Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The invention of the present Application is related to and takes priority from Provisional Application No. 60/856,629, filed on Nov. 3, 2006, for “High-Frequency Uninterruptible Signal And Power Bypass.” The teachings of the related Application are incorporated herein by reference to the extent that they do not conflict herewith. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The field of the present invention relates generally to cable television signal handling devices, and more specifically to such devices that are capable of handling both AC/DC and RF signals having frequencies ranging from 50 Hz to greater than 3 Gigahertz (GHz), and include a bypass system for insuring continuity of a main cable television signal cable whenever the device must be serviced by removing the electrical or electronic circuitry associated with the device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In cable television signal distribution devices including but not limited to multi-taps, for example, shorting bypass bar means are included to provide for continuity in a make before break manner of the main cable signal transmission in the event of removing the signal handling electrical portion of the device for service or replacement. The shorting bypass bar means and associated or opposing portions of the electrical circuitry, with the device in its assembled state, are provided with means for minimizing the capacitive and inductive impedance therebetween to insure capability for handling signals having frequencies as high as or higher than 3 GHz. Ground shielding means are provided for minimizing parasitic affects in order to maintain a 75 ohm impedance to insure the high frequency performance. Also, the electrically conductive shorting bypass bar is designed to insure the maintenance of the 75 ohm impedance throughout, and to minimize any capacitive coupling between the shorting bypass bar and the electrical circuitry of the device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Various embodiments of the present invention are described in relation to the drawings, in which like items are identified by the same reference designation, wherein: 
           [0005]      FIGS. 1A through 1C  show pictorial, top, and longitudinal cross sectional views, taken along  1 C- 1 C of  FIG. 1B , respectively, the latter of a plastic actuator plunger for an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0006]      FIGS. 2A through 2C  show pictorial, top, and longitudinal cross sectional views, respectively, the latter taken along  2 C- 2 C of  FIG. 2B , of a top screw for an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C show pictorial top, pictorial bottom, and side elevational views, respectively, of a top plastic cover for right and left connector assemblies located on a shorting bypass bar assembly for an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 4A through 4E  show a pictorial view looking toward a male pin, a pictorial view looking toward a female pin, a back plan view, a right-side elevational view, and a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along  4 E- 4 E of  FIG. 4D , respectively, of a right-angle pin receptacle holder for an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 5A through 5F  show a bottom pictorial view, a top pictorial view, a top plan view, a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along  5 D- 5 D of  FIG. 5C , a lateral longitudinal cross sectional view taken along  5 E- 5 E of  FIG. 5C , and a bottom plan view, respectively, of a cross member for a shorting bypass bar assembly consisting of a dielectric material, such as plastic, for an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 6A through 6E  show a top pictorial view, a bottom pictorial view, a top plan view, a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along  6 D- 6 D of  6 C, and a bottom plan view, respectively, of a shorting bypass bar holder for one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 7A through 7E  show a top pictorial view, bottom pictorial view, bottom plan view, cross sectional view taken along  7 D- 7 D of  FIG. 7C , and a front pictorial view relative to  FIG. 7C , respectively, of a metal shorting bypass bar for an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 8A through 8E  show a top pictorial view, a top plan view, a left-side view with the right-side view being a mirror image thereof, a bottom pictorial view, and a front elevational view, respectively, of a metal grounding finger for the shorting bypass bar for one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  show a side pictorial view looking toward the top portion, and a front elevational view, respectively, of a bottom screw for an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 10A through 10D  show a pictorial view, a front elevational view, a cross sectional view taken along  10 C- 10 C of  FIG. 10B , and a top plan view, respectively, of a metal spring or springs for use with an actuator plug plunger for an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 11A through 11C  show pictorial, side elevational, and top plan views of a spring separator for an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 12A through 12C  show a pictorial view, a top plan view, and a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along  12 C- 12 C of  FIG. 12B , respectively, of a female pin receptacle for snapping into a right-angle pin receptacle holder for an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 13A through 13D  show a pictorial view, a top plan view, a cross sectional view taken along  13 C- 13 C of  FIG. 13B , and a cross sectional view taken along  13 D- 13 D of  FIG. 13B , respectively, of a plastic KS stinger pin guide for an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  shows an exploded assembly view of a bypass switch or shorting bypass bar assembly for an embodiment of the invention which incorporates the individual components of  FIGS. 1 through 13D , as shown. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 15A through 15D  show a pictorial view looking toward the top, a top plan view, a bottom plan view, and a front elevational view, respectively, of an isolating ground shield for an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 16A through 16D  show a pictorial view looking toward the bottom, a pictorial view looking toward the top, a top plan, and a cross sectional view taken along  16 D- 16 D of  FIG. 16A , respectively, of a unitary circular ground shield for use on a 75 ohm female connector assembly mounted on a printed circuit board for an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 17A through 17D  show a pictorial view looking toward the top, a side elevational view, a top plan view, and a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along  17 D- 17 D of  FIG. 17C , respectively, of a holder for a female pin receptacle for an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 18A through 18D  show a pictorial view, a front elevational view, a top plan view, and a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along  18 D- 18 D of  FIG. 18C , respectively, of a center female pin receptacle that installs into the holder of  FIG. 17  for a female connector assembly mounted on a printed circuit board for an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 19  shows an exploded assembly view of the top casting cover with eight female 75 ohm coaxial cable connectors on the top of the cover, with the bottom of the cover being assembled to a printed circuit board assembly, as shown. 
