Signal amplifiers that switch to an attenuated or alternate communications path in response to a power interruption
RF signal amplifiers are provided that include an RF input port, a switching device having an input that is coupled to the RF input port, a first output and a second output, a first diplexer having an input that is coupled to both the first output of the switching device and the second output of the switching device, and a first RF output port that is coupled to an output of the first diplexer. These amplifiers further include an attenuator that is coupled between the second output of the switching device and the input of the first diplexer.
1. A bi-directional RF signal amplifier, comprising:
an RF input port;
a power divider network having a plurality of active RF output ports;
an active communications path connecting said RF input port to said power divider network, said active communications path including a power amplifier to amplify a downstream signal passing along said active communications path;
a passive RF output port;
a passive communications path connecting said RF input port to said passive RF output port, wherein said passive communications path has no power amplifier;
a switching device having an input that is coupled to said RF input port, a first output and a second output, wherein said first output is part of said active communications path and said second output is part of said passive communications path;
a power input for receiving electrical power, wherein said switching device is configured to pass signals between said input of said switching device and said first output of said switching device when electrical power is received at said power input and that is further configured to pass signals between said input of said switching device and said second output of said switching device when an electrical power feed to said power input is interrupted;
an attenuator placed in said passive communications path; and
a first directional coupler along said active communications path between said first output of said switching device and said power divider network.
2. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 1 , wherein said attenuator introduces 3 dB of attenuation along said passive communications path.
3. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 1 , wherein said switching device is a first switching device, and further comprising:
a second switching device along said passive communications path, wherein said second switching device and said attenuator are located between said second output of said first switching device and said passive RF output port.
4. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 1 , wherein said switching device comprises a non-latching relay.
5. A bi-directional RF signal amplifier, comprising:
an RF input port;
a power divider network having a plurality of active RF output ports;
an active communications path connecting said RF input port to said power divider network, said active communications path including a power amplifier to amplify a downstream signal passing along said active communications path;
a passive RF output port;
a passive communications path connecting said RF input port to said passive RF output port, wherein said passive communications path has no power amplifier; and
a switching device having an input that is coupled to said RF input port, a first output and a second output, wherein said first output is part of said active communications path, wherein said second output is connected to a node within said power divider network and bypasses said at least one power amplifier, and wherein said power divider network includes a plurality of connected power dividers, and wherein said second output of said switching device is directly connected to at least an input or an output of an individual power divider of said plurality of connected power dividers.
6. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 5 , wherein said second output of said switching device is directly connected to a node that is between two of said power dividers of said plurality of connected power dividers.
7. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 5 , wherein said second output of said switching device is directly connected to a node that is between one of said plurality of connected power dividers and one of said plurality of active RF output ports.
8. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 5 , wherein said second output of said switching device is directly connected to a node at an input to said power divider network.
9. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 5 , further comprising:
a first diplexer having a common port, a high frequency port and a low frequency port, wherein said common port of said first diplexer is coupled to said first output of said switching device and said high frequency port of said first diplexer is connected to an input of said power amplifier; and
a second diplexer having a common port, a high frequency port and a low frequency port, wherein said common port of said second diplexer is coupled to an input of said power divider network, said high frequency port of said second diplexer is connected to an output of said power amplifier, and said low frequency port of said second diplexer is connected to said low frequency port of said first diplexer.
10. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 9 , further comprising:
a directional coupler interposed between said RF input port and said switching device, wherein an input of said bi-directional coupler is coupled to said RF input port, a first output of said directional coupler is coupled to said input of said switching device, and a second output of said directional coupler is coupled to said passive communications path leading to said passive RF output port.
11. A bi-directional RF signal amplifier, comprising:
an RF input port;
a power divider network having a plurality of RF output ports;
an active communications path connecting said RF input port to said power divider network, said active communications path including a power amplifier to amplify a downstream signal passing along said active communications path;
at least one of said plurality of RF output ports having a potential to function as either an active RF output port or a passive RF output port;
a passive communications path connecting said RF input port to said at least one of said plurality of RF output ports, wherein said passive communications path has no power amplifier; and
a switching device having an input that is coupled to said RF input port, a first output and a second output, wherein said first output is part of said active communications path and said second output is part of said passive communications path, wherein said power divider network includes a plurality of connected power dividers, and wherein said second output of said switching device is directly connected to at least an input or an output of an individual power divider of said plurality of connected power dividers.
12. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 11 , wherein said second output of said switching device is directly connected to a node that is between two of said power dividers of said plurality of connected power dividers.
13. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 11 , wherein said second output of said switching device is directly connected to a node that is between one of said plurality of connected power dividers and one of said plurality of active RF output ports.
14. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first diplexer having a common port, a high frequency port and a low frequency port, wherein said common port of said first diplexer is coupled to said first output of said switching device and said high frequency port of said first diplexer is connected to an input of said power amplifier.
15. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 14 , further comprising:
a second diplexer having a common port, a high frequency port and a low frequency port, wherein said common port of said second diplexer is coupled to an input of said power divider network, said high frequency port of said second diplexer is connected to an output of said power amplifier, and said low frequency port of said second diplexer is connected to said low frequency port of said first diplexer.
16. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 3 , wherein said attenuator is located between said second output of said first switching device and said second switch.
17. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 16 , wherein said second switch includes an input, a first output and a second output, and wherein said second switching device is configured to pass signals between said input of said second switching device and said first output of said second switching device when electrical power is received at said power input and that is further configured to pass signals between said input of said second switching device and said second output of said second switching device when an electrical power feed to said power input is interrupted, and wherein said input of said second switching device is connected to said passive RF output port and said second output of said second switching device is connected to said attenuator.
18. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 17 , wherein said first output of said second switching device is connected to said first directional coupler.
19. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 11 , further comprising:
a power input for receiving electrical power, wherein said switching device is configured to pass signals between said input of said switching device and said first output of said switching device when electrical power is received at said power input and that is further configured to pass signals between said input of said switching device and said second output of said switching device when an electrical power feed to said power input is interrupted.