Remote PHY Node UPS for Cable Service Interruptions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cable television systems experience service interruptions due to short power interruptions caused by tap face plate removal or momentary shorts in the coax distribution network, which can lead to prolonged service outages in CPU-embedded devices, as existing battery-powered UPS systems do not provide adequate protection against these types of interruptions.
Innovation Solution
A specialized Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is integrated within the Remote PHY node, utilizing energy storage media like batteries or capacitors to provide alternative power during short interruptions, allowing the system to remain operational and enabling rapid recovery when main power is restored, with the ability to prioritize power delivery to critical components like R-PHY devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional battery-powered UPS system is used to protect against power interruptions, then protection against long-duration outages is provided, but protection against short-duration interruptions (hundreds of milliseconds) is inadequate, causing service interruptions in CPU-embedded devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a hybrid UPS system that preemptively charges a capacitor bank during normal operation. When a short-duration power interruption occurs (such as during tap face plate removal), the capacitor immediately discharges to maintain power to critical components, preventing service interruption. This preliminary energy storage and rapid discharge capability addresses the inadequacy of traditional battery systems for sub-second interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hybrid energy storage system combining capacitor and battery as an intermediary between the power source and load. The capacitor acts as a fast-response buffer for short-duration interruptions, while the battery handles longer-duration outages. This intermediary hybrid system resolves the contradiction by providing both immediate response capability and sustained protection.
2Ease of repair
If tap face plates are removed for maintenance to enable easy replacement of electronic circuitry, then ease of repair is improved, but sequential disengagement of connections causes short power interruptions that disrupt service
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a hybrid UPS system that stores energy in advance (in capacitor and battery) to cushion against the power interruptions inevitably caused by tap face plate removal. This beforehand energy cushioning ensures that even when connections are sequentially disengaged during maintenance, critical components remain powered and service continues uninterrupted.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid energy storage system acts as an intermediary power source during tap maintenance operations. It mediates between the interrupted main power supply and the critical loads, ensuring continuous operation despite the sequential disengagement of tap connections during face plate removal.
3Adaptability or versatility
If CPU-embedded signal processing devices are installed in the outside plant to provide sophisticated signal processing, then signal processing capability is improved, but these devices require several minutes to recover from short power interruptions, causing prolonged service outages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a hybrid UPS system that preemptively maintains power to CPU-embedded devices during short interruptions by rapidly discharging the capacitor. This prevents the devices from experiencing power loss altogether, eliminating the several-minute recovery time that would otherwise be required after interruptions caused by tap maintenance or momentary shorts.
4Power
If QSW AC power is carried through the coaxial cable to power remote devices, then power delivery capability is improved, but momentary shorts or interruptions in the cable cause power loss to all downstream devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hybrid energy storage system as an intermediary power source at the remote device level. This local energy buffer mediates between the vulnerable coaxial QSW power delivery and the critical load, ensuring continuous operation even when the cable experiences momentary shorts or interruptions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The UPS maintains the Remote PHY Node and critical components operational during short power interruptions, minimizing service outages and enabling immediate recovery upon power restoration, thus reducing the duration of service disruptions and improving system reliability.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing energy storage media like batteries or capacitors to provide alternative power during short interruptions
Implementation Method 2
utilizing energy storage media like batteries or capacitors to provide alternative power during short interruptions
Data Source
AI summary
A Remote PHY (R-PHY) node having a specialized Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). A R-PHY node comprises a coaxial cable input, one or more Remote PHY (R-PHY) devices, a node power supply designed to supply an entirety of the R-PHY node with power continuously while there is Quasi Square Wave (QSW) AC power supplied to the R-PHY node over the coaxial cable input, and an UPS for supplying power to either the entirety of the R-PHY node or a set of the one or more R-PHY devices when the R-PHY node is not supplied QSW power over the coaxial cable input. The internal UPS adjusts how power is supplied in response to determining that a configurable amount of time has passed since the interruption in QSW power to the R-PHY node.