           [0024]      FIG. 20  shows a pictorial view of a bottom housing for an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 21  shows the partial assembly of the subassembly of the right-angle pin receptacle holder of  FIG. 4  and KS stinger pin guide of  FIG. 13  onto an end portion of the cross member of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 22  shows a front elevational view of a partially assembled bypass switch. 
           [0027]      FIG. 23  shows a pictorial view of a partially assembled shorting bypass bar assembly. 
           [0028]      FIG. 24  shows a top pictorial view of the bottom of the top housing cover plate with a printed circuit board attached thereto, showing in the bottom portions proximate the left and right hand corners, the assembly of isolating ground shields of  FIG. 15  to the PC board proximate holders for female pin receptacles of  FIG. 17 , with the latter being surrounded by the ground shields of  FIG. 16 , as shown, with a center female pin receptacle of  FIG. 18  being installed within the center portions of each one of the holders for a female pin receptacle of  FIG. 17 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 25  shows an enlarged pictorial view of the left corner portion of  FIG. 24 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 26  shows pictorial views looking into the interior portion of the lower section of the housing with the shorting bypass bar assembly installed therein and secured via the screws of  FIG. 2A-C . 
           [0031]      FIG. 27  is a pictorial view looking into the main cable input pedestal port located in the lower or bottom housing section, showing the positioning of the plastic KS stinger pin guide of  FIG. 13  therein, with the center located hole thereof partially showing the top end of a female connector portion of a right-angle pin receptacle holder of  FIG. 4 , whereby a tool can be utilized for removing the stinger pin guide, to permit the pin receptacle holder of  FIG. 4  to be rotated 90 degrees to a position centered in the adjacent horizontal port, whereby the tool is used to install the stinger pin guide of  FIG. 13  therein, for another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 28  shows a partial cross section and partial cutaway view of a fully assembled multi-tap, in this example, showing the shorting bypass bar assembly with the shorting bypass bar electrically shorted or connected to the bottom of the bottom housing, and the male pins of the shorting bypass bar assembled assembly plugged into associated female connectors on the printed circuit board mounted inside the removable top housing cover. 
           [0033]      FIG. 29  shows a partial cross section and partial cutaway view of the removal of the top cover of the housing causing the actuator plunger to be moved upward by its associated spring, for in turn causing the grounding fingers at each end of the shorting bypass bar to electrically contact the electrically conductive right-angle pin receptacle holders at each end of the cross member of the shorting bypass bar assembly, for electrically connecting the input and output ports of the associated device together to insure continuity of the main cable connected therebetween. 
           [0034]      FIG. 30  shows a top view of a multi-tap device having eight 75 ohm F-type coaxial cable female output connectors for providing cable television signals and power for up to eight users, the device incorporating various embodiments of the present invention, as an illustrative example of the use of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]      FIGS. 1 through 30  show the various components and exploded assembly views for various embodiments and use of the invention. The exploded assembly view of  FIG. 14  shows the positioning and installation of the components of  FIGS. 1 through 13 , respectively. The shorting bypass bar assembly  155  of  FIG. 14  is mounted into the inside bottom portion of a lower housing  318  section via screws  14  as shown in  FIGS. 26 and 28 . Also, note from the latter two figures, in combination with the lower housing pictorial views of  FIG. 20 , the use of datum points or locating tabs  330 ,  334  in association with bosses  328  for accepting screws  14 , for providing for easy mounting of the shorting bypass bar assembly  155  into the lower housing. 
