PLC breaker bridge
First Claim
1. A power line communication (PLC) bridge circuit, comprising:
- a first coupler that couples data signals to and from a main power line circuit;
a second coupler that couples data signals to and from a branch power line circuit, wherein the branch power line circuit is branched from the main power line circuit;
a first communication transceiver connected to the first coupler for transferring data signals to and from the first coupler;
a second communication transceiver connected to the second coupler for transferring data signals to and from the second coupler;
a controller that examines data signals from the first transceiver and determines if the data is destined for the second transceiver, wherein data that is not destined for the second transceiver is considered local data;
the controller further examines data signals from the second transceiver and determines if the data is destined for the first transceiver, wherein data that is not destined for the first transceiver is also considered local data; and
bridging means for passing data signals between the first communication transceiver and the second transceiver when the controller determines that the data is not local, and for not passing data signals between the first communication transceiver and the second communication transceiver when the controller determines that the data is local.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with certain embodiments consistent with the invention, a power line communication (PLC) bridge circuit, consistent with certain embodiments, has a first coupler that couples data signals to and from a main power line circuit. A second coupler couples data signals to and from a branch power line circuit, wherein the branch power line circuit is branched from the main power line circuit. A first communication transceiver is connected to the first coupler for transferring data signals to and from the first coupler. A second communication transceiver is connected to the second coupler for transferring data signals to and from the second coupler. A controller examines data signals from the first transceiver and determines if the data is destined for the second transceiver, so that data that is not destined for the second transceiver is considered local data. The controller also examines data signals from the second transceiver and determines if the data is destined for the first transceiver, so that data that is not destined for the first transceiver is also considered local data. A bridge passes data signals between the first communication transceiver and the second transceiver when the controller determines that the data is not local, and passes data signals between the first communication transceiver and the second communication transceiver when the controller determines that the data is local. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
271 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A power line communication (PLC) bridge circuit, comprising:
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a first coupler that couples data signals to and from a main power line circuit;
a second coupler that couples data signals to and from a branch power line circuit, wherein the branch power line circuit is branched from the main power line circuit;
a first communication transceiver connected to the first coupler for transferring data signals to and from the first coupler;
a second communication transceiver connected to the second coupler for transferring data signals to and from the second coupler;
a controller that examines data signals from the first transceiver and determines if the data is destined for the second transceiver, wherein data that is not destined for the second transceiver is considered local data;
the controller further examines data signals from the second transceiver and determines if the data is destined for the first transceiver, wherein data that is not destined for the first transceiver is also considered local data; and
bridging means for passing data signals between the first communication transceiver and the second transceiver when the controller determines that the data is not local, and for not passing data signals between the first communication transceiver and the second communication transceiver when the controller determines that the data is local. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A power line communication (PLC) bridge circuit, comprising:
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a first coupler that couples data signals to and from a main power line circuit;
a second coupler that couples data signals to and from a branch power line circuit;
a first communication transceiver connected to the first coupler for transferring data signals to and from the first coupler;
a second communication transceiver connected to the second coupler for transferring data signals to and from the second coupler;
wherein the first and second communication transceivers comprise HomePlug®
standard compliant transceivers;
a controller that examines data signals from the first transceiver and determines if the data is destined for the second transceiver, wherein data that is not destined for the second transceiver is considered local data;
the controller further examines data signals from the second transceiver and determines if the data is destined for the first transceiver, wherein data that is not destined for the first transceiver is also considered local data;
a common bus shared by the first and second communication transceivers, wherein the common bus is controlled by the controller;
wherein the controller further passes data signals over the common bus between the first communication transceiver and the second transceiver when the controller determines that the data is not local, and for not passing data signals between the first communication transceiver and the second communication transceiver when the controller determines that the data is local, wherein the controller determines whether or not the data is local by consulting a device table;
wherein the processor identifies at least one of an available time slot and an available frequency for passing the data signal between the first and second communication transceivers;
a filter that isolates the first and second power line circuits from each other at frequencies used for power line communication; and
a circuit breaker, coupled between the main power line circuit and the branch power line circuit, wherein the bridge circuit is housed within a housing that contains a circuit breaker.
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14. A power line communication (PLC) bridge circuit, comprising:
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a first coupler that couples data signals to and from a main power line circuit;
a second coupler that couples data signals to and from a branch power line circuit;
a first communication transceiver connected to the first coupler for transferring data signals to and from the first coupler;
a second communication transceiver connected to the second coupler for transferring data signals to and from the second coupler;
a controller that examines data signals from the first transceiver and determines if the data is destined for the second transceiver, wherein data that is not destined for the second transceiver is considered local data;
the controller further examines data signals from the second transceiver and determines if the data is destined for the first transceiver, wherein data that is not destined for the first transceiver is also considered local data;
bridging means for passing data signals between the first communication transceiver and the second transceiver when the controller determines that the data is not local, and for not passing data signals between the first communication transceiver and the second communication transceiver when the controller determines that the data is local; and
a circuit breaker, coupled between the main power line circuit and the branch power line circuit, wherein the bridge circuit is housed within a housing that contains a circuit breaker. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A power line communication (PLC) bridging method, comprising:
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receiving data from a main power line circuit and a branch power line circuit branching from the main power line circuit;
examining data signals from the branch power line circuit to determine if the data is destined for the branch power line circuit, and if so not passing the data to the main power line circuit, and if not then passing data to the main power line circuit; and
examining data signals from the main power line circuit to determine if the data is destined for the branch power line circuit, wherein if the data is destined for the branch power line circuit then passing the data to the branch power line circuit and if not, the then not passing data to the branch power line circuit. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31)
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- 29. The method according to claim 29, carried out within a device that houses both a circuit breaker and a power line communication bridge.
Specification