Patent ID: 7532861

Claim:
A method for conveying a plurality of different types of signals between two devices over a radio frequency (RF) cable having a single conductor with a shield, wherein the plurality of different types of signals range in frequency from a direct current (DC) signal to an RF signal, comprising the steps of: (a) at the device where any of the plurality of different signals are provided to be conveyed to the other device, coupling each such signal to the RF cable through an associated filter, said associated filter having frequency and impedance characteristics that pass only the signal input to the associated filter and substantially excludes all other of the signals, such that the DC signal is coupled to the RF cable through a low pass filter at the device from where the DC signal is provided; (b) conveying the plurality of different signals over the RF cable to whichever of the two devices that will be using the signals; and (c) at the other device that will be receiving each specific signal of the plurality of signals, coupling the RF cable to a corresponding one of a plurality of different filters that is characterized by passing only said specific signal and substantially excluding all other of the signals, such that the RF cable is coupled to another low pass filter at the other device receiving the DC signal, wherein an output of the low pass filter comprises an electrical power signal that is employed to energize components on the other device receiving the DC signal.