         [0036]    The exploded assembly diagram of  FIG. 19  shows the assembly of the top portion of the multi-tap device of this example. However, the present invention is not limited to use in a multi-tap device, and can be used with any device connected within a main cable run, such as in a cable TV system, to insure continuity of the signal down the main cable should the device be taken off-line. Particularly, note the assembly of the isolating ground shield  156  of  FIG. 15 , the ground shield  170  of  FIG. 16 , for a 75 ohm female connector assembly, with the holder  176  of  FIG. 17  for a female pin receptacle, the latter for receiving the center female pin receptacle  200  of  FIG. 18 , as shown.  FIGS. 24 ,  25 , and  26  clearly show various views of the finalized assembly of a printed circuit board connector assembly, and the positioning of the isolating ground shield  156  relative to the connector assembly. Note that the size of the female seizure connector or holder  176  is optimized to ensure that it in combination with isolator pad or ground shield  156 , when installed in the cavity of the housing  318  retains a 75 ohm impedance. In conjunction with this, further note that the connector pin portion, that is the male pin portion  38  of the pin receptacle holder  36  is correspondingly optimized dimensionally for minimizing the capacitive coupling between the PC board connector assembly and the shorting bypass bar  82  of the bypass switch or shorting bypass bar assembly  155 , again for insuring a 75 ohm impedance when the multi-tap device of this example is fully assembled. 
         [0037]    With reference to  FIGS. 1A through 13D , individual components of the present bypass switch or shorting bypass bar assembly  155  of  FIG. 14  will first be described, before describing the manner of assembling these components. In  FIGS. 1A through 1C , actuator plunger  2  includes a flat circular topmost portion  4 , on which diverging side portions  6  extend downward to a vertical circular side portion  8 . Extending partially within and protruding outward therefrom is a spring mount shaft  9 . Note that the top edge  10  of the cap-like flat circular topmost portion  4  has a chamfered top edge  10 . The bottommost portion  11  of the spring mount shaft  9  has a reduced diameter relative to the latter, and includes a centrally located screw hole  13 , as shown. Also, the diverging side portion  6  of plunger  2  includes a chamfered side edge  12  at the juncture with the vertical circular side portion  8 . In one of the embodiment of the actuator plunger  2  consists of a single piece of plastic material. Any suitable plastic material can be used, but it is preferred that the material be polycarbonate, for example. 
         [0038]    In  FIGS. 2A through 2C  a self-tapping top screw  14  is shown. Screw  14  includes a lower threaded portion  16 , an unthreaded top portion  18  that terminates to the screwhead  20 , as shown. In this embodiment, a Philips slot  22  is provided in the central portion of the screw head  20 , as shown. The screw  14  can consist of any suitable material, and preferably is made from a suitable metal material such as A3 steel, for example. 
         [0039]    The configuration of the top plastic cover  24  is shown in  FIGS. 3A through 3C . As shown, the cover includes two protruding mounting flanges  25  that are offset of 90° from one another, with each including centrally located throughhole  26  for receiving a mounting screw. A top portion  27  located between the mounting flanges  25 , and includes a throughhole  28  for receiving the male pin  38  of a right-angle pin receptacle holder  36  (see  FIG. 4 ). A raised arc-like ledge  32  is included in the top portion  27 . A bottom portion  29  includes two locating/indexing countersunk holes  30 , as shown. A locating or indexing hole  34  is countersunk into the bottom portion  29  and has a six-sided configuration as shown. A pair of identical semicircular cavities  35  at right angles to one another are included in the bottom portion  29 , whereby each cavity  35  is configured to receive a portion of the right-angle pin receptacle holder  36  (see  FIG. 4 ). As will be explained below in further detail, the cavities  35  permit the receptacle holder  36  to be actively rotated for securement in one of the cavities  35 , depending upon the desired cable orientation. Note that the top cover  24  can be provided from a single piece of suitable plastic material. 
         [0040]    In  FIGS. 4A through 4E , the design for a right-angle pin receptacle holder  36  is shown. Note that the design to be described is for minimizing electrical capacitance of the holder  36  by minimizing the electrical and physical exposure of the holder  36  to ground. A male pin  38  is provided at right angles to a female connector shell portion  40  via a male/female junction  44 . A ferrule  42  is provided around the circumference of the female connector shell portion  40 , as shown, to permit retention thereon via snap-on to the cylindrical portion of a KS stinger pin guide  138  (see  FIGS. 13A-13D ). The female pin entry hole  46  is provided at one end of the junction  44 , as shown. A centrally located male pin entry hole  48  is provided in the front end of the female connector shell  40 . The right-angle pin receptacle holder  36  can consist of a single piece of suitable electrically conductive metal material, and preferably consists of zinc diecast. Note that as will be described in detail below, the male pin  38  is configured for plugging into a female pin receptacle  200  located on a printed circuit board  292  (see  FIG. 19 ), in this example. 
