US 11,863,145 B1
Automatic gain control (AGC) using a wideband RF tuner in RF amplifiers in a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network
Rafael Celedon, Atlanta, GA (US); Steven Blashewski, Duluth, GA (US); Mark Siejka, Winder, GA (US); David Stewart, Lilburn, GA (US); and Stéphane Chapeau, Duluth, GA (US)
Assigned to Applied Optoelectronics, Inc., Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed by Applied Optoelectronics, Inc., Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed on Sep. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/945,600.
Int. Cl. H03G 3/30 (2006.01); H04B 17/21 (2015.01); H04B 10/2575 (2013.01)
CPC H03G 3/3068 (2013.01) [H04B 17/21 (2015.01); H04B 10/25751 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A controlled radio frequency (RF) amplifier for use in a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network, the controlled RF amplifier comprising:
amplifier circuitry configured to receive an input downstream RF signal having a wideband spectrum and to amplify the input downstream RF signal to provide an output downstream RF signal having the wideband spectrum;
automatic gain control (AGC) circuitry configured to control gain of the amplifier circuitry, the AGC circuitry comprising:
a wideband RF tuner configured to receive a sample of the downstream RF signal from the amplifier circuitry and to select at least first and second pilot channels from the sample of the downstream RF signal;
means for measuring power of the at least first and second pilot channels; and
a controller configured to determine a correction based on the measured power of the at least first and second pilot channels and to provide a control voltage or voltages to the amplifier circuitry based on the correction.