Moca connectivity splitter and hub

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a splitter or hub that provides plural ports for communicating MoCA signals between devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a passive splitter to communicate MoCA signals between a gateway/amplifier port and customer devices, or a passive hub to communicate MoCA signals between customer devices. The splitter or hub includes a resistive splitter network and may include a MoCA passing filter and a test port.

1 . A passive in-home network device comprising:
 a housing;   first, second, third and fourth ports located on said housing;   a resistive splitter network including a plurality of resistors, interconnected to freely pass MoCA signals between said first, second, third and fourth ports, wherein said plurality of resistors includes first, second, third and fourth resistors, a first terminal of said first resistor being connected to said first port, a second terminal of said first resistor being connected to a first terminal of each of said second, third and fourth resistors, and a second terminal of each of said second, third and fourth resistors being connected to said second, third and fourth ports, respectively; and   a filter interposed between said first port and said resistive splitter network.   
     
     
         2 . The passive in-home network device according to  claim 1 , wherein said filter has only two terminals, namely a first terminal of said filter and a second terminal of said filter. 
     
     
         3 . The passive in-home network device according to  claim 2 , wherein said first terminal of said filter is directly connected to said first port without any intervening circuit element. 
     
     
         4 . The passive in-home network device according to  claim 3 , wherein said second terminal of said filter is directly connected to said first terminal of said first resistor without any intervening circuit element. 
     
     
         5 . The passive in-home network device according to  claim 3 , wherein said second terminal of said filter is connected to a first leg of a directional coupler, and a second leg of said directional coupler is connected to said first terminal of said first resistor. 
     
     
         6 . The passive in-home network device according to  claim 2 , wherein said filter passes frequencies in an in-home network frequency range and does not pass frequencies below the in-home network frequency range, and wherein the in-home network frequency range is about 1,125 MHz to about 1,675 MHz. 
     
     
         7 . The passive in-home network device according to  claim 1 , wherein resistive values of said first, second, third and fourth resistors are equal. 
     
     
         8 . The passive in-home network device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fifth port, wherein said plurality of resistors further includes a fifth resistor, said second terminal of said first resistor being connected to a first terminal of said fifth resistor, and a second terminal of said fifth resistor being connected to said fifth port.   
     
     
         9 . The passive in-home network device according to  claim 8 , wherein said passive in-home network device consists essentially of said housing, said first, second, third, fourth and fifth ports, said first, second, third, fourth and fifth resistors and said filter. 
     
     
         10 . A passive in-home network device comprising:
 a housing;   first, second, third, fourth and fifth ports located on said housing; and   a resistive splitter network including a plurality of resistors, interconnected to freely pass MoCA signals between said first, second, third, fourth and fifth ports, wherein said plurality of resistors includes first, second, third, fourth and fifth resistors, a first terminal of said first resistor being directly connected to said first port without any intervening circuit elements, a second terminal of said first resistor being connected to a first terminal of each of said second, third, fourth and fifth resistors, and a second terminal of each of said second, third, fourth and fifth resistors being connected to said second, third, fourth and fifth ports, respectively.   
     
     
         11 . The passive in-home network device according to  claim 10 , wherein said second terminals of said second, third, fourth and fifth resistors are directly connected to said second, third, fourth and fifth ports, respectively, without any intervening circuit elements. 
     
     
         12 . The passive in-home network device according to  claim 10 , wherein said second terminal of said first resistor is directly connected to said first terminal of each of said second, third, fourth and fifth resistors, without any intervening circuit elements. 
     
     
         13 . The passive in-home network device according to  claim 12 , wherein said second terminals of said second, third, fourth and fifth resistors are directly connected to said second, third, fourth and fifth ports, respectively, without any intervening circuit elements. 
     
     
         14 . The passive in-home network device according to  claim 10 , wherein resistive values of said first, second, third and fourth resistors are equal. 
     
     
         15 . The passive in-home network device according to  claim 10 , wherein said passive in-home network device consists essentially of said housing, said first, second, third, fourth and fifth ports, and said first, second, third, fourth and fifth resistors. 
     
     
         16 . A passive in-home network device comprising:
 a housing;   first, second, third and fourth ports located on said housing;   a resistive splitter network including a plurality of resistors, interconnected to freely pass MoCA signals between said first, second, third and fourth ports, wherein said plurality of resistors includes first, second, third and fourth resistors, a first terminal of said first resistor being connected to said first port, a second terminal of said first resistor being connected to a first terminal of each of said second, third and fourth resistors, and a second terminal of each of said second, third and fourth resistors being connected to said second, third and fourth ports, respectively; and   a test port interposed between said first port and said resistive splitter network.   
     
     
         17 . The passive in-home network device according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a directional coupler interposed between said first port, said resistive splitter network and said test port, wherein a first leg of said directional coupler is connected to said first port, a second leg of said directional coupler is connected to said first terminal of said first resistor, and a third leg of said directional coupler is connected to said test port.   
     
     
         18 . The passive in-home network device according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a filter interposed between said first port and said resistive splitter network.   
     
     
         19 . The passive in-home network device according to  claim 18 , wherein a first terminal of said filter is connected to said first port, a second terminal of said filter is connected to a first leg of a directional coupler, a second leg of said directional coupler is connected to said first terminal of said first resistor, and a third leg of said directional coupler is connected to said test port. 
     
     
         20 . The passive in-home network device according to  claim 18 , wherein a first terminal of said filter is directly connected to said first port without any intervening circuit element, a second terminal of said filter is directly connected to a first leg of a directional coupler without any intervening circuit element, a second leg of said directional coupler is directly connected to said first terminal of said first resistor without any intervening circuit element, and a third leg of said directional coupler is directly connected to said test port without any intervening circuit element.