System for transmitting information over a power distribution network, particularly for use in connection with domestic appliances

• US 20020024425A1
• Filed: 08/27/2001
• Published: 02/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Chiriatti, Antonio
• Application Number:
  US09/939,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20020024425A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/310.01
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

A system for transmitting information over a power distribution network, particularly for transmitting information between domestic appliances and/or one or more domestic appliances and a remote controller, exploits the frequency available on the power line as a reference for generating the timing signal for modulation/demodulation function.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting information over a power distribution network, particularly for transmitting information between domestic appliances and/or between one or more domestic appliances and one or more remote controllers, characterised in that the frequency available on the power line is used as a reference for generating the timing signal for modulation/demodulation function.

2. A system according to claim 1, characterised in that power line frequency is used for generating the modulation/demodulation clock frequency.

3. A system according to claim 2, characterised in that in order to generate the clock frequency a phase locked loop circuit (PLL) is used.

4. A system according to claim 1, characterised in that the power line frequency is used for generating the modulation/demodulation carrier frequency by means of a phase locked loop circuit (PLL).

5. A system according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that power line frequency is used as reference for generating the spreading/despreading frequency.

6. A system according to claim 3, characterised in that it comprises an accurate adjustment circuit by using the recovered carrier frequency or clock frequency in order to generate a correction.

7. A system according to claim 6, characterised in that it comprises a transmitter section (T) that can work as receiving section (R) and vice-versa.

8. A system according to claim 2, including a domestic appliance.