Powerline communication (PLC) modem employing an analog electromagnetic transducer

• US 20070220570A1
• Filed: 03/14/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Iwamura, Ryuichi, Dawson, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,031,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/111
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network

Abstract

A PLC cable modem is provided which includes an analog electromagnetic field transducer for generating an electromagnetic field based on an analog electrical signal and also for generating an analog electrical signal based on an electromagnetic field. The PLC cable modem also includes an analog signal processing unit operatively coupled to the analog electromagnetic field transducer and a digital signal processing unit for processing signals received from (or to be sent to) the analog signal processing unit. An interface port is provided for communicating digital signals to and from a data transmission or receiving device.

Claims

1. A PLC cable modem, comprising:

an analog electromagnetic field transducer for generating an electromagnetic field based on an analog electrical signal and an analog electrical signal based on an electromagnetic field;

an analog signal processing unit operatively coupled to the analog electromagnetic field transducer;

a digital signal processing unit for processing signals received from or to be sent to the analog signal processing unit; and

an interface port for communicating digital signals to and from a data transmission or receiving device.

2. The PLC cable modem of claim 1 wherein the interface port comprises a USB port.

3. The PLC cable modem of claim 1 wherein the interface port comprises an Ethernet port.

4. The PLC cable modem of claim 1 wherein the interface port comprises a 10 or 100 Base-T connector.

5. The PLC cable modem of claim 1 wherein the analog and digital signal processing units are HomePlug compliant.

6. The PLC cable modem of claim 1 wherein the analog electromagnetic field transducer comprises one or more antennas.

7. The PLC cable modem of claim 1 wherein the analog electromagnetic field transducer comprises a reception antenna and a transmission antenna.

8. A method for receiving data from a PLC network, comprising:

detecting an electromagnetic field generated by the PLC network;

transforming changes in the electromagnetic field that correspond to data into an electrical output signal;

transforming the electrical output signal into a digital signal; and

communicating the digital signal to a data receiving device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the data receiving device is a battery-powered device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the data receiving device is selected from the group consisting of a network monitor, portable digital audio player, digital camera, and PDA.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the digital signal is communicated to the data receiving device through a USB connection.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the digital signal is communicated to the data receiving device through an Ethernet connection.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the digital signal is communicated to the data receiving device through a 10 or 100 Base-T connection.

14. A method for transmitting data over a PLC network, comprising:

receiving from a data transmitting device a digital signal in which information is embodied;

generating an electromagnetic field that is modulated to incorporate the information embodied in the digital signal; and

transmitting the electromagnetic field to the PLC network.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the data transmitting device is selected from the group consisting of a portable digital audio player, digital camera, and PDA.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the data transmitting device is a battery-powered device.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the digital signal is communicated to the data transmitting device through a USB connection.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the digital signal is communicated to the data transmitting device through an Ethernet connection.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the digital signal is communicated to the data transmitting device through a 10 or 100 Base-T connection.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the digital signal is HomePlug compliant.