         [0041]    The design or configuration for a cross member  50  for a shorting bypass bar assembly of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 5A through 5E . As shown, the cross member  50  includes a centrally located bridge member  52 . Each end of the cross member  50  is terminated to a mounting flange  53 . A following portion mounting member  51  is interposed between the mounting flange  53  and another mounting flange  55  offset 90° therefrom, as shown. Each of the mounting flanges  53  and  55  include a centrally located screw hole  54 . A guide pin hole  56  is located proximate each of the two mounting flanges  53 . The guide pin holes  56  are each centrally located within a guide pin post  57 . A strengthening rib  59  is connected between each of the guide pin posts  57  and the bottom portion of mounting member  51 , as shown. A throughhole  58  is located in a portion of each one of the bottom portions of mounting members  51 , as shown. The bridge member  52  is centrally located between two opposing side rail members  61  and  63 , respectively, as shown. The bridge member  52  includes a centrally located post  65  having a plunger shaft throughhole  60 , as shown. Note that the guide pin posts  57  are located in portions of the side rails  61 . A top portion  49  of the mounting member  51  includes two locating studs  64 , as shown in  FIGS. 5B , C, D, and E. The locating studs  64  are configured for fitting into holes  30  of top cover  24  (see  FIGS. 3A and 3B ). Each of the opposing top portions  49  of the mounting member  51  also each include pin receptacle holder semicircular mounting recesses  66 , each receiving a half portion of a right angle pin receptacle holder  36  (see  FIG. 4 ), for permitting the holder  36  to be oriented for either pedestal or aerial cabling connections within associated aerial or pedestal ports of an associated housing, as described below. An index stud  69  is located in and protrudes from the top portions  49  of each one of the mounting members  51 , as shown, with each of the index studs  69  being configured for fitting into the locating holes  34  of the top cover  24  (see  FIGS. 3A and 3B ). 
         [0042]    The design for a shorting bypass bar holder  68  embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 6A through 6E . The holder  68  includes a pair of guide pins  70  opposing one another from extreme corner ends. In the opposite side from the guide pins  70  of holder  68 , screw holes  72  are provided which are partly countersunk into the guide pins  70 . A screw through hole  74  is included in a central portion of the holder  68 , as shown. A straight raised ledge  76  is provided between the guide pins  70 . On the opposite edge from the raised ledge  76  is a contoured raised ledge  78 . A waffled bottom  80  is provided as shown in  FIG. 6B . 
         [0043]    In  FIGS. 7A through 7E , an electrically conductive metal shorting bypass bar  82  is shown. Shorting bypass bar  82  includes an extended right angle oriented connector finger  84  at each end of the bar  82 , as shown. Three through holes  86  are provided as shown for receiving screws. Three locating tabs  88  for orienting grounding fingers  96 , as will be described below, are provided as shown. A raised bottom ledge  90  is provided along one edge portion of bar  82 , and an opposing raised bottom ledge  92  is provided along the opposite edge of shorting bypass bar  82 . Two opposing skewed end portions  94  are provided. Note that the contours provided interior of each of the connector fingers  84  are configured to minimize electrical contact with an associated right-angle pin receptacle holder  36 , as described above, to minimize electrical capacitive coupling therebetween when the two components are spaced apart. 
         [0044]    The design configuration for an electrically conductive metal grounding finger  96  is shown in  FIGS. 8A through 8E , and consists of a single piece of suitable electrically conductive metal material, in this example. The bottom portion  100  of the grounding finger  96  is flat, and includes a screw mounting hole  98 . An end mounting tab  101  is provided on the bottom portion  100  for sliding under an associated locating tab  88  of shorting bypass bar  82 . A portion  99  is upwardly projecting from a curved section  97 , as shown. The upward portion  99  is straight, and its free end or edge portion  102  is curved downward. 
         [0045]    The configuration for a self-tapping bottom screw  104  is shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B . The screw  104  includes threads  106 , and a screw head  108  having a centrally located Philips slotway  110 , as shown. 
