SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COUPLING POWER LINE CONTROL SIGNALS

• US 20090121846A1
• Filed: 08/01/2008
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: X-10 LTD.
• Original Assignee: X-10 LTD.
• Inventors: Stevenson, George E., Phillips, James R., Rye, David J.
• Application Number:
  US12/184,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20090121846A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/310.160
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• 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

Abstract

Repeater systems and methods for coupling a home automation control signal from a first power line operating on a first phase to a second power line operating on a second phase are provided. A power line control repeater includes a power line control signal transceiver, a wireless signal transmitter, a wireless signal receiver, and a processor. The processor is configured to instruct the transmitting component to transmit wireless signals based on power line signals detected by the power line control signal transceiver and further configured to identify wireless signals received at the wireless signal receiver from a similarly configured repeater and to instruct the transceiver to modulate the power signal based on the received signals. A system includes two repeaters in wireless signal communication.

Claims

1. A power line control signal coupler comprising:

a transceiver configured to detect and modulate control signals present on a power line;

a wireless transmitting component;

a wireless receiving component; and

a processor in communication with the transceiver, the transmitting component, and the receiving component, wherein

the processor is configured to cause the transmitting component to transmit wireless signals based on power line signals detected by the transceiver and further configured to identify wireless signals received at the wireless receiving component as originating from a similarly configured power line control signal coupler and to instruct the transceiver to modulate the power signal based on the identified wireless signals.

2. The power line control signal coupler of claim 1, wherein the transceiver comprises:

a power line control signal detecting component; and

a power signal modulating component.

3. The power line control signal coupler of claim 1, further comprising a plug component in communication with the transceiver, wherein the plug component is configured to plug into a standard household power outlet.

4. The power line control signal coupler of claim 3, wherein the plug component is configured to plug into a 110 VAC household power outlet.

5. The power line control signal coupler of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to detect signals encoded with an X10 protocol and modulate the power signal with signals using the X10 protocol.

6. The power line control signal coupler of claim 1, wherein the transmitting component and the receiving component are configured to operate at approximately 310 MHz.

7. The power line control signal coupler of claim 1, further comprising a port in signal communication with the processor configured such that the processor can accept instructions from a device in signal communication with the port, wherein the processor is further configured to instruct the transceiver to modulate the power signal based on the instructions from the device and further configured to instruct the transmitting component to transmit wireless signals based on the instructions from the device.

8. A power line control signal coupling system comprising:

a first coupling unit configured for connection to a first power line carrying an electrical current at a first phase, the first coupling unit having a signal detector to detect signals traveling on the power line and a wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit the signals; and

a second coupling unit configured for connection to a second power line carrying an electrical current at a second phase, the second coupling unit having a receiver to receive the signals wirelessly transmitted by the first coupling unit and a transceiver configured to modulate the signals onto the second power line;

whereby the signals detected on the first power line at the first phase are transferred to the second power line at the second phase.

9. The power line control signal coupling system of claim 8, wherein the power line is a 110 VAC power line and wherein the first and second coupling units each include a standard plug configured to plug into a 110 VAC power outlet.

10. The power line control signal coupling system of claim 9, wherein the first and second coupling units are each configured to modulate the signal using an X10 protocol.

11. The power line control signal coupling system of claim 9, wherein the wireless signal is transmitted at a frequency of approximately 310 MHz.

12. A method of coupling a power line control signal having a control signal pattern from a first power line carrying a first power signal to a second power line carrying a second power signal, the method comprising:

detecting the power line control signal on the first power line using a first coupling unit;

transmitting a wireless signal from the first coupling unit based on the detected power line control signal;

receiving the wireless signal at a second coupling unit; and

modulating the second power signal with a coupled power line control signal based on the received wireless signal using the second coupling unit such that the coupled power line control signal includes the control signal pattern of the detected power line control signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second power signal has a different phase than the first power signal.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second coupling unit is substantially similar to the first coupling unit.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

detecting a power line control signal having a control signal pattern on the second power line using the second coupling unit;

transmitting a wireless signal from the second coupling unit based on the power line control signal detected on the second power line;

receiving the wireless signal from the second coupling unit at the first coupling unit; and

modulating the first power signal with a coupled power line control signal based on the received wireless signal from the second coupling unit using the first coupling unit such that the coupled power line control signal includes the control signal pattern of the detected power line control signal on the second power line.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

plugging the first coupling unit into a first standard electrical outlet electrically connected to the first power line; and

plugging the second coupling unit into a second standard electrical outlet electrically connected to the second power line.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first power line is a standard household power line and the second power line is a standard household power line.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first power line is a 110 VAC power line and the second power line is a 110 VAC power line.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein modulating the second power signal includes modulating the second power signal using an X10 protocol and wherein modulating the first power signal includes modulating the first power signal using an X10 protocol.