Multi-port CATV power splitter with increased bandwidth
There is provided a signal splitter comprising at least four outputs and a plurality of step-up transformers, wherein each step-up transformer has less than seven turns. A first step-up transformer is connected to a common port and positioned between the input and second and third step-up transformers. The first step-up transformer has a different number of turns to the second and third step-up transformers.
1. A signal splitter comprising at least four outputs and a plurality of step-up transformers, wherein each step-up transformer has less than seven turns, wherein the plurality of step-up transformers comprises a first step-up transformer connected to an input and positioned between the input and second and third step-up transformers, the first step-up transformer having a different number of turns relative to the second and third step-up transformers.
2. The signal splitter according to claim 1 , wherein the first step-up transformer is connected to a transmission line transformer to provide separate signal paths to connect respectively to the second and third step-up transformers.
3. The signal splitter according to claim 2 , wherein the transmission line transformer is wound on a common core with a step-up transformer of the plurality of step-up transformers.
4. The signal splitter according to claim 1 , wherein a transmission line transformer is disposed between each first step-up transformer and the second and third step-up transformers, the transmission line transformer providing separate inputs to connect to each of the second and third step-up transformers.
5. The signal splitter according to claim 1 , wherein the input is a common port.
6. The signal splitter according to claim 1 , wherein the input is a signal path from a transmission line transformer.
7. The signal splitter according to claim 1 , wherein a first impedance on a downstream side of the second and third step-up transformers is different to a second impedance on an upstream side of the second and third step-up transformers.
8. The signal splitter according to claim 7 , wherein the first impedance and the second impedance are both in the range 30-100Ω.
9. The signal splitter according to claim 1 being bidirectional and configured for both upstream and downstream signals.
10. The signal splitter according to claim 1 , wherein capacitive and resistive elements are associated with the plurality of step-up transformers and are selected to produce an impedance of substantially 75Ω at an input of the signal splitter.
11. The signal splitter according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of step-up transformers is associated with a ferrite core and the total number of ferrite cores is half the total number of the transformers.
12. The signal splitter according to claim 11 , wherein the total number of ferrite cores is half the combined number of step-up transformers and transmission line transformers.