         [0046]    The design for a spring  112 , two of which are mounted on the actuator plunger  2  (see  FIG. 14 ), is shown in  FIGS. 10A through 10D . The spring  112  is designed for minimizing electrical capacitance and inductance, whereby after the top and bottommost turns, the spring immediately goes into a helix configuration  114 . In the preferred embodiment, the spring consists of a suitable metallic material. However, the spring is not meant to be so limited, and in certain applications can be provided by any suitable plastic electrically non-conductive material. 
         [0047]    As will be described in greater detail below, two of the springs  112  are mounted on the actuator plunger  2  with a spring separator  116  located between the springs  112 . The design for the spring separator  116  is shown in  FIGS. 11A through 11C , and appears as a washer having a centrally located relatively large through hole  118 , relative to the overall diameter of the spring separator  116 . The spring separator  116  consists of an electrical non-conductive material such as a suitable plastic material. Note that the purpose of using two metallic springs  112 , in this example, separated by separator  116  is to minimize electrical capacitance and inductance, by avoiding use of a single longer spring of similar spring force to the combination of springs  112 . The insulating washer or spring separator  116  is installed between the two springs  112  to insure each springs&#39;  112  self-resonant frequency is higher than 3 GHz, to prevent them from forming a series circuit with one another that increases their inductance, causing their self-resonant frequency to be lowered. The springs  112  are compression springs, in this example. Note that the use of two springs  112  is not meant to be limiting. A single spring can be used if its self-resonant frequency is higher than the operating maximum frequency, 3 GHz in this example, or more than two springs separated by insulating washers can be used provided each has a sufficiently high self-resonant frequency. 
         [0048]    In  FIGS. 12A through 12C , a female pin receptacle  120  is shown, which consists of any suitable electrically conductive metallic material. The receptacle  120  includes a circular rear portion  122 , followed by a reduced diameter portion  124 , followed by a narrow circular converging portion  126 , followed by a narrow band-like portion  128 , followed by a striated downward converging portion  130 , finally followed by a striated circular front portion  132 . An entry hole  134  is provided in the end of the circular portion  132  for receiving a male pin. The entry hole  136  includes a beveled portion  136 , as shown. 
         [0049]    A KS stinger pin guide  138  is shown in  FIGS. 13A through 13D . The pin guide  138  preferably consists of a suitable electrically non-conductive plastic material. The design thereof includes a cylindrical portion  140  that includes a centrally located hole  142  configured for receiving female connector  40  of right-angle pin receptacle holder  36  (see  FIGS. 4A-4E ). The pin guide  138  further includes an interior circular rib  144  about an interior wall portion of hole  142 , as shown, for snapping over a ferrule  42  of the pin receptacle holder  36 , as previously described. Note in  FIG. 13D  that a relatively wide circular portion or cavity  145  is provided between the circular rib  144  and a converging portion  148  within the walls of the hole  142 , as shown. A round flange  146  is provided at the lower end of the cylindrical portion  140 . Arc shaped receptive slots  150  are provided in the flange  146 , as shown, for receiving a tool (not shown) to permit the removable of installation of the pin guide to accommodate either aerial or pedestal cable connections for the associated device, as will be described in greater detail below. With reference to  FIGS. 13C and 13D , also provided is a converging front portion  152  about the entry into hole  142 , followed by a relatively narrow circular portion  154 , as shown. 
         [0050]    The various components of multiple embodiments of the invention are assembled as shown in the exploded assembly of  FIG. 14  to provide a bypass switch or shorting bypass bar assembly  155 . Note that the screws  14  secure bypass switch assembly  152  to standoffs  328  of a multi-tap housing, in this example, as shown in  FIG. 20 . A centrally located bottom screw  104  has its threaded portion pushed through screw mounting hole  98  of the centrally located grounding finger  96 , through the center screw hole  86  of shorting bypass bar  82 , for the retention and securement into the screw hole  13  located at the bottom of the spring mount shaft  9  of the plunger  2  (see  FIG. 1A ). The mounting screws  104  located on either side of the centrally located mounting screw  104 , have their threaded portions pass through the mounting holes  98  of their associated grounding fingers  96 , through associated screw holes  86  at each end of the shorting bypass bar  82 , for retention and securement into the associate screw holes  72  located in the bottom portion of the guide pins  70  of shorting bypass bar holder  68  (see  FIGS. 6D and 6E ). An example of the use and mounting of the bypass switch assembly  155  is described in greater detail below. The female pin receptacles  120  are configured to securely have a portion fit into and be retained by an associated pin receptacle holder  36 . Note that the mounting tabs  101  of grounding fingers  96  are partially inserted under associated locating tabs  88  on the shorting bypass bar  82  to properly orient the grounding fingers  96 , before installing the associated screws  104 . 
