Combined power and control signal transmission system
First Claim
1. A method of concurrently transmitting electrical power and communication signals from a source station to a remote station containing controllable power consuming components, the method comprising:
- transmitting electrical power along an electrical conductor;
superimposing an electrical communication signal on the electrical power along the electrical conductor for relating command information from the source station to the remote station;
at a remote station, separating the communication signal from the electrical power;
converting the electrical power to a high frequency signal which is encoded as a function of the separated communication signal;
transmitting the encoded high frequency signal across an inductive coupler;
deriving a control signal from the high frequency signal which is transmitted across the inductive coupler which varies in accordance with the communication signal to control operations of the power consuming components; and
powering the components at the remote station with the high frequency signal transmitted across the inductive coupler.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
At a first location (A), a signal combiner (14) combines DC power from a DC power source (10) and command communication signals from a command encoder (12). An electrical cable (B) conveys the combined DC electrical power and command communication signals to a remote location (C). The command communication signals are read by a signal separator (32) and used to control a DC to AC converter (34) such that the DC to AC converter converts the DC power to a high frequency signal which is modulated in accordance with the command communication. The high frequency signal is transmitted across an inductive coupler (40) to the remote equipment. A command unit (50) separates the command communication signals from the high frequency signal to control switches (54) and the functioning of components (56) at the remote location. A rectifier (52) provides DC power to operate the controlled components. A pressure transducer (62) generates data communication signals which are transmitted uplink across the inductive coupler. The uplink data communication signals are read from the cable by a data signal separator (92) and converted by a decoder (94) to the appropriate electrical format for a man-readable display (96).
186 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of concurrently transmitting electrical power and communication signals from a source station to a remote station containing controllable power consuming components, the method comprising:
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transmitting electrical power along an electrical conductor; superimposing an electrical communication signal on the electrical power along the electrical conductor for relating command information from the source station to the remote station; at a remote station, separating the communication signal from the electrical power; converting the electrical power to a high frequency signal which is encoded as a function of the separated communication signal; transmitting the encoded high frequency signal across an inductive coupler; deriving a control signal from the high frequency signal which is transmitted across the inductive coupler which varies in accordance with the communication signal to control operations of the power consuming components; and powering the components at the remote station with the high frequency signal transmitted across the inductive coupler. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of concurrently transmitting electrical power and command communication signals from a source station to a remote station containing power consuming equipment, the method comprising:
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transmitting DC electrical power from a source of DC electrical power at the source station over an electrical conductor to the remote station; concurrently transmitting an electrical command communication signal along the electrical conductor from the source station to the remote station; at the remote station, converting the DC electrical power to an AC electrical signal which is frequency modulated in accordance with the command communication signal; transmitting the AC signal across a magnetically coupled, selectively separable inductive coupler which is electrically connected with the equipment at the remote station to provide electrical power thereto; and deriving a control signal from the transmitted AC electrical signal and related to the frequency modulation of the AC electrical signal to control operations of the remotely located equipment. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for concurrently transmitting electrical power and communication signals from a source station to equipment at a remote station, the apparatus comprising:
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a source of electrical power at the source station for powering the equipment at the remote station; a signal encoder at the source station for generating communication signals; a signal combining means for combining the electrical power and the communication signals, the signal combining means being operatively connected with the source of electrical power and the signal encoder; an electrical conductor operative connected with the signal combining means and extending to the remote station; a communication signal separating means for separating the communication signal from the electrical power at the remote station; an AC converting means at the remote station for converting the electrical power to a high frequency electrical sign, the AC converting means being operatively connected with the electrical conductor and being operatively connected with the communication signal separating means such that the AC converting means generates a high frequency electrical signal which is encoded in accordance with the communication signal; an inductive coupler which is operatively connected with the AC converting means and the remotely located equipment for magnetically conveying the high frequency signal therebetween; and the remote equipment including a communication signal decoding means for deriving a control signal from the high frequency signal for controlling operation of the remote equipment. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification