Low frequency bilateral communication over distributed power lines
First Claim
1. A full-duplex communications system for transmitting information, comprising:
- an electric power distribution line to transmit an electrical power signal;
a power distribution circuit coupled to the electric power distribution line to provide the electrical power signal to a power consumer via the electric power distribution line;
a first information transmitter coupled to the power distribution circuit to provide first information signals concurrently with the electrical power signal to the power consumer via the electric power distribution line;
a first information receiver, coupled to a power consumer device powered by the electrical power signal, to receive the first information signals via the electric power distribution line;
a second information transmitter coupled to the power consumer device to provide second information signals concurrently with the electrical power signal via the electric power distribution line; and
a second information receiver coupled to the power distribution circuit to receive the second information signals via the electric power distribution line, whereby full duplex communication between the power distribution circuit and the power consumer is accomplished via the electric power distribution line.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing full-duplex data communications between an electric power distribution station and a power consumer via the power distribution line providing electric power is provided. A first information transmitter, coupled to the power distribution circuit, provides first information signals concurrently with the power signal to the power consumer via the power distribution line. A first information receiver, coupled to a power consumer device powered by the electrical power signal, receives the first information signals via the electric power distribution line. A second information transmitter coupled to the power consumer device provides second information signals concurrently with the electrical power signal. A second information receiver, coupled to the power distribution circuit, receives the second information signals via the electric power distribution line. The information signals transmitted on the power distribution line can be transmitted at a frequency lower than the frequency of the transmitted power signal.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A full-duplex communications system for transmitting information, comprising:
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an electric power distribution line to transmit an electrical power signal;
a power distribution circuit coupled to the electric power distribution line to provide the electrical power signal to a power consumer via the electric power distribution line;
a first information transmitter coupled to the power distribution circuit to provide first information signals concurrently with the electrical power signal to the power consumer via the electric power distribution line;
a first information receiver, coupled to a power consumer device powered by the electrical power signal, to receive the first information signals via the electric power distribution line;
a second information transmitter coupled to the power consumer device to provide second information signals concurrently with the electrical power signal via the electric power distribution line; and
a second information receiver coupled to the power distribution circuit to receive the second information signals via the electric power distribution line, whereby full duplex communication between the power distribution circuit and the power consumer is accomplished via the electric power distribution line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A full-duplex communications system for disseminating information from a power distribution station to a plurality of power consumer sites via the electric power distribution line which provides power to the plurality of power consumer sites, comprising:
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a power distribution line coupled to each of the plurality of power consumer sites;
a power distribution circuit coupled to the power distribution line at the power distribution station to provide a power signal to the plurality of power consumer sites via the power distribution line;
an information transmitter coupled to the power distribution circuit to provide information signals concurrently with the power signal to the plurality of power consumers via the power distribution line;
at least one information receiver at each of the plurality of power consumer sites, each of the information receivers being coupled to a power consumer device powered by the power signal, wherein each of the information receivers receives the information signals via the power distribution line;
a consumer information transmitter at each of the power consumer devices to provide consumer information signals concurrently with the power signal to the power distribution station via the power distribution line; and
a consumer information receiver coupled to the power distribution circuit to receive the consumer information signals via the power distribution line, whereby full duplex communication between the power distribution circuit and the plurality of power consumer sites is accomplished via the power distribution line. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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15. A communications system for transmitting information from a utility power distribution node to a power consumer via an electric power distribution line used to provide power to the power consumer, the communications system comprising:
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a transmitting circuit at the power distribution node to transmit an information signal via the electric power distribution line at a frequency no greater than a power transmission frequency at which the power is transmitted; and
a receiving circuit at a customer site coupled to the transmitting circuit via the electric power distribution line to receive the information signal for use at the customer site.
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26. A communication method for communicating between an electric power provider and an electric power consumer via an electric power distribution line, the communication method comprising:
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providing a power signal to the power consumer via the electric power distribution line at a predetermined power signal frequency; and
concurrently transmitting a control signal, corresponding to the control information, to the power consumer via the electric power distribution line at a control frequency less than the power signal frequency, wherein the control information manipulates the operation of at least one consumer device at a power consumer site.
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40. A signal transmission device for transmitting information signals from a utility power distribution node to a power consumer via a power distribution line used to provide a power signal to the power consumer, the signal transmission device comprising:
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(a) an information signal modulating circuit to superimpose an information signal on the power signal, wherein the information signal has a frequency less than a frequency of the power signal, comprising;
(i) a zero-crossover sense circuit to determine approximate zero-crossover points of the power signal;
(ii) a signal inversion circuit coupled to the zero-crossover sense circuit to invert the phase of every nth half-period of the power signal between successive ones of the zero-crossover points to create a carrier power signal, wherein consecutive positive phases of the carrier power signal correspond to a first logic state of the information signal and consecutive negative phases of the carrier power signal correspond to a second logic state of the information signal; and
(b) signal driving circuitry coupled to the signal inversion circuit and to the power distribution line to drive the carrier power signal to the power consumer via the power distribution line.
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Specification