         [0051]    The present invention is described in association with its use in a multi-tap device, but such use is not meant to be so limiting. However, for the example given herein, in order to insure a 75 ohm impedance for various of the electrical connectors of the associated multi-tap, it is necessary to use uniquely designed shielding in order to isolate electrical circuitry on a printed circuit board (PCB)  292  secured to the interior bottom face of a multi-tap cover plate  300  (see  FIG. 19 ), in this example. The ground shields utilized, and other components utilized for providing the necessary 75 ohm impedance, and operation of the associated multi-tap device, along with other necessary unique components are described immediately below. 
         [0052]    In  FIG. 15  an isolating ground shield  156 , consisting of a suitable Mu-metal material is shown in  FIG. 15A through 15D . As shown, the ground shield  156  is preferably configured from a single piece of shielding material such as Mu-metal, or other suitable shielding material. More specifically, the ground shield  156  is configured to include a housing grounding finger or tab  158 , a second grounding tab  160  adjacent a grounding finger  158  at each end of the shield  156 , and a mounting tab  162  located at each end of the shield  156 , with each mounting tab including a screw hole  164 , as shown. The central portion of the ground shield  156  consists of a curved portion  166 . The curved portion  166  terminates at each end to end portions  168 , whereby the end portions  168  each include grounding finger  158  and grounding tab  160  as previously described, along with a mounting tab  162 . 
         [0053]    As shown in  FIGS. 16A through 16D , another metal ground shield  170  for use in combination with immediately previously described isolating ground shield  156 , as will be described in detail below, also consists of a single piece of electromagnetic ground shield material such as Mu-metal, for example. As shown, the ground shield  170  includes a circular band main portion  171  that has a beveled top portion  172 , and extending from a bottom edge portion four equally spaced apart printed circuit board mounting tabs  174 . 
         [0054]      FIGS. 17A through 17B  show the design configuration for a holder for a female pin receptacle holder  176 , that consists of a single piece of electrically insulative or non-conductive material, such as suitable plastic material. The pin receptacle holder  176 , as shown, includes a circular flange  178 , a cylindrical central portion  180  extending from the bottom portion of the flange  178 , a through hole  182  to receive a female pin receptacle  200  (see  FIG. 18 ), a beveled countersunk flat opening  184  for receiving a male pin, and a circular rib  186  for snapping in a portion of the female pin receptacle  200 . Further included at the bottom of the pin receptacle  176  a relatively large diameter countersunk hole  188 , inwardly followed by the second countersunk hole of relatively reduced inside diameter, followed by the previously described circular rib  186 , followed by a third hole portion  192  having the same diameter as the hole  190 , followed by an inwardly diverging hole portion  194 , immediately followed by a main hole portion  196 , immediately followed by the relatively narrow reduced diameter portion  198 , followed by the previously mentioned beveled countersunk front portion  184 , whereby all of the successive hole portions together form the through hole  182 . 
         [0055]    A female pin receptacle  200  is shown in  FIGS. 18A through 18D , and preferably consists of a single piece of suitable electrically conductive metal material, such as brass, for example. The female pin receptacle  200 , as shown, is configured to include a circular portion  252 , a circular flange  254 , a countersunk hole  256  having a bottom portion  257 , a rectangular circular groove  258  extending from a frontward portion of the circular flange  254 , followed by a circular converging portion  260 , followed by a narrow circular band portion  262 , followed by a converging portion  264 , followed by a front circular cylindrical-like portion  266 . Proceeding frontward from the circular rectangular groove  258  through the previously described portion terminating with the front circular portion  266 , centrally located therein is a truncated hole  268  that has an innermost circular hole portion  270 , leading frontward followed by a converging hole portion  272 , followed by a frontmost hole  274 , the front portion of the latter having a beveled hole opening  278 . Also, the front portion of the female pin receptacle  200  is provided with a striated front portion  276 , as shown. 
