Method and apparatus for digitization of broadband analog signals

1. A method for communication, the method comprising:

in a radio frequency (RF) transceiver comprising:

a diplexer with a first high pass filter and a first low pass filter,

a first automatic gain and slope control (ASCS) module operating over a first frequency range coupled to said first high pass filter at a first output of said diplexer,

a second ASCS module operating in a second frequency range coupled to said first low pass filter at a second output of said diplexer, and

a combiner comprising a second high pass filter coupled to an output of the first ASCS module and a second low pass filter coupled to an output of said second ASCS module,

receiving an input RF signal comprising at least two signals;

splitting the input RF signal in the frequency domain into first and second signals of different frequency utilizing the diplexer;

communicating the first and second signals of different frequency to the first and second ASCS module, respectively;

amplifying the first and second signals of different frequency utilizing the first and second ASCS modules, respectively, by configuring a frequency-dependent gain level for each of the first and second signals; and

combining output signals from the first and second ASCS modules utilizing the combiner.

2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising configuring the frequency dependent gain levels of the first and second signals to enable an analog to digital converter (ADC) coupled to an output of the combiner to operate with an effective number of bits (ENOB) of approximately 10.

3. The method according to claim 1 , comprising configuring the frequency dependent gain levels of the first and second signals to result in equal error margins for each signal.

4. The method according to claim 1 , comprising configuring the frequency dependent gain levels of the first and second signals to result in equal total signal power for each signal.

5. The method according to claim 1 , comprising configuring the frequency dependent gain levels of the first and second signals to result in equal power density for each signal.

6. The method according to claim 1 , comprising configuring the frequency dependent gain levels of the first and second signals based on a type of modulation of the first and second signals.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each of the ASCS modules comprise one or more of: low noise amplifiers, variable gain amplifiers, and step attenuators.

8. The method according to claim 1 , comprising dynamically configuring the frequency dependent gain levels of the first and second signals.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first signal comprises a Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) signal and the second signal comprises a cable television signal.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the MoCA signal is time-duplexed with an output MoCA signal from a transmitter in the RF transceiver.

11. A system for communication, the system comprising:

a transceiver comprising:

a diplexer comprising a first high pass filter and a first low pass filter,

a first automatic gain and slope control (ASCS) module operating over a first frequency range coupled to said first high pass filter at a first output of said diplexer,

a second ASCS module operating in a second frequency range coupled to said first low pass filter at a second output of said diplexer, and

a combiner comprising a second high pass filter coupled to an output of said first ASCS module and a second low pass filter coupled to an output of said second ASCS module, said transceiver being operable to:

receive an input RF signal comprising at least two signals;

split the input RF signal in the frequency domain into first and second signals of different frequency utilizing the diplexer;

communicate the first and second signals of different frequency to the first and second ASCS modules, respectively;

amplify the first and second signals of different frequency using the first and second ASCS modules, respectively, by configuring a frequency-dependent gain level for each of the first and second signals; and

combine output signals from the first and second ASCS modules utilizing the combiner.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the transceiver is operable to configure the frequency dependent gain levels of the first and second signals to enable an analog to digital converter (ADC) coupled to an output of the combiner to operate with an effective number of bits (ENOB) of approximately 10.

13. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said transceiver is operable to configure the frequency dependent gain levels of the first and second signals to result in equal error margins for each signal.

14. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the transceiver is operable to configure the frequency dependent gain levels of the first and second signals to result in equal total signal power for each signal.

15. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said transceiver is operable to configure the frequency dependent gain levels of the first and second signals to result in equal power density for each signal.

16. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said transceiver is operable to configure the frequency dependent gain levels of the first and second signals based on a type of modulation of the first and second signals.

17. The system according to claim 11 , wherein each of the ASCS modules comprise one or more of: low noise amplifiers, variable gain amplifiers, and step attenuators.

18. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said transceiver is operable to dynamically configure the frequency dependent gain levels of the first and second signals.

19. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the first signal comprises a Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) signal, the second signal comprises a cable television signal, and the MoCA signal is time-duplexed with an output MoCA signal from a transmitter in the transceiver.

20. A system for communication, the system comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver comprising

a first automatic gain and slope control (ASCS) module operating over a first frequency range coupled to a first high pass filter at a first output of a diplexer,

a second ASCS module operating in a second frequency range coupled to a first low pass filter at a second output of said diplexer, and

a combiner comprising a second high pass filter coupled to an output of said first ASCS module and a second low pass filter coupled to an output of said second ASCS module, said transceiver being operable to:

receive an input RF signal comprising a Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) signal and a cable television signal;

split the input RF signal in the frequency domain into a corresponding MoCA signal and a cable television signal;

communicate the MoCA signal and the cable television signal to the first and second ASCS modules, respectively;

amplify the MoCA signal and the cable television signal utilizing the first and second ASCS modules, respectively, by configuring a frequency-dependent gain level for each of the MoCA and cable television signals; and

combine output signals from the first and second ASCS modules utilizing the combiner.