Power supply system and method using analog coupling circuitry for power-line communications

• US 20040130413A1
• Filed: 09/23/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atheros Communications Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.), Atheros Powerline, LLC (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intellon Corporation (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Denton, Bruce A., Mentz, James, Afkhamie, Hassan Kaywan, Magin, Gregory Allen
• Application Number:
  US10/669,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20040130413A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 333/167
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/06 including resistors H03H7/075, H03H7/09, H03H7/12, H03H7/13 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

Coupling circuitry implemented with passive components is added to a conventional power supply to enable communications access to a power-line network by a device designed for power-line communications (“PLC device”), in order to achieve certain benefits including minimizing costs.

Conventional PLC devices access the power-line network via coupling circuitry built into the PLC device and a separate cable that connects the PLC device to a power outlet. With this invention the PLC device may use the coupling circuitry that is built into a host'"'"'s existing power supply, thus providing at least two distinct advantages: 1) only one cable is necessary to connect the host device to the power-line network, and 2) the design of the PLC device is simplified since it is not connected to high-voltage line.

Claims

1. A power-line communication system, comprising:

a communication device for receiving and transmitting communication signals;

a power supply connected between a power-line and the communication device for supplying power to the communication device; and

coupling means with the power supply for facilitating transmission of both line power and the communication signals to the communication device through the power supply.

2. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the coupling means facilitates transmission of both line power and the communication signals along a single connection.

3. The system recited in claim 2 wherein the coupling means comprises a high pass filter for transmitting the communication signals and rejecting power-line frequencies.

4. The system recited in claim 3 further comprising means providing transient protection for the communication device.

5. The system recited in claim 1 further comprising means for injecting the communication signals onto a ground-free, low voltage direct-current path.

6. The system recited in claim 5 further comprising a redundant ground-free low voltage direct-current path.

7. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the power supply comprises a transformer having a center tap to extract a low-voltage direct-current component without shorting the communication signals.