Data Interface to the AC Power Line Via Standard Light Bulb Socket

• US 20090040030A1
• Filed: 10/20/2008
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., Global Franchising Corp., Radioshack Online IPCO LLC
• Original Assignee: Alfred C. Griffin, David K. Mathews
• Inventors: Griffin, Alfred C., Mathews, David K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,901,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/310.120
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0056 Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission

Abstract

There is disclosed a data receiving device for coupling to an AC power line through a standard light bulb socket. A standard medium lamp base is supported by a frame and connected to a branch circuit of the AC power line. An electrical device having signal terminals and supported by the frame is driven by electrical circuitry having a first input and a first output. The first output is coupled to the signal terminals for driving the electrical device. A data receiver has a second input for receiving both AC power and a data signal from the AC power line. The second input is coupled to the lamp base and a second output is coupled to the first input of the electrical circuitry.

In another aspect, a data interface comprising a standard medium lamp base coupled to a data terminal device having a data receiving and/or transmitting interface circuit therein is threadably engaged to a standard medium lamp receptacle connected to the AC power line branch circuit. The data receiving and/or transmitting interface circuit, or data modem, in the data terminal device is configured for extracting data encoded for transmission or encoding data to be embedded and transmitted along the AC power line branch circuit.

Claims

1. A data interface, comprising:

a data terminal device for processing data communicated via the AC power line; and

a data interface for coupling the data terminal device to the AC power line, comprising;

a frame;

a standard medium lamp base supported by the frame and for connecting to a branch circuit of the AC power line;

an electrical device having signal terminals and supported by the frame;

electrical circuitry having a first input and a first output, the first output coupled to the signal terminals for driving the electrical device; and

a data receiver having a first input for receiving both AC power and a data signal from the AC power line, the first input coupled to the lamp base, and a first output coupled to the first input of the electrical circuitry.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a standard lamp fixture.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data receiver comprises a first circuit for isolating the data receiver from AC power line voltages followed by and coupled with a second circuit for demodulating orthogonal frequency division modulation (OFDM) data to provide demodulated data.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second circuit in the data receiver further comprises circuitry for decoding the demodulated data into a form usable by the electrical device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein an output of the second circuit is coupled to an input of a third circuit for converting the audio data to analog form.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the demodulated data is stored in a memory.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the demodulated data is retrieved from the memory and coupled to the first input of the electrical circuitry.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data receiving unit is configured for wireless remote using a hand held controller.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a control unit associated with a wall-mounted light switch assembly effects control of the data receiving unit and a lamp installed in the standard medium lamp base.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control unit is responsive to wireless control of power line carrier communications.

38. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data interface comprises:

a standard medium lamp base coupled to the data terminal device for threadably engaging a standard medium lamp receptacle connected to the AC power line branch circuit; and

a data receiving interface circuit in the data terminal device and coupled to the standard medium lamp base for decoding and extracting the data transmitted along the AC power line branch circuit.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising an AC power line coupler connected between the standard medium lamp base and the data receiving interface circuit.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the AC power line coupler includes a circuit for isolating the data from AC line voltage on the AC power line branch circuit and for suppressing transient interfering signals present on the AC power line branch circuit.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the data is encoded for transmission on the AC power line configured for a maximum data rate of at least 14 Mbps.

42. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data interface comprises:

a standard medium lamp base coupled to the data terminal device for threadably engaging a standard medium lamp receptacle connected to the AC power line branch circuit; and

a data transmitting interface circuit in the data terminal device and coupled to the standard medium lamp base for encoding and embedding the data to be transmitted along the AC power line branch circuit.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising an AC power line coupler connected between the standard medium lamp base and the data transmitting interface circuit.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the AC power line coupler includes a circuit for isolating the data from AC line voltage on the AC power line branch circuit and for suppressing transient interfering signals present on the AC power line branch circuit.

45. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the data is encoded for transmission on the AC power line configured for a maximum data rate of at least 14 Mbps.

46. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data interface comprises:

a standard medium lamp base coupled to the data terminal device for threadably engaging a standard medium lamp receptacle connected to the AC power line branch circuit; and

a data receiving and transmitting interface circuit in the data terminal device and coupled to the standard medium lamp base for decoding and extracting and encoding and embedding the data to be transmitted along the AC power line branch circuit.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising an AC power line coupler connected between the standard medium lamp base and the data receiving and transmitting interface circuit.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the AC power line coupler includes a circuit for isolating the data from AC line voltage on the AC power line branch circuit and for suppressing transient interfering signals present on the AC power line branch circuit.

49. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the data is encoded for transmission on the AC power line configured for a maximum data rate of at least 14 Mbps.

50. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data interface comprises:

a standard medium lamp base coupled to the data terminal device for threadably engaging a standard medium lamp receptacle connected to the AC power line branch circuit; and

a data modem in the data terminal device and coupled to the standard medium lamp base for demodulating and decoding and/or encoding and modulating the data to be transmitted along the AC power line branch circuit.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising an AC power line coupler connected between the standard medium lamp base and the data modem.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the AC power line coupler includes a circuit for isolating the data from AC line voltage on the AC power line branch circuit and for suppressing transient interfering signals present on the AC power line branch circuit.

53. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the data is encoded for transmission on the AC power line configured for a maximum data rate of at least 14 Mbps.