         [0056]    In  FIG. 19 , an exploded assembly diagram is shown for various of the aforesaid components, and additional components relative to a multi-tap cover plate  300 . As shown, the assembly includes the previously mentioned isolating ground shield  156 , connector ground shield  170 , female pin receptacle holder  176 , and a female pin receptacle  200 . Also, the previously described the self tapping bottom screws  104  are shown. Further shown is ground shield plate  280  having multiple mounting taps  282 , each with screw holes  284 , and a plurality of grounding fingers  286  arranged in a comb-like configuration. Also, each end of the ground shield plate  280  further includes a single grounding finger  287  proximate the comb-like grounding fingers  286 , as shown. A mu-metal ground shield  288  is shown for shielding a plug-in filter (not shown). A protective plastic cover  290  is included for protecting components mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB)  292 . Also, a pair of ground shield combs  294 , configured as shown are provided for mounting on a top side of the PCB  292 , the aforesaid other components being mounted to the bottom side of the PCB  292 . A radio frequency (RF) shield gasket  296 , consisting of a suitable RF shield gasket material, is positioned as shown adjacent to a moisture sealing gasket  298 . Also included on the top portion of the multi-tap cover plate  300  are a plurality of plastic caps  302  for sealing off the openings of associated barrel housings  310 , as shown. Each of the barrel housing  310  are included in a female connector assembly consisting of a lower pin holder  304 , an electrical female pin  306 , and an upper female pin holder  308 , all mounted within the barrel housing  310 , the latter being secured to the cover plate  300 , as shown. A plurality of hex bolts  312  in association with washers  314  are used to secure bolt studs  316  of the cover plate  300  to the multi-tap housing  318  (see  FIG. 20 ). In one embodiment of the invention, the multi-tap cover plate  300  is provided from a casting of aluminum diecast. 
         [0057]    In  FIG. 20 , multi-tap housing  318  is shown, and consists of a single casting of aluminum diecast, in this example. As shown, multi-tap housing  318  includes a pair of aerial and pedestal input ports  320 ,  340 , respectively, arranged at 90° to one another; a pair of aerial and pedestal output ports  346 ,  342 , respectively, arranged at 90° to one another; a plurality of female threaded mounting studs  322 ; a recessed groove  324  for receiving the previously mentioned RF shield gasket  296 ; a recessed groove  326  for receiving the moisture sealing gasket  298 ; bypass switch mounting standoffs  328  for securing the bypass switch assembly  155  thereto; and locating stud  330  for locating the bridge  52  of the bypass switch assembly  155  in conjunction with the locating standoff  334 , the standoff  334  being located within a recessed well  332 , as shown. Also included in the recessed well  332  is a standoff  326 , as shown. 
         [0058]    In  FIG. 21 , the partial assembly of a pin receptacle holders  36 , and associated KS stinger pin guides  138 , respectively, are shown as mounted onto a shorting bypass bar assembly  155 . 
         [0059]      FIGS. 22 and 23  each show pictorial views of a partially assembled bypass switch shorting bypass bar assembly  155 . In  FIG. 22 , a front elevational view is shown of the partial assembly, whereas in  FIG. 23 , a pictorial view looking towards the bottom of the shorting bypass bar  82  and grounding fingers  96  are clearly shown. 
         [0060]      FIG. 24  shows a top pictorial view of the bottom portion of a fully assembled top housing cover plate of multi-tap cover plate  300 . The top of the PCB  292  is shown, along with the assembly of the isolating ground shield  156  of  FIGS. 15A through 15B  surrounding associated female pin receptacle holders  176  of  FIGS. 17A through 17D , with the latter each being surrounded by the circular ground shields  170  of  FIGS. 16A through 16D , as shown. In  FIG. 25  an enlarged pictorial view is shown of the immediately previously described components relative to their mounting. Note the female pin receptacle  200  is installed within the female pin receptacle holder  176 . In  FIG. 24  the left-hand connector  176 ,  200  is for receiving input signals, and the right-hand connector  176 ,  200  is for providing output signals. 
         [0061]      FIG. 26  shows a pictorial view looking into the interior portion of the lower section of the housing  318  with the bypass assembly  155  installed therein. The bypass switch assembly  155  is secured into the housing via the screws  14  of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 27  is a pictorial view looking into a main cable aerial input port  340  of housing  318 . Note the positioning of the KS stinger pin guide  138  of  FIGS. 13A through 13D . 
