupled to the matched resistive termination, both outputs of the directional coupler 425 are matched. As such, signal degradation due to reflections and the like can be reduced or minimized in order to provide acceptable signal quality on the second, non-interruptible communications path.
Herein, the term �matched termination� is used to refer to a termination that approximately matches the specific transmission paths impedance (in this case 75 ohms), thus being capable of substantially absorbing the possible propagation modes with minimal reflection. The term �resistive termination� is used to refer to a termination that includes at least one purposefully resistive element such as a resistor. By providing such a matched resistive termination in signal amplifier 400, the directional coupler may be configured to have two impedance matched output terminals even when the integrated circuit chip containing the power amplifiers 440 and 445 shuts down for lack of power, and hence reflections that result in return loss, frequency response and/or other signal degradation can be reduced in these circumstances. This may significantly improve the signal quality on the second, non-interruptible communication path (in both the forward and reverse directions) when the first communication path is inactive (i.e., terminated to the matched resistive termination).
FIG. 9A is a block diagram of a bi-directional RF signal amplifier 500 employing an integrated circuit chip 532 in the forward path that includes a non-latching relay 521 and an amplifier 540 for facilitating a non-interruptible communication port 564. As illustrated, amplifier 500 can support a plurality of bi-directional communication ports for sending and receiving RF signals to and from a variety of signal sources and destinations.
Signals received through input port 510 can be passed directly to a high/low diplexer 530 that separates the high frequency input signal from any low frequency output signal incident in the reverse direction. In various embodiments, diplexer 530 can filter the signals in a manner such that signals with frequencies greater than approximately 45-50 MHz are passed as high frequency input signals received from port 510, while signals with frequencies lower than such range are passed in the reverse direction as low frequency output signals received from ports 560, 562, and/or 564. The high frequency input signals filtered by diplexer 530 are passed to an SPDT non-latching relay 521. When the non-latching relay 521 is in the �ON� or �SET� state, these signals then pass to a power amplifier 540, then to a high/low diplexer 535 and 1�N power dividers 550 where the signals are passed to the output ports 560, 562 and 564.
During normal operation, the amplifier 500 can be powered from a power input port 570 and/or power that is reverse fed through RF OUT N/VDC IN port 564. In a typical installation at a subscriber's residence, it is contemplated that amplifier 500 may be powered by an AC/DC adapter receiving power provided by the residence (for example, 100-230 VAC, 50/60 Hz). As illustrated in FIG. 9A, the power received from either power input can be provided to a voltage regulator 575 which supplies an operating voltage VCC to individual amplifier 540.
Accordingly, amplifier 500 further provides a second, non-interruptible communication path between input port 510 and the output ports 560, 562 and, in particular, Voice Over IP (VOIP) output port 564. More particularly, when power (i.e., VCC) is interrupted, the relay 521 will be caused to switch from the normal signal path in the �ON� (or �SET�) position, to the �OFF� (or �RESET�) position (or vice versa when power is resumed). The second output port of relay 521 (the �OFF� port) is connected so as to bypass the amplifier 540, thus providing a second, non-interruptible communications path between diplexer 530 and diplexer 535. When the power supply is interrupted, the relay 521 senses the interruption and switches from the �ON� position to the �OFF� position, thereby activating the non-interruptible (and non-amplified) communications path. Consequently, even if power is interrupted such that the amplifier 540 is rendered inoperable, a second, non-interruptible communication path still exists between RF input port 510 and VOIP port 564 which can be used to support communication of at least one or more services, such as emergency 911 telephone service. Note that in the embodiment of FIG. 9A, any of the output ports may be the VOIP port (i.e., it does not have to be output port 564).
FIG. 9B is a block diagram of a bi-directional RF signal amplifier 600 that includes a first integrated circuit chip 532 in the forward path that includes a non-latching relay 521 and an amplifier 540, and a second integrated circuit chip 633 in the reverse path that includes a non-latching relay 623 and an amplifier 645 for facilitating a non-interruptible communication port 564. The RF signal amplifier 600 may be nearly identical to the RF signal amplifier 500 of FIG. 9A, except that the RF signal amplifier 600 employs a second integrated circuit chip 633 in the reverse path that includes a non-latching relay 623 and an amplifier 645. Consequently, circuit elements of RF signal amplifier 600 that are identical to the corresponding circuit elements of RF signal amplifier 500 of FIG. 9A are given like reference numerals, and these circuit elements and the operation thereof will not be described further herein.
As noted above, the difference between RF signal amplifier 600 of FIG. 9B and the RF signal amplifier 500 of FIG. 9A is the inclusion of a second integrated circuit chip 633 in the reverse path. This second integrated circuit chip 633 has a non-latching relay 623 and an amplifier 645. During normal operation, the amplifier 645 is powered by VCC and the non-latching relay 623 is in the �ON� or �SET� state so that signals in the reverse path are passed through power amplifier 645. However, if power to voltage regulator 575 is interrupted, the relay 623 senses the interruption and switches from the �ON� position to the �OFF� position. The second output port of relay 623 (the �OFF� port) is connected so as to bypass the amplifier 645, thus providing a second, non-interruptible communications path in the reverse direction between diplexer 535 and diplexer 530. Thus, the RF signal amplifier 600 provides amplification in the reverse direction during normal operation, while still providing non-interruptible (and non-amplified) communications paths in both the forward and reverse directions when power is interrupted.
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No. 11/182,738.Classifications U.S. Classification455/127.1, 455/83, 455/127.2, 455/572International ClassificationH04B1/04Cooperative ClassificationH03F2200/63, H03F3/62, H03F3/72, H03F3/191, H03F2203/7227European ClassificationH03F3/62, H03F3/191, H03F3/72Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionSep 27, 2011CCCertificate of correctionMay 4, 2011ASAssignmentFree format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:ALLEN TELECOM LLC, A DELAWARE LLC;ANDREW LLC, A DELAWARE LLC;COMMSCOPE, INC OF NORTH CAROLINA, A NORTH CAROLINA CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:026272/0543Owner name: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT, NEEffective date: 20110114May 3, 2011ASAssignmentEffective date: 20110114Owner name: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT, NEFree format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:ALLEN TELECOM LLC, A DELAWARE LLC;ANDREW LLC, A DELAWARE LLC;COMMSCOPE, INC. 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