Patent ID: 6859044

Claim:
A device for providing fault protection to a cable drop in a center core powering scheme system having at least two conductors for transmitting high frequency electrical signals and AC power simultaneously, comprising: means for splitting the high frequency electrical signals from the AC power signals and providing the separated signals at an RF signal output and AC power signal output; interrupting means for interrupting the AC power from the splitter means in response to a trigger signal; trigger means for outputting a trigger signal for operating the interrupting means from a normally closed position to an open position in response to a fault signal, the trigger means configured for receiving the fault signal at a sense input and further configured for outputting the trigger signal to the interrupting means from a trigger signal output; sensing means for sensing a fault condition between either of the at least two conductors and ground, the sensing means coupled to the AC power signal output and having an output for electrically outputting the fault signal to a sense input of the trigger means; and combining means for combining the AC power signals and high frequency electrical signals received from the RF signal and AC power signal outputs.