Signal distribution system cascadable AGC device and method
View Patent ↗A cascadable AGC amplifier in a signal distribution system includes a low noise cascadable amplifier having a through path and a cascadable output. The cascadable amplifier is also configured to provide AGC over a predetermined input power range. The cascadable AGC amplifier can be configured to provide gain or attenuation. When the cascadable AGC amplifier is implemented in a signal distribution system, typically as part of a signal distribution device, an input signal can be gain controlled and supplied to multiple signal paths without distortion due to degradation of signal to noise ratio or distortion due to higher order amplifier products. The distributed signal is not significantly degraded by distortion regardless of the number of cascadable AGC amplifiers connected in series or the position of the cascadable AGC amplifier in the signal distribution system.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a) at least one variable gain amplifier having an output;
b) a first crosspoint switch having a plurality of first crosspoint switch inputs and a plurality of first crosspoint switch outputs, each of the first crosspoint switch inputs coupled to the output of a respective one of the variable gain amplifiers, the first crosspoint switch operable to switchably couple any of the plurality of first crosspoint switch inputs to any one or more of the plurality of first crosspoint switch outputs;
c) at least one frequency translation device having an input coupled to a respective first crosspoint switch output;
d) a second crosspoint switch having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs operable to switchably couple any of the plurality of second crosspoint switch inputs to any one or more of the plurality of second crosspoint switch outputs, the second crosspoint switch inputs each being coupled to a respective input of the first crosspoint switch;
e) a second plurality of variable gain amplifiers having inputs and outputs, each input coupled to a respective output of the second crosspoint switch; and
f) a second plurality of frequency translation devices having inputs, each input coupled to a respective output of one of the second plurality of variable gain amplifiers.
2. An apparatus comprising: a) at least one variable gain amplifier having an output; b) a first crosspoint switch having a plurality of first crosspoint switch inputs and a plurality of first crosspoint switch outputs, each of the first crosspoint switch inputs coupled to the output of a respective one of the variable gain amplifiers, the first crosspoint switch operable to switchably couple any of the plurality of first crosspoint switch inputs to any one or more of the plurality of first crosspoint switch outputs; c) at least one frequency translation device having an input coupled to a respective first crosspoint switch output;
a second crosspoint switch having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs operable to switchably couple any of the plurality of second crosspoint switch inputs to any one or more of the plurality of second crosspoint switch outputs;
a second plurality of variable gain amplifiers having inputs and outputs, each output coupled to a respective input of the second crosspoint switch and the input of each variable gain amplifier coupled to a respective input of the first crosspoint switch;
a second plurality of frequency translation devices having inputs, each second frequency translation device input being coupled to a respective second crosspoint switch output.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
each one of the plurality of first crosspoint switch outputs is coupled to a single one of the plurality of first output devices, and
each one of the plurality of second crosspoint switch outputs is coupled to a single one of the plurality of second output devices.