         [0062]      FIG. 28  shows a partial cross section and a partial cutaway view of a fully assembled multi-tap, in this example, showing the bypass switch assembly  155 , whereby the installed tap plate or top housing cover  300  forces and maintains the plunger  2  into its downwardmost position, compressing springs  112 , whereby bent edges  102  of the grounding fingers  96  are forced into a mechanical and an electrical contact with the interior bottom portion  319  of the housing  318 , thereby grounding the shorting bypass bar  82 , to insure that the aforesaid components do not electrically interfere with the proper operation of the multi-tap. More specifically, the purpose of grounding the shorting bypass bar  82  is to prevent it from acting as a resonant element, causing frequency dip responses which will occur if the shorting bypass bar  82  is not grounded, thereby limiting the bandwidth or frequency response to well below 3 GHz. By grounding the shorting bypass bar  82 , the frequency response can exceed 3 GHz. 
         [0063]    It is important to note that the bypass switch assembly  155  uses one plastic actuator plunger  2  to move the shorting bypass bar assembly  155 . The shorting bypass bar assembly  155  consistently moves parallel to the interior bottom  319  of the housing  318  by interaction between the two guide pin holes  56  of cross member  50 , and the two guide pins  70  of shorting bypass bar holder  68 , of  FIGS. 5A-5F , and  6 A- 6 E, respectively. 
         [0064]      FIG. 29  shows a partial cross section and partial cutaway view with the multi-tap cover plate  300  removed from the multi-tap housing  318 , whereby the plunger  2  has been forced via the expansion of springs  112  to its upwardmost position, causing the grounding fingers  84  at each end of the shorting bypass bar  82  to electrically contact and be mechanically secured against their associated electrically conductive right angle pin receptacle holders  36  at each end of the cross member  50  of the bypass switch assembly  155 , for electrically connecting the holder  36  at the aerial input port  320  to the holder  36  at the aerial output port  346  of the multi-tap device of this example. Note that if KS stingers  138  are alternatively positioned with their associated components in pedestal input and output ports  340 ,  342 , respectively, these ports and their associated pin receptacle holders  36  will be electrically connected or shorted together in the identical manner. As previously indicated, the various embodiments of the present invention are not limited to use in a multi-tap device, and may be incorporated into other electrical devices. In this manner, continuity of the main cable television cable connected to the illustrative multi-tap device is insured, regardless of whether the multi-tap cover  300  is installed on or removed from the housing  318 . 
         [0065]    In  FIG. 30 , for purposes of illustration, a top view of a multi-tap device having eight 75 ohm F-type coaxial cable female output connectors  139  providing cable television signals and power to eight users, the device incorporating various embodiments of the present invention, as previously illustrated. 
         [0066]    In other words, during normal operation, when the top housing cover plate  300  with its associated printed circuit board  292  is removed from the lower housing section  318 , the spring assembly of the formerly compressed two springs  112  expand causing the plunger  2  to move upward, pulling the shorting bypass bar  82  upward, which in turn causes contact fingers  84  at each end of the latter to pass through holes  58  of cross member  50 , to mechanically and electrically engage a bottom portion of their associated metal right-angle pin receptacle holders  36  for substantially simultaneously electrically connecting the end of the main cable installed within the associated aerial or pedestal input port  320 ,  340  of the multi-tap device to be electrically connected through the shorting bypass bar  82  to the end of the main cable  20  connected to the aerial or pedestal output port  346 ,  342  of the multi-tap device. The length of the male pin  38  of each of the pin receptacle holders  36  are made sufficiently long to insure they continue to make electrical contact with their associated female pin receptacles  200  on PCB  292  when the electrically conductive fingers  84  of shorting bypass bar  82  mechanically and electrically engage a portion of their associated pin receptacle holder  36 , to insure make-before-break operation as plunger  2  is fully extended by removal of cover plate  300 . In this manner, continuity of the signals and/or power being conducted by the main cable are not interrupted. Also, through use of the various embodiments of the invention for the design of the illustrated components thereof, signals up to and exceeding 3 GHz can either be bypassed or electrically processed by the multi-tap device of this example, without any distortion or attenuation of the high frequency signals via the present invention&#39;s maintaining a 75 ohm impedance for such signals, along with minimizing any capacitive or inductive coupling between the shorting bypass bar and the PCB connector assembly for maintaining the 75 ohm impedance. 
         [0067]    Various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, but they are not meant to be limiting. For example, the various embodiments of the present invention are not meant to be limited to use in a multi-tap device, and can be utilized in numerous other devices that must process signals having frequencies as high or higher than 3 GHz. Also, those of skill in the art may recognize certain modifications to the various embodiments of the invention, which modifications are meant to be covered by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, the male pin  38  of each of the right-angle pin receptacle holders  36  can be female pins, and the female pin receptacles  200  on the PCB  292  can be male pins, in an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Technology Category: h