Systems and Methods for Power Line Communication with Refrigeration Containers

• US 20080291850A1
• Filed: 11/24/2006
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Denmark ApS (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Denmark ApS (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Jensen, Bent Hyrup
• Application Number:
  US12/094,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20080291850A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/276
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5487 cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for power line communication primarily with refrigeration containers, where the communication to and from the containers is performed as modulated signals transmitted over the power line. It is the object of the invention to achieve effective communication to and from containers without risk of disturbance of the communication when a high number of containers are connected to the same power grid. This can be achieved if the systems comprise at least one module for power line communication, which module comprises means for transmitting the modulated signal to and from the power grid, which means comprises at least one magnetic core, which surrounds the power lines, which magnetic core comprises a secondary winding, which is connected to the power line communication system. It can hereby be achieved that there is no direct electrical connection to the power lines where these power lines pass through the communication module, hi this way, a total galvanic isolation towards the power lines will exist, and as such this will protect the module against a great part of the impairment that might exist on the power grid lines. This impairment could be high voltage sparks that otherwise could destroy or at least disturb the electronic circuit, hi the module, the use of safety circuits is as such partly avoided which safety circuits typically are used for short cutting high voltage sparks which are typically occurring over the grid where this high voltage is generated by in and out-coupling transformers.

Claims

1. Systems for power line communication primarily for refrigeration containers, where a number of containers are connected to a power grid, where the systems comprise means for bidirectional communication with at least some of the containers, where at least some of the containers comprise means for communication with the systems, where the communication to and from the containers is performed by modulation of a signal transmitted over the power grid, wherein the containers are connected in a cluster, where all containers in the cluster are connected to the same sub power grid, where at least some of the containers in a cluster are communicating with at least one cluster controller, which cluster controller are connected to at least one module for power line communication, which module comprises means for transmitting the modulated signal to and from the sub power grid.

2. Systems for power line communication according to claim 1, wherein the module transmits modulated signals from the cluster controller towards containers, which module comprises at least one magnetic core, which magnetic core surrounds at least one of the power lines, which magnetic core comprises a secondary winding, which secondary winding is connected to the cluster controller.

3. Systems for power line communication according to claim 2, wherein more cluster controllers are communicating over normal data lines for achieving communication to all containers connected to different clusters.

4. Systems for power line communication according to claim 3, wherein the module comprises means for stopping the power line communication for transmission backwards in the power lines leading power towards the module.

5. Methods for power line communication to and from containers,

where a number of containers are connected to a power grid, where the methods performs bidirectional communication with at least some of the containers,

where the communication to and from the containers is performed as modulation of a signal transmitted over the power grid, wherein the methods concern use of at least one cluster controller for power line communication, which cluster controller comprises means for transmitting the modulated signal to and from a sub power grid,

where the containers are connected in a cluster, where all containers in the cluster are connected to the same sub power grid, where a cluster controller communicates with at least some of the containers in the cluster.

6. Methods for power line communication according to claim 5, wherein the modulation is performed by at least one magnetic core, which magnetic core surrounds at least one of the power lines, which magnetic core is magnetized by a secondary winding, which secondary winding is electronically activated by a cluster controller.

7. Methods for power line communication according to claim 6, wherein more cluster controllers communicate over normal data lines for achieving communication to all containers connected to different clusters.

8. Methods for power line communication according to claim 7, wherein the methods also concern blocking for communication and impairments forwards and backwards from the clusters.