DSL line tester
View Patent ↗An analog front end system comprising a digital-to-analog converter, a line driver, a multiple-input device, and an analog-to-digital converter is presented. Furthermore, a method for DSL line testing comprising the steps of providing test stimuli to and receiving responses from a DSL line using an analog front end is presented. The presented system and method provides for the testing of a DSL line in an xDSL communications system deployment.
1. An analog front end system, comprising:
a digital-to-analog converter;
a line driver, electrically coupled to said digital-to-analog converter;
a hybrid, electrically coupled to said line driver;
a multiple-input device having a plurality of inputs and at least one output, wherein at least one of said inputs is electrically coupled to said hybrid;
an analog-to-digital converter, electrically coupled to said output of said multiple-input device;
an isolation circuit configured to maintain direct-current isolation between the terminals of said isolation circuit, wherein:
said isolation circuit is electrically coupled to at least one of said inputs of said multiple-input device; and
said isolation circuit comprises a plurality of resistance elements and a plurality of capacitance elements, electrically coupled;
a ground circuit configured to provide a ground reference, wherein:
said ground circuit is electrically coupled to at least one of said inputs of said multiple-input device; and
said ground circuit comprises a plurality of resistance elements and at least one ground reference point, electrically coupled; and
a processing circuitry, said processing circuitry being configured to control said digital-to-analog converter, said line driver, said analog-to-digital converter, and said multiple-input device in response to commands received by said processing circuitry.
2. The analog front end system of claim 1 , wherein said multiple-input device is configured such that said inputs are selectively operational.
3. The analog front end system of claim 1 , wherein said multiple-input device is a multiplexer.
4. An analog front end system, comprising:
a digital-to-analog converter;
a line driver, electrically coupled to said digital-to-analog converter;
means for multiplexing a plurality of inputs to at least one output, electrically coupled to said line driver;
an analog-to-digital converter, electrically coupled to said means for multiplexing; and
means for direct current isolation of said multiple-input device from an input terminal, electrically coupled to one of said inputs of said means for multiplexing.
5. The analog front end system of claim 4 , further comprising a hybrid, electrically coupled between said line driver and one of said inputs of said means for multiplexing.
6. The analog front end system of claim 4 , further comprising means for providing a ground reference, electrically coupled to one of said inputs of said means for multiplexing.
7. The analog front end system of claim 4 , further comprising means for controlling said digital-to-analog converter, said line driver, said analog-to-digital converter, and said multiple-input device responsive to commands received by said means for controlling.
8. An analog front end system, comprising:
a digital-to-analog converter;
a line driver, electrically coupled to said digital-to-analog converter;
a multiple-input device having a plurality of inputs and at least one output, electrically coupled to said line driver;
a isolation circuit electrically coupled to said multiple input device, wherein said isolation circuit comprises a plurality of resistance elements and a plurality of capacitance elements, electrically coupled; and
an analog-to-digital converter, electrically coupled to said multiple-input device.
9. The analog front end system of claim 8 , further comprising a hybrid, electrically coupled between said line driver and said multiple-input device.
10. The analog front end system of claim 8 , further comprising a ground circuit configured to provide a ground reference, electrically coupled to said multiple-input device.
11. The analog front end system of claim 10 , wherein said ground circuit comprises a plurality of resistance elements and at least one ground reference point, electrically coupled.
12. The analog front end of claim 8 , wherein said multiple-input device is configured such that said inputs are selectively operational.
13. The analog front end system of claim 8 , further comprising a processing circuitry, said processing circuitry being configured to control said digital-to-analog converter, said line driver, said analog-to-digital converter, and said multiple-input device in response to commands received by said processing circuitry.