Plug-in single phase power line signal repeater with low voltage bus

• US 20030031310A1
• Filed: 05/31/2001
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Lombardi, Alfred, Szekretar, Ray, Justiniano, Joseph, Ostrovsky, Michael, Bruccoleri, Damon, Bogorad, Lev
• Granted Patent: US 7,042,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5479 using repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/58 Repeater circuits

Abstract

A control system and method suppress noise in a power-line-based system which has a device repeater connected to an electrical device, and which may be capable of remote control by signals transmitted through the power-line-based system. The control system includes a control device and a communications bus. The communications bus connects the control device to the device repeater. The control device, using a control repeater, controls a phase signal of the device repeater to suppress noise during operation of the electrical device associated with the device repeater.

Claims

1. A control device for controlling a phase signal of a device repeater connected to an electrical device in a power-line-based system, the control device comprising:

a control repeater, connected to the device repeater by a communications bus, for suppressing noise in the power-line-based system.

2. The control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a socket connected to the control repeater; and

a plug connected to the control repeater, with the control repeater connected between the plug and socket;

wherein the control device, with the plug and socket, is a modular plug-in package for connection to the power-line-based system.

3. The control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a body in which the control repeater is disposed.

4. The control device of claim 3, further comprising:

an indicator, externally mounted in the body, for indicating the operation function of the control device.

5. The control device of claim 4, wherein the indicator is a light emitting diode (LED).

6. The control device of claim 4, wherein the indicator is a touch screen.

7. The control device of claim 3, further comprising:

a port, externally disposed in the body, for connecting the communications bus to the control repeater.

8. The control device of claim 1, wherein the control repeater is electrically connected through the communications bus to a plurality of device repeaters each associated with first and second electrical devices;

wherein the first electrical device controls operation of the second electrical device using control signals, including the phase signal, transmitted through the power-line-based system; and

wherein the control repeater suppresses noise in the phase signal during operation of the second electrical device by the first electrical device.

9. A control system for suppressing noise in a power-line-based system, with the power-line-based system including a device repeater connected to an electrical device, the control system comprising:

a control device for controlling a phase signal of the device repeater to suppress the noise, the control device including;

a control repeater; and

a communications bus for connecting the control device to the device repeater.

10. The control system of claim 9, wherein the control device further comprises:

a socket connected to the control repeater; and

a plug connected to the control repeater, with the control repeater connected between the plug and socket;

wherein the control device, with the plug and socket, is a modular plug-in package for connection to the power-line-based system.

11. The control system of claim 9, wherein the control device further comprises:

a body in which the control repeater is disposed.

12. The control system of claim 11, wherein the control device further comprises:

an indicator, externally mounted in the body, for indicating the operation function of the control device.

13. The control system of claim 12, wherein the indicator is a light emitting diode (LED).

14. The control system of claim 12, wherein the indicator is a touch screen.

15. The control system of claim 11, wherein the control device further comprises:

a port, externally disposed in the body, for connecting the communications bus to the control repeater.

16. The control system of claim 9, wherein the power-line-based system includes first and second electrical devices with remote control capabilities provided through the power-line-based system;

wherein the control repeater is electrically connected through the communications bus to a plurality of device repeaters each associated with a respective one of the first and second electrical devices;

wherein the first electrical device controls operation of the second electrical device using control signals, including the phase signal, transmitted through the power-line-based system; and

wherein the control repeater suppresses noise in the phase signal during operation of the second electrical device by the first electrical device.

17. A method for suppressing noise in a power-line-based system, with the power-line-based system including a device repeater connected to an electrical device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a phase signal of the device repeater at a control device having a control repeater;

generating a phase-control signal at the control device using the control repeater; and

sending the phase-control signal from the control device to the device repeater via a communications bus; and

suppressing noise associated with the phase signal using the device repeater controlled by the phase-control signal.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

displaying an operation status using an indicator externally mounted in a body of the control device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the indicator is a light emitting diode (LED).

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the indicator is a touch screen.