Multiple-mode electrical power and communications interface
First Claim
1. A multiple-mode electrical power and communication interface, comprising:
- means for generating an electrical power signal;
command encoding means coupled to said generating means for receiving and encoding command words into command signals exhibiting a plurality of discrete frequencies, and for applying said command signals to said generating means to modulate the instantaneous frequency of said electrical power signal, whereby said electrical power signal includes a command component and a power component;
data decoding means for receiving and decoding data signals;
first and second discrete couplers each having primary and secondary sides;
connecting means for providing electrically distinct first and second signal paths for simultaneously coupling said generating means and said data decoding means via selected ones of said first and second paths to the primary sides of different ones of said first and second couplers, one of said signal paths being coupled by said connecting means to conduct said electrical power signal and the other one of said signal paths being coupled by said connecting means to conduct said data signals;
a network normally located remotely from said command encoding means and separately coupled to said secondary sides of said first and second couplers, including;
command decoding means for decoding said command signals from said command component;
data encoding means for encoding and transmitting information as data signals; and
control means responsive to reception of said power component across said couplers for enabling said command decoding means to receive said command signals via said one of said signal paths coupled to conduct said electrical power signal, for isolating said data encoding means from said one of said signal paths coupled to conduct said electrical power signal, and for enabling said data encoding means to transmit said data signals via the one of said signal paths coupled to conduct said data signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple-mode electrical power and communications interface includes a command encoder (10) modulating the frequency generated by a variable frequency power source (12) for transmission over one of two signal transmission paths (16/26) to a remotely located data acquisition and transmission network (32). The signal transmission paths (16/26) are connected via inductive couplers (20/24) to different directional control stages (50/52) which selectively enable corresponding frequency separators (54/62) for filtering the command component from the power component and applying the former to a command decoder (56). The direction control stages enable one of a pair of local transmitters (58/64) to send information encoded by a data encoder (60) over the other of the two signal transmission paths. A mode shifting transmit/receive switch (15) simultaneously and separately connects the two signal paths to the power source (12) and a data decoder (30). In the event of loss of one of the two signal paths, the mode shifting switch (15) can sequentially connect the power source (12) and data decoder (30) to the same signal transmission path.
74 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A multiple-mode electrical power and communication interface, comprising:
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means for generating an electrical power signal; command encoding means coupled to said generating means for receiving and encoding command words into command signals exhibiting a plurality of discrete frequencies, and for applying said command signals to said generating means to modulate the instantaneous frequency of said electrical power signal, whereby said electrical power signal includes a command component and a power component; data decoding means for receiving and decoding data signals; first and second discrete couplers each having primary and secondary sides; connecting means for providing electrically distinct first and second signal paths for simultaneously coupling said generating means and said data decoding means via selected ones of said first and second paths to the primary sides of different ones of said first and second couplers, one of said signal paths being coupled by said connecting means to conduct said electrical power signal and the other one of said signal paths being coupled by said connecting means to conduct said data signals; a network normally located remotely from said command encoding means and separately coupled to said secondary sides of said first and second couplers, including; command decoding means for decoding said command signals from said command component; data encoding means for encoding and transmitting information as data signals; and control means responsive to reception of said power component across said couplers for enabling said command decoding means to receive said command signals via said one of said signal paths coupled to conduct said electrical power signal, for isolating said data encoding means from said one of said signal paths coupled to conduct said electrical power signal, and for enabling said data encoding means to transmit said data signals via the one of said signal paths coupled to conduct said data signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A multiple-mode electrical power and communication interface, comprising:
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means for generating an electrical power signal; command encoding means coupled to said generating means for receiving and encoding command words into command signals exhibiting a plurality of discrete frequencies, and for applying said command signals to said generating means to modulate the instantaneous frequency of said electrical power signal, whereby said electrical power signal includes a command component and a power component; first and second discrete couplers each having primary and secondary sides; data decoding means for receiving and decoding data signals; connecting means for providing electrically distinct first and second signal paths for simultaneously coupling said generating means and said data decoding means via selected ones of said first and second paths to the primary sides of different ones of said first and second couplers; a network normally located remotely from said command encoding means and separately coupled to said secondary sides of said first and second couplers, including; first control means for providing a first enabling signal during transmission of said power component across said first coupler and a second enabling signal during the absence of said power component across said second coupler; second control means for providing a third enabling signal during transmission of said power component across said second coupler and providing a fourth enabling signal during the absence of said power component across said second coupler; command decoding means connected to said secondary sides of said first and second couplers for decoding said command signals from said command component during generation of said first and third enabling signals; data encoding means for receiving and encoding information as data signals;
first transmitter means coupled between said data encoding means and said first coupler for transmitting said data signals across said first coupler during generation of said second enabling signal; andsecond transmitter means coupled between said data encoding means and said second coupler for transmitting said data signals across said second coupler during generation of said fourth enabling signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for multiple-mode transmission of electrical power and communication signals, comprising:
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generating an electrical power signal; encoding command words into command signals exhibiting a plurality of discrete frequencies; applying the command signals to modulate the instantaneous frequency of said electrical power signal, whereby said electrical power signal includes a command component and a power component; coupling one of a pair of signal paths to conduct said electrical power signal and the other of the pair of said signal paths to conduct data signals; detecting the transmission of said electrical power signal over the one of said signal paths; activating a first stage connected to the one of said signal paths coupled to conduct said electrical power signal, to separate said command component from said power component; decoding said command signals from said command component; detecting the absence of said power component across the other of said signal paths; encoding information into data signals; transmitting the data signals via the other of said pair of signal paths coupled to conduct said data signals in response to and during the absence of said power component across the other of said signal paths; and receiving and decoding the data signals into information. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification