DEVICE FOR POWER LINE COMMUNICATION, METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING SIGNALS, AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING SIGNALS

• US 20150256222A1
• Filed: 09/24/2013
• Published: 09/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Schwager, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 9,537,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/0408 with power amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5425 improving S/N by matching impedance, noise reduction, gain control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

A device for power line communication is provided, including a transmitter adapted to transmit signals on at least two of a plurality of power line transmission paths of a power line network; a sensor adapted to determine one or a plurality of reflection parameters of one of the plurality of power line transmission paths; and a transmission impedance matching unit adapted to match the output impedance of at least two output ports of the device which each couple to one of the plurality of transmission paths to the impedance of the at least two of the power line transmission paths based on the one or the plurality of reflection parameters. Further, a device including a corresponding reception impedance matching unit is provided and corresponding methods for transmitting and receiving signals.

Claims

1. A device for power line communication comprising:

a transmitter adapted to transmit signals on at least two of a plurality of power line transmission paths of a power line network;

a sensor adapted to determine one or a plurality of reflection parameters of one of the plurality of power line transmission paths; and

a transmission impedance matching unit adapted to match the output impedance of at least two output ports of the device which each couple to one of the plurality of transmission paths to the impedance of the at least two of the power line transmission paths based on the one or the plurality of reflection parameters.

2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive signals on at least two of the plurality of power line transmission paths of the power line network via two input ports; and

a reception impedance matching unit adapted to match the input impedance of the at least two input ports of the receiver to the impedance of the at least two of the power line transmission paths based on the one or the plurality of reflection parameters.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is further adapted to determine one or a plurality of reflection parameters of a common mode reception path and wherein the reception impedance matching unit is further adapted to match the impedance of a common mode input port of the device to the impedance of the common mode reception path.

4. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an amplifier adapted to amplify the power of the signal prior to transmission with an amplification factor, wherein the amplification factor for the signals is based on the one or the plurality of reflection parameters.

5. A device for power line communication comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive signals on at least two of a plurality of power line reception paths of a power line network;

a sensor adapted to determine one or a plurality of reflection parameters of one of the plurality of power line reception paths; and

a reception impedance matching unit adapted to match the input impedance of at least to input ports of the device which each couple to one of the plurality of transmission paths to the impedance of the at least two of the power line reception paths based on the one or the plurality of reflection parameters.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the sensor is further adapted to determine one or a plurality of reflection parameters of a common mode reception path and wherein the reception impedance matching unit is further adapted to match the input impedance of a common mode input port of the device to the impedance of the common mode reception path.

7. A method for transmitting signals from a device for power line communication via a plurality of transmission paths of a power line network comprising:

determining one or a plurality of reflection parameters of one of the plurality of power line transmission paths;

matching an output impedance of at least two output ports which each couple to one of the plurality of power line transmission paths to the impedance of at least two of the power line transmission paths based on the one or the plurality of reflection parameters.

8. A method for receiving signals in a device for power line communication via a plurality of reception paths of a power line network comprising:

determining one or a plurality of reflection parameters of one of the plurality of power line reception paths;

matching an input impedance of at least two input ports which each couple to one of the plurality of transmission paths to the impedance of at least two of the power line reception paths based on the one or the plurality of reflection parameters.